Elijah Wood slams AMC Theaters’ new ‘Sightline’ ticket pricing plan
Hollywood star Elijah Wood has taken issue with a major cinema company over its decision to tier ticket prices based on the comfort and view that comes with your seat.
AMC Theaters – America’s largest movie theater chain – on Monday unveiled its new pricing plan, according to which seat position determines the cost of a ticket.
The program, which AMC has dubbed Sightline, will result in seats in the center of the auditorium costing a dollar or two more, while those in the front row will be slightly cheaper.
By the end of the year, the company will have implemented the pricing structure for film screenings after 4:00 p.m. at all of its domestic locations
Lowest ticket prices are only available to members of AMC’s loyalty program, AMC Stubs. Members of AMC’s “A-List” subscription membership can upgrade their tickets to the most expensive seats for free.
In a tweet on Monday, Wood – who has starred in several blockbusters including the Lord of the rings Trilogy – accused AMC of destroying a “sacred democratic space” with its new ticketing system.
AMC representatives were not immediately available when contacted by wealth.
Wood wasn’t the only person to object to AMC’s plans. Many Twitter users called for a reversal of the program or stated their own plans to boycott the company’s theaters rather than pay a premium for a decent seat.
Other speculated that AMC’s new strategy would “actively ruin” the business and increase the likelihood that theaters would be affected a “long, slow, agonizing death”.
Many theater operators — including AMC — have long offered premium or luxury movie screenings with comfortable seating and other perks for those willing to pay more for their ticket.
AMC’s Prime screenings offer customers extra seating comfort and enhanced projection technology, while other chains like Cinépolis — which promises bottomless popcorn, in-theater waiters and a gourmet meal — exist only to provide moviegoers with luxurious experiences.
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