You Must Choose – why do YOU go to the movies?
By Burbanked on Mar 17, 2006 in Movies, Views and Reviews, You Must Choose | 1,199 views |
Generally, I’m a pretty happy-go-lucky guy, but when I see “news” articles like this one, the cranky little old man who lives inside me gets out of bed and starts stomping around. Essentially, there’s excitement at the ShoWest convention because a recent survey supports the 15-80 minutes of commercials to which we’re subjected prior to the movie we’ve just overpaid for.
In other words, theater owners are happy that there’s good news for theater owners.
Is it true that serious moviegoers really don’t care about the actual movie-going experience? Lend your voice to an extremely scientific survey from Burbanked after the jump.
So what do you think? Do serious moviegoers really not care at all about the actual movie-going experience? According to the article, all theater owners need to provide is “cleanliness and ambiance” and we will come, gleefully flinging our money into their coffers, blissfully indifferent to whatever experience we have once we’ve sat down with our $17.25 bag of popcorn.
There has to be more to it than that, or indeed we’d all stay home and watch DVDs instead. So we’re going to ask you, the massive Burbanked readership, to give voice to what truly goes into your movie-going decisions. Please take a moment to fill out our brief – and extremely scientific – survey below, and let the entire world know the wondrous truth, unfiltered by the desperate publicity efforts of the increasingly-revenue-deficient theater owners:
(Suggestion: leave a comment with your answers such as “1. A, 2. B”, etc. Or copy the questions below and paste them into a Comment with your answers selected. So this is low-tech – what did you want for free?)
- What are the two most influential factors (1 = most, 2 = second) when you choose a movie to see in the theater?
- Actors who are in the movie
- Director who has made the movie
- Friend’s recommendation
- Newspaper reviews
- Online reviews
- Specific theater where the movie is playing
- Rate the following factors in order of importance (1 = most important; 4 = least) in influencing your choice to see a movie in the theater:
- Being on a date or with friends
- Big screen/quality sound
- Experience the movie in presence of an audience
- Get to be the first to see a newly released movie
- Rate the following factors in order of importance (1 = most important; 4 = least) of what you DISLIKE about going to the movie theater:
- Cost
- Commercials shown prior to movie
- Crowds
- Inconvenience
- Poor projection/sound quality
- If two movie theaters are otherwise equal, which ONE of the following factors most helps you choose one over the other?
- Better projection/sound quality
- Cheaper ticket price
- Cleanliness/ambiance
- More convenient location
- No commercials shown prior to movie
- Theater brand (AMC, Regal, etc.)
- Your age:
- 18-25
- 25-35
- 35-45
- 45-120
- On average, how many movies do you see at the theater per month?
- 1
- 4
- 8
- More
- On average, how many DVDs do you rent to watch at home per month?
- 1
- 4
- 8
- More
- Do you have any of the following at home (choose all that apply):
- Big screen TV
- DVD player
- Netflix
- Surround sound
Thanks for taking the survey. If we get enough answers, we’ll follow up with results!
© Copyright
shane | May 18, 2006 | Reply
1. What are the two most influential factors (1 = most, 2 = second) when you choose a movie to see in the theater?
1 – Friend’s recommendation
2 – Online reviews
Really, it’s none of these. If my wife and I think we will like it AND if we have the time, then we MAY see it in a theatre.
2. Rate the following factors in order of importance (1 = most important; 4 = least) in influencing your choice to see a movie in the theater:
1 – Big screen/quality sound
2 – Being on a date or with friends
3 – Experience the movie in presence of an audience
4 – Get to be the first to see a newly released movie
Actually, the last two have no importance at all. Neither I nor my wife care if we are the first to see a move; and more than half the time the “presence of the audience” detracts from our enjoyment.
3. Rate the following factors in order of importance (1 = most important; 4 = least) of what you DISLIKE about going to the movie theater:
1 – Crowds
2 – Inconvenience
3 – Poor projection/sound quality
4 – Cost
5 – Commercials shown prior to movie
Going to the morning matinee takes care of 1, 4, and possibly 5 (arrive late)
4. If two movie theaters are otherwise equal, which ONE of the following factors most helps you choose one over the other?
* Better projection/sound quality
* Cleanliness/ambiance
It’s a tie between these two.
5. Your age:
* 25-35
6. On average, how many movies do you see at the theater per month?
* 1
Truthfully, it’s more like one movie in three months. But that has more to do with the lack of movies my wife and I are willing to go see than the theatre itself.
7. On average, how many DVDs do you rent to watch at home per month?
* More
We have over 200 DVDs and usually watch 2-3 per week.
8. Do you have any of the following at home (choose all that apply):
* DVD player
* Surround sound
One day, the HDTV will come too.
The best that theatre owners can do is keep the place clean, maintained, and up-to-date. If they do not do that, then they risk us driving past them for better theatres. The rest is all about the quality of movies that come out and if we are willing to go to see them, over which theatre owners have no control.