Boycott could hit US cinemas

A boycott could hit the takings of Final Fantasy

Protesters are calling for a cinema boycott on Friday over rising ticket prices in the US.

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 in protest at the rising price of tickets.

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

The National Ticket Picket

"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.

'Captive audience'

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."

Among the films premiering in US cinemas this week are sci-fi thriller Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Reese Witherspoon comedy Legally Blonde and The Score, starring Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Marlon Brando.

"By the way, we'd like to apologize to Reese Witherspoon and Edward Norton - we hope they don't take this personally," the website adds.

Sales increase

Figures earlier this week show an annual rise in ticket sales in the US and Canada.

Takings are up by 10% with nearly $3.89bn (£2.74bn) of revenue generated, according to statistics from reseachers Exhibitor Relations.

However, 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.