Why do we have to watch commercials in movie theaters?

ironfalcon27 said:Wait, is it actually like that in every theater? Which one did you go to?

<raspy voice mode on>
IT'S LIKE THAT IN ALL THE GOOD CINEMAS—INCLUDING THE FIRST BIG AMC IN THE COUNTRY!
</raspy voice mode off>

I don't mind commercials; they actually help me since I'm always running behind, and I've got nothing against spoilers. But those AT&T ads? Yeah, I agree, they're totally unnecessary and just annoying. Honestly, I usually end up at Regal Cinemas anyway because they have free parking, which is a huge plus for me when I'm driving.

nimblemarlin17 said:I actually don't mind commercials since I'm usually running late anyway; I have nothing against a little extra lead time. But those AT&T ads? Yeah, I agree, they're completely unnecessary and just annoying. Honestly, I usually end up going to Regal Cinemas because the free parking is a huge plus for me when I'm driving.

Just remember you're paying for $12 a movie ticket—which is one standard ticket plus paying for parking twice. 😉

Richard Howard2 said:Don't forget you're paying for the $12 cinema ticket, which is just one standard ticket plus paying for parking twice. 😉

Yeah, but I've been to Broadway enough times to know you end up spending double what you planned just trying to find a spot. Sure, they claw some of that money back when you buy tickets and popcorn, but movie tickets aren't cheap anywhere else either—at least not in Washington, D.C.

Chicago Bulls fans said:Wait, there’s an indoor theater too? 😲 😁

Well, what did you expect—that people don't show up to the movies during the winter? Besides, there isn't a single video rental shop on the island (if I recall correctly). The seats are just old classroom chairs, the whole thing is tucked away in a former US Army barracks, and most folks just huddle around a space heater sitting somewhere in the middle of the "hall."

But man, that cinema name is just terrible... HRID!

Richard Hernandez13 said:Back when I was in NYC watching The Matrix Reloaded, they had this massive ten-minute break right in the middle of the movie, and during that gap, they just absolutely hammered us with commercials.
I mean, you'd think they’d put a break there just for people needing a bathroom trip, right? 😬

I've been reading stuff online—apparently, advertising before movies in the States has gotten totally out of hand (it's that kind of extreme, which honestly, only Americans could pull off).

People going to the cinema have to sit through like twenty minutes of ads before the actual movie even starts.

And over here, we only get stuck with 15 minutes. 😁 That's actually way less. 🙄
I was losing my mind... all I kept thinking was, "Okay, this is it, just one more and then it's over"... But damn, it just kept going and going. 🙂

Richard Howard2 said:I mean, they’re already ripping us off with $10 ticket prices—sometimes up to $12—just so we can sit through 15 minutes of commercials for AT&T or FOX before the movie even starts. Look, I get the basic rule: if you aren't paying, you're watching ads, which is how FOX operates. But forcing ads onto something I actually paid a premium for? That's a whole different level of shady.

You don't see this stuff out in the Midwest... it's just us big city types getting screwed over...👋 😁

Jose Miller17 said:Out in the sticks, you don't see that... back here, we just get screwed...👋 😁

You can't have your cake and eat it too. Once they build you a fancy cinema with those plush seats, expect to get robbed.

Richard Hernandez13 said:When I was watching The Matrix Reloaded in NYC, there was this ten-minute break right in the middle of the movie, and they just bombarded us with nonstop commercials during the interval.

I can hardly believe it. Which theater was that? I'd like to make sure I avoid it at all costs.

nimblemarlin17 said:You can't have your cake and eat it too. Once they build a theater with those fancy recliner seats, get ready to get robbed.

...I swear there’s some devilish conspiracy linking mobile carriers to those oversized lounge chairs...😁 😁...

I recently found myself at an AMC after quite some time. The experience was practically identical to going to a Regal Cinemas ($9.75)—you’ve got those standard fifteen minutes of trailers and previews, the same inflated ticket prices, and that ubiquitous popcorn stench. If I'm being honest, though, even the seats felt significantly less comfortable. I’ve always had a bit of an aversion to Regal Cinemas, but it seems like nowhere else is much better either.

