If you buy the large tub of popcorn at the movie theater for the free refills, go for it, tubby. But if you’re buying it because you just want the biggest size available, UC Irvine professor and author Richard McKenzie says to watch out if the medium is a bag while the large is a tub:
If you’re in a cinema which gives you a choice between buying a medium bag of popcorn and a large tub of popcorn, there’s a greater-than-50% chance that the medium bag will actually contain more popcorn than the large tub.
Here’s more of Professor McKenzie’s thoughts on popcorn economics:
The prospects of getting more popcorn in the medium than the large is higher here, since the medium is a bag with flexible sides and the tub has rigged sides. Both mediums and large sizes in Winston-Salem are bags with flexible sizes. There I always got more in the large (not much more!). Here, a little more than half the time I got more in the medium. It all depends on the clerks, and how she/he holds the bags and then chooses to literally stuff the bags by pressing the popcorn down. But then the ounce measures are not a firm indicator of value, since a higher weight can mean more bottom of the popping cabinet crumbs and un-popped kernels.
“Richard McKenzie’s Popcorn” [Portfolio] (Thanks to Jon!)
(Photo: SMN)
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@witeowl: So according to you it’s not OK to unscrupulously refill popcorn but OK to bring in candy? Is that why they say no outside food or drink allowed? Or is it OK because YOU do it.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t care about either. What I do care about is the fact that you argued against one fraud but at the same time commit another equally stupid fraud.
“Stealing popcorn!?!? That’s absurd! Now please excuse me while I sneak into the back door of the theatre with some sandwiches and drinks I brought from home.”
Sometimes I feel like getting theater popcorn. But then I look and see that a medium popcorn is $7, and I just can’t justify it, knowing that the medium probably cost about 18c to make.
@AzCatz07: boozy theatres are the only way to see a movie. best part? no kids.
@donkeyjote: The Landmark Greenwood Village if you’re in Denver. The tickets are $12 each but if you usually get popcorn and soda it turns up cheaper because its free soda and popcorn and free refills. Best of all though is REAL BUTTER for the popcorn! Plus if it’s a chick flick I can get some beer and a big ass cookie to take the pain away.
@mermaidshoes: Amen… I don’t have to threaten to snatch up a teenager that can’t stop texting for 90 minutes to watch a movie.
The price of concessions at the theatre is confiscatory. Overcharging leads to smuggling. Basic economics.
@madog: Please read this post. While I was misunderstanding ‘ziggy’, I thought he was “stealing” about five bucks of popcorn for a quarter. That would be like pocketing some of their candy and leaving a quarter on the counter. That’s much different from bringing in my own candy and leaving their candy untouched.
The largest chain of theatres in the world’s medium popcorn is 130 ounces, and their large popcorn is 170 ounces. Fifty cents difference. Free refills.
There you go.
@ceejeemcbeegee: Guns don’t kill people, excessive shear forces exerted on human flesh kill people
@Final: Nice to know, yet 100% sure I’ll never be in denver… Well, 98.999928% sure. Friend is moving there to be with a girl :/
I hate getting popcorn in the theatre. I know that’s how they make their money, but with their prices, you’re pretty much asking people to bring in their own stuff.
I never understood this policy. If they offered reasonable prices, I might actually buy hot air with butter flavoring. But $4.50 for a medium popcorn, no way!
tsk, tsk. if you kids only knew the economics of the theatre industry. during the first 2-4 weeks of a popular/ blockbuster movie, the STUDIOS claim 90% of the gate receipts, and decrease from there. so, if you want your local movie theatre (who invested millions for you to enjoy first run films) to survive, then they must charge high prices for concessions to stay afloat. don’t persecute your theatre – perhaps one could lay some blame at the feet of the zillionaire movie stars who want for nothing, while we all plod along just getting by…..
now, as for the popcorn sizes: the standard “medium” bag of popcorn holds 85 oz. the standard “tub” holds 170 oz. so, basic science (and common sense) has already determined that the “tub” will always hold more than an 85 oz bag. duh! not sure what that professor has been smoking…..
We snuck in Sake to see the Happening last weekend. At least there was a upside to the movie.
Who the heck buys a large size popcorn anyways?! Or should I say why buy a large, because you sure as heck don’t need it Tubby!! If I buy popcorn, I will get the kids size which in reality is enough for any one person.
@akalish, @kaptainkk: Some people like to go to the movies with family, friends, and/or dates and don’t have a problem sharing a large tub of popcorn.
@Trai_Dep: That would be awesome. They probably figure it’s not worth it especially if they don’t already have a place to refrigerate it.