I don't know where people get these crazy prices. Try to find a little hole-in-the-wall theater. I like the local Landmark Cinema. It is about $8 a ticket and I skip on the junk food.
There is another theater on the other side of town that does midnight showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Those kinds of places are also cheap.
I think it's more relevant to talk about theaters showing current new movies because that's kind of what Hollywood is focused on. I'm in a more expensive city where a weeknight non-matinee will run $20 a pop for a current release. Comfort is average but food is pretty solid. Not Alamo, but similar service level. Not unusual for a couple to leave paying more like 80 after concessions.
Alamo food and service have absolutely tanked over the last year. They no longer prohibit phones during the film. In fact, now they require one to order food. They have completely undermined their entire value proposition. Alamo Drafthouse is a walking corpse.
Huh? Aziz Ansari is very clear that this is now a quiet zone and you'll get no more warnings.