Sneaking Food into a Movie Theater: Tips from a Theater Employee

I get it. Movie theater food is pricy. This is how we make our money, because the $8-14 you’re shelling out at the box office is not going to us. Our only profit is what’s sold behind the snack counter.

Since the beginning of time, customers have been sneaking in food to avoid the steep costs of popcorn and candy. But it seems people have gotten worse at hiding it.

If you’re going to sneak in what we would otherwise charge you $12 for, at least put some effort into it. Otherwise you are just going to get it taken away. “No outside food or beverage” is not a new rule. Everybody knows it exists. All theaters are different in how strict they are with this rule. But a majority of them usually have similar standards:

-If you stroll in carrying a goodie bag of sweets from the candy shop across the street, it will be taken away and you may pick it up after your movie.

-If that goodie bag is sticking out of your purse/pocket, at least you made some effort to hide it. Pass.

-If you have a small child with you, and he’s holding a fun size box of Nerds, that’s fine. Pass. (It’s a little kid. We generally do what we’re instructed to do, but we’re not Nazis.)

-If the rattle of your Good & Plenty is audible, but not visible, Pass.

-Backpacks are obvious indicators of “I have outside food!” But if we don’t see it, go on in.

It’s pretty simple, but if you are going to sneak in food, please at least be neat about it and don’t forget to throw away your food containers and snack boxes. You don’t know how unpleasant it is to clean up spilled kung pow chicken and jello cups unless you’ve spent all your working hours doing it. Some people are stuck in their ways that a movie theater is an excuse to leave a mess behind and fine. But that only applies if we get any profit from the mess you’re leaving. Because then you’re not technically paying us $3 in candy to clean up your garbage, we’re at this point just doing you a favor.

I’ve found wine bottles, soup-to-go cups, coffees, and even a KFC family bucket. If someone can sneak in a KFC family bucket without being caught, you should be able to sneak in a baggie of sweets for goodness sake.

Just make sure to throw us some cash for a soda pop every once in a while. It helps keep our doors open so you can enjoy your local theater.

Enjoy this article? See more tips, tricks, stories, and confessions regarding your local theater from an insider at www.DisgruntledMovieTheaterEmployee.tumblr.com


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