Entertainment is supposed to be one of those recession-proof businesses; even in tough economic times, people still go to the movies. This summer’s blockbuster box office seems to bear that out. On the other hand, an informal poll last week at Movietickets.com suggested that as many as two thirds of moviegoers have changed their ticketbuying habits as a result of the economy. (The poll is gone from the site now, but the site’s publicist provided me with the poll results. Asked how the current economy had changed their moviegoing habits, 31 percent said it had done so "noticeably," 33 percent said, "drastically," and 36 percent said, "No change." There were 2,168 respondents.)
Anecdotally, I imagine this is true. Tell us, PopWatchers: Has the economy affected your spending on entertainment? If so, how has it altered your moviegoing, or music-buying, or video rentals, or book purchases? Or has your pop culture consumption remained the same?
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I don’t buy as much music any more… but I don’t know if that is the economy or just crappy new music.
It has defintely effected my spending habits. I only go to the movies that I want to see and have also rec’d good reviews. I bring in snacks. I cancelled my netflix and get my dvd’s and cd’s and books through the public library. They can get anything I need through interlibrary loan and there is no charge.
For my household, it’s one part the-economy and three parts we-have-a-two-year-old. It’s a LOT easier to wait for a movie to come out on DVD and watch it at home after Megan’s gone to bed than to arrange for a babysitter (and that’s $30+) and then have the going-out costs on top of that. We’ve only seen two movies in the theaters in 2008, and since HPHBP got moved to ‘09, it’s likely we won’t go out to see any more movies this year.
I stopped going to the theater to see movies years ago but it wasn’t due to teh economy. I would much rather watch them in the comfort of my own home in peace and quiet then in a theater where I have to hear idiots on their cell phones or people talking through the film or kids kicking my chair from behind me. Not to mention the poeple who come in late and walk infront of me to get to an open seta blocking my view.
this has nothing to do with your question, but there’s something wrong with that Metallica gallery.
the pictures don’t match the text, it’s like photo 7 matches text 6. you guys should check that.
I stopped buying books – can get them at library whenever I want them. I have not rented a DVD in a while – nothing intriguing. Watching alot more TV/DVR. If I do go to the movies, it is a matinee with no snacks – just not worth the $25-$30 bucks to go at night, with food.
More than economic factors, it has been the quality of films (or lack-there-of) and my total intolerance for other people in the theater that has cut down my moviegoing.
I stopped going to the theater in 2005, after I got dismayed from paying to see films that truly sucked. That’s when I got Netflix. I see maybe 5 movies a year now, compared to before Netflix when I went every other weekend.
I guess I’m saying that it was a combo of the econony and crappy films that stopped me from going to see movies. I pay $15 a month to watch 8 films from Netflix (2 a week), which only equates to about 1.5 films at the movie theater for that price.
Not to mention, what’s the point of going to the theater when the movie you want to see comes out on DVD 3 months later? That’s not a long time to wait.
Matt: I’d bet it’s because of crappy new music.
I use netflix more, I enter contests for free advance screening of movies. Today will be the first time since Batman’s opening weekend that I’ll be paying for a movie. Before that, I believe it was Rambo 4. As for music, I listen to more radio. I love NKOTB so much I broke down and bought that cd but before that, Madonna’s last cd was the only one I had purchased this year.
I’ve definitely started going to the theater less with the higher tickets prices and less money in my pocket. My summer movie count was at an all-time low of five. I’m willing to wait for the other movies I kind of wanted to see to come out on video or run on HBO.
The economy? Man, I wish it was the economy. I haven’t been to a movie in more than a month, have had to significantly cut back on DVD and video game purchases and haven’t downloaded a song in a while. The cause? A newborn baby. You want to see something that can wreak havoc and end your social life as you know it? Have a kid and watch the disposable income and free time just float away…
Because of the economy I always recommend the first movie showing because it is usually discounted by up to 3 dollars. Also, we have a discount cinema for 1.75 you can see movies that just left the regular theaters. You may not see it when it first comes out but you get to see at on the big screen and for less than a movie rental. I use Blockbuster rewards to rent movies, rent a new release between Mon and Wednesday and you get an older movie for free. When we go to the movies, no popcorn or soda which is so expensive. Mostly we stay at home and watch movies on demand. It is free with our service, so we save a lot that way also and we have movie nights at home with the kids. We go to the dollar tree and get popcorn, soda and snacks. Much cheaper, easier commute and fun.
I’ve just tweaked my entertainemnt habits. I try to go on Cheapy Tuesday (1/2 price) and Matinees. The only major difference is I buy a lot less movies. I just can’t jusify paying 26$ to 30$ (here in Canada anyways) for a movie I may only watch 2 or 3 times.
