Get Ready to Pay For Your Own 3D Glasses

Are you not only more than happy to pay a premium for 3D movies, but anxious to pay even more to see the latest hit butchered through the use of gut-wrenching, headache-enducing, and just flat out insulting 3D technology? Yeah, me neither. But that's exactly what might happen now that Sony plans to stop paying for everyone's 3D glasses.

At most, if not all cinemas, moviegoers are encouraged to recycle their glasses after the film lets out. At my theater, this is accomplished by a big green box in the lobby. This is because the studios that release 3D films front the cost of the glasses and by taking back used pairs they can recoup some of the costs. Unfortunately, Sony has started to inform theaters that, come May 2012, they will no longer be paying for the glasses. The very same glasses that you need to watch their films. This falls directly on the backs of theater owners, who will more than likely have to add an extra surcharge onto 3D movies, on top of the $3 - $4 premium that's already there.

With 3D on a noticeable downward spiral, I understand that Sony might be worried when they have 3D blockbusters like Men in Black 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man coming out next year. However, 3D is dying precisely because customers are tired of paying more money, so digging deeper into their wallets might be the final nail in the coffin.