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Original poster

When did a trip to the cinema get so expensive?!

102 replies

Letshaveablackcelebration22 · 07/01/2023 18:43

DS wanted to take a mate to the cinema for his birthday. So me, him, DD and his mate went for a Burger King before, 1 adult and 3 kids cinema tickets and then popcorn for us. £112 🤯

Aibu to think it just seems RIDICULOUSLY expensive!! I mean it’s only an Odeon cinema!

Its not like I don’t get out much either- we do stuff all the time but the cinema was always a ‘cheap’ option but the tickets were nearly £50 for 1 adult & 3 kids!!

OP posts:
LikeTearsInRain · 08/01/2023 08:19

Tory Brexit Britain

londonrach · 08/01/2023 08:24

£4.99 at local Vue..walked in and paid could see any of the recent films...cheaper than 20 years ago...took own pop corn in^^

DashboardConfessional · 08/01/2023 08:31

Burger King is mad now. The one in Bath closed so I missed seeing the prices increase, but I went to Cribbs Causeway recently and for 2 adult meals it was about £22. About 15 years ago there was a fairly decent choice of meal combo deals for under a fiver. Five Guys or GBK is basically the same price.

00100001 · 08/01/2023 08:35

BK always have deals on though, especially through their app.

I never pay "full price" at BK, just like we never pay full price at places like Pizza express, there's ALWAYS a voucher

dottiedodah · 08/01/2023 08:36

Think it's about right I'm afraid.post covid everything went up.bk is quite dear .in fairness the cinema about 50 quid for 4 not too bad with snacks this adds to the price.must say when we last went hardly anyone there.

00100001 · 08/01/2023 08:40

Just a snapshot of the offers available at BK on the app , there's probably around 20-25 on there

When did a trip to the cinema get so expensive?!
When did a trip to the cinema get so expensive?!
mogsrus · 08/01/2023 10:30

People say when they went to the film that hardy anyone was there, but that relates only to the time you were there, not the rest of the day or remains of the week. I have opened a movie to no one on the afternoon but the last show had been filled. Audience change every day no 2 days are the same. Heavy snow one winter I remember clearly, you could not park anywhere in town but all screens were full all day, even though the film was absolute rubbish back in the day when you had A&B movies.it was warm & cosy inside, we did very well that week

bloodyeverlastinghell · 08/01/2023 10:33

I don’t take the kids anymore it used to be a regular treat. I do wonder if cinemas will survive. Our local is 9-10 quid a ticket no meerkat movies 2 for 1 etc.

faw2009 · 08/01/2023 10:49

bonnielochs · 07/01/2023 19:00

Odeon is very expensive. Three of our family had the Limitless passes, as the kids got good use out of it and my husband likes to go often. Looked to cancel one of the passes as it wasn't getting used enough to justify the cause. Well, the drama! You can't just "unsubscribe" online. Nope, you need to submit a case online and wait "up to 4 weeks for a response" ...aka never! Two cases submitted 6 weeks apart, no answer and another payment taken. Website says to call various customer services lines...all disconnected. I ended up sending about 4 million twitter messages and posts to finally get a response. Ultimately, I cancelled all three memberships as no way I was going through that again. So, expensive AND crap.

Ooh, thanks for the warning!

TheGoogleMum · 08/01/2023 11:01

My local cinema is extortionate for IMAX premium seating and then food is very expensive on top (just looked up avatar and its nearly £15 for kids and even more for adults!). We usually manage to pay less - 2D and standard seats (a good £6.50 cheaper per ticket). They used to do cheaper screenings on certain days of the week too so we would gonthat day. Food is known to be very expensive, we sometimes do have it as a treat but if we were really trying to keep costs down we wouldn't

704703hey · 08/01/2023 14:35

Namechanged75 · 08/01/2023 06:58

I have membership for the Picturehouse Central in London - I buy it each year during the sales and it works out much cheaper.

That said last time I went (to see Mrs Harris goes to Paris) there was a huge rat running up the seat next to me- I was so shocked I screamed! We did tell the staff who were clearly aware there was a problem but said as they are based in Soho there’s not a lot they can do. I know it’s crazy but has put me off going again-lol. Will have to find another cinema .

That would make my ankles quite nervous on any return trip!!

Grrrrdarling · 08/01/2023 18:14

Letshaveablackcelebration22 · 07/01/2023 23:49

As I keep saying, we can’t go to Vue cinema because we don’t have one!

We have an odeon where kids tickets are 11.50 each and then mine was around £16 so £50 odd quid.

We went to Bk as it was DS’s bday and that’s what he wanted to do.

I am just shocked at the cost of both the cinema and just going for a burger! The whole shabang to be honest but £11.50 per child for the cinema seems daylight robbery. It’s just an Odeon! Bog standard!

