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18 To 24-Year-Olds Are Hitting the Big Screen at Lower Rates (fastcompany.com)

Posted by msmash on from the what-we-watch dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: For data and movie geeks, the MPAA's latest "Theatrical Market Statistics" report is a wealth of information about the health of the movie business. The big picture: 246 million people went to the movies in the United States and Canada last year, a 2% increase from the year before. But dig into the trends and things start to get a little more interesting. For instance, looking at per capita attendance broken down by age group shows 18- to 24-year-olds are hitting the big screen at lower rates than they were in 2012, although they saw an uptick last year.

12 of 226 comments (clear)

  1. 18 to 24 year-olds are broke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They're broke that's why.

    Ticket prices keep going up with inflation, wages not so much.

    1. Re:18 to 24 year-olds are broke by DuckDodgers · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Agreed. Young adults can't afford the ticket prices. Going to a movie theater was always a luxury event, but for some kid working at a gas station or earning a few dollars in a college work study can't drop $13 just for two hours at a theater.

    2. Re:18 to 24 year-olds are broke by Moheeheeko · · Score: 3, Insightful

      For the price of a ticket and a small bag of popcorn, you can wait 6 months, rent and or buy the same film, and watch the same film on your own home system, and without overpriced snacks and assholes who talk during the movie.

    3. Re:18 to 24 year-olds are broke by thinkwaitfast · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I was very young when Star Wars, but I vividly remember that it cost $2.25. Plugging the values into the Inflation Calculator, I get a value of $9.04 today. I saw Hidden Figures last month and paid $9.00 for a ticket.

      Minimum wage in 1977 was $2.31, or $9.29 inflation adjusted. Minimum wage as of January 1, 2017 - $10.00 Maybe movies just suck

  2. Why? by SlithyMagister · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Perhaps if there was something worth watching...
    Something other than re-hashed comic books perhaps...

  3. Too expensive and not clean by pablo_max · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The last few times that I went to the cinema, I was very disappointment with the experience.

    The last thing I saw was in 3D, so I had to pay an additional 5 bucks. So, 40 bucks for two people. Then 5 bucks for the "small" 200 ounce soda and another 5 bucks for a "small" dumpster full of popcorn.
    Then you sit down in the grungy seat and watch the movie. Then notice that the audio is not really calibrated all that well.
    Then the movie is over and you try to pry your shoes from the soda glue all over the floor. Maybe you even use the bathroom with the pervasive urine smell and racist comments carved into the doors.

    Yeah... Hard to imagine that attendance is down.

    1. Re:Too expensive and not clean by David_Hart · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The last few times that I went to the cinema, I was very disappointment with the experience.

      The last thing I saw was in 3D, so I had to pay an additional 5 bucks. So, 40 bucks for two people. Then 5 bucks for the "small" 200 ounce soda and another 5 bucks for a "small" dumpster full of popcorn.
      Then you sit down in the grungy seat and watch the movie. Then notice that the audio is not really calibrated all that well.
      Then the movie is over and you try to pry your shoes from the soda glue all over the floor. Maybe you even use the bathroom with the pervasive urine smell and racist comments carved into the doors.

      Yeah... Hard to imagine that attendance is down.

      My local theater became a Showcase de Lux with leather electronic recliner seating, etc. Yes, you pay a bit more for the ticket but the experience is completely different from the old sticky seat days on cheap night... That being said, the vast majority of movies on Bluray 4K look and sound just as good on my 65" UHD 4K TV and Denon Dobly Surround system as they do on the big screen and my fridge is a whole lot closer.

        I do still go to the movies, but I'm picky about which I see on the big screen. The last was John Wick 2. The next one I will watch in the Theater is Ghost in the Shell.

  4. Re:three reasons: by geekmux · · Score: 4, Insightful

    1. money....Exorbitant fees for tickets and concessions price most of them well outside the range of the 18-24 demographic.

    And yet fueling up with a $7 mochafuckachino at the local hipster coffee shop every morning, along with a $100/month all-you-can-eat unlimited cellular plan, are well within the gotta-have-it budget for everyone in the 18-24 demographic.

    Funny how that shit excuse of "money" gets confused with priorities...

  5. Re:three reasons: by dwillden · · Score: 2, Insightful

    No argument on the coffee, but likely they are riding on their parent's cell plan getting that unlimited data for $10-$15 bucks a month while Daddy pays the main fee.

    --
    I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
  6. It's interesting to watch the class divide on /. by waspleg · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Most people are posting the same 2 view points (with the 3rd probably being simply the experience sucks because reasons):

    1.) Home theater systems are so much better now, mine is amazing and/or there are amazing ones available.

    2.) People, especially in the 18-24 yo age group, are fucking poor and can't afford to go to the movies (most of these are ignoring the obvious, that they can't afford the home theater system either).

    I'm not in either of those 2 categories (more like the 3rd, without the money or inclination for a huge home theater, apartment dweller and not rich with a deep loathing of crowds), but this seems like a poll worthy topic (no I didn't check to see if it already exists) with "Cowboy Neal is my projectionist" as a 4th?

  7. Re:three reasons: by chispito · · Score: 2, Insightful

    1. money. boomers spent a generation ruining any chance of a millenial or post millenials ability to buy anything more than a bus pass.

    This blame-Millennials, blame-Boomers crap is counterproductive and stupid. I'm sorry you had crappy parents but mine are great. And likewise with Millennials: I know a few starry-eyed 20-somethings myself and I hope they can learn from at least a few of my own mistakes.

    --
    The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
  8. Re:Generation Z leans to the political right. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    From what I know about Rightists and Alt-Rightists this is their view on Social Justice and SJW:
    "Social Justice" is a set of petty, morally bankrupt and often contradictory ideas presented as a justice that all people should follow and believe. Like giving certain groups of people more rights than others for the sake of correcting discrimination, in their view that is unfair and just another form of discrimination.
    "Social Justice Warrior" is a person indoctrinated by this ideology and who fights to spread it.

    Also, I would like to say something that is my own opinion: avoid accusing or implying a group of people have a connection or agree with Adolf Hitler's ideas, even if not totally unfounded. I say it because:
    -It generally doesn't bring them or others to agree with you if they don't already
    -it is a problematic tactic that can make you look desperate and/or aggressive
    -You might force the other side of the argument to be completely hostile to you, turning a discussion into a fight when that could be avoided by exerting moderation.