uh, $35 Movie tickets?

[B]Filmgoers get a taste of the good life[/B]

[B]Luxury exhib chain plans $35 film tickets[/B]

[B][URL="http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=bio&peopleID=1380"][/URL] [/B]




A recession may be looming, but a group of investors thinks Americans are ready to pony up $35 for a movie ticket. 
 

Village Roadshow Ltd., Act III, Lambert Entertainment and the Retirement Systems of Alabama pension fund have partnered to bring the luxury cinema circuit Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas to the U.S. 
 
The partners will spend $200 million to build 50 theaters nationwide over the next five years, with the first two venues set to open in South Barrington, a suburb of Chicago, and the Seattle suburb of Redmond in October. Others are planned for Fairview, Texas, near Dallas-Fort Worth, and Scottsdale, Ariz. 
 
[B]Each complex will sport theaters featuring 40 reclining armchair seats with footrests, digital projection and the capability to screen 2-D and 3-D movies, as well as a lounge and bar serving cocktails and appetizers, a concierge service and valet parking. [/B]
 
But the circuit will especially push its culinary offerings -- made-to-order meals like sushi and other theater-friendly foods from on-site chefs (a service button at each seat calls a waiter). Moviegoers will have to pay extra for any food they order, however. 
The Burbank-based company's hoping to attract 10 million "upscale and affluent" consumers per year to its theaters that will be housed in high-end shopping centers and malls. Each complex will typically house eight screens. 
 
"It's a new way to go to the movies," said [URL="http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/39513/Graham%20Burke.html?dataSet=1"][COLOR=#666666]Graham Burke[/COLOR][/URL], managing director and CEO of Village Roadshow Ltd. "It's like what Mercedes is to a Toyota or like flying first class in an airplane." 
Village Roadshow founded the Gold Class Cinemas chain in Australia in 1997. It has since expanded to other countries, including Singapore and Greece. 
 
 
Company execs said bringing the chain to the U.S. is a "natural extension" of the brand. 
"The demand for luxury moviegoing in the U.S. is very strong, and by working with our partners, we are delivering on that demand in a way never before experienced by the American consumer," said Kirk Senior, CEO of Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas. 
 
In addition to its initial complexes in Illinois, [B]Washington:runcoold:[/B], Texas and Arizona, company also plans to build in California, Florida, Nevada, Pennsylvania and New York. 
 
[B]Gold Class Cinemas won't be the first luxury theater circuit in the U.S. [/B][URL="http://www.variety.com/profiles/Company/main/2013454/Regal%20Entertainment.html?dataSet=1"][COLOR=#666666][B]Regal Entertainment[/B][/COLOR][/URL][B], Cinemark, National Amusements and Sundance Cinemas offer similar services, including high-end food and concierges, at much cheaper prices of around $12-$18 per ticket.[/B] 
 
Idea is that plushing up the current moviegoing experience will encourage auds that typically stay home to watch movies via their pricey home theaters to venture out again. But it's also a way for exhibs to make more money: Concession sales are kept by theater chains, while a little more than half of each ticket sold is split with the studios. Selling sushi and a glass of wine will command higher prices than popcorn and soda. 
 
There are an estimated 300 high-end multiplexes operating in the U.S. 
If the recession is stressing out some businesses, exhibitors aren't sweating just yet. Entertainment has long been shown to be recession-proof. And that's exactly the attitude Village Roadshow is taking. 
 [B]"This is a top-end experience," Burke said. "People want to get away from their blues. I don't think the recession will affect it one iota.":pat:[/B]

man i hope we get one of those out here, id defenatly spend the money to get away from the riff raff

I am so there as long as there is enough cran and goose, or OJ and Buchanan's..... or some sake bombs to go with that sushi!!!

[quote=airmax;142384]man i hope we get one of those out here, id defenatly spend the money to get away from the riff raff[/quote]
 
 
HELL YES! if paying $35 to get away from ghetto high schoolers is the answer, then sign me up! oh, the recliners, bar, and hd screen is an added bonus :)

that is really the way i see it, lol.

Just don't go Opening night.
I can't stand the crowds of idiots and standing in line. Nothing is good enough for me to stand in line with a bunch morons. So I wait a week or so for the hype to die down.

$35 for a movie ticket doesn't sound bad if your getting dinner included in that price.

35 dollars gets you in the door. everything else is seperate.

I fully understood the $35 tag for only entry..... and I still love the idea... no more little kids texting or talking on cell phones and definately no more people yelling at the screen!!!

35.00 damn ... But I would have to try it at least once ...

Yeah I would try it just once to, push a button for what you want instead of getting up and possible missing something.

I think they could hit the 10 million a year mark with select movies. None of that "Never Back Down" shit.

We have a Cinetopia out here. Having your wine brought out to you while in your fat reclining leather chair with your feet up on a foot stool is VERY nice. Yet I still prefer Mininova.org with my projector :biggthumpup:  Its free and I get the movie before it even comes out!

all that luxury is nice, but worthless if the movie sucks.

That would have to be a anniversery date for me! LOL! :smiley-rofl:

[quote=PANCAKES!;142441]That would have to be a anniversery date for me! LOL! :smiley-rofl:[/quote]
 
 
I agree, I cant imagine shelling out that much on a regular basis to see a flick!  I love the little $5 hole in a wall places that are run by grandparents =)

For months now my new theater has been the back seat of my car curtains drawn! :giggity:
or the dope ass bootleg movie sites the got on the web now!
F*** That! Gas is too high and I could use that extra +$20
 
BTW- Everyone is jackin prices up! My Barber jus raised his prices! LOL! DAMN! :pat:

damn barber raising prices...wtf! iono mang i dont think its too bad, i blow money on worse bs than that every week. so, i guess thats why i dont see the problem lol

psshshhhhh i spend more on crap on ebay a week.... crap i really don't need like a new with tags "Los Angeles Raiders" cap with the green underside of the bill for $105 hahaahhahahaha FTW $35 for silence hell yeah!!! Silence isn't golden anymore..... it's $35!!!!

just watch movies in the morning

VIP seat coming soon............ :biggthumpup:

eh, Im such a sucker...im sure they'll eventually get my 35 bucks outta curiousity :shrug:

[quote={-.-};142764]VIP seat coming soon............ :biggthumpup:[/quote]
 
 
you mean the one you posted a while back in your blog??? with the wheels??? :dance:

[QUOTE=SikNLow;142679]psshshhhhh i spend more on crap on ebay a week.... crap i really don't need like a new with tags "Los Angeles Raiders" cap with the green underside of the bill for $105 hahaahhahahaha FTW $35 for silence hell yeah!!! Silence isn't golden anymore..... it's $35!!!![/QUOTE]

damn and i thought i spent money like an idiot :smiley-rofl: we must be related

I'll go to one, just to try it out. If it's worth it, I'll go every once in a while, just like at IMAX, when those special movies come out on the big screen lol

That's cool. We all ready have two other luxury movie theaters in the Chicago area. I have not checked them out yet. I don't go much to movies, but I sure hate the uncomfortable chairs in most theaters.

[quote=airmax;142784]damn and i thought i spent money like an idiot :smiley-rofl: we must be related[/quote]
 
 
 
I perfected the science of spending like an idiot hahahahahaha :runcoold:

[quote=Caoboy;142948]I'll go to one, just to try it out. If it's worth it, I'll go every once in a while, just like at IMAX, when those special movies come out on the big screen lol[/quote]

Sheet maybe we can watch a movie ( IMAX)on the mini meet since i still haven't seen one :pat:

:gtfo2: