Discuss: Do You Bring Your Own Snacks to the Movies?

Guilty as charged (or otherwise), most of the time I bring my own snack to the film. Nothing extravagant, just mineral water and dried peanuts. Been trying to resist eating popcorn, esp. those with caramel glaze, and yes, since most of the snacks sold in cinema are those high-calorie ones, I'd rather bring my own.
And yes, at least it's not a crime compared to stealing film!

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I used to have this big purse... in which I used to smuggle not one but TWO pound cake sundaes by 31 Flavors that were popular at the end of the 80s/90s for my boyfriend and myself. And lots of folks (myself included) used to smuggle in tiny bottles of rum to add to the coke we just paid so exhorbitantly for. The prices charged are highway robbery - and they don't have too many lo-cal snacks that so many of us prefer these days. All it takes is a big purse and some stealth.

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I work at a theater and have had people try to pour Dr. Pepper on me when I told them I couldn't let them in with it. The movies have to compete with the development of Netflix, youtube, increasing channels on TV, high-def DVD, and home entertainment systems by developing digital projectors, live satelite events (Superbowl on the biggest screen anyone?), 3-D movies, and more. Think of how expensive it is to continually replace speakers. Customer service means giving refunds or rainchecks whenever something goes wrong in a movie, which isn't cheap. Yes, the money is made off of the concession stand, and a wider variety of foods, including some more healthy choices, are coming along. Small theaters can't run a carrot sales because you'd have too few people buying. Large theaters can have everything from a resturant to pretzels, popcorn, candy, hot dogs, nachos, etc. so your complaint is with them.

Just like the dying Blockbuster and Hollywood video who are losing to Netflix and pirating, the theaters are having to compensate somehow. Would anyone rather it be cheaper concessions with a more hefty ticket price? The man giving away the free snacks is essentially robbing the theater of the profits that would go to fixing that speaker that squeaks during your show, or fixing your seat that has a tear in it.

--Robert Neely
www.RedTieReview.blogspot.com

P.S. I have earned promotions by denying outside food and drink. I WILL NOT ALLOW OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK, PERIOD.

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I never buy concession food since it's beyond expensive. I can't even fathom the profit they make off of all their sales. Furthermore, none of the food is healthy. There is nothing worse than sitting down for 2 hours & eating junk food. Once in while won't hurt, but to do it every time you go to the show will eventually catch up to you & cost you so much money. I'd rather spend the money on something else. I normally bring my own diet pop & something healthy & hide it in my purse. It's not like they search me or anything.

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My kids' leftover Halloween/Xmas/party candy = my theater snacks.

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I sometimes get a bottle of soda out of a machine before I go into the theatre...saves me about $3. I only get popcorn if I'm really in the mood for it and that's not very often since I usually go to the movies alone and just want to go there to see the movie. I maybe get popcorn 3 or 4 times a year. I never buy candy at the movies, at the theatre here, they sometimes want $3.25 for a box, so I go to Target or something and get something else for 99 cents. I do wish it was cheaper though because I love a good bag of popcorn...and I have a huge purse so it helps me smuggle in my drink (and sometimes my friends) into the theatre =)

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I've sneaked in a snack, but not as an alternative to patronizing the concession stand. I categorically will not buy movie theatre food, and even if they instituted an airport security-level search to keep people from bringing their own food, it still wouldn't drive me to purchase what's on offer in-house. I can sit for 2 hours without an overpriced, under-tasty snack, especially with a movie to distract me. :-)

I'm also less than impressed with the implication I detect from some posters that a patron is somehow obliged to buy theatre snacks in order to compensate the business for the lack of profit it makes on the movie ticket. It's their business model, not mine; if they can't find a way to make money at this while charging prices that the market will bear, then someone else will.

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I often take my own food in, but there are a couple of cinemas I go to where they offer food at a reasonable rate ($2.50 good-sized slice pizza, $1.50 refillable sodas, etc.). More often than not, if I'm taking food in, it's because I want to eat something halfway healthy, and forget doing that at most theatres! So I'll take sushi in with me, or chicken and rice or whatever. I've never been asked to dispose of the food or leave or anything, either.

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I bring yogurt-covered raisins.

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I run a movie theatre and we are pretty militant about the policy--if people are brazen about breaking it. You walk past four signs stating this policy. I know people sneak snacks in, and we don't search or anything, but if you're not going to at least show me some respect by hiding the outside food or drink then I have no sympathy. We keep the doors open and pay the staff out of the concession stand. That's why the prices are so high.

So here are some tips:
1. As I said, hide the stuff on the way in. It's just respectful to the theatre.
2. Don't bring in things that have a strong odor--like Indian food, mexican food, fast food, etc. If you want to have a meal like that, eat it BEFORE YOU COME.
3. Strike the happy medium if you really like your theatre. Sneak in your candy, buy a small Coke. I am a lot more lenient on someone carrying a Mountain Dew 20 oz. bottle if they're also carrying a bag of popcorn, even a small.

The bottom line is, if you enjoy the theatre experience, and if you like your local theatre, buying concessions will keep them around. If not, they won't last a long time. The more the box office prices are raised, the more the studio takes. We have a local drive in that my family and I love going to and I plan on spending about $40 at the concession stand every time I go to make sure I'm doing what I can to keep them in business.

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For the people who said that movie theatres make pretty much all their money on concession, IT'S TRUE!! For the first 6 weeks that a movie comes out ALL the money goes straight to the production company. Then it's split 90/10, then 80/20, and so on. So really, they don't make all that much at all. I know it's expensive, and I have brought in my own snacks before, but support your theatre and buy a snack on occasions.

