There are a few theaters in my city that have started offering a "VIP experience" which I think is well worth the few extra dollars they charge. The seats are much larger and more comfortable, and assigned when you purchase your ticket. There is a small table where you can put the food and drinks that the staff bring to your chair, and because they serve alcoholic drinks the entire theater is restricted to ages 19+.
It is a night and day difference compared to the usual theater experience.
all of the theaters in chicago near me basically only offer VIP experiences; Decent prices only exist at university-run theaters, or 30min/1hr drive out of the city.
I'm a student, and now I'm essentially banned from watching any recently released movie except as a significant luxury. And I liked watching movies; I've been gentrified right out of the theater.
And probably in the future, 10 years from now, with large disposable income, having lost all habit in watching in theaters, and the prices knocked up another $10 per movie, I'm still not going to watch movies in theaters.
The market is trying as hard as it can to make sure I find a suitable alternative before then; I don't know what my kind did, but clearly the theaters are fed up with it
It is a night and day difference compared to the usual theater experience.