Market for imported films: Ticket prices vary

Friday, June 04, 2010 (GMT+7)

Several years ago, no one could imagine that one day they would have to pay 200,000 dong (over $10) for a film ticket. This impossible scenario became reality with the first 3D movie “Avatar”, which was imported into Vietnam in late 2009.

Director Vu Ngoc Dang, who is a familiar movie-goer in HCM City, noted: “The highest ticket price for a movie that I’ve paid is 80,000 dong. My favourite cinemas are Galaxy Nguyen Trai, Megastar Hung Vuong and Lotte Cinema in District 7.”

According to this director, each cinema has its own advantage. One is near his home, one is very spacious, while the other has many blockbusters. “I think tickets for 80,000 dong are not expensive. It is only 40,000-50,000 dong/ticket on promotional days, which is equivalent to a glass of orange juice or two coffees,” Dang estimated.

This year, Megastar Vietnam plans to import over 50 films, Galaxy over 30 films, BHD from 20-30 films and Lotte Cinema around 10 films.

Galaxy Nguyen Du cinema in HCM city.

The plans can change after BHD opens a new cinema in HCM City and one in Hanoi totaling over 2000 seats and Galaxy has new box offices in HCM City.

The highest ticket prices are those at Megastar cinemas, at 80,000 dong/ticket. Galaxy, BHD and Lotte Cinema charge up to 70,000 dong/ticket during weekends and holidays only. Lotte Cinema has a special projection room of 40 seats where ticket prices are between 160,000 to 250,000 dong/ticket.

Watching a movie at a modern cinema is now a luxurious form of entertainment. If two persons go to the cinema, they must pay around 150,000 dong for tickets and more for drinks and food, totaling at least 200,000 dong.

Minh Tri, a student in HCM City, explained that he only invites his girlfriend to cinema once a month and pays 200,000-300,000 dong/time. He said the cost is acceptable because movies are very qualified and the environment is very smart. Tri can afford it only because he has an extra job.

“If I live on my parents’ assistance, I would go to cinemas where tickets are between 20,000-40,000 dong,” Tri admitted.

High ticket prices means the service is high. Still, for student audiences, this is a luxury. Cinemas, therefore, have discount programs on weekdays for students, called “Happy Days.” At Galaxy cinemas, the happy days fall on Tuesday and Wednesday, when tickets are only 35,000-40,000 dong, on Wednesdays at Megastar for 50,000-60,000 dong and from 9.30-10.30am on weekdays at Lotte Cinema, with tickets for just 40,000 dong.

At popular cinemas, weekend and holiday tickets are even lower than happy day tickets at luxury cinemas. Cinebox Hanoi and HCM City offer weekend and holiday tickets at 40,000-50,000 dong and only 25,000 dong on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hanoi’s Dan Chu cinema, which belongs to Cinebox system, recently sold tickets for “Leap Year” for only 10,000 dong/ticket.

The highest fares at Thang Long cinemas of Saigon Media is 50,000 dong during weekend, 30,000-40,000 dong during weekdays and 15,000 dong for shows before 12am from Monday to Thursday. The gap between the highest and lowest fare is nearly ten times.

The owner of a big cinema chain in HCM City said that ticket fares are calculated based on investment and quality of cinemas in comparison with other cinemas and the position of cinemas.

For the first 3D movie in Vietnam, “Avatar,” the fares were from 80,000 to 200,000 dong, depending on the show time at Megastar and 10,000-20,000 dong cheaper at Galaxy.

Source: Tuoi Tre

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