Pondering cinema ethics: are you a candy smuggler?

Big chain: hell, yeah, I sneak in goodies (usually can o' pop)
Local theater: Nope, I want to support them as much as possible (hurrah for the Riverview!)

I'm with Zeldapie: Hell yeah, are you kidding? If you think that I am gonna pay more for pop and popcorn than the movie, do the math! Forget it! For a special event I may spring but on a regular basis, nope! When we were kids part of the fun of going to the drivein was packing the stash bag! I guess I come from a long line of cheapskates but it is really beyond ridiculous what they charge for concessions these days! Tha's all! DRipp

Wait... they still show movies in theaters? Why?

I'm (almost) entirely serious here. There are a few films that I'll make an effort to see in theaters. But soaring prices both for admission and concessions at the box office, the seemingly ever-worsening lack of understanding on the part of so many movie-goers that behavior appropriate for your living room is not necessarily appropriate for a public theater, and the ease and convenience of online DVD rental have all combined to make my forays into the dark of the matinee increasingly rare.

As for concessions, a good film deserves classier fare than soda and popcorn. Something more sophisticated is required -- like cheap, fruit-flavored wine and frozen pizza. And those items are a bit difficult to sneak in. This talk of movie theater concessions does have me craving Twizzlers, though.

Zelda you didn't specifically mention the terrific popcorn at the Riverview... which is probably enough to lure the most frugal smugglers to the light. *grin* I haven't been there in too long.

DRipp, I wondered if someone would mention the drive-in stash bag. The grocery bag full of popcorn wasn't my family's tradition but I know a few who did bring one. Or two. Or perhaps memory fails me, hard to say.

Question for you: if you smuggle in candy, do you bring the same sort that they sell at the concession stand? Junior Mints, Milk Duds? Or do you go for Godiva?

Nearly spit my coffee out at that one G.S.: "Something more sophisticated is required -- like cheap, fruit-flavored wine and frozen pizza" How I miss the fabulous fare of a Cinema Cafe.

As for the Twizzlers - do you enjoy them when you watch at home?

Yeah, the Riverview's popcorn is fantastic! Sometimes my BF (Onie) will stop by there and just get a bag o' popcorn to go. Yummers.

I smuggle in Milk Duds or Butterfingers.

Back in my college days, I'd sneak in a couple bottles of beer - until one time at the Varisty Theater, I dropped an empty and it rolled very loudly down the full length of the theater. Gawd, I was mortified!

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Depends on the occasion. Since I am diabetic and there is nothing available but expensive bottled water or the
( P'TOOEY! ) awful diet coke , if I feel that I will just have to have something while watching the movie I put a can or bottle of diet appropriate drink in my (large) purse, along with a small bag of nuts. I cannot eat the greasy popcorn no matter how wonderful it smells and forget the candy, nachos, pretzels ect. Usually I just go to see the movie. We do have a wonderful local theatre called The Flicks that you can purchase an entire meal and beverage of your choice , including wines or beers, and take it in with you as you enjoy the movie. Many people really like that venue.

I have to admit that there is something strangely powerful about the scent of movie theatre popcorn, enough to make me believe the taste will be as good as the smell.

Every time, the same compelling possibility. More often than not, the actual foodstuff is just good enough to go with a smuggled-in beer.

Julia:

As for the Twizzlers - do you enjoy them when you watch at home?

I haven't eaten Twizzlers at all in ages, but I've been craving them lately when I pop in a DVD... I should pick some up soon.

Nearly spit my coffee out at that one G.S.

I would like to assert that I cannot be held liable for any spat-coffee-related damage to your personal computer or other web-enabled devices.

Zelda - that was you with the empty! Actually, it could have been anyone. Something tells me a case worth of beer was smuggled into each and every show at the Varsity at any given moment.

The Flicks sounds like a nice place to go, Rlene. What is the menu like? Do they have a Web site?

"I just like movies and movie theatres." - R B Couch

Right on! By the way, I'm not sure I want to do the math you suggest. It might lead me to believe the movie theaters are making a ton of money... then again, I suppose it is sort of like food at the airport. Captive market + high costs = passing the price to the consumer.

Kate smuggles beer? The things one can learn about a person with a simple question. What we really want to know now: what brand of beer do you smuggle in, you liquor runner?

