All you have to do is walk into a movie theater more than 15 years old to notice how much more “luxurious” modern theaters have become. Better seats, better screens, better sound, better design… yadda yadda yadda. The nicer theaters already charge a little bit more for a ticket to see a movie in their facility, and some of us have been more than happy to spend it for the small extra amount of comfort and quality we get. But how far does that go.
Are you willing to pay $35 for a movie ticket in a REALLY nice theater? There is a group of investor that are willing to bet you are! The folks over at Variety give us this:
The partners will spend $200 million to build 50 theaters nationwide over the next five years, with the first two venues set to open in South Barrington, a suburb of Chicago, and the Seattle suburb of Redmond in October. Others are planned for Fairview, Texas, near Dallas-Fort Worth, and Scottsdale, Ariz. Each complex will sport theaters featuring 40 reclining armchair seats with footrests, digital projection and the capability to screen 2-D and 3-D movies, as well as a lounge and bar serving cocktails and appetizers, a concierge service and valet parking. But the circuit will especially push its culinary offerings — made-to-order meals like sushi and other theater-friendly foods from on-site chefs (a service button at each seat calls a waiter). Moviegoers will have to pay extra for any food they order, however.
The story goes on to explain that the company just sees themselves as offering a first class ticket as opposed to an economy one. It’s actually a good comparison. You do after all get what you pay for (at least in the facility, the extra cost doesn’t ensure the movie will actually be any good).
I have to admit, when I first heard about these new luxury theaters with their $35 tickets, I scoffed. “Screw this!” I almost said out loud. But the more I thought about it, I realized I would probably take advantage of a theater like that once in a while. Maybe for Hulk, Iron Man, Transformers 2 or Avatar. Just 40 seats… all recliners… and at that price you’re pretty much guaranteed no noisy kids or idiot talking and texting teenagers. Yeah… I could see myself going to one of these theaters once in a while.
So how about you? If a theater this luxurious was in your neck of the woods, would you visit it occasionally even at $35 per ticket?
