Hammond On Cannes: Suspense Builds To Sunday’s Palme … 
Record-Breaking Memorial Weekend 2013! ‘Fast & … 
Cannes: Un Certain Regard Winners Include ‘The … 
SAG-AFTRA Sued For Witholding Foreign Residuals And … 
Harvey Weinstein Closes Prolific Cannes With Deals For … 
Cannes: Competition Movies Divide Critics; How Much Do … 
Zach Braff Ends $3+M Kickstarter Campaign 
Fox Unscripted TV Czar Mike Darnell To Exit 
NBC Sets Oklahoma Tornado Benefit Concert For May 29 
Cannes: Directors’ Fortnight Honors ‘Les … 
SHOCKER: Tom Cruise Exits ‘Man From … 
A+E Rebuild: BBC’s Jana Bennett To Run Bio And LMN … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Hannibal’ Hits Low, … 
‘Katie’ Shakeup: Rachel Miskowiec Replaces … 
Hammond On Cannes: French Hero Jerry Lewis On His Return To … 
Cannes: Another Jewelry Heist? $2.6M Necklace Missing After … 
Hammond On Cannes: Leo DiCaprio’s Moon Trip Tops … 
Specialty B.O. Preview: ‘Before Midnight’, … 
2012-2013 Season Network Rankings: CBS Sweeps In Final … 
Full 2012-2013 TV Season Series Rankings 
TOLDJA! Paramount Pocketing $190M From Disney For Marvel … 
Nikki Finke (who’s just fnishing up her medical leave with a last visit to the doctor) will be posting a complete update on the battle over DirecTV’s recently announced premium plan in partnership with Sony, Warner Bros, Fox and Universal to offer on-demand movies only 60 days after they premiere in theaters. On Wednesday, she revealed that Regal Cinemas warned studio marketers that it will drastically reduce the amount of play time for each of the quartet’s movie trailers in every Regal movie house (just in time for the summer tentpole season, too). The Cinemark chain is following suit with boycotting trailers and signage from the participating studios. Now comes this statement from AMC Entertainment:
We at AMC feel movie theatres are a critically important business to many parties: the 200+ million guests we host year after year who choose to view films on the large screen; the communities of which our theatres are an integral part; the artists who create the movies we show; and ultimately the entertainment industry for which our theatres generate the highest quality source of revenue.
We believe the theatrical experience has a bright future, and we are aggressively investing to prepare for it. We are in the midst of a multi-year, multi-million dollar rollout of digital projection and 3D, IMAX and our own proprietary ETX format. We are also introducing a new guest rewards program, better-for-you items, enhanced food and beverage offerings, dine-in theatre options and alternative, engaging programming for our guests to enjoy in our comfortable, state-of-the-art auditoriums. All activities we are currently engaged in have common goals – to increase attendance at our theatres and maintain the health of our industry.
The p-VoD world as currently defined threatens that health. As such, we have notified studios of our expectations regarding economic arrangements on movies that go p-VoD. It is not wise to discuss details in the press, and Company policy precludes it, but as these windows shrink and threaten our industry’s future, it is only logical to expect AMC to adapt its economic model.
The future is bright, even as it promises to be different, and we look forward to the success that lies ahead for all parties.
Loading ...
I’ve tried their “Dine-In” experiment offerings, as they’ve been trying them here. Let’s just call it Microwave food at the cost of a $20 ticket.. yes, you heard that right, they sell tickets called “Fork and Screen” for about $17 a ticket. What do you get with it? A small table and basically nachos. They have some offerings – beer and table wine – to go with your popcorn. Real food? Hell to the no. But if you have a deep desire for a case of the trots to go along with your film experience, it is PERFECT to get undercooked chicken. IN fact, it’s frankly AWESOME for that.
