Cost of a Movie Ticket the Year You Were Born
For many, a trip to the movie theater can put a serious dent in the wallet. With tickets, popcorn, soda, and candy – the cost quickly adds up. Yet this has hardly ended Americans’ love affair with the movies. In 2016 alone, the movie industry gross in the box office exceeded $11 billion – the greatest yearly amount to date.
One reason for the industry’s high gross figure is ticket prices, which have undergone dramatic increases over the last 70 years. In 1950, a person could purchase a movie ticket for a mere 46 cents on average. By 2016, the average ticket price had increased to $8.65 -- and the increase in ticket prices shows no signs of slowing down.
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Still, the prices of tickets are much more consistent when adjusted for inflation. In fact, ticket prices have actually decreased from the 1971 high of $10.16 in current dollars. The theater-going experience has also improved in many ways. As noted by the National Association of Theatre Owners, projection technology has improved as did seating and food and beverage service in many theaters.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed ticket prices for each year since 1946, in both dollars adjusted and unadjusted for inflation.
2016
> Avg. ticket price: $8.65
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.94
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2015
> Avg. ticket price: $8.43
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.84
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens
2014
> Avg. ticket price: $8.17
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.56
> Top-grossing movie of the year: American Sniper
2013
> Avg. ticket price: $8.13
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.65
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2012
> Avg. ticket price: $7.96
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.60
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Avengers
2011
> Avg. ticket price: $7.93
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.82
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
2010
> Avg. ticket price: $7.89
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.92
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Toy Story 3
2009
> Avg. ticket price: $7.50
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.70
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Avatar
2008
> Avg. ticket price: $7.18
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.33
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Dark Knight
2007
> Avg. ticket price: $6.88
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.33
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Spider-Man 3
2006
> Avg. ticket price: $6.55
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.09
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
2005
> Avg. ticket price: $6.41
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.23
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. III: Revenge of the Sith
2004
> Avg. ticket price: $6.21
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.21
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Shrek 2
2003
> Avg. ticket price: $6.03
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.13
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Finding Nemo
2002
> Avg. ticket price: $5.81
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.04
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Spider-Man
2001
> Avg. ticket price: $5.66
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.92
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
2000
> Avg. ticket price: $5.39
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.82
> Top-grossing movie of the year: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1999
> Avg. ticket price: $5.08
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.57
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. I: The Phantom Menace
1998
> Avg. ticket price: $4.69
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.11
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Saving Private Ryan
1997
> Avg. ticket price: $4.59
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.07
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Titanic
1996
> Avg. ticket price: $4.42
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.01
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Independence Day
1995
> Avg. ticket price: $4.35
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.09
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Toy Story
1994
> Avg. ticket price: $4.18
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.00
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Lion King
1993
> Avg. ticket price: $4.14
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.11
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Jurassic Park
1992
> Avg. ticket price: $4.15
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.36
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Aladdin
1991
> Avg. ticket price: $4.21
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.66
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Beauty and the Beast
1990
> Avg. ticket price: $4.22
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.11
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Home Alone
1989
> Avg. ticket price: $3.99
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.07
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Batman
1988
> Avg. ticket price: $4.11
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.70
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Rain Man
1987
> Avg. ticket price: $3.91
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.61
> Top-grossing movie of the year: 3 Men and a Baby
1986
> Avg. ticket price: $3.71
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.29
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Top Gun
1985
> Avg. ticket price: $3.55
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.24
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Back to the Future
1984
> Avg. ticket price: $3.36
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.08
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Ghostbusters
1983
> Avg. ticket price: $3.15
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.89
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi
1982
> Avg. ticket price: $2.94
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.64
> Top-grossing movie of the year: ET: The Extra-Terrestrial
1981
> Avg. ticket price: $2.78
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.83
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Raiders of the Lost Ark
1980
> Avg. ticket price: $2.69
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.47
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back
1979
> Avg. ticket price: $2.52
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.04
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Kramer vs. Kramer
1978
> Avg. ticket price: $2.34
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.17
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Grease
1977
> Avg. ticket price: $2.23
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.34
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope
1976
> Avg. ticket price: $2.13
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.38
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Rocky
1975
> Avg. ticket price: $2.05
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.64
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Jaws
1974
> Avg. ticket price: $1.89
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.93
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Blazing Saddles
1973
> Avg. ticket price: $1.76
> Price adjusted for inflation: $10.12
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Exorcist
1972
> Avg. ticket price: $1.70
> Price adjusted for inflation: $10.13
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Godfather
1971
> Avg. ticket price: $1.65
> Price adjusted for inflation: $10.16
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Billy Jack
1970
> Avg. ticket price: $1.55
> Price adjusted for inflation: $10.04
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Love Story
1969
> Avg. ticket price: $1.42
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.77
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
1968
> Avg. ticket price: $1.31
> Price adjusted for inflation: $9.41
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Funny Girl
1967
> Avg. ticket price: $1.20
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.93
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Jungle Book
1966
> Avg. ticket price: $1.10
> Price adjusted for inflation: $8.47
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Bible
1965
> Avg. ticket price: $1.01
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.93
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Sound of Music
1964
> Avg. ticket price: $0.93
> Price adjusted for inflation: $7.37
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Mary Poppins
1963
> Avg. ticket price: $0.85
> Price adjusted for inflation: $6.85
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Cleopatra
1962
> Avg. ticket price: $0.81
> Price adjusted for inflation: $6.61
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Longest Day
1961
> Avg. ticket price: $0.77
> Price adjusted for inflation: $6.33
> Top-grossing movie of the year: 101 Dalmatians
1960
> Avg. ticket price: $0.75
> Price adjusted for inflation: $6.27
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Swiss Family Robinson
1959
> Avg. ticket price: $0.68
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.74
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Ben-Hur
1958
> Avg. ticket price: $0.65
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.57
> Top-grossing movie of the year: South Pacific
1957
> Avg. ticket price: $0.62
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.50
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1956
> Avg. ticket price: $0.59
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.39
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Ten Commandments
1955
> Avg. ticket price: $0.58
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.32
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Lady and the Tramp
1954
> Avg. ticket price: $0.55
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.01
> Top-grossing movie of the year: White Christmas
1953
> Avg. ticket price: $0.51
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.70
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Peter Pan
1952
> Avg. ticket price: $0.48
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.44
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Greatest Show on Earth
1951
> Avg. ticket price: $0.47
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.53
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Quo Vadis?
1950
> Avg. ticket price: $0.46
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.79
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Cinderella
1949
> Avg. ticket price: $0.46
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.69
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Samson and Delilah
1948
> Avg. ticket price: $0.44
> Price adjusted for inflation: $4.55
> Top-grossing movie of the year: The Snake Pit
1947
> Avg. ticket price: $0.44
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.01
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Forever Amber
1946
> Avg. ticket price: $0.42
> Price adjusted for inflation: $5.65
> Top-grossing movie of the year: Song of the South
Methodology:
To find the cost of a movie ticket the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed cost data for each year since 1946 provided by the National Association of Theatre Owners. The prices from 1989 onward have been calculated, according to NATO, “by surveying movie theater companies and asking for their total box office and total tickets sold. The box office is divided by the number of tickets sold to arrive at the average ticket price for the industry.” Prior to 1989, ticket prices were based on the Consumer Price Index For Urban Wage Earners And Clerical Workers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Inflation-adjusted prices were calculated by 24/7 Wall St. using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index. The top-grossing movie released in each calendar year, ranked by total domestic box office, comes from movie industry data site The Numbers.
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