Memo to M. Night Shyamalan: Movie Theaters Are the Problem

Dear M. Night Shyamylan:

In your speech to exhibitors at ShowEast, you lamented how simultaneous release of movies in theater and on DVDs would ruin the “shared and sacred experience of cinema.”

I understand what you’re doing. You’re kissing a little Hollywood bootie with those who have gathered box office receipts and made you a multi millionaire. So, how can you not be beholden to the mechanism that helped make you a star?

But seriously. The shared, sacred experience? It’s obvious that you watch your films either in a studio screening room, or at the DGA theater as a part of some hob-nobby Hollywood conclave. Otherwise, you would be well-versed in the current state of your sacred cinematic experience.  But since you’ve obviously forgotten, allow me to enlighten you.

1. Ticket prices. In case you haven’t noticed, M. Night, going to the movies isn’t as affordable as it used to. In fact it’s so expensive that current federal estimates note that it easily outpaces inflation. According to the MPAA, the average movie ticket price in 2001 was $5.66. 2001. That's only 4 short years ago. Today – it’s $10. TEN DOLLARS. Now you may be able to afford to attend movies regularly at that price at your rate of $10 MILLION DOLLARS for making “Unbreakable,” (wait, I keep forgetting, you get in FREE anytime you want) but I can tell you what isn’t unbreakable is the moviegoer pocketbook. And in case you were too busy making one of those blockbuster flops you’ve been giving us lately, ticket prices have RISEN every single year since 2001. That’s nearly a 200% increase.

It used to be that when a good movie came out, moviegoers would see it 2, 3, 4 times or more. Seeing the original Star Wars 100 times on screen isn’t uncommon amongst the faithful. But now, it’s simply cheaper to see a good film once and buy it on DVD to enjoy on the big screen.