Movie Ticket Prices Rose 5% This Year

If it feels like you’re paying more than ever for a movie ticket, you’re right.

A new study by the Hollywood Reporter shows that ticket prices have risen 40 cents during 2010. That translates to a five percent hike in the cost of seeing a movie. And with the higher ticket prices, audience attendance is down by one percent.

The question facing industry executives is whether consumers will revolt sooner or later. TheWrap argued that high 3D prices had at least some role in the disappointing performance of recent boxoffice fare, such as “Piranha 3D.”

While most said price concerns are overblown, one exhibition executive told TheWrap that the fall season should bring further insight into consumer reactions and that there was “not much room” for further price increases.

Hollywood analyst Richard Greenfield in a research note on Thursday argued that “consumer 3D fatigue is already starting to show given the abusive ticket prices that exhibitors are charging for poor 3D content.” And he criticized studios for a lack of quality product. “Hollywood is putting out bad 3D movie after bad 3D movie,” he said, citing that the recent “Cats and Dogs” sequel in 3D was priced $3-$5 above “Inception.”

Greenfield is particularly concerned about family films in 3D “as we have witnessed numerous five-year-olds spending more time playing with their 3D glasses than watching the movie.”

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