Why do we have to watch commercials in movie theaters?

Classic movie theaters didn't fail, they just gave these scammers a chance to rob us blind.

Honestly, if you're a total newbie, you might as well hit up a theater. At least there, you can actually see the actors working their tails off to earn a paycheck.🙂

We basically have ourselves to blame when it comes to these commercials. Go ahead and attack me if you want—but you know it’s true. For as long as I can remember, there have always been ads before the movie starts. Back in the day, they’d just run a few slides for a local radio station, a hair salon, or a film distributor. We had a real chance to complain or even sue them for rights violations back then, but we didn't—mostly because the ads only lasted about a minute and the lights hadn't even dimmed yet. That set the precedent they're using today to shove 20 minutes of ads right into the middle of a feature. And honestly? Consumer protection groups won't do a thing about it.

Black Knights said:The biggest theater in Chicago belongs to the historic Cinema Theater—it seats 545 people. After that, you’ve got auditorium 11 over at the AMC multiplex with 477 seats...

Wait, wasn't the Student Union actually larger? And I thought the Gallery was right behind it—I'm not sure if AMC has officially overtaken them yet.

Simone said:Traditional theaters are dying out because ticket prices don't even cover the overhead anymore. Going to the movies just isn't the go-to social event it used to be—especially when you can get way more comfortable watching everything right from your own living room.

They thought they found a silver lining in all those commercials, but unfortunately, that backfired. Now, thanks to those ads, they’re going to lose what little audience they have left, creating this endless cycle... right until they shut down for good.

I honestly don't think AMC Theatres will go under, though; there are still plenty of people who head there regardless of what's playing, mostly just to be seen.

A perfect example is Troy—it played on Broadway and in local theaters for two months before it even hit AMC Theatres. So, anyone who actually wanted to see Troy had their chance. Once it finally arrived at AMC Theatres, most of the screenings were sold out within the first week...

Kevin Long20 said:Look, we basically asked for this with all the ads. You can come at me all you want, but it's the truth! For as long as I can remember, there have always been commercials before the movie starts. Back in the day, they’d just run a few slides for a local radio station, a hair salon, or a film distributor. We could have complained or sued them for breaking rules back then, but we didn't because the ads only lasted a minute—sometimes before the lights even went down! That set the precedent, and now they think they can shove 20 minutes of commercials right in the middle of the movie. And don't look to consumer protection groups to help; they won't do a thing.

Man, you're young. There was a time when we actually got to watch movie newsreels before the feature started... kind of like the old-school version of the nightly news. 😉

Bottom line? Big Capital learned how to get organized a long time ago. It's up to us "consumer sheep" to catch up. That's just how it works.

Kevin Long20 said:I don't think AMC Theatres is going anywhere. There are tons of people who go there just to catch whatever's playing. Mostly just to be seen, honestly.

And why wouldn't it happen? That's how things have always worked.

We just need to "discover" a new spot. Why not a theater for all those bitter reviewers out there? Maybe somewhere on the outskirts of town, but still easy to get to via public transit?
In a big city like Chicago, that wouldn't even be an issue.

Imagine if the local forum regulars and bloggers tried to organize something like that low-key. Just for the hell of it! I'd bet money that place would become the next big thing overnight. 😛

Ultras said:Terrible!

Honestly, you man from St. Louis, what is your actual problem?

It is simply because we have no desire to waste money at the theater when we can just rent the damn thing from a video store...

Ultras said:Whatever. For me, hitting the theater is a whole ritual. It isn't just about watching a movie; it’s much more than that. A ticket costs me $10, which is about the same as a bootleg DVD, yet I still prefer going to the cinema.

Times have changed. Going to the movies used to be the definitive way to go out. But back then, we were living under socialism—there wasn't a massive flood of programming, video rental stores, the internet, DivX, or DVDs everywhere. And outings weren't just some teenage sexual conquest for sixteen-year-olds...

I honestly think movie theater commercials should be capped at some reasonable limit, maybe four minutes tops. If they just jacked up the price per second for those ads, they could easily make up the difference in revenue.
Not every theater in the US plays dozens of ads, anyway. They should implement a maximum cap on commercial time, though I guess you couldn't force it on every single venue out there.
The equipment itself isn't cheap to run, either. On top of that, distributors are taking an ever-growing slice of the pie while actual foot traffic seems to be dwindling...
AMC Theatres was the first big multiplex around here, so it makes sense that they stay busy, but even then, the turnout probably isn't hitting the lofty numbers they were banking on.
And let’s talk about the pricing—charging $15 or more for a single ticket is getting ridiculous. Once you add in the sodas, the snacks, and the parking fees... I mean, two people could probably go buy a whole DVD player at a place like Target for what a couple of people spend on a night out.

If you want a better experience, try checking out some of those smaller, independent single-screen theaters around town instead. You'll probably walk away much happier.

And here’s another thing... lately, it feels like every single movie is basically a giant commercial from the moment they start filming.
They just plaster brands all over the screen, and then you get the actual advertisements tucked right into the runtime. Some of them are just there by default—like, the ad is already baked into the digital print sent to the theater—while others are specifically paid placements to make sure they get aired.
The darkness of a movie theater is actually kind of devious. You can't look left or right, there's no remote to grab, and there isn't even a sliver of light bleeding in from the hallway. You’re just stuck staring at that screen... that's it.
According to some studies (conducted by Americans, naturally), cinema ads have the most massive impact of any advertising medium. Our marketers definitely know that, which is why they keep circling back to it...

I am fully aware that movie theater advertisements have the most significant impact precisely because you are forced to sit there and watch them. But quite simply, this is a violation of basic moral principles. An individual who, as an honest citizen, pays a premium—given the current cost of living—should not be coerced into consuming advertisements. In a theoretical world governed by justice, everything should have its limits, yet in practice, it seems there are none at all.

Regardless, the powerless individual always loses while massive corporations exploit us like dictators, and I believe one ought to fight against such things.

Why are there laws designed to protect pathetic corporations from the illegal distribution of pirated movies and music, yet there are absolutely no laws to protect a single, struggling person from being exploited by corporations through coercion and extortion?

We live in a democratic society? Is that the claim? I certainly haven't noticed.

Simone said:You’re pretty young—back in my day, we used to watch movie newsreels before the feature started... basically the precursor to today's nightly news broadcasts. 😉

Anyway, big capital learned how to stay organized a long time ago; the consumer sheep out there just haven't caught up yet—that's how it works.

Mind you, I was at the cinema in Appalachia this summer and they didn't have any commercials or trailers at all.

Here is the crux of the matter.

After being slapped with outrageously high bills for utilizing technology that’s basically a century old—I am talking about a landline phone here—after being fleeced for amounts that exceed my actual income, this very same corporation proceeds to rob and belittle me. They even go so far as to coerce and blackmail me when I pay my hefty $12 for movie tickets.

The implication is clear: they are stealing from me even when I am not using their services. It means they are imposing costs upon me and extorting me for things that simply do not function. It is pure exploitation.

I guess everyone is just a little too high-strung—honestly, all of you seem pretty wound up.

I always enjoy watching the previews—it’s a nice way to see what's coming up. During the commercial breaks, I usually just mess around with my friends.

If you want to experience true hell, try watching a movie on Italian television—you get five or six commercial breaks scattered throughout the entire film. Compared to that, what we have here is nothing.

Chicago Blackhawks fans said:That's just awful!

I mean, seriously, you folks from St. Louis, what exactly is your problem here?

I suppose it is quite sad, though I guess there might be one tiny silver lining in all of this... there isn't nearly as much whispering or other annoying distractions. For instance, I went to see Alexander yesterday, and the guy sitting right next to me wouldn't stop making crude comments about Alexander's wife and how he'd love to sleep with her. It was exhausting. On the flip side, we only have two small, pathetic theaters around here that show maybe two or four movies at most, and half the time you can't even catch them on screen—you basically have to wait until they hit the streaming services.

The one decent thing is that we don't get bombarded by commercials as much, and if we do, it's usually just one for Motorola.... plus, tickets aren't nearly as pricey; one ticket is only about $6.75.

coastalorca3 said:Honestly, everyone is just being far too high-strung. It's all quite unnecessary.

I have always had a penchant for watching the highlights. During the commercial breaks, I find myself messing around with my friends.

If you truly want to experience hell on earth, try watching a movie on Italian television. You get five or six commercial breaks scattered throughout the entire film. Compared to that, what we deal with here is nothing.

Look, let’s be honest: Italians are arguably the biggest bunch of hicks on the planet, right up there with Americans. It’s just a fact. But honestly? CNN is catching up to them fast.

Saw a Haribo gummy bear commercial right before the movie started. Honestly, I haven't seen anything that annoying in a long time.
🙂

Simone said:You really ought to take your wife to the theater! 😉😁

The way things are headed, we’ll probably have actors standing on stage reciting ads for AT&T or Always pads right before the curtain goes up...
😁

Chicago Blackhawks fans said:😂 Also... even if you aren't sure which movie is playing until later tonight, it doesn't really matter...

You just have to know who to ask—plus, the poster should be up by morning at the corner where I used to work.

I've heard watching a movie in the wintertime at the Appalachia cinema is quite the experience. 🤣

Richard Howard2 said:Does anyone know if there's any legal ground to complain about seeing AT&T and FOX commercials right before the movies start?

I mean, they're already ripping us off with $10 ticket prices—sometimes even hitting $12—just so we can sit there for 15 minutes staring at ads for AT&T or FOX before the actual movie starts. Look, I get the whole "if you aren't paying, you're the product" thing, which is basically how FOX operates, but forcing ads on something I actually paid a premium for? That's just straight-up shady behavior.

Honestly, I’d sue them; it’s the height of disrespect...

Wait, is it like that at every theater? Which one were you at?