Comments on: Would You Pay More For Movie Tickets? Canada’s Cineplex Odeon Testing Surcharges For Best Theatre Seats

By: ALee

ALee — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

I only tried the VIP when I had enough scene points to do it for free. Who in their right mind would pay $25 for the option to have someone bring food and drinks to you? Some theatres already have seats that recline as standard, no reason to pay extra just so you can sit in a larger leather chair. I also would not pay $2-3 more just to have the middle row seats reserved in a regular theatre. Ultra AVX at least has a higher resolution projector to justify the cost.

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

What Cineplex fails to point out is that they are charging you double for comfy seats but a SMALLER screen..why would I pay that? Unfortunately they do have us captive here in Toronto (and elsewhere in Canada) and they are putting some films only in their VIP theatres – $25 to watch "Neighbours"? Come on. It is sheer greed, not about the moviegoing experience. I hope Cineplex reverses this trend, otherwise I for one will be seeing less movies in the theatre – if I can't see it in a normal theatre I won't go. And I see a lot of movies.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

Being a senior, I have a reduced price. The problem is lack of understanding of the general population in Cote St Luc. Other than seating not being on an incline, no matter where you sit is imperfect. Sat. evening, 7:15 PM show for " Fading Gigolo"-WEEK 1- how does management not use Theatre no.3…larger with side seats. The theatre no.6 was almost filled & NO SEAT is a good one.
I had an acquaintance who sat in front of me(I was in the last row, aisle seat, with nothing behind me.) This person is 5ft.2ins. & my view was obstructed by her hairdo. It ruined my enjoyment of the film. Pay more for Cineplex Cavendish?…NO WAY!

By: Ronald

Ronald — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

I agree with the writer's opinion that being the largest own Canada with little resistance or going to competitor. To me it seem like the company is starting to gear toward people with more residue income like high middle-class or high class people.

When I a go to an movie I can't stand sitting in the first four or five rows, I am tall guy so when go to the theater I spent the next hour & half … or more with my neck crank back. It just plain uncomfortable but I went too school to work in a tourism/hospitality service such as this one.
So I understand both from the business outlook and the manager perspective how it is a ingenious way to impact the bottom line.

My final opinion is this we already pay double to see a movie in IMAX or 3D plus the way over the top concussion prices. I believe since there are so few Canadian movie theaters that have such first class service and technology. I agree with the writer's opinion that this new idea to affect the bottom line could work out.

By: Zinjo

Zinjo — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

In select cities (Toronto & Vancouver so far) Cineplex has "VIP" theaters where you pay nearly double the ticket price, sit in armchair like seats, in a theater that holds maybe 100 people. The theaters are 19+ so no kids and a licensed bar + restaurant in the lounge. You can order meals in your seats and they will be served to you there. You "reserve" your seat at time of purchase, so no standing in line for hours to snag a great seat. They also have AVX theaters where you can reserve a seat and there is "allegedly" a better sound system, but the theater is nothing more special than that. Then they have the great unwashed theaters with traditional first come first serve seating with the maximum capacity seating at the basic ticket rate.
If they go to the well again there will be backlash, particularly in the reserved seating theaters who's patrons are already paying premium prices for their seats in select theaters.

About 10 years ago the same chain tried to raise ticket prices by a sharp percentage and found they lost about one third of their patrons year over year. They dropped the prices back down over the summer to attract the public and then proceeded to raise the rates incrementally over the course of a few years instead.

They may get away with premium pricing in the economy theaters, but the premium theater goers who are already paying more, will not stand for adding "another" surcharge to an already expensive ticket.

By: R Olson

R Olson — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

Here in Brazil there're some seats called Delux, where you pay twice the Imax ticket price and can seat in special arm chairs and a special menu, which has expensive wines on it. For me, this whole situation is becoming ridiculous, i think we're losing the most beautiful thing that is our passion for the movies. Now, the cinema owners only want to take as much money as they can, separating the rooms, and limiting the space for true lovers of cinema. The "seat and watch" feeling will probably be gone.

By: Joe S.

Joe S. — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

This is common practice in Berlin, where I'm studying right now. Theaters are divided into 2 sections–"Parkett" (the front) and "Loge" (the back), and Loge seats usually cost 1 or 1.50 Euros more. I think it's ridiculous, but I wouldn't be surprised if it starts making its way to the US.

By: Marko

Marko — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

What I find most heartbreaking here is that movie going has been reduced to "sitting down and looking at a screen".
I live in Toronto, and I love going earlier to get the best seat and all, and yes, it's a terrible (and terribly greedy) idea, but come on: give movie going a little more credit than that! (please?)

By: Dick Schitz

Dick Schitz — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

This will be a disaster…

By: Brad Parks

Brad Parks — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

Here in Michigan they already do this. The more expensive seats also include waitress service for drinks and popcorn. The cheap seats are the first 5-10 rows up front. This is in just about every theater in the Detroit area.

By: burkiss

burkiss — Fri, 13 May 2016 07:29:37 +0000

I hate crowded movie theaters so I applaud Cineplex Odeon's plan to have way less people go to the movies.