Disclaimer read and understood, G.S. Hope you get a good, fresh bag of Twizzlers. Nothing beats them when they're fresh, except maybe a good frozen Charleston Chew.

I'm just "sparking the conversation" here, not looking to get myself hauled in....

C'mon. We won't tell. *grin*

//We won't tell.
This is why I love the internet.

Okay, then. If one of the co-conspirators has an opener, Summit Extra Pale Ale. Otherwise, it's all about the twist-offs.

Should I start a separate thread to confess my sins against the IRS? ;)

Kate -- When I was living in NYC I once stopped by the liquor store, bought a little bottle of rum, went into the movie theater (no, not porn) by myself, bought a diet coke and popcorn and drank Rum-and-Diet Coke through whatever flick I chose.

While my mother would be horrified at the rum, I did grow up bringing in large grocery bags of popcorn made at home. Now I usually just bring bottled water and buy the popcorn. Once my husband and I went into the Highland Theater, bought popcorn and went home to watch the movie we rented. Now THAT's supporting concessions!

Julia, I usually go to Walgreens and stock up on a stash of their 99cent stuff,including Twizzlers, as much as I would pay for one box of JuJuBee's. Don't get anything that takes a lot of unwrapping,hard to see,easy to drop and people get mad at you for all the unwrapping noises.
I loved Cinema Cafe where you could get a huge order of deluxe Nacho's, not an everyday deal but good! Also at the Hieghts Theatre in Columbia Hieghts you can bring in Dairy Queen because they own the DairyQueen so they aren't loosing any $$$ and it's great to have Buster Bar or whatever DQ you like, kind of a treat.DRipp

I don't usually go to theater's or drive ins. I don't believe there is a drive in here but that is beside the point.

Yes, when I do go, I will bring in a candy bar or something. I take real issue with the prices. I am all for business making profits but I think they have to be realistic on their price. Take popcorn, it's really cheap to get in the store. I am not paying 7 or 8 times, the amount at the theater.

When it costs $30 for two people to enjoy a movie in the theater, that's ridiculous to me. I'll wait for pay per view or DVD and my .99 bag of microawave popcorn. And enjoy it all on the comfort of my couch and even hit rewind, when I miss something. At least them, I have a little money left for the ridiculous gas prices.

Am I a candy smuggler?? Is that a rhetorical question? ;-)

... and a canned soda smuggler and a cookie smuggler...

Except for the Riverview, becuz it's a wonderful neighborhood asset, they donate tickets to Nat'l Night out, the movies only cost $3 and are not preceded by any commercials, and the popcorn is topped with *real* (believe it, people!) BUTTER.

Gosh, I ♥ that place so much...

My personal favorite movie theater is tucked behind Andrew's pizza in Hood River, Oregon. Order up a pie, grab a pitcher of locally brewed Full Sail Ale and enjoy dinner while watching a movie in the comfort of a couch or a bean bag. I must admit though, that after a full day of windsurfing the Gorge, I never made it through a single movie without falling asleep, but the experience for the first half hour is well worth it!

Why not bring your own candy and snacks.I mean the movie is expensive enough.

I like big bags and the fact that there is a caramel apple candy store next to the theater.

When I go to the drive-in I buy the concessions, as stale as the popcorn is and as luke-warm as the pizza rolls are. That's because it is one of the last drive-ins in the NY/NJ area and it's damn cheap at $7/person for a double-feature. I don't want them to go out of business because nobody bought their snacks. I sure wish they'd serve fresh 'corn though cuz I luuuurve the 'corn. I am incapable of passing up popcorn at any theater, even if I know it's going to be over-salted and mushy. The indie theaters in NYC tend to have great 'corn, though. And if I'm going to one of the Times Square theaters, I do smuggle in some of the great Zarro's popcorn from Port Authority. I usually try to bring in a water no matter where I go because it's insane to pay $3 for a bottle of water.

I don't bother with many new movies, as I have an extreme distaste for the MTV like editing so popular with brain-dead youth. I have no trouble at all maintaining interest in a shot that lasts more than 2 or 3 nano-seconds.
That said, when I do go out to the movies, it's more often to see a classic pre-Coder. I will often bring a high quality chocolate bar and a bottle of India Pale Ale.
Speaking of beer, there is a wonderful theatre in Oakland, CA that actually sells Pints of excellent (Sierra Nevada Pale Ale) brew at reasonable prices along with pizza (which I eschew). Talk about civilization!!!

