Boycott call over US ticket prices

A boycott could hit the takings of Final Fantasy

Protesters are planning a cinema boycott over ticket prices in the US, as figures show a rise in box office takings.

Ticket sales in the US and Canada are up 10% from one year ago, with nearly $3.89bn (£2.74bn) of revenue generated, according to statistics from reseachers Exhibitor Relations.

Inside the movie theatre, we may be a captive audience, but this Friday, let's project our independence

The National Ticket Picket

However, the figures conceal the true story. The increase shows only a 6% rise in attendances, due to a leap in ticket prices.

This year, ticket prices have increased by 3.7% to $5.60 (£3.95) on average.

Early 2001's ticket revenues were lifted by blockbusters like Cast Away and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon which were released in late 2000 and continued to do good business in the early months of this year.

Boycott call

A group of consumer activists intend to make Friday 13 July an unlucky day for cinemas and film studios in Hollywood, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Through emails, messages on film site messageboards and its own website, WeCanDoThis.com is urging consumers to join its "National Ticket Picket" and boycott the cinema on Friday in protest at the rising price of tickets.

"Thousands and thousands" have visited the site, spokesman Mark Jonathan Davis told The Hollywood Reporter.

Hundreds of e-mails were sent asking people to spread the word about the boycott campaign. "Hey, we control our entertainment dollars, and we don't want to spend 10 dollars at the box office," Davis said.

The website says: "These over-inflated prices are simply outrageous, and now's our chance to demonstrate our distaste for this kind of price-gouging.

"Inside the movie theatre, we may be a captive audience, but this Friday, let's project our independence."