Movies at the theater are under further assault as new flicks quickly go to DVD or become available on pay-per-view.
Yet some people are upset that the communal experience of cinema is being lost. In an effort to bring in customers, there’s a new push to make theaters extra swank with accommodations like plush seating, reserved seats and gourmet food.
Hollywood legend Robert Redford opened a theater that offers $20 entrees and fancy wines. Regal Entertainment Group is renovating about two dozen of its theaters to be ultra fancy. And another chain has set up a VIP area in one of its Massachusetts theaters. They’re finding people tend to spend at least $16 when they get into the VIP area.
Is that a good use of your dough? Gosh, you don’t have to go that many times before you could buy a nice TV, some nice furniture or a nice meal ordered in from your favorite restaurant.
Or you can buy discount tickets. I recently bought 20 tickets at Costco for around $6.50 a ticket. I don’t go to the movies, but my family does, so now they can go at a discount.
Another option is a product called MoviePass.com. It started in major cities and is going nationwide, with a typical price of $25 a month for the subscription.
Right now it's so popular you have to go on a waiting list — go to MoviePass.com.
Those who listened to me last year who went on the waiting list are now going be in with monthly movies at the local theater.
And there are still some dollar movie theaters around the country. And RedBox offers DVDs from $1.20 to $1.50 a night.
Consumer expert Clark Howard's column appears here each Thursday. Find more answers to your consumer questions at Clark's website. And get more savings tips from Clark's previous blog posts.
-- Clark Howard -- Save More, Spend Less, Avoid Rip-offs -- for the Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog
