What time do cinema films actually start these days

JimmyTheWig

Hi,

Planning on taking DS to see The Phantom Menace at the weekend at our local Odeon.
His dance class finishes 5 minutes before the advertised time of the film on Google. We can get there in about 5-10 minutes. I can get the tickets and drinks/snacks while he's at his class.

I don't really go to the cinema these days. In years gone by you had a good 15 minutes after the advertised start time before the film starts. Is that still the case?


Thanks,

Jim

Candles_by_Lisa

I'm not too sure as cinema times will vary but my local can be anything up to 30 mins (or longer) before the film starts.

spadoosh

Yeh its normally 5/10 mins at least of ads.

If you order tickets online you can normally go and put your card (that you used to pay) in a machine and it gives you the tickets, can save queing.

Get drinks and treats from supermarket and take in with you (loads cheaper) unless you have good morals, but just to put it out there its not morally right to charge £3 for 500ml of fizzy drink. Obviously this will need to be hidden from staff as they dont really like the idea of people bringing food in with them.

JimmyTheWig

Looks like I should be ok.
I think you pay extra for online booking, so will get my tickets on the day.

My morals have no problem with taking my own drinks and snacks!

pinkteapot

Have the drinks and snacks in a bag, under some other stuff.

Odeon won't let you take your own in if you see them. At our local Cineworld, they ask to look in your bag. :eek: The only glance into the top though - they don't rummage through.

There's 15-20 mins of adverts and sometimes longer. Starts with ads for products etc (like TV ads) and then you'll get some trailers for other films. So I think you'll be fine.

Sharon87

If it's likely to be busy they usually have more advertising. If the cinema doesn't think there'll be many people there will be less or no TV style adverts, they just go straight into the trailers. I use to work at the cinema and found that was the case most of the time. Don't get annoyed if the film starts as you're getting in. I'd ask the manager if they know how long the trailers are just before you buy your tickets. They may be able to ask projection

ellay864

Might also be worth bearing in mind that if you don't have allocated seating, if you go in 'late' you may not get decent seats. That often seems to happen if it's a new film out and everybody's gone to see it, or if it's old enough for them to move to one of the smaller screens

Chomeur

The length of trailers and adverts that you have to sit through really puts me off going to the cinema. It probably damages their business actually, but they don't see it like that. I'm sure that if cinemas actually published on their websites the times that films really start they would get more custom.

Anyway if you ask them what time the film really starts, do they usually tell you? And how reliable are they? Maybe you can try to negotiate some agreed compensation if it doesn't start when promised (!) Even if they do tell you when the film starts it's still a pain because either you phone them up before or you have to go there at or before the scheduled time and then have something to do nearby while you wait for the film to start. It feels wrong that there isn't a better solution.

System

Chomeur wrote: »

The length of trailers and adverts that you have to sit through really puts me off going to the cinema. It probably damages their business actually, but they don't see it like that. I'm sure that if cinemas actually published on their websites the times that films really start they would get more custom.

Anyway if you ask them what time the film really starts, do they usually tell you? And how reliable are they? Maybe you can try to negotiate some agreed compensation if it doesn't start when promised (!) Even if they do tell you when the film starts it's still a pain because either you phone them up before or you have to go there at or before the scheduled time and then have something to do nearby while you wait for the film to start. It feels wrong that there isn't a better solution.

The adverts bring in revenue which keeps the price down. It's getting very expensive to go to the cinema but without adverts it will be even more expensive.

Chomeur

goater78 wrote: »

The adverts bring in revenue which keeps the price down. It's getting very expensive to go to the cinema but without adverts it will be even more expensive.

They should try making the experience a better quality one and not be so small-minded. Theatres don't show you trailers or bombard you with popcorn smells and are able to charge a lot more money.