Breaking Point: $10 for 8 Commercials at Movies?

I really, really loved Toy Story 3.

Which is good, because right before it started I was about to throttle someone.

I love movies. Not like. LOVE.

So much I turned down an investment banking job to work, for free, on a film. Then I spent the next 3+ years as a glorified gofer (the titles changed but the job remains the same) at Paramount pictures, until I realized though I love movies, I do not love the entertainment industry.

We were a lousy match.

But I still loved movies.

Not today. We almost broke up.

Movie prices go up. It’s getting so bad, it’s almost prohibitively expensive for the average family to go. But to then make someone, after shelling out $10-$20 a ticket, sit through EIGHT commericals, that’s just insulting.

I’m not talking about previews. I love previews. I make sure I’m there plenty early to see previews. I’m talking about the Disney Visa Debit card, Toy Story the Wii Game, Glidden Paint, and god-knows what else — I can’t remember what else they were hawking because at this point I was shouting at the screen like a crazy woman… which I guess I was. All I kept thinking is… I am paying so I can be forced to sit through this crap? At least at home I can work on a blog post and ignore the Toy Story 3 Disney Visa debit credit card commercial (seriously, as I type this, the same freakin’ commercial came on TV. How’s that for timing?)

Dear theater owners and movie studios, this practice more than stinks, it sucks…

But they are rapidly finding ways to charge more- by offering movies in 3-D, “adult” seating in theaters  with cocktail service, mega screens… but commercials, especially EIGHT? It’s just a cheap move.

People leave their homes, pay tidy little sum to sit in a darken theater, eat over-priced popcorn for escape. Escape from their troubles, escape into adventure — perhaps an epic love story, a high drama or the chance to laugh hysterically. They need the magic, not the cross-promoted, high-commericalism slap in the face.

Pretty soon either we’re going to realize we’re not that desperate for entertainment or they’re going to realize that being “commercial free” is the next big selling point.

But right now, it’s just making this rabid film-lover think twice about attending my next film.

2 Responses to “Breaking Point: $10 for 8 Commercials at Movies?”

1. Tweets that mention Breaking Point: $10 for 8 Commercials at Movies? - The Liquid Betsy -- Topsy.com says:

   June 21, 2010 at 10:14 AM

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Betsy , Betsy . Betsy said: New blog post: Breaking Point: $10 for 8 Commercials at Movies? http://bit.ly/9GO1I3 [...]
2. Hiromi says:

   June 23, 2010 at 12:32 PM

   I agree with you entirely. In London, they tell you when the film starts so you can miss the commercials. I think they show a good 5 minutes worth before the previews, then finally the film. By the time it comes on, you’ve forgotten what you came to see.