Would you pay $30 to watch a movie at home?
Predicting whether or not new technology services will succeed has proven to be a bit of a crapshoot. But I'm going to go out on a limb with this one and say it will never take off.
I'm referring to a recent story I read on TechCrunch describing how movie studios have struck a deal to create a premium video-on-demand service on DIRECTV. The service will bring movie titles to your home just 60 days after their release in the movie theaters. But here's, the catch. The cost to watch the movie will be $30.
Now believe me, I've done the math. For my wife and I to go out to a movie costs us roughly $10/ticket plus another $10 for popcorn and drinks plus another $15-20 for a babysitter. That all easily adds up to more than $30.
But that's exactly why my wife and I don't go out to the movie theaters that often. So charging us nearly the same price to watch it at home does nothing for us. And besides, at least when I go to the movie theater I can indulge in that buttery popcorn goodness.
And I just can't get it out of my mind that if we are willing to wait another month or two, we can skip the movie theater altogether and purchase the DVD for $15 or rent it at Redbox for $1.
Am I alone on this? Would anyone pay $30 just for the privilege of watching a movie at home 60 days after its theatrical release?
8 comments for this blog post so far...
April 12, 2011 at 5:29 am
Eric Heistand
This is nuts… No way would I pay $30 for this. This will be a big fail.
April 12, 2011 at 7:31 am
Doug
I agree...that is why I don’t go to the new release movies. I am perfectly content to wait for the $1 shows or for it to come out at RedBox or Netflix and watch it at home. Of course I do have a 106 inch screen that makes the wait worth while. No WAY!!! would I pay $30 to see a movie at home.
April 12, 2011 at 8:08 am
Penemuel
Might I just say, oh *hell* no! I don’t even buy the DVDs for $30 unless it’s a collector’s edition of something I really, really want. $30 to watch it “on demand” at home? Um… no.
April 12, 2011 at 8:13 am
Sandy
Crazy! Part of the reason that people go to the movie theater is to go ou.! Sometimes I need a break from the kids. Also the movie theater is so MUCH larger than my flat screen at home. It will be a flop at that price. I do love Redbox too!
April 12, 2011 at 9:47 am
Dorothy
In two words----NO WAY!!!
April 12, 2011 at 10:58 am
Tony Burton
The cost is 90% of why my wife and I only go out to a movie theater perhaps twice a year. The last time we went it cost us over $50. (3D movie, with mandatory glasses.) I’m sorry, but anyone who is so impatient they simply MUST see the movie within 60 days of release, probably deserves whatever price point the studios can set.
Maybe if they said “within two weeks of opening” it might be appealing--you could skip all the lines and stuff at the theater--but they’re not going to do that.
April 12, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Kriss
This is obviously a late April Fools joke. No one in their right mind would pay $30 to watch movies at home unless they are buying a permanent DVD or something, even that would be a stretch.
Paying $30 at a movie theatre is completely different you are paying for an experience, getting out of the house and a screen a many times bigger than even the biggest the average person buys and surround sound to boot.
I don’t care if the movie comes out the same time it is in the theatres. Gas isn’t that high yet that I can’t drive a couple miles to a threatre. Though, even if my life depended upon it I don’t think i would be pay $30 to watch a movie at home.
Crazy!
April 12, 2011 at 5:28 pm
maria rose
if i could see it at the same time it comes out in theaters it would be worth to have a gathering of friends over to view it with and have in home movie night with guests bringing all the food and drinks over. would work great if you have a room big enough for all to sit around and view the big screen TV. Don’t the guys do this cost to view special sports events.
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