Forget Junior Mints, hot dogs and soda. Dump those Raisinets. Nachos? Too cheesy.
The next time you hit your local movie theater, you might just be ordering a tall latte. Across the country, theaters have introduced a new line of snacks to tempt filmgoers who give thumbs-down to traditional movie munchies.
The options range from coffee and cookies, espresso and biscotti, fancy fruit drinks and bottled water to self-serve gourmet candy.
If they haven’t already, they’re probably coming soon to a theater near you.
Freeman Fisher, a spokesman for Cineplex Odeon, said movie houses are competing with video rentals for business. Owners are looking for new ways to lure customers back into those seats.
“The only way to expand is through concessions,” Fisher said.
Tastes vary depending on geographic region. In the South, nachos are still among the most popular movie snacks, Fisher said. In smaller towns, nothing beats a hot dog at the movies.
Many small, artsy movie houses have for years sold unconventional snacks to satisfy their customers’ bohemian tastes. But the treats began appearing in mainstream theaters about five years ago, when many began featuring self-serve bins of bulk candy, Fisher said.
“If you’re hungry for something sweet, but not wanting a half-pound box of Dots, that’s the way to go,” he said.
Alternative beverages soon followed, including coffee, bottled water and juices.
At some Cineplex Odeons you can buy espresso drinks and hot tea at a stand near the regular concessions. They also sell cookies, brownies and biscotti.
But the Academy Award still goes to popcorn. About 80 percent of filmgoers prefer popcorn, soft drinks and candy, according to Cineplex Odeon. Theaters now want to entice others who turn up their noses at conventional concessions.