No movies, no movie theaters. If movie theatre chains don’t promote movies they plan to show then less people will be going to the theaters and less money for them in the future. While less trailers would mean movies start faster, it’d still mean less movie goers coming to them later on. Pulling posters that studios provide for free makes no sense especially since windows would be shorter. If they want more to come, even with the threat VOD is bringing, lower ticket prices and that’d bring in more customers. Plus VOD isn’t that big of a threat if studios are going to charge $30 dollars a movie.
Problem number one is that the theater experience has simply become too expensive. It’s crazy that NATO & MPAA both stick their head in the sand on this point. But the shrinking release window is a close second, and it’s fun to see the theater chains pushing back.
I’ll just state the obvious: this is all kinda inevitable. I haven’t paid to see a first-run film in a year–at least.
So you didn’t see Inception in a theatre. Your loss. Nothing to brag about, shut-in.
After having been in a movie theater, where I attempted to enjoy watching “Sherlock Holmes”, while sitting in an uncomfortable seat which made my legs ache, and dealing with screaming, seat-kicking kids, crying babies, clueless parents, texting and tweeting teens, cell-phone chatterers, snack bar racers, people who argue during the movie, rude and uncaring theater employees, ridiculous prices for tickets and refreshments and decibel levels which left my ears ringing and my head aching several hours later, I gave up on going to the movie theater, especially when movie ticket prices in Chicago jumped last year to $13.00 for an adult admission and $12.50 for children.
Truthfully, I’d rather watch “Inception” in the comfort, privacy and relative safety of my own home than to make the long trek to the movie theater and have to deal with the annoyances and distractions which make the moviegoing experience very unpleasant.
I saw Inception at a movie theater and I’ll ‘brag’ that it was an enormous letdown. What a joke…bad writing in a weak attempt at trying to make it ‘complex’. And the over-the-top and in your face special effects and loud soundtrack that tried to cover for a very simple and redundant premise. Isn’t that what George Lucas did in the 70′s??? How original…and one that REALLY needed to be seen for $16.00.
I wish I had stayed ‘shut-in’….
You mad bro?
Funny, because I’ve come to appreciate the movie experience more in the last few years…
In the UK Orange phone users have 2-for-1 tickets every Wednesday, making going to the cinema a very viable option. By merely making the cinema an option again, and getting everyone excited about the new releases, it means that I can convince people to go more at the weekends etc despite price increases.
Creating a nice atmosphere in the cinema also helps a huge amount – in Cambridge, where I currently live, the Arts Picturehouse cinema has a lovely bar attached to it, again promoting the fact that the cinema is a nice night out, and the screenings for new films are always packed.
Cinemas need to think about how to alter public opinion so that the cinema becomes a special night out again.
The delivery of content to the end consumer (most likely home theater) is how I see this ending up…With the economy such as it is combined with the hassle of going out, I can pack friends in my home theater, cook for them, open up the vino and have a kick-ass evening that is not easily attained at the local godzilla-plex. I haven’t been to a theater since BULLIT.
“Bullit”? You mean the movie that came out in 1968?!! Ser-ri-ous-ly??!! HaHHAHAHHAHHAhhhahhhHH!!!!
It’s nice to see Regal, Cinemark and AMC rattling their sabres with all the who-ha of not playing trailers and displaying standees. Unfortunately when it comes down to it the only thing that will truly have any effect on the “colluding quartet” is to actually boycott a VERY large, important movie release. Believe me it would only take one movie to put the film companies in their place. The theaters may not generate as much revenue playing a “B” title for a couple of weeks over the boycotted “A” title, but at least the theaters will generate some income playing other film while the studios will have to suffer a substantially devastating loss. Wouldn’t it just be the shit if Disneys “Cars 2″ only opened to $5 million instead of $75 million! As an independent theater owner I would proudly stand up to the fuckers and join in a boycott. Sadly, the people running the circuits would never grow the balls to do it and will just continue being the bitches of the studios.
I agree with you, except that Disney isn’t one of the participating studios so your example is a bit strange.
