DETROIT » There is no happy ending for a Detroit-area man who challenged the high price of movie snacks.

A Wayne County judge dismissed Jason Thompson’s lawsuit Friday, saying the Michigan Consumer Protection Act doesn’t apply. Thompson claimed a Livonia theater was illegally gouging customers after he paid $8 for a soda and chocolate-covered peanuts in December.

Bruce Sendek, a lawyer for American Multi-Cinema, says no one is forced to buy snacks at movies. He notes that the price of any product can vary greatly depending on where it’s sold.

The moviegoer’s lawyer, Kerry Morgan, tells the Detroit Free Press that he advised his client to stay home and get a subscription to Netflix.