Your humble film critic once worked at a Mom ‘n Pop video store back in the bad ol’ days when VHS ruled.
I got to watch “Raising Arizona” over and again for free … and it put me off movie theater popcorn for good.
I saw how the popcorn was made … and the gross stick of “butter” we used to flavor it.
No thanks.
So I’m rarely tempted to buy popcorn at the theater. But I’m clearly in the minority.
Every other person who squeezes past me in the theater is juggling either a large, super large or dear-lord-that’s-massive popcorn container.
Others opt for expansive nacho platters or soda containers that make Big Gulps look like shot glasses.
The costs are exhorbitant, obviously. I recently decided I had to have a Diet Coke at the theater and stared at the clerk when she asked me for $5.
So why bother? Would it be easier to sneak in a quick snack or simply plan on eating after the film? Do you like the quality of today’s movie theater popcorn?
And, given we’re now subjected to commercials before many movies even begin, can theaters justify the high costs?
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Watched The Wolfman on Saturday night (place was almost empty) and a friend bought the snacks for the night. The biggest popcorn, couple of large sodas, hot dog, twizzlers and Reese’s Pieces. It was for a birthday girl who loves horror. This is a rare moment for me. Not the biggest theater person nor popcorn eater. But…just for celebrating and old times sake I did partake. Remarkably didn’t get ill afterward.
What isn’t the same, besides prices over the last 20 years, is that Twizzlers somehow replaced Red Vines. Tradition dictates that Red Vines goes with the Mr Pibb (or Dr Pepper) and not that imposter wax stick. I say sneak the junk food in when necessary.
Along with the ads, what is up with the 10 or more previews before the film?
Movie popcorn is among the worst foods, nutritionally, that you can eat. Plus it’s just plain nasty! Have you ever tried kissing someone after they’ve been eating that crap? Greasy lips… blech!!
Absolutely love the popcorn and soda myself, I have to say just the smell of the popcorn is part of the reason I go to the movies.
Theaters stopped using real butter along time ago, what they use now doesn’t come in a stick it comes in a gallon jug.
The concession prices are ridiculously high, but isn’t that how the theaters make their payroll, because the studios take the lion’s share of the ticket revnue?
Yes, the prices are high for a reason but a system that charges you $5 for soda is out of whack no matter how you slice it. But for every Joker like me who abstains, there are plenty of folks who swallow hard and slap down their money for some carbonated refreshment.
I usually go for the boxes of candy (there’s a cookie dough one that’s amazing) and a drink. Not that I’m against the popcorn though. I’ll admit the prices can be harsh at times. I’ll even admit to smuggling in some treats before as well.
Toto, you’ve hit on one of my pet peeves. Once upon a time, at many theaters in SoCal, there was air popped popcorn which the theater bought in giant plastic bags and heated inside the little popcorn displays. It was absolutely not greasy, had virtually no unpopped kernals and tasted terrific – even without the real butter which they would put on it if asked.
Unfortunately, when theaters began the big slide from movie palaces to sticky warehouses where films are projected, all of these theaters bought the “popped in the theater” type of popcorn because the smell was a better inducement to buy what was a far inferior, more expensive and less healthful product.
K
I think if someone is interested in healthy food they shouldn’t be buying anything in a movie theater
Personally I can’t stand air popped popcorn, it’s too dry and has about as much flavor as the styrofoam popcorn you use if you’re packing something.
The more greasy the better, I want it drowning in whatever it is they claim is real butter. My local theater also has the flavored salt, so along with the popcorn floating in the butter like substance I then load up on the salt.
One trend I don’t like is all the other food they’re now serving in theaters. Nachos, giant preztels, cinabons, pizza, burritos,hot dogs. How many people actually eat that stuff?
When I first got the crit position at the local paper and started getting in to the movies for free I always made a point of buying an Icee. Eventually I got lazy and at this point I can claim to have gone over two years without directly pumping a nickel into the local system! But I’d like to think my reviews help.
The economics of movie theaters, from everything I’ve read, is that the profit from the concession standards is critical to the continued success of the theater itself. If we all stopped buying these expensive extras at the multiplex they’d either have to dramatically raise ticket prices or just shutter the doors.
Also worth noting is that there are a number of theaters – including the United Artists theater in Boulder – that have expanded their offerings to include ostensibly healthier options like Vitamin Water bottles and Boulder Ice Cream.
Then again, I do like the popcorn and I really wish it wasn’t so darn unhealthy because, heck, it’s tasty! I’m guessing next time we’re sitting next to each other, Christian, you won’t be taking a few handfuls of my popcorn as we suffer through yet another banal Hollywood offering?
I side with T – and similarly observe that most of my regular cinema companions devour the concession offerings regardless of sticker price.
I chalk it up to transmission of nostalgiac expectation as much as anything else.
(As for the preview commercials buffering the concession costs: if this were true, my once commercial-free basic cable channels would not continue to increase subscription fees….)
D
Good point, Daggy … either jolt us with high popcorn fees or load up on the pre-movie commercials. Not both.