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The Conversation
The Conversation
Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

Beyond Barbie and Oppenheimer, how do cinemas make money? And do we pay too much for movie tickets?

Barbie Oppenheimer Gary Becker Hoyts United States

I’ve got two questions about blockbuster movies like Barbie and Oppenheimer.

  1. Why aren’t the cinemas charging more for them, given they’re so popular?

  2. Why are they the same price, given Oppenheimer is an hour longer?

The opening weekend for both films saw an avalanche of Australians returning to the cinema. Extra staff had to be put on (although probably not enough) to manage queues, turn away pink-clad fans who couldn’t get in, and clean up mountains of popcorn trampled underfoot.

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