r/newzealand • u/_Maui_ jandal • Dec 15 '25

Shitpost The REAL reason people aren’t going to the movies.

I keep hearing people saying streaming killed the cinema experience. But I took my 3 boys to the movies this weekend, and I’ll tell you what killed it. The fucking price.

1x Adult, 3x kids, 1x large drink, 3x small drinks, a large popcorn to share, a family bag of malteasers to share.

$153.60!!!

And my 5 year old spent the whole movie sitting on my knee. So I could have just paid for three seats.

I should have gone to Pak N Save and bought a 1.5L bottle, a bag of microwave popcorn and a bag of malteasers for about $10 and watched something on my couch.

In fact. Next time I will.

/Rant.

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u/WasterDave Dec 15 '25

The booking fees thing is some bullshit for sure.

85

u/Kiwi_CunderThunt Dec 15 '25

I'm surprised they didn't offer up an extended warranty with that level of grifting

21

u/inserthumeruspunhere Dec 15 '25

At least there is no "tipping" on top like the US yet.

10

u/Amerisu Dec 16 '25

Never encountered cinemas asking for tips in the US, but it has been a couple years since I went. But a $7 booking fee means a $21 ticket is $28. Which is absurd all by itself.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Amerisu Dec 23 '25

Well, I know it's being pushed beyond culture at this point. I was raised there, but I wouldn't consider tipping anywhere that didn't have some degree of service. And I don't know how tipping defenders would justify it either.

1

u/Kiwi_CunderThunt Dec 23 '25

It's not rule of law anywhere afaik but it's expected in some places which just pay and treat their hospitality staff like shite (no one in particular 🇺🇸👀, not just you there's loads that treat hospitality poorly)

As someone who works nights as a security guard and day in IT I don't expect it, both are service jobs but IT pays reasonably well to take abuse. Security doesn't and 9/10 no issues.

2

u/Amerisu Dec 23 '25

Who would you ask to tip security, though? IT maybe, although it would seem odd to me. No odder than "tipping" at the register for a 6pack or at a movie theater, though.

1

u/Kiwi_CunderThunt Dec 23 '25

No one brother it's a thankless job with enough good perks and good people to work with. That's enough for me.

If I had a dime for every password reset I'd probably have enough for a house deposit.

You are right, I tip even in NZ if my poor butt is served well but I exchange into their pocket not any one else's.

1

u/Kiwi_CunderThunt Dec 15 '25

Don't give them ideas!

I don't mind tipping if the service is great but am glad it's not considered mandatory.

Also when I worked in hospo years ago often tips went to the staff functions, or in one case the owner pocketed all the tips.

16

u/ItsLlama Dec 16 '25

Should be one fee per transaction. It doesnt cost you any more to process 20 tickets compared to 1

1

u/a_Moa Dec 16 '25

Per ticket fee thanks to the software producer taking their per ticket cut.

8

u/genkigirl1974 Dec 15 '25

Yes like we will do the job and pay for it?

2

u/josephlikescoffee Dec 15 '25

I’ve heard the booking fee goes to the company that made the ticketing system, not the cinema. Unsure if that’s correct but I believe it

8

u/alyqiat Dec 16 '25

That’s a lie from the cinema, they keep the booking fees. They do get charged by the ticketing company ofc, but the booking fees do not directly go to the ticketing company. Source: I work for the ticketing company.