Luxury Cinema Experience
April 4th, 2008 by KC
And I still think $10 is outrageous for a movie ticket. Especially with the talkers, cell phone checkers, texters, seat kickers, etc., that add their special brand of annoyance to the movie-going experience of today. While theater owners and managers are currently facing a dilemma in creating a positive experience for their patrons, a new brand of movie theater is coming to the U.S. Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas, originally founded in Australia in 1997, are coming to America complete with all of their luxury amenities, along with a $35 cost per ticket.
Complexes will boast theaters that have reclining armchair seats with footrests, digital projection, a lounge and bar serving cocktails and appetizers, concierge service and valet parking. And forget about popcorn, soda and Milk Duds; Gold Class Cinemas will serve made to order foods such as sushi prepared from on-site chefs, brought to your reclining seat by a waiter.
The plan is to construct 50 Gold Coast Cinemas across the U.S. over the next five years, with the first two opening in October in South Barrington, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and the Seattle suburb Redmond, Washington. I’m certainly all for improving the theater experience, but at what cost I’m not sure. After spending $35 for a ticket, I’d certainly have to cut out my $4 Reese’s Pieces and $10 popcorn/Coke combo…or make that my (sure to be even more expensive) California Roll and Prosecco.
Susan Zanzonico Says:
It sounds lovely, it really does but a little expensive. Plus I’m used to running out the last minute in jeans or whatever to catch a movie. This definitely puts a whole new spin to “Saturday Night at the Movies”
Phyllis Harb Says:
Personally, if dining out, I would prefer conversation rather than viewing a movie.
Carolyn Gjerde-Tu Says:
Eating at the movies actually saves some time, I think it would be nice change sometimes to eat dinner while watching the movie. I don’t think I would chose that type of theater to see every movie, but might be nice occasionally.
Geordie Romer Says:
Paying extra and getting luxury amenities will definitely be popular. Sure $35 a ticket is expensive, but it is relative cheap for First Class experience. It’s cheaper than upgrading to a first class flight and cheaper than a lift ticket almost anywhere.
Vicki Walker Says:
To be truly worth the cost, there would have to be no loud annoying “Previews” that go on forever. There would have to be someone manning the volume control at all times, or maybe personal headphones at each seat so I could control my own volume….Now there’s an idea!