The average ticket to the movies in the U.S. crossed the $8 mark not long ago, and by the end of 2012, the average is expected to hit $8.15. That’s the average, mind you. Tickets can cost much more for 3-D and IMAX presentations and simple location: going to the movies in New York City costs about $13, on average. Nonetheless, a movie in the U.S. seems like a bargain compared with Tokyo, where a ticket costs $24. In 2011, a major movie-theater chain in Japan cut ticket prices in order to boost flagging attendance; after slashing prices, admission still cost over $18.