A recent article in Entertainment Weekly (June 28, 2013) titled, “Ready for $50 Movie Tickets?”  caught my eye.  I mean, if there’s one thing that people complain about going to the movies, it is definitely how cheap the ticket prices are. This is second only to the incredible value snack bar pricing. Surprisingly, quality of “synthetic butter flavored emulsion” is a distant third...

According to the story, “Last week [Paramount] and Regal Cinemas announced a $50 ‘Mega Ticket for World War Z.’” In addition to early admission to the film – two days prior to its nationwide release – the $50 mega ticket pre-bought you a digital copy of the movie, garnered you some 3D glasses, plus a movie poster and a small popcorn. (Small? Seriously? And no drink?! Or Red Vines? Dude...)

Dovetailing with this news was a recent University of Southern California panel that discussed the future of Hollywood. The panel was notable because it included a couple of movie moguls you may have heard of by the names of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. (There was no mention as to whether the duo formally apologized for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull or not. Let’s just assume that in the interest of humanity and decency, the apology was lengthy and sincere.)

In that discussion, Lucas predicted, "What you're going to end up with is fewer theaters. Bigger theaters, with a lot of nice things. Going to the movies is going to cost you 50 bucks, maybe 100. Maybe 150."

Spielberg chimed in, suggesting, "There's going to be eventually day and date with movies” – when films are available for on demand viewing at home the say day they hit theaters, similar to what PRIMA Cinema offers currently – “and eventually there's going to be a price variance. You're going to have to pay $25 to see the next Iron Man. And you're probably only going to have to pay $7 to see Lincoln."

Click here to continue reading why I think all of this will mean the perfect storm for a Home Theater Renaissance!