How do movie theaters and movie distributors work together?

: How do movie theaters and movie distributors work together?
In order to play a movie in ones theater, I know they must bid on it from the movie distributing company but do they pay money up front and as well pay the distributing company a really high percentage of the sold tickets. Or do they just pay a percentage of the profits from tickets without paying a certain amount of money up front.

Is there any who is movie theater savvy? I a lot of questions on the business that I just cannot seem to find on the internet. If so, could you please leave an email address where I can contact you?

Thanks guys in advance.

Answers and Views:

Answer by BIGDADDYCOOL
Movie theaters make most of their money from concessions. The movies bring people into their candy store.

The distributor, like Fox for example. Gets like 70% of the box office (it changes depending on the movie and distribution company) take of the opening weekend. Theaters get 30%. Then the percentage levels out in subsequent weeks.

Bigger chains can negotiate, but for the most part, distribution companies are in charge. Because everyone wants to see Transformers 3. So if your theater doesn’t have it, you lose money to the theater down the street,