As the movies keep rolling, each month is home to anticipated premieres. With Gravity, Captain Phillips, and The Fifth Estate coming to nearby theaters this October, and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire premiering in November, this year will end with an interesting and impressive array of movies. But Middletown High School students debate whether it’s worth the money to watch a movie at theaters or wait until the movie is released to Netflix or On Demand.
For some students, they seem ready to spend their money on long-awaited movies.
“Atmospheres at premieres are cool and exciting,” MHS senior Samantha Weaver said. “It’s annoying to avoid spoilers if I don’t see the movie I want to see. I feel like I missed out.”
Others state their excitement as well. For MHS junior Jack Dempsey, when “it’s something you’ve waited so long for” it is “definitely worth it.”
“I don’t see many movies, but ones like the Harry Potter series are the rare gems,” he said. But Dempsey wouldn’t take the chance to see movies that aren’t those gems.
“[Movies] are expensive, and I would rather wait [for On Demand release] more often than not,” he said.
Senior Flora Kirk agrees. “I head to the theaters twice a year, and that’s if someone else is paying and driving.”
According to the National Association of Theater Owners, the average ticket price across the nation is $8.38 for adults. For most theaters, any person over the age of 12 is considered an adult. But each theater is different, adjusting prices depending on their location. Add a raise in prices when 3D or Imax movies are involved, and students can pay anywhere from $12 to $20 for one ticket.
And this is before a student enters the snack area.
It’s either “a movie and no food, or nothing at all,” MHS sophomore Nikki Dennison said.
“I head to the movies as often as I can, but I definitely don’t buy snacks there,” she said. The pricing for snacks are outrageous to her.
Others, who want to remain anonymous, discuss how they bring their own food.
“If I’m going to the movies, I’m buying snacks at the dollar store,” one said.
Another talked of the staff. “They [the theater staff] don’t check purses, so unless I’m waving a snack in front of their faces, they can’t ask me to get rid of it.”
Money is a large factor for students, and some would rather attend other, less expensive events. Even if some, like Weaver, feel like they “are missing out” when they don’t see a movie their friends see, waiting can bring the reward of a bulging wallet. But once again, it all depends on the movie.
If she can, Kirk is determined to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. “I really, really don’t want to miss it.”
