| There might be a nominal percentage made by the theaters, but it's not much more than 1/2 - 1 percent at best. Basically, it's negligible, and not enough to keep movie theaters in business in and of itself.
Unfortunately, selling snacks isn't covering the increasing costs of running a theater this day in age, either. Hence, the advertisements. They're 'necessary' inasmuch as they're keeping the theaters financially afloat. In this economy, business isn't so much about making exhorbitant profits as it is just staying in business to begin with.
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