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Oldmoviegirl:

It's not the theatre's business model. It's a business model dictated by the studios. In the past there were limited runs of a film and theatres were able to get exclusive bookings and keep the films a long time. There was a more equitable split in the box office take.

Then the studios realized they could churn out crap and flood the market with 3000-4000 screens and make sure everyone that wants to see the movie can see it opening weekend. Word of mouth gets around that the movie sucks, so it dies in attendance after opening weekend. However, the studio has taken anywhere between 70 and 90 percent of the opening week gross to recoup the cost of the film. Then they make the rest on DVD sales and rentals. Most of the time a theatrical release is just a big ad for the DVD release.

Obviously money can be made in the exhibition industry--otherwise there would be no theatres! But to just say "I'm not supporting you--that's tough!" is a bit naive. It's your money and your choice. Don't buy anything at the concession stand. Fine. But don't expect that theatre to stay around and stay well-maintained and staffed if the majority of people adopt your attitude. And don't get all huffy when they stop you from bringing in food!

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I brought in a bowl of cereal to a screening of War of the Worlds. I had a bag of cereal and a small bowl in my pants pocket and a pint of milk taped to my leg. Movie started, I pulled out all the necessary ingredients and had myself a bowl of cereal.

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I hate the exorbitant prices on movie theater snacks as much as the next person, but people should know that the high-priced concessions are what keeps the movie theaters open. Having worked at a movie theater, I can tell you that they don't make their money off of the ticket sales, they only make their profits off of the concessions. The studios take about 90%+ of the ticket sales, plus they charge a lot to lease out the prints to the theaters, so the theaters have no choice but to make up their money on concessions. My advice would be to keep this in mind. If there is a certain nearby theater that you LOVE to go to, you may want to take that into consideration when looking at their high prices at the concession stand. If you want them to stay open, you may want to consider buying something at their concession stand, at least once in a while. If you do decide to "sneak in" some snacks, at the very least you should be mindful to remove the "evidence" when you leave (i.e. please be courteous to the theater staff and other movie-goers by cleaning throwing out your trash after the film ends). Just my two-cents... Which do you prefer - higher prices at the concession stands, or watching more ads before the movie starts. They have to get the money to cover operating costs from some source (and it isn't going to be from the ticket sales).

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My friend smuggled an ear of roasted corn into a screening of Batman Begins. She had to hide it in her coat whenever an usher would walk by, and would then pull it out and nibble silently on it when the coast was clear. That alone was more entertaining than the previews.

When I want something to snack on something during a movie (and I usually don't because I only go to movies that I really want to see and when I do, I just want to concentrate on the movie), I always stop off at the nearby convenience store and pick something up. A bag of M&Ms from Rite-Aid looks the same as a bag of M&Ms from the concession stand and most ushers don't care. I doubt they are getting paid enough to want to seriously enforce the theater's policies.

Honestly, if I wanted to eat 600 calories of fat and salt, I'd go for a burger and fries, not popcorn.

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Here in AZ just about every theater is in a strip mall surrounded by like 20 places to eat along with a Starbucks about 10ft from the ticket booth. For them to assume people weren't going to bring their food in is just ludicrous.

People freely bring in food, frapuccini, jamba juice, etc. We got Fatburger and brought it in one night. Hell, we brought in Subway to watch Definitely, Maybe on Vday.

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Sometimes I bring my own food if I have something that's easy to bring or have time to stop on the way. If I have enough cash on me, though, I'll buy it. I understand that they make more money from the concessions, but I've never been one to pay a lot for a little food, even in restaurants. If it's too overpriced ($10 for a small pack of nachos?), I just won't eat anything.

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Who are these people who eat real food at a movie? I always sit in the back row to avoid nacho breath. Theaters actually sell pizza, hot dogs and nachos. It boggles the mind.

Movie food is red licorice, pop corn and a beverage. I'll look the other way if you have a need for chocolate. It should be small and round.

My sister has a large purse and makes fresh popcorn before leaving for the theater. She pours it into a plastic bag and hides the bag in her purse. I sometimes sneak a non-stinky snack into the local gigaplex.

The "kid pack" is often the best discount at the concession. The portion is reasonable and I get popcorn, gummies and a beverage.

As for the business plan? I'll stop sneaking snacks when you stop showing me advertising. I never sneak snacks into classy theaters. My definition of classy? Better movies, better previews, better concessions and NO ADS.

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I usually go to the movies right after having eaten dinner or lunch, so I'm not hungry during the flick. Once in awhile I'll make it to one without having eaten so I'll grab some nachos or popcorn to avoid a hunger headache. I try to avoid the drinks at all costs, because I have the bladder of a five year old.

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Prices are just as high in the UK, but the main reason I rarely (if ever) buy munchies in the cinema is because the choice is ao appalling bad for you. I work in films, and the basic diet in the industry is bad enough without you punishing yourself even further with the ludicrously excessive sucrose and lipid choices that confront you every time you walk away from the box office. However, I DO sneak in sushi from time to time, because some of the cinemas I go to are close to Japanese markets in Soho, and I very, very often smuggle in beer. Lots of beer. Hey, a cinema's home from home. You might argue alcohol is just as bad as any of the popcorn or sweets the cinema hock, but, well... Actually, I've no argument: beer just suits me fine at the movies.

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