I guess I'm a curmudgeon, but I don't like to eat or drink at the movies, and I resent people who make a lot of noise doing so. To me, the smell of movie popcorn is off-putting. I still go frequently though, especially to the local, independant theaters; there's something about that big screen. Now if we can only get people to stop talking during the film.

Is there a difference between smuggling candy and smuggling a whole take out dinner? I tend not to do either, but this past Sunday, I experienced a full Chinese dinner being eaten in front of me, chopsticks and all. Twizzlers is one thing, but kung pao chicken?

The only reason I would ever smuggle in a snack is to bring in something healthy (like frozen grapes). And that would be fairly rare for me, usually I go to the movies after eating a meal which kinda solves that problem.

I rarely go to the movies anymore, but when I do I usually buy from the concession. I guess I crave the whole experience.

That said ... over the last 20 years my purchase habits have changed. I used to get the large popcorn and soda (16 oz) and now opt for a small of each (24 oz). What's up with the massive quantities they push at us. If I hear one more time "You can get the large soda for only $.25 more" I might scream. Of course the large comes in the size of a pitcher and takes two hands to carry ... who can drink that much and still sit still for the movie.

Interesting question. I generally purchase the food from the theater but slowly find my self changing toward bringing in peanuts.

I have seen in the conversation that there are those who sneak snacks in to the chain theaters while purchasing snacks from the local theater. One thing I learned through research was that theaters get a percentage of ticket sales on a siding scale. On opening day a movie theater recieves a small percentage that increases as each day passes beyond opening day. So if you plan on attending a theater keep that in mind since conssecions make up a bigger part of the profits during opening night. This explains why my local theater will not always offer Thursday premiers since they make less money and wait for weekend attendance.

I have visited a few Cafe Theaters and look for any opportunities return since one can order burgers, wine, beer, mixed drinks, pizza and many other regular foods. The wait staff do a great job of staying out of your way. It makes for a better movie experience.

I admit it. I like the butter-flavored goop that comes on the popcorn (don't pop my bubble - I know it's a death wish), and half the time I go to the movies, it's for a popcorn fix. I draw the line at the $4 diet coke, though. A bottle of water fits nicely between my popcorn bag and my elbow.

As for the question posed, Kristen O-- you have no ethical dilemma when you add your own ingredients to what they sell. They tell you not to bring in your own food simply so you'll buy theirs, but you're still buying theirs, so I don't see a problem. Now, if you drink the entire contents of the rum bottle, well ..... (Oh -- Is that what those tiny bottles by the cash register at the liquor store are for? I wondered what the point of those is.) I compromise and promote the Love & Logic approach to concession buying: either I bring in my water and buy their popcorn, or I don't buy anything, which doesn't help their bottom line at all, and sort of mars the whole experience for me. Very logical, you see. And I gotta have the p-corn fix, so it's really a moot point.

Any tacky behaviour can be justified - especial if it is going to keep money in your pocket. However, you can always wait to the see the movie when it appears on DVD. Besides, if the movie doesn't have a decent run in the theater - then it is likely a lousy movie. Therefore, you know NOT to see the movie. Hence, you don't have to play semantics to justified your tacky behavior at the the theater and you save your hard earn money!

Sometimes I do,because there are films that only in this way are tolerable!

If movie tickets weren't so costly, would we be inclined to "smuggle?"

For me, the price of the movie tickets has nothing to do with smuggling candy and drinks -- it's the price of the candy and drinks that gets me to smuggle! People who complain about the price at the gas pumps should be focusing their energies here -- THIS is price gouging! The same phenomenon happens in amusement parks where they don't allow outside beverages in and you're practically trapped into paying $4/bottle for water just to stay hydrated in the summer heat.

I generally skip any food in the theatre, though I usually bring a bottle of soda or water with me. At the mall theatre, I would always stop in the food court and get a 36 oz soda for under $1.25, which was probably a $6 value at the concession stand!

This past winter, my wife and mother went to a movie together. My wife snuck in two cans of Hansen's Natural Soda. What's funny is that the cans had frozen in the car (in upstate NY), so when they opened them, the cans immediately started overflowing and hissing loudly for a solid 30 seconds.

I crave the popcron at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline, it is so good!