Is cinema recession-proof?
- 27 January 2010 01:5138879James Cameron's AVATAR is now officially the biggest earning movie of all time. Today it overtook the previous top earner, Titanic (also by James Cameron) and has now broken world records, and is still burning red hot at the box office. At the time of writing, it has reached a box office take of a staggering $1.843billion, beating Titanic's £1.840billion. It will be some time before we see a movie as profund as this (at least in movie business terms anyway). If you haven't seen it yet - and I reckon there is still one or two of you virgins out there - then seriously, get into a cinema fast!
What does this say about us in the midst of a recession? At the time we are all skint all over the world, we are flooding into 3D cinemas and IMAX theatres like never before! - 27 January 2010 08:2438880Yep iv still to watch it when i get time
did go to cinema last week - 27 January 2010 08:2838881Well yes that is a staggering performance at the box office, to overake Titanic so quickly. Ive seen your piece about it in the Rick's Movies blog too.
You will have seen the item about the McDonalds Big Mac, which in general terms is just about their overall business performance. The news is that McDonalds are thriving...and likewise the cinema. The comparison is this...These are relatively cheap comfort items and outlets, and offer people a port in a storm at relatively low cost. Lets face it people need cheering up right now as things are very bleak economically. A chill wind blows across your pay packet.
So a nip out to the cinema followed by a burger is a cheery experience at low cost and obviously lots of people are doing it. Its boom time for low cost enterprise, whereas expensive restaurants offering expensive nights out are struggling to survive.
email: dover7@msn.com - 27 January 2010 11:1738889The out-of-this-world 3D story has also cemented its place in history at one of Britian's most famous cinemas. It has sold at least 71,500 tickets at the Odean in Leicester Square, central London, making it the most popular ever at the cinema
- 27 January 2010 12:5538896I'm not into fantasy movies, they just don't do it for me. I shall wait for Avatar to come to Sky; a friend has seen it and loved it, and he's one whose judgement I respect 100%.
We are regular movie goers, and as Paul B says, it offers escapism from the real world for a few hours at reasonable prices - all the more so if you go on cheap nights midweek or take advantage of the 2 for 1 Orange deals. On top of that, Pizza Hut now offer midweek meals for £7.00 pp for a 2-course meal, so the opportunity for a relatively inexpensive night out at the cinema is one we take up quite often. Last thing we saw at the cinema was Sherlock Holmes, and I loved it This weekend we're off to see Edge of Darkness, a decent-looking thriller with Mel Gibson; that looks OK, but judgement has to be reserved until we've seen it.
BTW, love your movies blog, Rick! Don't agree with some of your choices for top 10, but then it's a subjective thing that will always attract disagreement. Keep it up! Especially as some of your critiques make me want to see some of the ones I missed.True friends stab you in the front. - 27 January 2010 13:0638898We were off to see Avatar a couple of weeks ago but got 'snowed off' so will be going this Sunday and will then watch Sherlock Holmes as well after a meal at Frankie and Benny's.
The cinema is a different experience to tv even when you have a 42" high def plus Blu Ray and surround sound. Simply put, my system gives me a better picture, better sound and more comfort than a cinema, but as I have said I still enjoy a cinema trip every now and again... because I only go at a weekend I do find it expensive, for me a good meal out is part of the experience (I dont usually see two films in the same trip, I must say....)
The really expensive bit though is eating in the cinema, the prices are extortionate. I know popcorn, coke and maybe a hotdog and ice cream are traditional but what a price!