Movie theaters find new ways to lure kids
For years, movie theaters have been trying to lure the grown-up audience by offering better food, comfier chairs and classier theaters. Box office revenues have climbed the last few years, but ticket sales remain stagnant.
Now some theaters have turned their attention to the younger set, including Cinepolis USA, a theater chain that’s added kids’ climbing structures and play spaces to a couple of its theaters. Kids get to play before the movie and at a 15-minute intermission.
The company wants to make the movie going experience a “bigger event,” said Adrian Mijares Elizondo, CEO of Cinepolis USA. “It’s really important to create these differentiated concepts that’ll make our guests excited about going to the movies.”
Kids between the ages of 2 and 17 make up nearly a quarter of the moviegoing audience, according to data from the Motion Picture Association of America. And younger kids go to movies with their parents.
| Why some movie studios want to skip the theater |
| Museums embrace virtual reality |
“Kids have a big influence on their parents, which cinema they want to go to,” said Tim Barr, CEO of Ferco Seating. His company sells theater chairs, including rainbow-colored kids seats costing about $200 each. “Cinemas are showing the same movies, they have the same popcorn, the same sound systems,” he said. Kids’ auditoriums can set them apart.
Theaters are trying other tricks, too.
AMC is reworking its menu, adding kid-friendly chicken tenders and giant pretzels. And theaters like the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood are building esports auditoriums, a place to play, and watch people play, video games.
“I think it’s another great opportunity to get moviegoers into the audience,” said Alwyn Hight Kushner, president of the TCL Chinese Theatres. “Young people that might be coming to the theater for a video game tournament will become potential customers for movies as well.”
It can all seem a bit gimmicky. But if brightly colored seats, video games and kiddie gyms sell tickets, that’s what matters to movie theaters.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
