"Sneaking" food or snack in movie theater

OMG I have been doing this forever. I refuse to buy anything in the movie theater because of the prices. I know my daughter and son-in-law spent more on the food then the tickets. I thought that was crazy and they did too and refused to buy again. I would go to the dollar store get my candy and sneak it in to the theater. I remember even doing this when my daughters were small I would make popcorn at home and put it in baggies. They would each have a few baggies each of popcorn and then the small package drinks that they sell in the store with the small straws. I don't understand why they have to sell the food so expensive its bad enought that the tickets are the prices they are now. That is why I love my Apple TV I get to watch old movies to up to date movies. Best investment ever.

The concession stand is where the movie theatres make the majority of their profits. They get almost nothing from ticket sales for the first several weeks after a movie comes out. All of the box office profits go back to the studios. I haven't been to see a movie in a theatre in years, but I used to work for one. Employees are usually understanding about customers who smuggle in foods like the boxed candies they sell at concessions, but some people definitely abuse it. There was one time a family smuggled in an entire Grande Meal from Taco Bell, and I had an idiot throw a Baskin Robbins ice cream sundae in my face when I was on door because I refused to let him take it in.

hi ibemma here they will go into your bags so yuo cannot sneak snacks in and thats bloody unfair too. Even at the ball games if you have food in your shoulder bag they will not let you enter the grandstand at all. so we had to just either go hungry or p;ay their prikces t ge t somethibg to eat

You cannot buy food outside and bring it inside the theater? That is quite ridiculous. I do agree that snacks in the theater and very expensive.. so it is just practical to just buy some outside. i am totally not against it.. you just hide it well so you won't get caught.

Done that for years. Here in Mexico a popcorn and soda can cost as much as the movie does. So Im sure many do it. Never been caught. Ha Ha Ha !!!

I used to be really big on NOT sneaking anything in but as its so expensive, we do allow the kids to take in something small that we buy beforehand now. We still buy a popcorn or nachos and drink to share sometimes, and its quite pricey. We bought the nacho combo (nachos w/ extra cheese and a med. drink), a small popcorn and a medium icee drink that cost us $26.00. Yikes! Next time, we will be making sure we're not hungry. And yes, we will still bring in something small.

Theaters here in the Philippines allow you to buy food items from where you want to. ;) they have a popcorn stand too but you are not required to buy from there. you have the whole mall to be your choice. :D they just won't allow you to be bringing in food items with rice or gravy. haha :D

Theaters make little money on the tickets. If we are lucky and the movie's been out for a while, we may get a dollar a ticket. All income generally comes from concessions- that's why we ask you not to bring outside food and drink. The food cost covers rent, utilities, the fact that we actually have to RENT the films we show (which is thousands of dollars a week), posters, staff (nearly all my staff makes minimum wage. Managers don't make much more), renting the projectors, et c. I understand why people do it, but it annoys me as I know the business model for theaters and how they work. The theaters really get the short end of the stick with the way they are run. That said, as long as people don't leave outside food and drink behind for staff to clean, we don't know. When people leave outside food behind it upsets me and my staff.

Years ago we brought some candy to the movies with my husband. We`d arrive early and went to any place outside the cinema where you could buy something. Later on, when my friends invited, many times they wouldask if I wanted something and I said yes only sometimes. But when I go with my daughters or grandchildren, we sneak almost anything. Of course it is not possible to sneak pop corn, but we can take just about everything else

I can only raise up my hand and admit. It makes me guilty sometimes, but who cares? I'd rather not eat or drink anything while watching than buying them expensively. But i only sneak in bottled water and Mars bar.

Yeah, I always sneak in a bag of M&M's peanuts in my purse, in between my books or by the inside pockets. And maybe some trail mix, just a couple of those munchies that I can snack on for a while during the movies. Then I will just buy a bottled water or pop at the counter (which is still so expensive by the way). I think it would be quite tricky for me to pass off a soda or water in my bag without detection.

Who doesn't do this? And they know and don't care, otherwise they would search everyones bags prior to going inside. My friend and I once walking in with two large plastic bags filled with popcorn, and they didn't say a thing.

i agree ! snacks at the theater are way too pricey ! I also stop at the dollar store before hand or bring something from home and stash it in my purse. I carry one of those huge purses anyway, being a mom, i use my purse as, well, a purse and a "mommy-bag." they have those silly signs and rules because they want more profit.

i totally agree with you,its just tricky and not fair. why there is a funny situation in theaters i cant understand it s same like in a airport,outside coca cola is 1tl in turkey,and when you entered in an airport its 6tl,its unbelievable so i dont wanna feel like a fool,i prefer not to buy its so unfair happy mylotting

we always did.the prices at the concession stand are ridiculous. i'd pay for popcorn because that's a pain to sneak in,but that's about it.

I know that you are definitely not alone when you admit to the fact that you've snuck your own snacks into a movie theater because I don't think that there are many people that have not done that. Me, I don't do it any more but that is because of the fact that I typically go to Movie Tavern these days so it is dinner and a movie. Their prices are a little bit high, but it isn't nearly as bad as it would be if I was to go to a traditional movie theater.

I totally agree. Food in the theater houses are so expensive.. maybe it is the rent or they just know that people are forced to buy their food. In our country, i think it is okay to buy food from outside as long as one of you buys snacks there. So i guess it is quite fair.. so they won't go bankrupt.

You are definitely not alone! When they first started the ridiculous rule of no food or drink brought into the theater, I was heading to see a movie with my mother. She's unfortunately a bit over-dramatic...embarrassing but it paid off at the theater! When we walked in one of the managers saw the water bottle in her hand. He said he needed to take it from her, but would keep it at the front desk area to pick up after the movie. She had a conniption! The bottle was unopened and we weren't aware of the new rule. After several minutes of her going back and forth the manager went to the concession stand, picked up one of their water bottles and gave it to her for free! It was definitely one of those "my mother is embarrassing me" moments, but it worked out for her, got a free ridiculously overpriced water bottle from the manager.

you can always but in your jacket and pretend that you have nothing,then just sit down and when nobody see then eat or drink your water or chips or something else.i have done it many times.

Definitely sneak food into the theatre. The challenge is to see how much you can bring in.