Yahoo Finance put together a list of 10 secrets about movie theaters, dropping some interesting factoids, including this justification for why concession snacks are so expensive:

Recessions com and go, but it seems concessions are here to stay. The average amount each customer spends at the candy stand keeps heading steadily upward, from $2.51 in 2004 to $3.09 in 2008. In fact, for major theater chains, concessions typically account for about a quarter of total revenue. So how is it that theaters get away with charging as much as $10.50 for a large popcorn and soda? First and foremost, movie concessions are a monopoly, since most theaters don’t allow patrons to bring in outside food or beverages. (It’s “not a requirement” to buy popcorn when you go to the movies, says Corcoran, of the National Association of Theater Owners. “People who want concessions can order them or not.”)

But there’s also an important emotional component, says Richard McKenzie, professor of economics at the University of California-Irvine and the author of “Why Popcorn Costs So Much at the Movies.” When you buy Junior Mints or another favorite treat, you’re buying a piece of the moviegoing experience, along with “the opportunity to laugh with a crowd and everything else people go to the movies for,” McKenzie says.

Also explained in the post: The sound levels can be dangerously loud and theater owners draw a hefty revenue stream selling pre-film ads.

What do you find most annoying about watching movies in the theater?

10 Things Movie Theaters Won’t Tell You [Yahoo Finance]
(Thanks, Steve!)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.