Sorry for the error… got carried away on my soapbox. My mistake for using a Disney pic instead of one of the “colluding quartets” films. I would have used a Sony example, but they’ve got all stiffs this summer!
“Wouldn’t it just be the shit if Disneys “Cars 2? only opened to $5 million instead of $75 million!”
Disney (Cars2) along with Paramount is NOT included in this. So, if the theater owners go through with this it is only going to help Disney and Paramount. This is only going to hurt the lesser known movies by Sony, Fox, Warner Bros, and Universal. It really won’t affect their big budget bonanzas.
Paramount and Disney are in a great position just sitting back and letting this whole thing play right into them.
I am a proud supporter of independent operators – may they be first runs,discount second run,art house or revival!
I would gladly patronize an independent that would stand up to the studios.
Release window??? The exhibitors barely hold a picture past two weeks, let alone 6 to 8 weeks. And do not be fooled, they have been attempting to get the studios to pay (yes $$$) for trailer placement for about 20 years now. They see it as another revenue source. For some reason they won’t acknowledge the fact that it is film that drives both sides of this business, and the studios certainly spend far more than the exhibitors on advertising. Trailers benefit both the theatre owner and the studio. Can’t sell popcorn if patrons don’t line up to see a movie.
Truth is, the public has just grown more discourteous and obnoxious and the only thing the theaters have done to combat this issue is to increase the decibels to deafening levels. You name it: crying babies, cell phones, conversations, repeated exits for the snack bar, kicking the back of the seat, offensive body odor or perfume (I’m not sure which is worse), chomping on popcorn, shaking a cup of ice or slurping through a straw. These days, the public is simply self-centered and indifferent to the fact that there are other people in the room. In short, “hurray for me and to hell with you” is their motto. Their parents were probably against physical punishment. A few good slaps on the butt would have created far better adults.
Many film enthusiasts have created wonderful home theater set-ups with large, brightly lit, high definition plasma and LCD screens and state-of-the-art sound. Frankly, it is now a much more relaxing and satisfying experience at home.
Amen, brother!
They need club bouncers running theaters nowadays, not little 16 year olds who can and will do nothing about the unruly and rude.
Completely agree.
I am a self-acknowledged “film whore”…go to everything (three in a day). I have had my seat kicked, people actually taking their calls, smelling other’s nachos, Dibs, whatever…love the cinema experience and going out. But compared to, say, screening ‘The Wire’ with friends with discussion, or a good documentary at home, ‘the theatre experience’ is a mixed bag when I venture out to ‘Source Code’ or ‘Hanna’ that I want on the big screen.
yes in my life i used to enjoy the theater experience. Heck i really love the look of the older film house you only see in pictures these days. they never use them? for films –i might even pay the”line” to see a good film in one with comfy seats and good sound, but they don’t show stuff that way here even in Hollywood.. All you get around here is “cracker-box theaters!!”" Universal citywalk I’m looking at you and your 19 “theater”s with cruddy sound cruddy food and ? anything else we all hate plus pay to park and a big ticket cost.
well in the 50′s film meet TV and almost died
well now its 2010 plus 1 and
I now have a 65 inch screen in high def with 3-d in the home, a sound system I custom built,great comfortable seats, and the fridge is 15 feet away and its food is way cheaper!!!
And all i give up is bad seats,sticky floors,restrooms that need to be bombed,yelling kids,bad parents who bring them,cell phone ringing,over priced food by 4x’s,sound that’s always a bit off,gang-bangers who make me wish i had a carry permit!!and any others i forget guys add-em later!!
smell the light guys your dead to me
U have not gone out to a movie in a year. Sounds like u have no life
It amazes me to read about the “hassle” of going out or expense. Of the bragging of not going to a movie in a year? Really R U that lazy. Is ur life so mundane so just sit on a couch and watch reality tv or Facebook all night. Losers really. I catch a first run movie every Friday. Im 40 and I’ve been doing it for 20 years. To me it’s an event a night out with friends followed by a club. Or maybe it’s a date followed by dinner. No mater how amazing my 50 inch flat screen and surround speakers it does not compare to the environment of a theater like the Arclight in Hollywood an the viewing experience it provides. If I was the theaters I’d tell the studios to eff themselves and fund movie makers directly and keep all the profits. Like Netflix is doing with streaming movies. Without movie theater screening of a film the VOD model dries up. Really how many of u couch losers rent movies u never heard of that went straight to VOD or DVD on demand. It’s amazing how YouTube Reality TV and the Internet has turned people into a bunch of dumb fat losers.
