Families vs. 3-D: Too Pricey

Forbes blogger Dorothy Pomerantz thinks the 3-D craze for families is over.

Why?

Her own family’s hassle and the extra cost to see Despicable Me in 3-D wasn’t worth it. Her family of four would have paid $55 instead of the already steep $41 they shelled out for regular 2-D; her children would have been scared by the effects and uncomfortable wearing the glasses; and her husband would have left with a headache.

On the other hand, Pomerantz was glad to see Avatar in 3-D. But she felt she missed half of Alice in Wonderland because the 3-D effects were too distracting. So she refused to “let 3-D ruin [her] enjoyment” of Toy Story 3. According to a BTIG survey, 77% of consumers believe the 3-D premium is too much, and 10% of those consumers added comments echoing the same point: paying a 3-D premium for a film of Avatar‘s caliber is a far cry from paying the same premium for lower-quality movies that would be just as enjoyable (or disappointing) in 2-D. There is a growing dissatisfaction with the film industry for not making those quality distinctions.