Home theater and microwave popcorn?
Access to digital streaming services, with their fixed monthly rates and the option to enjoy a wide selection of movies from any device connected to the Internet, has become an increasingly attractive alternative for Mexican families seeking to reduce their expenses. recreational.
Box office prices vary by location and type of theater, but some are even higher than a monthly subscription to a streaming platform, which starts at 99 pesos. In contrast, in the VIP lounge of Parque Vía Vallejo, ticket prices rise to 175 pesos for adults and 150 pesos for children and the elderly.
In the case of Cinemex, at its branch located in Plaza Delta, Mexico City, the ticket prices for a traditional theater are 113 pesos for adults and 103 pesos for minors, according to the information provided on its website. Other chains, such as CineDot, offer tickets at a cheaper price, around 46 pesos.
On the other hand, in the Cinépolis complex in the Puerta Tlatelolco shopping center, tickets for a traditional theater cost 55 pesos for adults and 35 pesos for children and the elderly.
He Ticket prices had an average price of 67.5 pesos during the last four-month period of 2022, which means an increase of 2% compared to the same period of 2021, but which is 24% more expensive compared to 2019, when the average price was 54.2 pesos.
Although movie tickets may not represent a major expense for some families, it is in sweets, soft drinks and popcorn where the greatest expense is generated for moviegoers who want to see the premieres in the cinema.
The cost of combos in movie theaters is one of the main reasons why Mexican customers are choosing to stay at home and enjoy movies and series on streaming platforms. The combo options at Cinépolis, for example, range from 180 pesos for children to 500 pesos, depending on the amount of soft drinks, the size of the popcorn and if any additional food is included.
At Cinépolis, a basic combo that includes popcorn, a soda, and nachos is priced at 250 pesos. However, if another soda and more nachos are added, the cost rises to 400 pesos. For its part, popcorn to go is offered at a price of 100 pesos. At Cinemex, the traditional combos, which include two soft drinks and some popcorn, are sold for 150 pesos, while if nachos are added, the price rises to 195 pesos.
In contrast, in convenience stores like Oxxo, the price of a two-liter soft drink is 35 pesos, and an 18-gram bag of chips costs 15 pesos. These prices are much more affordable for families who choose to stay at home and enjoy a movie or series through a streaming platform.
The chains collectively sold 88 million tickets, which is still 30% below the 2019 figure, before the pandemic that led to the closure of theaters and put movie releases and productions on hold.