3D Movie Ticket Prices Soaring

Movie fans, get ready to be priced out of the cinema. For months movie theaters have been talking about raising the prices for 3D movie tickets, and releasing more films as 3D, which has been in heavy demand. With theaters like Island 16 and Regal sitting right in the Sachem area, this is a financial issue many will be facing.

Right now a ticket for a 3D movie will already cost you $3-5 more than a regular ticket depending on where you live. But The Wall Street Journal says with a  summer full of 3D movies on the horizon, the ticket prices are going even higher.

Theaters are hiking ticket prices as much as 26-percent as a result of the release of Dream Works' new animated movie "How to Train Your Dragon." It's Dragon that really kicks off the new 3D craze. The week after it will fight with Clash of the Titans for 3D movie space and from then on it's on to a summer where literally every major movie will  require you to wear those goofy glasses.

Hollywood smells money in the air. Unfortunately, it's your  money. Tickets for 3D movies may shoot as high as $15 per ticket, $17 for IMAX 3D showings. In some cases tickets may shoot up to $20.  

Avatar, which came out in December 2009 had no trouble making a large profit at the  old price, and this seems to be the reason 3D movies have had such a huge impact on movie goers.

According to a worker at AMC Loew's in Stony Brook, who wanted to remain anonymous for confidentiality reasons, stated, "Avatar absolutely set the high demand for 3D movies, and also played a big part in the price increase of  tickets."

The fact that the economy is in a recession, and people are struggling, isn't stopping 3D lovers from seeing a movie.

"It doesn't matter that the prices for tickets are so high, people demand 3D, and they will complain if they don't get it," the worker said.

At AMC Loew's "How to Train Your Dragon" fetches ticket prices around $16.50 for an adults, and $13.50 for children at night. The price for a family of four to see the 3D screening of Dragon would cost them $63 before the popcorn, soda or candy.

It's a costly endeavor, but if people enjoy the cinema, they'll pay the prices.