The average movie ticket price in the U.S. spiked 6 percent from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of this year, according to the National Association of Theater Owners, marking the biggest quarter-to-quarter admission bump ever recorded.
The average price now stands at $7.95, with its rapid rise driven by the influx of primo-priced 3D films.
“If you look at what films did really well in the first three months of 2010, it’s 'Avatar,' 'Alice in Wonderland,' 'How to Train Your Dragon' and 'Clash of the Titans,' all of which had grosses of at least $200 million-$300 million,” said Patrick Corcoran, NATO spokesman.
From the fourth quarter of 2008 to the end of Q1 2009, the average price increased just 1 percent.
Corcoran added that, adjusting for inflation, movie ticket prices still lag behind 1969, which had a $1.42 average toll that adjusts to $8.42 in today’s dollars.
