Fans who secured tickets to watch the Stranger Things finale in theatres on Wednesday or Thursday are considered fortunate, given the high demand for resale tickets on social media platforms. These tickets, initially priced at $11 each with an additional $11 concession stand voucher due to talent residuals constraints, sold out rapidly across Canada for the New Year’s Eve release on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET.
Cineplex, the host of many Canadian screenings, confirmed the swift sell-out of tickets nationwide, with only a few seats left at select theatres. Landmark Cinemas also reported nearly sold-out seats for the finale screenings, leading fans like Omar Hassanali to explore Facebook Marketplace for available tickets.
Hassanali shared his disappointment in missing out on purchasing tickets earlier and now faces inflated resale prices, ranging from $25 to $200 per ticket. While some sellers have reduced prices to face value as the finale approaches, others continue to list tickets at higher rates on various platforms.
Resale of event tickets at movie theatres, while less common compared to live music or sports events, has become a topic of concern. Vass Bednar from the Canadian SHIELD Institute noted that cinemas like Cineplex lack reselling capabilities similar to Ticketmaster, limiting resale activities to special events like TV series finales.
Despite measures in place to curb reselling, Hassanali expressed frustration over resellers seeking profits from limited events, calling attention to ticket scalping issues. While extreme measures could deter reselling, there are concerns about potential drawbacks for regular ticket buyers.
After an extensive search, Hassanali managed to secure face value tickets for his family, emphasizing the importance of experiencing the event together. For those still seeking tickets, Cineplex mentions a limited availability at theatres, while some bars and restaurants are hosting watch parties for the episode.