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Just how much will it cost us to see that May 21st flick'

OK Geeks here's some scuddlebutt about ticket prices and availiability right from a booking horse's mouth. Olde Father Geek here well remembers the great ticket price increases that accompanied Jedi, a simular percential increase today would lead to $12 tickets, OUCH!!! Oh well, it was worth it then I just hope it will be worth it in May, God, I bought alot of those inflated tickets back in 1983. Here's the word...

My friend in the theater booking business told me in no uncertain terms that they could not afford to lose Ep. 1 to a competitor because Ep. 1 is expected to do monster business at the concession stands as well as at the box office. And the film will undoubtedly rule the box-office charts for at least the first months of its release.

He told me that it would only be natural for ticket prices to be higher for Ep. 1 just because of all the demands that the distributor is going to want from them. However, he had no idea just how much more they would need to charge for Ep. 1. For instance, if for the average movie, the distributor and the theater split the money fifty/fifty. Then, if the theater charges $ 5 dollars, then the theater would get $ 2.50 for each ticket sold.

If Fox asks for 90% of gross ticket sales then the theater would only get 50 cents out of each $ 5 dollar ticket sold. Hence, there would be a financial incentive to raise ticket prices to perhaps as much as $ 10 dollars in order to double their take to $ 1 dollar. With concession business (i.e., popcorn, sodas and candy) and spill-over business to other movies when the prequel sells out, the theater should do quite well. THEORETICALLY. However, he said that many chains are going to balk at having to pay such an enormous percentage of the box-office pie to Fox. He finds it hard to believe that Fox will actually be able to get 90% (even if it's just for the first weekend of release). 90% would be unprecedented. Yet, the possibility that Ep. 1 might be the next $ 600 million Titanic mega-hit is too much to miss cashing in on. Theater owners are in a Catch-22. If they pay through the nose to get Ep. 1, they will get buried in red ink if Ep. 1 flops. Likewise, if their competitor secures Ep. 1, then they will get buried in red ink if Ep. 1 turns out to be the hit film of the century . . .

However, he did fear this: What if the prequel doesn't do as well as expected? The result would be that the theater would be stuck for many weeks with a film that is performing poorly and they would still have to give Fox the bulk of the box-office pie.

He admitted that each theater chain is going to want to actually see the film before making such a monumental investment in the film. A reasonable requirement. The Godzilla debacle is going to hurt Ep. 1 just because all the theater owners and managers are now wondering what if? What if Ep. 1 underperforms? Will it cost me my job?

Regardless of how well Ep. 1 is going to do next summer, there is precedence for theater owners raising ticket prices for a Star Wars movie. If you're old enough to remember the original release of Return of the Jedi way back in 1983, then you will remember that many theater owners raised their normal ticket prices for the final installment of the SW Trilogy. This increase was significant. The average movie ticket cost about $ 2 dollars in 1983. However, at many theaters, ROTJ tickets were going for $ 3 bucks each. That's a 50% increase over the average movie. Did anyone complain? No.

It's called supply and demand. When demand exceeds supply, then prices go up. In 1983, outside of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 2, ROTJ was the most anticipated "sequel" of all time. Theater owners could have asked for your first born son and many . . . I mean many would have been willing to comply. Well, I might be exaggerating somewhat, but nobody I knew of ever complained about the price hike. I mean if you would pay $ 2 bucks to see junk, how much would you pay to see the final Star Wars film? Needless to say, we all paid our $ 3 dollars and had the best times of our lives (at a theater). Yes, we even loved the Ewoks back then. I guess we didn't know any better.

So if you're use to plopping down $ 5 dollars to see the latest flick at your local cineplex, don't be surprised if you're asked for $ 10 dollars or more to see the prequel (by far the most anticipated film of all time) during its opening weekend. It's inevitable. It's the law of supply and demand. If you won't pay $ 10 bucks to see Ep. 1 then believe me that the guy (probably me) standing behind you will gladly push you out of the way and snatch up your ticket .

