How do cinemas make money?

[mrgrumpy1011]

More in-depth than that, who pays who for the films, why cant anyone buy reels, why are documentary-films and sports-films never shown in UK cinemas. The only one ive seen is a mountaineering film in the lake district, only shown in the lake district. Also what sort of profit would cinema get 'per head' thanks

[gary baldy]

The cinema business and its history is very complex and as much as i'd like to go into it lets just say there is a good reason popcorn costs so much!

[Skids]

They rent the film reels from the film distributors thent hey rip you off with admission fees to make a huge profit. Then they doubly rip you off with snacks and drinks. �1 for a packet of Maltesers, is that even legal!?!

To make a profit you show films that are going to be popular, which documentaries and the like aren't.

[Mattk]

and why rustly plastic wrappers ?!!!!!!

[Mattk]

there must be money to be made though or we wouldnt have had the explosion of multiplex's nationwide that we have had in the last 10-15 years.

[xrayspecs]

Cinemas are, in the main, owned by film distribution companys They pay a premium for the print and show it for a limited period. Obviously they take more money through the box office than it costs to take the print - ergo they make money. That's also is the reason why you don't see B movies and short films along with the main feature anymore. It reduces turnover time in the theatre (bums on seats) The more times they can show the main feature the more money they take. Private theatres can show a more obscure programme of films but mainstream theatres don't have a lot of choice over the films they show.

[tonymclark]

"One day in September" was a documentary shown in the cinemas.