@Skip…
Here’s the problem which many of us have about the “hassle” of going out and the expense… for many people, especially families with children, it’s expensive to go to the movies, and even the matinee prices which used to be a big help have gone up in recent years, putting a day at the movies out of financial reach.
Then, look at the cost of traveling to the godzilla-plex. The days when the neighborhood movie theater which was just a 5 to 10 minute walk away are long gone, and you have to travel by car to get to the godzilla-plex, and then, you burn up most of your gas looking for a parking place. Gas prices are climbing higher and higher to the point where you’ll have to take out a bank loan just to get a tank of gas.
Also, the moviegoing experience has become very unpleasant, especially when you’re sitting in a cracker-box with gang-bangers and other rude, ill-mannered and disorderly people, bathrooms where the toilets don’t work, sticky floors, cramped seats, the sound system’s been turned up to 125, and undersized, overpriced refreshments which taste like flavored cardboard.
So, it’s not that we’re a bunch of “dumb fat losers” or anything of the sort. Those who can afford to go to the godzilla-plex will keep going there, while those of us who prefer to gather with a small group of friends in a home theater, enjoying a good, home-cooked meal while watching a movie on a 65-inch screen should have that option.
You’re 40, you go by the name ‘Skip’, and you hit the ‘club’ on Friday nights?
And you’re 40?
I realize that you don’t see what these things indicate about you and your taste in entertainment choices — otherwise you’d have edited your comment.
Hey Skip, no offense, but you sound like a real asshole. You’re probably the reason the vast majority of people don’t want to go to theaters anymore. Because we have to deal with assholes like you. Go to school, little man, and learn some manners. Grammar and spelling, too. Until then, go eff yourself.
Sincerely, the movie-watching community,
Are you so obnoxious you didn’t bother to read the intelligent explanations/reasons for dumping the multiplex “experience”?
He is 40 and that is how he defines a life — do the math
It has nothing to do with being lazy not going to the theater. The fact is many of the theaters, in my case most happen to be AMC, aren’t kept in good condition concerning the latest sound or visual products. There is nothing worse than paying $11 to watch a movie where the sound is not a true 5.1 because some of the speakers don’t work and haven’t been fixed in over a year and the screen hasn’t been setup properly for the aspect ratio of the film being shown.
Home Theater technology has come a long way from years ago. Now people can have a better movie watching experience in their homes than at a theater. I spent over $15,000 on my home theater and don’t feel the need to go to a theater and have to deal with sub-par equipment for the high ticket price.
I don’t think video-on-demand will take over the market the way others do, and being in the home entertainment business I hope it doesn’t, but having the quality of Blu-Ray and all the other home theater options available is definately better than paying $11 to see a movie in sub-par standards which is what AMC and the other theater chains should get. It’s clear National Amusements gets it because they are constantly updating their theaters while AMC is just adding “small IMAX” screen to theaters that need a complete overhaul.
Skip must be single!
Anybody remember why’d they go to the theaters in the first place? As a kid, on dates, etc.? I’m with Skip.
Aside from a few 3D spectacle movies, who wants to have a stranger bump your seat and whisper behind you for 2 hours while you try to unstick garbage and candy from your shoes as you watch some of the crap that they called last years “hit” movies? At those prices? No thanks!
