A $50 Movie Ticket Is Peak Entertainment Elitism

Can the average American afford to be entertained? Recent headlines suggest the answer is “no.”

Cultural experiences are increasingly becoming something that only elites can afford, turning both communal experiences and personal enrichment into privileges rather than expectations. At a time of deep political strife, economic inequality and media fragmentation, enjoying live sports, music, theater and movies remains among the few shared experiences that bring people together. But the cost of access is getting preposterous.