Current prices for my Odeon for Wakanda Forever are in the pic.
Unless you have managed to catch the last 3D showing, which costs more, our prices are way down on what you payed.
We went to see this movie in IMax 3D & it cost £56 for 2adults & 2 kids (Adult & Child recliner tickets) but we knew it was that price before going - we often go to the cinema for big movies - & it was a special occasion as it was opening weekend.
We saw the original Avatar movie a couple of months before the 2nd one was released & IMax only cost £28 for 1 child & 2 adults. Reason for the low price was us going to a VERY late showing, think 8.45pm start & 1am finish, but it was so worth it.
We don’t often watch IMax or 3D for just any movie & we take our own sweets & drinks. Popcorn at Odeon is yucky. Our nearest cinema is Showcase & I buy popcorn there because it is nice but refuse to buy anything else as it is way over priced!
For future trips download the cinema apps, check out when they have special offer times & go then.
Also eat at home & take your own snacks to lower the cost of the outing or you won’t have change form £100+ these days.

When did a trip to the cinema get so expensive?!
Grrrrdarling · 08/01/2023 18:22

TheGoogleMum · 08/01/2023 11:01

My local cinema is extortionate for IMAX premium seating and then food is very expensive on top (just looked up avatar and its nearly £15 for kids and even more for adults!). We usually manage to pay less - 2D and standard seats (a good £6.50 cheaper per ticket). They used to do cheaper screenings on certain days of the week too so we would gonthat day. Food is known to be very expensive, we sometimes do have it as a treat but if we were really trying to keep costs down we wouldn't

We buy the child & adult recliner ticket for IMax, usually 2 adults & 2 kids going, & it saves us about £10 but still a £56 outing. Avatar & Wakanda forever were so worth it though 😬
We went to see the re-showing of the 1st Avatar a few months before the 2nd one was released & got very late night (movie started at 8.45pm & finished about 12.45pm) IMax tickets for £28 so it is worth switching your times around, if you can, to get cheaper tickets.
I have a medical condition that causes me pain when sitting upright for any period of time so being able to recline in cinema seats, like I do on sofa at home or in bed, makes the price it costs worth it. Us all being able to enjoy watching a movie together & me not be in utter agony during & after is really helpful for us all.

Againstmachine · 08/01/2023 18:37

Cinema isn't expensive , if you choose to buy overpriced food and snacks despite fact you had just eaten that's on you.

The base cost is cheap.

InFiveMins · 08/01/2023 18:46

Cinema tickets at my local Vue are £4.99 a ticket so the tickets are cheap but the food is just ridiculously expensive. I take my own snacks!

sgtmajormum · 08/01/2023 19:09

Our local independent cinema is £10.50 per adult mon-thu then £13.50 at the weekend. 3D is another £2
We usually use meerkat movies in the holidays which is a bit cheaper.

harrassedmumto3 · 08/01/2023 19:23

On the contrary, I don't think it has ever been so cheap!
It was a tenner for both my daughter and I today (any day/time/screening) ... if you pick the cheap seats!

The thing that gets me is bowling. How can something relatively crap be so expensive? Grin

Againstmachine · 08/01/2023 19:29

When people say they can't go to cinema without eating , I do wonder do they not spend 2 hours of their life not eating, they must be constantly snacking all the time.

LemonDrizzle69 · 08/01/2023 19:41

We’ve literally just come back from watching Avatar 2 in 3D at a Reel cinema. Tickets (adult) were £7.95 each. We got two large popcorn and a regular drink which came to £15.
we actually commented how cheap it was. Pre-covid I’m sure the ticket price had gone up to about £15

Funkyslippers · 08/01/2023 19:44

Vue has recently changed their pricing. I got caught out. For our local one at least, the £4.99 tickets are either v near the front or to the side. They have different pricing levels for the other seats, up to around £9

Iamwhatiam52 · 08/01/2023 19:48

£44 for 2 adults to watch avatar 3D. Odeon recliner screen. Ridiculous amount of money!

Crabo · 08/01/2023 19:57

I go to Vue at £4:99 a seat and take my own food & drink in. I think if you can’t sit for a couple of hours without gorging yourself on their overpriced junk then it’s a shame. I do take the grandchildren to see the Cineworld juniors on a Saturday morning sometimes which is pretty cheap at about £2.50

Silverpining · 08/01/2023 19:57

How did you spend so much on a Burger King!

does no one bother downloading the apps beforehand? 2 whopper meals for £8.99

Silverpining · 08/01/2023 19:58

harrassedmumto3 · 08/01/2023 19:23

On the contrary, I don't think it has ever been so cheap!
It was a tenner for both my daughter and I today (any day/time/screening) ... if you pick the cheap seats!

The thing that gets me is bowling. How can something relatively crap be so expensive? Grin

I agree, tickets used to be a lot more a few years ago

TenoringBehind · 08/01/2023 20:31

no £4.99 cinema tickets where I am. We have a choice of two cinemas, one with tickets at £10, the other at £12.

I only go now if it’s just me wanting to see something. It’s too expensive for a family trip out.