Skip, you are no doubt one of the reasons so many people are staying home. You disagree with those who make different choices from your own so you paint them with a broad brush and refer to them in derogatory terms. You are obviously one of the people who should have gotten a few good spankings as a child because it is obvious you still like throwing tantrums.
I love to see movies in a movie theater – but the theaters are their own greedy-worst-enemy. The higher ticket prices mean I visit the multi-plex fewer times a month. BUT what the dumb-dumb-dumb theater owners don’t get is that each time I go, I buy a drink, popcorn, or a pizza or some other things to munch on – kind of like a worst-dinner-night-out… In the end, the theater would get more of my money if they lower the ticket prices. Every butt in a seat guarantees concession stand $$$, and if we go less, the theaters get less. THEY JUST DON’T GET IT.
Um…You do realize that the theaters get pennies from that ticket price and the Studios supply chain get the vast majorities of the money from that ticket.
It has been illegal since 1948 for content providers such as the studios to own theater chains and vice-versa. Here is a a recap
of the case that decided it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Paramount_Pictures,_Inc.
Problem #2(if not 1) is the experience itself! Rude moviegoers and the ability to do a home theater very economically. That’s what needs fixing.
i love going to the movies 2-3 times a week and will keep going to them. people would never pay 30 to see a movie from home that they can download for free. I love seeing the movies on a big screen and in 3D i have a 42in tv but it’s more fun going to the mall to shop and see a movie with my friends and i’m 29!
I have never understood all the complaints about people being noisy at the movies. I have been going to the movies every weekend in NYC for almost five years and this has never been a consistent problem here, and it was never a problem where I was from before I moved here for college. I have no clue where this happens consistently. Sure maybe someone’s cell phone goes off every now and then, but is that so horrible? Isn’t part of the theater experience supposed to be that you’re there with other people?
Not to mention the fact that I doubt there was ever some sort of mythical past where everyone sat still in rapt attention to watch a film. Prior to the 60′s it was not uncommon for people to just come and go after a movie had started, and I’m pretty sure that young people still get excited and vocal during the action serials back in the 30′s. The problem if there is one is that mainstream films today are dumbed down to children’s levels, and everything is some genre film which would have elicited audience reaction in any time period. Sure you might not get a great crowd for Transformers, but it’s Transformers. What are you expecting?
I prefer to watch my movies at home..either on demand..or thru dvd..i can wait the month until its on dvd and dont need to pay the money when the theater experience just isnt a good one anymore..plus the fact i can get some great bootlegs!..
Wow. Inside the bubble responses, almost to a man. Or woman.
“Going out” is the human condition. There will ALWAYS be a HUGE market for “going out to see a movie.”
Proof? 10.6 billion theatrical box office in 2009, after the wildly overstated sky-is-falling predictions that it would be catastrophic if the entertainment industry couldn’t cut costs on the backs of the creative unions that make their product. And, supported by the A-list actors!
AND the weak-ass responses of every other union.
FUCK the rank and file… I got mine, get outta my fucking way.
And yet, the .5% – .3% of TRULY A-list? SUCK ALL THE OXYGEN OUT OF EVERY BUDGET.
THAT’S the savings. “Sorry Will, you’re gonna have to live on 10 million and 3% of first dollar gross from now on.”
Is there SOME indication the business is doping that? Very, very little. Nah, make no mistake – it’s easier to bust the unions than to tell Tom Hanks he has to stop making more than the GDP of Oman on his next producing/directing/acting gig.
Tom might get mad. And all these executives? Have LEEETLE TINY TESTICLES when it comes to people who intimidate them.
Ken Howard? Roberta Reardon? Etc., ? Sorry, they don’t make that list. They are not in the zip code, the state, the fucking universe of things these people won’t eviscerate to make more money.
This is ALL Naomi Klein’s “The Shock Doctrine” applied to show-biz folks. That’s all. It’s been a relentless, downhill trajectory for ANYBODY getting in the way of what the industry, which just KILLED it during “The Great Recession” (RECORD BREAKING THEATRICAL YEAR IN 2009) following the “do it, or you’re shit-canned” directory from the REAL bosses – the multi-billion conglomerate puppet masters who run the entertainment subdivisions.
