More expensive tickets, shorter opening hours in Hungarian cinemas

From 17 November onwards, Cinema City, Hungary’s largest cinema network, will open only from 3 PM on weekdays. Meanwhile, cinemas in the countryside will open only from 4 PM on the first five days of the week. The move was a reaction to the economic crisis, which has also put cinemas in a difficult situation.

The economic crisis does not spare cinemas either

The economic crisis has once again put cinemas in a difficult situation, as they try to recover from the pandemic. As the largest cinema network in the country, Cinema City is also affected by the problem. However, they are trying to ensure that movie fans can get into their movie halls every day. Therefore, it was decided that from 17 November onwards, their cinemas in Budapest will only be open from 3 PM on weekdays, while those in the countryside will only be open from 4 PM on weekdays.

The measure will not affect the Christmas period and the winter break, during which cinemas will be open in the morning as well, Andrea Buda, Cinema City’s PR and marketing director, told IGN. The decision is justified by the fact that the period between 10 AM and 3 PM in Budapest and between 10 AM and 4 PM in the countryside is the least busy. It is not yet known for how long the new opening hours will be in force from Thursday, Telex writes.

Read also: Hungarian spas in danger: many may not be able to operate next year

Price increases

Cinema City increased the price of cinema tickets by 17 percent in October. The increase is due to higher overheads. At the time, Andrea Buda told Világgazdaság that they had to raise prices by HUF 300-350 (EUR 0.73-0.85). However, VIP tickets were HUF 1,400 (EUR 3.42) more expensive because the prices of food and drinks visitors could buy there had also increased.

Some of the smaller cinemas cannot afford the increased overheads. Budapest Film, the operator of the capital’s cinemas, is not even holding screenings on the first two days of the week due to the crisis. At Cinema City cinemas, the only thing we have to give up for now is the morning/early afternoon movie.