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SW EP1
by Jeremy Davis
Aug 12th, 1998
07:43:14 PM
price hike good.
by OverboardCharlie
Aug 12th, 1998
07:43:31 PM
It goes both ways....
by Anakin
Aug 12th, 1998
07:45:20 PM
Star Wars Ticket Prices
by Brian Waldvogel
Aug 12th, 1998
08:06:06 PM
There's one problem...
by D-Knight
Aug 12th, 1998
08:06:36 PM
Let me clarify the E.T. 2 question....
by Anakin
Aug 12th, 1998
08:07:49 PM
how many screens WILL the SW be on?
by Nakor
Aug 12th, 1998
08:28:05 PM
give me a break
by steve bingaman
Aug 12th, 1998
08:45:24 PM
How many screens for Ep. 1.
by Todd
Aug 12th, 1998
08:46:05 PM
price hike
by Deron
Aug 12th, 1998
08:48:46 PM
How many screens for Ep. 1.
by Todd
Aug 12th, 1998
08:49:14 PM
ESB was in a limited release too!
by cam
Aug 12th, 1998
09:01:31 PM
Raised ticket prices
by Falling
Aug 12th, 1998
09:29:36 PM
Higher ticker price for better seats?!
by Limech
Aug 12th, 1998
09:49:41 PM
Ticket Increase For One Film only means Increase for More...
by garyc
Aug 12th, 1998
09:49:41 PM
Stupid idea to raise the price....
by John McLame
Aug 12th, 1998
09:56:09 PM
This site prints so much BS!
by cmore
Aug 12th, 1998
10:05:49 PM
Hey Cam?
by GordoSan-1
Aug 12th, 1998
10:30:35 PM
Hey Cam?
by GordoSan-1
Aug 12th, 1998
10:33:52 PM
Hey Cam?
by GordoSan-1
Aug 12th, 1998
10:37:04 PM
SW ep.1 pricing
by eraserhead
Aug 12th, 1998
10:47:57 PM
sorry/SW take negative press?
by GordoSan-1
Aug 12th, 1998
10:52:54 PM
Oh bitch, bitch, bitch!
by shamus
Aug 12th, 1998
11:09:37 PM
ET 2?
by The Twinky Colossus
Aug 12th, 1998
11:14:11 PM
episode 1
by Severen
Aug 12th, 1998
11:19:03 PM
Cmon!
by Albaby
Aug 12th, 1998
11:53:09 PM
Pricing
by Captain Harlock
Aug 12th, 1998
11:53:43 PM
The point is moot
by Jhett
Aug 13th, 1998
01:11:26 AM
Prequels Facts that you need to know
by wwpranma
Aug 13th, 1998
01:32:46 AM
90% SW not first.
by Sigfried Seeliger
Aug 13th, 1998
02:07:27 AM
I'm gonna probably pay scalpers...
by thepill-01
Aug 13th, 1998
03:56:01 AM
NYC prices
by Schmittroth
Aug 13th, 1998
04:38:15 AM
Lies
by SMiLEY
Aug 13th, 1998
05:44:28 AM
Price increases
by Tangent Z
Aug 13th, 1998
05:50:34 AM
Ep 1 Prequel Prices
by William Johnson
Aug 13th, 1998
05:51:08 AM
Matinee and Special Thuesday!
by Homogenik
Aug 13th, 1998
06:14:13 AM
Ticket Hike Makes Sense
by BOOSTER GOLD
Aug 13th, 1998
06:16:04 AM
High Ticket Prices Suck
by Nihilon
Aug 13th, 1998
06:37:46 AM
BACKLASH
by inticeinst
Aug 13th, 1998
07:29:51 AM
Comments on various issues
by Bluestreak
Aug 13th, 1998
07:31:20 AM
Profit Margins
by Grayhelm Hammerson
Aug 13th, 1998
07:38:34 AM
Preqeul Price Hike
by Pat Hobby
Aug 13th, 1998
07:47:40 AM
Pricehike
by Edwin
Aug 13th, 1998
08:22:30 AM
Prices!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Joshua kellogg
Aug 13th, 1998
08:32:57 AM
CDN v US ticket prices
by Anfield
Aug 13th, 1998
08:33:06 AM
too much time on your hands
by MR BRIDGER
Aug 13th, 1998
08:42:27 AM
US $ / CDN $
by Ianick Charbonneau
Aug 13th, 1998
09:00:10 AM
Ticket prices
by James DeRuvo
Aug 13th, 1998
09:24:44 AM
Episode 1
by cookiewise
Aug 13th, 1998
09:28:56 AM
Is Ep. 1 really that anticipated??
by Rolo Tomasi
Aug 13th, 1998
09:39:41 AM
ticket price "fallacy"
by Scott Allen
Aug 13th, 1998
10:35:27 AM
ET 2
by Ripley
Aug 13th, 1998
10:35:32 AM
Ticket price hike
by Ripley
Aug 13th, 1998
10:51:37 AM
Release to us Barrabas
by Randall Flagg
Aug 13th, 1998
10:57:15 AM
EP. 1 Ticket Prices.
by utz_world
Aug 13th, 1998
11:20:24 AM
$10? Add a couple more 00s
by Nicholas Courtenay
Aug 13th, 1998
11:22:50 AM
To the guy that asked about 10 year old Anakin marring 20 year o
by John Conner
Aug 13th, 1998
11:50:21 AM
THE FINAL WORD!!! Aint it Stupid Rumors.
by cmore
Aug 13th, 1998
12:27:20 PM
The Force is a Tool of Satan!!
by jedidiah
Aug 13th, 1998
02:10:04 PM
Yeah... and 40% of the footage is fuzzy... right harry?
by Blade Runner
Aug 13th, 1998
02:12:43 PM
Concession prices
by Doctor_Chaos
Aug 13th, 1998
02:17:35 PM
Lower Ticket=More $
by Kenneth
Aug 13th, 1998
03:12:20 PM
GODDAM ZEIGFELD!!!! THey ruined it!
by John McLame
Aug 13th, 1998
03:13:31 PM
Go then...
by john
Aug 14th, 1998
02:31:18 AM
ticket prices..
by Hank Kuczynski
Aug 14th, 1998
07:41:31 AM
May 25, 1983 - the first price hike.
by Scarino
Aug 14th, 1998
07:57:46 AM
so sayteth the sage..everyone will pay
by shaman
Aug 14th, 1998
08:58:12 AM

by ralph
Aug 14th, 1998
11:11:51 AM
Hate to burst the bubble...
by Kent Straith
Aug 15th, 1998
12:21:21 PM
Ban the Star Wars Prequel!
by JiveTalker
Aug 17th, 1998
10:00:51 AM
Wait a second
by Harry Knowles
Sep 2nd, 1998
11:02:41 AM
I paid 6.00 to see it. On opening day. Worship me!
by Wolfpack
May 20th, 2006
09:33:40 AM

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