Heads Up: A Better Movie Seat May Cost You (Published 2023) (2024)

FAQs

Did AMC abandon plan to charge more for best cinema seats? ›

AMC Entertainment dropped its plans to charge customers variable prices for movie theater seats. The company announced its “Sightline” pricing strategy in February and tested it out at select locations in three U.S. markets. The program charged moviegoers more for the best theater seats, or “Preferred Sightline” seats.

Within the United States, the figure stood at 11.9 U.S. dollars in 2023, compared to 11.62 U.S. dollars recorded a year earlier.

Moviegoers no longer have to worry about paying extra for better seats at theaters operated by AMC Entertainment. The company has abandoned its pricing plan, AMC announced Thursday, leaving the cost of all seats in any given theater the same.

AMC Stubs A-List members can really get the most out of our Discount Tuesdays program. You can choose to waive your A-List benefit and get cheap tickets on Tuesdays (you'll still earn AMC Stubs reward points) or you can use one of your A-List reservations and pass on Tuesday benefits to the rest of your party!

One of the most apparent is competition. Once you're in the movie theater, your only option for food and drinks is the concessions or an on-site kitchen. Without anyone to compete with (besides smuggled snacks), the concession stand can charge whatever they'd like. There's also inflation.

Reserved seating is available at select AMC Theatre locations and some Premium Large Format auditoriums. Our guests are able to secure the exact seats they want in which to view their movie.

While the acquisitions bolstered the size AMC's theater network, they also levered the company's balance sheet, Handler said. “So, when the pandemic hit, they sort of got a double whammy because they were already highly levered and then they had to raise more debt to survive and give them more cash,” Handler said.

AMC's high debt after years of expansion pre-Covid had it teetering on the brink of bankruptcy during the pandemic (saved then by its meme stock status that inflated the stock) and under considerable financial strain after the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes disrupted the release schedule.

Find Tuesday movie specials near you

There's never been a better time to turn up on a weekday, because every Tuesday at Cinemark is Discount Tuesday—slews of movie specials and a whole bunch of other ways to enjoy discount movie tickets.

Which day is the cheapest to go to the cinema? ›

The cheapest days to go are always Monday to Thursday. Most cinemas have lower prices on these days, and cheaper still before 5pm. So it's worth looking to see what your local cinema offers.

L: Strong language. N: Nudity. P: Prejudice with regards to ethnicity, race, gender etc. S: Sexual conduct. V: Violence.

In February, AMC said it would follow pricing models of other entertainment venues, such as arenas and live theaters, in a program called Sightline. Middle seats would be a dollar or two more, while front row seats would be slightly cheaper.

We charge a small convenience fee per ticket purchased on our website and mobile app. This fee helps to ensure you can purchase tickets conveniently online before they sell out, to select your ideal seats where applicable, to order Food & Beverage in advance, and to skip lines at the theatre.

Who makes the money: the movie theater or the movie studio? Typically, theaters and studios split the proceeds of ticket sales, but the theater sets the ticket price. Theaters actually make the majority of their money on concessions, which is why you find yourself paying steep prices for popcorn, soda and candy.

The second or third row from the back, along with seats in the middle, are recommended for optimal sound quality and viewing experience. Avoid front-row seats and corner seats for better angles and audio.