Film snacks not peanuts

Johnny, right, and Flynn Cox with their $12.60 combos. Photo / Chris Skelton

Film fans are fed up with getting ripped off when buying their favourite snacks at the cinema.

The price of a small box of popcorn has reached $6.50 at Hoyts Sylvia Park in Auckland, while a small drink and popcorn combo will set you back $10.90.

A family of two parents and two children going to a Sunday afternoon session at Hoyts Sylvia Park in Mt Wellington would pay $89.60 for tickets and large combos for the parents and small combos for the kids.

At SkyCity Queen St, prices are slightly lower, with drink and popcorn combos set at $6, $7.50 and $8.50 depending on size.

Moviegoers spoken to by the Herald on Sunday complained they were being overcharged.

They said multiplexes should let people bring their own food into cinemas to make it more affordable.

Karan Bangera, who went to see a film at SkyCity on Friday afternoon, said he had paid more than $5 for a bag of Skittles.

The 18-year-old said: "That's pretty pricey, considering I could get them across the road at the dairy for $2. But we were running late. Last time I went to the movies a bag of M&Ms and a Coke cost me $11."

Aneka Burden, 20, and 17-year-old Daisy Henderson had broken the rules and taken their own treats to the cinema.

"We bought stuff at the dairy because it's so expensive at the movies," said Burden. "But often when you get there you can't be bothered going out to get stuff, so you just pay. It's not like going up to them and complaining will make any difference - they're a huge corporate."

Henderson said cinemas rarely displayed prices, so you often didn't know what you were paying until you got to the till.

"I went to the movies the other day and it cost me $25.50. It's ridiculous," she said.

Moksha Shah, 19, said students should get discounted snacks as well as cheaper tickets. "If I had the option I'd bring my own. I know they need to make money, but it would be a good idea if they'd just make it a little bit cheaper."

Sri Nair, 25, agreed. "If they allowed us to bring our own food, that would be ideal. It's so expensive and there's not much variety."

Neither Hoyts Sylvia Park nor SkyCity Queen St responded to a request for comment.

Consumer New Zealand deputy chief executive David Naulls said cinema chains charged what they liked because they had a "captive audience".

"They can charge, within reason, what they feel like and if you don't want to pay it, don't do it or go elsewhere," said Naulls.

"If you're not happy about it, let them know by going to another cinema."

A very unhappy movie combo

When Philippa Thompson took her 6-year-old twin nephews to see How to Train Your Dragon at Hoyts Sylvia Park during the school holidays, she decided to treat them to popcorn.

Flynn and Johnny both wanted a How To Train Your Dragon combo - a small popcorn, small drink and a toy that attached to the cup lid.

But she was shocked when the bill came to $33.30 - $12.60 each for the combos, $1 each for three pairs of 3D glasses and $5.10 for a Pump bottle of water.

"I figured a Happy Meal at McDonalds is about $7, so I thought it would be a bit less than that as all you're getting is popcorn and a drink," said Thompson. "It makes McDonalds Happy Meals look like a cheap option, and that's outrageous."

Thompson said that when she asked for water rather than fizzy drinks as part of the combo, she was refused.

"The lady said no, she couldn't do that. It had to be a soft drink because that was part of the deal."

Eventually, the staff member relented and filled the cups with water.

Pop goes the budget

Hoyts Sylvia Park
Small Coke: $5.10
Large Coke: $6.10
Small popcorn: $6.50
Large popcorn: $8.50
Small combo: $10.90
Large combo: $12.90

SkyCity Queen St
Small Coke: $3.50
Large Coke: $4
Small popcorn: $4.60
Large popcorn: $6.60
Small combo: $6
Large combo: $8.50