Quentin Tarantino Said Movie Tickets Are Too High In 2016 – And It’s Gotten Worse
Quentin Tarantino’s comments about movie ticket prices from a few years ago have resurfaced and are trending on both Twitter and Instagram. In an interview from nearly a decade ago, the Hateful Eight director says movie tickets have gotten too high — and he’s been maintaining this stance since the ’80s.
Tarantino has often criticized the film industry lately, including companies producing films for streaming platforms and the industry's reliance on superhero films.
People Weigh In On If They Think Movie Tickets Have Become Too High Or Not
At a director’s roundtable for The Hollywood Reporter in 2016, Tarantino stated: “Movie ticket prices: they were $5 forever in America. And then, all of a sudden, they start moving up.” After listing the gradual increase in price, the New York Times reports that the average movie theater ticket price in the United States is $11.75 in 2022. The publication adds that multiplex chains make most of their money from their concessions, so it is in their economic interest to keep ticket prices low.
Tarantino adds in the video, “This is a working man’s art form. It’s not opera, it’s not theater, it’s not going to a big concert. The idea was anybody could go and see a movie.” The award-winning director points out that is why movies “flourished” in the ’30s, and “it’s not anymore. We have priced them out until now it’s a deal.”
However, people were quick to either point out that Tarantino doesn’t know what he is talking about, or agree with his statement. One person on X (formerly Twitter) commented on the variety of ticket prices. “He needs to do more research. $5 Tuesday #atAMC, Discounted matinees, $AMC Alist, Screenunseen for $5,” adding, “This headline is missing context. Comparatively speaking movies is the most affordable entertainment compared to concerts/sporting events etc. Wife & I less than $20 date night.” Another argued, “Yes but films cost more to produce nowadays.” While a third criticized the state of movie quality and wrote, “Maybe Hollywood should stop making crap then?” One person snarkily commented, “Can someone tell this old guy a smoothie is $15?”
Though there are discounted days and matinees at major theater chains like AMC and cheaper options at local theaters and in more remote parts of the county, many people also pointed out not everyone has access to these lower ticket prices. One person said, “Majority of the public goes Friday, Saturday or Sunday so a $5 ticket at start of the work week doesn’t help anyone.” Another user wrote, “I can’t believe people in the comments caping for high ticket prices. Bootlicking much?” A third stated, “People talking about Tuesday pricing or matinees or whatever don’t understand that lots of people don’t have the free time or flexibility to do that for a ticket discount.” Complaining about the high cost to take their family, another person said, “It cost about $100 to go to the movies these days. 4 tickets cost close to $50 and then the concessions are close to $50 for drinks and popcorn. Very rarely do we go anymore.”
Since Tarantino’s comments about high movie ticket prices in 2016, when prices were $8.65 on average in the US, the prices have increased every year.
