No, it isn't 100% wrong. Theaters do make a substantial amount from concessions that are deliberately overpriced to help bring in crucial revenue, but yes they are also dependent upon the revenue from the actual ticket sales.
http://themovieblog.com/2007/econom...e-the-money-goes-and-why-it-costs-us-so-much/
Theatres only keep about 25% of the ticket price (that's like $2-$3 per ticket). So to them, that's basically nothing. They can not depend on that amount to keep operating.
The theater has to pay for the right to screen the movies and to maintain their facilities and keep them operational. The theater's employees are the ones who are the most directly and immediately impacted by the financial vitality of the theater. It's a theft of service to sneak into a theater without paying for the ticket.
And no, they don't pay for the right to use the screen. They OWN the screen. The theatre company wouldn't build it if they had to also pay to use the screen. It's outright ownership. They use the screens to sell popcorn.
You are also incorrect about all actors, directors, and such receiving their full salary up front since oftentimes, especially with lower budget independent films, they receive a percentage of the film's gross. There are major stars who have accepted significantly lower salaries - sometimes only taking the minimum for a union actor - for roles they play in budget-strapped indie movies with the contractual condition that they then receive a percentage of the film's profits. One reason for this is that the smaller films often have a larger potential for receiving an Oscar nomination because they are not pandering to the typical movie viewer.
All big budget films - everyone gets paid first, except the studio, they get paid based on ticket sales. If a movie bombs, the actors/designers/animators/sound effects still get paid (they wouldn't work for free, not for companies like Universal/Marvel/Fox/LionsGate). All actors get paid before filming is finished, regardless of how well the movie does in the box office. That's why you hear of Box Office Bombs. The studio didn't make enough to cover the costs of production, which includes payroll.
Jim Carrey, for example, demands $20 million per movie, yet, some of his movies have flopped. He still gets the money but the studio ends up recording a shortfall.
Only very few actors have the ability to ask for a percentage with Harrison Ford being the most famous example of receiving like..one tenth of one percent of all Star Wars revenue. Jack Nickelson being the only other example receiving royalties based on Batman movies. Other than that, most actors get paid for the movie and that's it, not royalties.
Major actors
may take a pay cut to star in an indie film if they like the script enough, but that's the exception, not the rule.
Those 'anti-piracy' commercials that ran a few years ago, showing carpenters and costume designers say they won't get paid if someone downloads a movie? yeah, lies. They get paid either way. It's just pulling at your heart strings.
