Local Drive-In not playing Disney Movies

[Rachel S1321]

I am a lucky person to live near a drive-in movie theater. We get to watch two movies for around 25 dollars with the whole family! Typically it plays new Disney movies, and this weekend it was set to show Jungle Book (the new one) and Captain America Civil War. We were so excited! Today the Drive in switched its line up to Neighbors 2 and Boss. The Drive in said that because Disney has changed its terms they will not be showing the movies? Does anyone know what terms this may be? I'm hoping we can still enjoy family films at this local theater!! Thank you!

 

[Hakunamatata]

Most likely it's the % of ticket price that Disney gets. I recall another thread or article recently where Disney was demanding a higher cut for rights to show their movies.

 

[Nemo14]

That's interesting. I believe your drive-ins are owned by the same company that ours here in RI are, and I know last week we saw Disney movies on the marquee for this coming weekend, but now they are no longer listed.

 

[KordovaJD]

My local drive-inn (man, that's weird to say given how rare they are now) is showing Jungle Book and Civil War on two out of its three screens. That is to say, it's showing both movies as a double feature on both screen for four total disney movie showings.

http://driveinusa.com/nb/

 

[CaptainAmerica]

That's interesting. I believe your drive-ins are owned by the same company that ours here in RI are, and I know last week we saw Disney movies on the marquee for this coming weekend, but now they are no longer listed.

The Rustic Tri Vue Drive-In!? That place was my JAM in high school. So many late nights driving back home on 295 after a double feature.

 

[Rachel S1321]

We have two screens here in Milford NH. On one is Neighbors 2 and Boss. On the other is Angry Birds and Ratchet and Clank. Civil War and Jungle Book was what we were planning on seeing. A bummer they won't be playing Disney for now. The Drive In is one of our favorite things to do with the family! Hopefully something can change for the rest of summer movies from Disney coming out. We would love to see Finding Dory or Pete's Dragon at the drive in!

 

[Rachel S1321]

My local drive-inn (man, that's weird to say given how rare they are now) is showing Jungle Book and Civil War on two out of its three screens. That is to say, it's showing both movies as a double feature on both screen for four total disney movie showings.

http://driveinusa.com/nb/

http://www.milforddrivein.com/index.html

This is our local drive-in. It's amazing!

 

[Nemo14]

The Rustic Tri Vue Drive-In!? That place was my JAM in high school. So many late nights driving back home on 295 after a double feature.

Was that when it wasn't exactly family-friendly?

 

[prberk]

Hmm. Our local drive-in, the Goochland Drive-In, is still set to show Disney movies this weekend -- which it seems to show often.

From their website:
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE SCHEDULE
Final chance to see the TOP TWO movies of 2016!

Due to the popularity of these movies, arriving
early is recommended. Real-time parking updates
will be posted 'as needed' on Facebook.
FRI 5/20 -and- SAT 5/21:**DOUBLE-FEATURE**
1st: "ZOOTOPIA" (PG)
2nd: "CAPTAIN AMERICA" (PG-13)
-- Admission: $8.50....Kids 4-11: $4.00
-- Gates open 6:00 - Showtime @ 8:25ish
--------------------------------------------------------------------SUN 5/22: *SINGLE-FEATURE SPECIAL*
"CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR" (PG-13)
-- Special Admission: $6.00....Kids 4-11: $3.00
-- Gates open 6:45 - Showtime @ 8:25ish

http://www.goochlanddriveintheater.com/

So, I imagine that your local theatre is simply refusing to pay the percentage, which I am sure was increased. I know that they required a larger percentage and a four-week guarantee for Star Wars when it came out. I think Disney is just milking the movie franchise cow just like the are the park admission prices -- to the point of pushback. (And just like the decline in visitors to WDW now recently reported, I am sure that they will see more theatres just refusing to pay it if they can make more profit off other titles.) It is sad that Disney is making it so hard for more people to play ball with them.

 

[mf1972]

Most likely it's the % of ticket price that Disney gets. I recall another thread or article recently where Disney was demanding a higher cut for rights to show their movies.

we usually go to a nearby AMC theater. can no longer use passes I get through our credit union for any Disney movie anymore. figured it had something to do with the percentage.

 

[Jim Buck]

My local drive-inn (man, that's weird to say given how rare they are now) is showing Jungle Book and Civil War on two out of its three screens. That is to say, it's showing both movies as a double feature on both screen for four total disney movie showings.

http://driveinusa.com/nb/

I saw those movies at the same one on opening weekend!

 

[Tom]

I'm guessing the theater owners just don't want to pay the licensing fees, which are always increasing. They can make more money with other studios.

 

[Dead2009]

Yeah the local drive-in where I live recently made a post about this. Disney was willing to let them show Civil War but the prices were too steep for the owner to pay.

 

[prberk]

A simple increase in fees is one thing -- it can be passed on to the consumer in a price increase (although there is a limit to that, too); but for the studios to charge a percentage of the gross and then increase the percentage (like they did for Star Wars), that really hurts the theatres who put the money up week after week to pay the heating and A/C bills and staff the place all week just to get to the weekend to make money. They are the host to Disney's films, and it should be a working, mutually-beneficial relationship. But greed can hurt that balance in the long run for everyone.

It is sad that Disney is nickel-and-diming everyone to death, at so many levels.