The last two CD’s I bought were the result of a 40% off sale at Borders. Otherwise, I use iTunes or get stuff from my roommate’s extensive music collection.
I got a Chicago Public Library card and luckily, there’s a branch four blocks from work and one in my neighborhood. When I do buy books, I rarely do so without a coupon.
I am extremely fortunate to work at a film and media organization, so I can borrow DVDs for free. Also, I get into two Chicago movie theatres (with indie films, the kind I like best) for free. Therefore, I only go to mainstream stuff that I really really really want to see in theatres (e.g. The Dark Knight).
Our cinema has a 5 buck club where a handful of movies at any given time is only five dollars. That makes it easier.
I still go to movies whenever the movie is worth seeing in the theaters. Sometimes I’ll go on Sunday mornings and save a few bucks. I call it Sunday Brunch. I also save money on snacks cause who wants popcorn and candy at 11 in the morning???
I’m over renting movies. I don’t rent enough movies to sign up for Netflix or Blockbuster.com, but I refuse to pay 4/5 bucks to rent a movie. Sometimes Blockbuster will have “buy 4 for $20″ and I’ll just buy pre-viewed movies instead.
I don’t buy music. And the most money I spend is on DVD sets, but a lot of times people get me those for Christmas or birthdays or something.
I borrow books from people when I can. My sister’s collection is my own personal library.
I only saw three movies this summer and I only paid full price for one to see at a midnight show. The other two I saw as matinees. I usually take my son to see several movies over the summer but I just got several through Netflix instead. Plus I haven’t bought a book since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I been borrowing once recommended from friends and I haven’t read anything I’ve had to have.
I can’t afford to go to the movies anymore, I have to wait for it on Netflix. I have a list of CDs that I’ll put on my xmas list. Money’s not that tight right now, but you never know what’s just around the corner. Yeah, I could buy My Morning Jacket’s new CD, but if I lose my job today, I’d rather have the money I’dve spent in my checking account.
Working in Manhattan affords me the opportunity to attend revival screenings whenever I can. They’re worth my time and money a lot more than today’s crap! I saw a one day only screening of Clouzot’s WAGES OF FEAR last week. What an experience! For those of you who are too young to know what the hell I’m talking about, I’ll just say that it’s old, it’s black and white, and it’s in French – which means you probably wouldn’t be interested!
The public library is amazing! I can request anything to be sent to my local branch and they’ll send me an email when it’s there to pick up. But I still spend money on going to the movies.
Yes, it has. I now try & get free passes to movies, or download them from the internet for 99c-3.99c vs. paying $8 to see a movie.
I haven’t been to a play or concert in years. Too expensive and it’s hard to get tickets.
I take “mini-vacations” 2-3 days, that’s the most I can afford.
Like Winona, our entertainment spending is curbed more by our 18-month old than by the economy. Much, much easier to rent a movie than pay for a sitter. We went to see Dark Knight in the theater, but that’s probably the first time we’ve actually gone to a movie in months and months. I can’t even remember the last time. Movies at home, with wine and homemade dessert are just as satisfying.
I bought one CD last year (Prince) and will buy one this year only (Jennifer Hudson)…that’s about it for me.
I agree with Geemoney….movies come out so quick now. Plus you can download them (free) for about 99c-3.99c.
Plus, let’s not forget Hollywood is still making crappy movies. For every good one there are about 10 bad ones.
It’s not the economy, it’s the fact that there are never many movies that I want to see badly enough to go to the theater. My husband wanted to go to a movie last weekend, but out of 5 theaters, there were maybe 4 or 5 movies that I wanted to see at all, and none that were worth the drive and the ticket price.
Considering I just got laid off last week, I would say the economy is hitting me really hard! So no movies for me. I will have to wait and see them on cable (my one entertainment expense + TIVO).
I can’t remember the last time I paid full price to see a first run movie. And it’s probably been even longer since we rented a movie (not counting VOD). We get most of our movies at the library.
Finances also forced us to cut back on our cable service. So now I’m forced to scour the Internet for a lot shows I don’t get anymore.
When it comes to a night out at the movies, a family of four can spend about $60 to enjoy a two hour outing or they can purchase a movie for $20-$30 and enjoy it several times (plus bonus features). It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what most people would choose. Theater going has become something people save for “event” films like Dark Knight, Star Wars or films that are a different experience (Journey in 3-D etc). Maybe if stars didn’t need a $20 Million paycheck or studios didn’t need to turn a 300 percent profit, theater owners could afford to pass those savings on to moviegoers.