It cracks me up. “GET COSTS DOWN. NOW”
“Yas-suh! Anythin else suh?”
“Send Tom Hanks a new house.”
“Yas-suh, ride-aways!”
Gimme a fucking break. It’s going digital? Fine.
Fuck the Theater Owners, actors, writers directors, crafts-persons, drivers?
Not fine.
There is PLENTY of money coming in. All this BULLSHIT from inside Hollywood about “I have a 450 inch screen with surround sound and free blow-jobs while you watch! Why go out?!”
Has NOTHING to do with the real world, which Hollywood insiders don’t have the FAINTEST idea about.
PAY the fucking unions, play fair with the fucking theater owners. FUCK the A-list, you can cut THAT cost by…30-50% if you just locate your balls, and..
LET’S ALL GO TO THE LOBBY!!
Disappointing. Trailers aren’t merely advertising but a highly entertaining art form. Less trailers means even less entertainment at the theaters.
Get their asses. They screwed the writers. Forced SAG to merge with AFTRA to their own demise and now want to fund their mulitbillion dollar distribution scheme with another chunk of the movie system.
They have flat screens at the dollar Cinemark, popcorn, accept credit cards, debit cards etc. They even have digital projectors at the dollar show.
The moguls better wake up soon.
Or a new distribution scheme will supplant them.
CBS, ABC, etc are making real movies. I can see it now Cinemark starts making movies and releases them directly to their theaters sort of like like the French approach to film circa 1920′s.
To the owners of Regal Cinemas, Cinemark, and AMC Entertainment:
Go fuck yourselves. You ruined the movie going experience by turning up the volume on the speakers, for running Ace Venture IV: Back to the Pound on eight of the 14 screens, by refusing to clean the theater so you could squeeze the last two cents on the margin, for showing commercials, and for being pricks who hate your customers.
The local eateries and Netflix thank you because they get the money I use to spend at your business.
I am glad the studios continue to push video on demand where I can enjoy the quiet volume of a good film on my 60″ High-Def set, and enjoy snacks that will not kill me.
Thanks to your general stupidity and overall incompetence you have managed to do something the Great Depression and the VCR couldn’t. You killed your business.
Congratulations.
Really Skip. When you’re “young” and single I guess its easy. For the marrieds and the poor…which these days is anyone who makes under 150 grand…it’s an expensive pain in the ass. I’ll still do it whenever I can but it ain’t easy and it sure as shit ain’t cheap. It’s not a question of being a fat loser. If its a question of staring down the barrel of an up to $100 evening to see The Lincoln Lawyer or waiting for the rental…the answer is clear.
Try the suburban area stadium theatres; why waste your time at city area places if you know it’s freakshowtime. The one and only time we visited there was disgusting dirty noisy abusive disrespectful lowlifes. Management doesn’t bother with the nuisance of animal control. It’s a 20 min ride out to a pleasant area; same amount of time as looking for parking in the city ….. And plenty of free parking.
I will not drive 30 miles to the burbs for any movie. the whole point of living “in the city” is so I can get where I need to go in 10 minutes or less. And not have to fill up my gas tank every other day. Animals or no, I would rather have my own movie experience in my own home.
Going to the suburban area stadium theaters isn’t an option if you’re a person with disabilities, poor or a senior citizen and rely upon public transit.
In the neighborhood I live in there are no movie theaters; the last multiplex closed in 2002 due to outbreaks of gang violence, including a couple of shootings. If I want to go the the movie theater, the “closest” one is some 25 miles away, and getting there on public transit can be problematic, particularly at night when public transit slows to a crawl on some routes or stops altogether on other routes.
So, there’s the issue of safely getting to the multiplex and back home, and for some, it’s preferable to watch a movie at home.