Now showing: higher movie prices

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

Be prepared to shell out a little more money to go to the movies: Two of Hawai'i's three major theater operators have raised ticket prices.

Hawai'i's largest theater chain, Consolidated Theatres, recently bumped the price of general admission from $7 to $7.50 at its Waikiki, Pearlridge, Mililani, Kahala and Varsity theaters. Ticket prices at other locations are being reviewed.

Discount tickets at the same theaters rose from $4.50 to $4.75 (matinees), $4 to $4.25 (children/seniors) and $5 to $5.50 (military). Group coupon prices will stay at $5.

Ticket prices at Signature Theatres went up late last month by 50 cents or less: $7.50 (general admission), $4.75 (matinees) and $4.25 (children/seniors).

Theater operators cite higher operating expenses as the cost of making and marketing movies has soared, hitting a record $54.8 million average last year.

"It's just the increased cost of doing business," said Consolidated president Phil Shimmin.

Wallace Theatres prices remain at about $7 for general admission and $4.50 for matinees. The company would not say if it also is considering a hike.

While Hawai'i movie-ticket prices are increasing, the average local ticket price remains lower than the national average. Including matinees and other discounts, the local price average hovers around $5.15, compared with the national average of $5.40 at the end of 2000. Tickets in more-expensive markets have escalated to $10.