Go See a Movie . . . Or Stay In!

by Kevin Gardner

Going to the movies used to be a special event. Getting there early enough to get the best seats was a plus. Buying a big tub of popcorn drenched in salt and "butter" and of course a giant-sized soft drink to wash it down was a must. However, something has changed in the last several years. Streaming services such as Netflix or Hulu are offering more and more stay-at-home fare for one low monthly price. Now it seems staying home with family or a group of friends seems to be the way to go for many people.

Let's Go See a Movie!

There's no denying it. Movie theater chains are struggling these days. I see it every time I visit my local theater - no lines waiting to buy a ticket and short lines in the lobby to buy snacks. For sure, all of them are trying to come up with plans on how to attract more customers. Regal Cinemas, for example, have realized that not everyone enjoys paying ten dollars or more each time they go to the movies. Recently they started offering a package where one can purchase an unlimited pass starting at $18.00 a month (plus tax). This eighteen bucks lets the buyer see as many movies as they want with no black out dates, plus get 10% off concessions. Speaking of concessions, Regal card members also can accumulate points which can eventually be redeemed for free sodas or popcorn or other items. In addition, you can book your ticket AND reserve your seat using the handy Regal app. Other chains are offering similar promotional packages as well. For only a slightly higher cost, AMC theater chain offers a three month package for seventy dollars, but there are more limitations. The customer can "only" watch up to three movies a week. But let's be serious, who can watch more than three movies in a week?

What's the Catch?

I'm not certain how movie theaters are planning to make a whole lot of money with promotions such as these. I suppose the philosophy may be that the more often theater goers come to the theater, the more high-priced snacks they'll buy, which is where theaters make a majority of their revenue anyway. But movie studios are hoping for larger audiences and blockbuster hits to get their money. I'm not certain how they still make their millions if too many viewers are buying these huge discount packages. But, saying all that, I have had a membership to my local theater chain for a few months now. I generally go out once a week with a friend, so I'm way ahead financially than I would be without the membership. Sometimes, however, I feel like I HAVE to go see a flick every week or I'm wasting my money. I do stay away from the expensive snacks, though!

It's Cold Outside. Let's Stay In.

More and more people are subscribing to one or more of the streaming services being offered: Netflix, Hulu, CBS All Access, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more. Plus there are more on the way! "Cutting the cord" seems to be the way to go for a growing number of people, meaning doing away with what's becoming more and more expensive cable television. Instead, paying eight or nine dollars a month for a streaming service and being able to pick and choose the content they want to watch seems to be the growing trend. I myself have Netflix, which seems to dominate the Golden Globes, Oscars, and Emmy awards each year. Netflix has a huge amount of original movies and television shows, theatrical favorites and even beloved TV programs such as "Friends" (okay, bad example - - they've just recently removed that particular show from their line-up). But, needless to say, this service plus all the others out there have a huge variety from which to choose.

The Best Choice

So, which is better: movie theater or streaming service? I say both. With the movie theaters trying different promotions to get you into their seats, $18-20 bucks a month is not a bad deal at all. But a few dollars for a favorite streaming service is an excellent deal as well . . . as long as you don't go crazy subscribing to too many. Happy viewing!!