Look, banning movie trailers before a show wouldn't really fly, mostly because nobody is forcing you to sit there and watch them.
I mean, did they tie you to your seat? Nope.
Did they lock the doors so you couldn't leave? Not at all.
Did they bolt the entrance so you couldn't show up later? No way.
Bottom line is, you don't have to stay there and suffer through the ads.
But those annoying commercials right in the middle of the actual movie? That's a whole different story.

Honestly, those ads drive me absolutely insane. But hey, Regal Cinemas is easily my favorite spot—the seats are super comfy, they’ve got decent cup holders, and it's pretty close to where I am. Plus, the sound system is killer and I can just grab tickets online without any hassle, so I'll pick them over anyone else every single time. They just offer more comfort than the other theaters, so if I have to shell out a few extra bucks for that, whatever.

Sophia Brown78 said:Honestly, those commercials drive me insane. But look, Regal Cinemas is my go-to. They have the most comfortable seats, actual cup holders, and it’s pretty close to where I live. The sound system is killer, and I can just grab tickets online without any hassle. That’s why I pick them over everyone else. They offer more comfort than the other theaters, so if I have to pay a little extra for that, whatever.

Exactly. It feels like whenever people try to nitpick Regal Cinemas, they end up listing the exact things that make other theaters worse. That online booking thing is also a massive win for them.

So, I went to the AMC with my bestie, right? But then the previews started—and total chaos broke out! Everyone just started chucking popcorn and screaming their heads off. By the time they finally shut it down, we’d basically turned the whole theater into a giant popcorn bowl. Seriously, they almost kicked us out!😁

I don't have the same issues you people do. I typically seek out those films that aren't exactly mainstream hits, or if I do decide to see a blockbuster, I wait until its run is nearly over. My actual grievance lies with the advertisements and the exorbitant price I'm forced to pay—essentially paying a premium just to sit through commercials.

Angela Kern69 said:I recently hit up a local cinema in Europe after ages. The ticket prices were basically the same as at Regal Cinemas ($9.75), plus those standard 15 minutes of ads and trailers, the same popcorn smell, and—to be honest—the seats were actually pretty uncomfortable. I’ve always had an aversion to Regal Cinemas, but honestly, it doesn't seem much better anywhere else.

Well, those old-school theaters were actually the first ones to start doing those mid-movie intermissions 🙄

As for the seating—personally, I find the headrests at Broadway way more comfortable. But then again, anyone who has sat in the Split film archive knows how to appreciate a chair that doesn't make your backside fall off after ten minutes.

Chicago Bulls fans said:It’s just way too crowded... honestly, it’s getting pretty intense. 😲 Everyone just crowded into that Regal Cinemas... honestly, that’s always been its biggest downside. Aside from all those endless commercials, too...👎

Seriously? Man... I feel so bad about that...
So, I was in D.C. the other day and caught a screening of Collateral... Honestly, my entire row was basically just me. There were maybe four other people in the whole theater... barely anyone there at all... 😁
I grabbed some popcorn too, and honestly, those seats are incredibly comfortable... really impressed with them. 👍 And honestly, the movie was pretty mediocre too, so all things considered... I'd say the night was a win. 😁

Look, if you’re actually looking to enjoy an empty theater without anyone breathing down your neck... don't bother rushing out for the opening night premiere. Just wait until the movie is about to get pulled from the schedule at the local AMC... that's when you'll finally get some peace... 😛

And those commercials... man, what a disaster. It’s not just that they won't stop playing, it's where on earth do they even find such absolute nonsense to air? Back in Germany, the cinema ads are actually somewhat entertaining... but here in the States, they feel like they were designed for someone with an IQ of 25... 🙄

A few days ago, I caught Alexander at the DC Cinema... It was actually pretty noticeable how few commercials there were. Just two or three, and then the movie finally started...

So, I was just reading some stuff about people taking breaks right in the middle of a movie... Are you guys actually kidding me? 😲
Just aim it straight at the projector... 😁

I thought the cinema was a total steal, too. Back home, they absolutely rip you off... they charge you double for everything... $17 Just for the ticket... 🙂

Chicago Bulls fans said:Honestly, those Germans are actually pretty great! They somehow manage to make even the commercials before the movie start out entertaining...🙄 Man, if I actually knew what they were talking about, those commercials would probably be pretty funny to me too...

I wouldn't go for that... 😛
I mean, some of them were just fun simply because they were fun... they just had that vibe. They were good for what they were... 🙂

So, right after those, there’s this movie where you can actually hear that German millionaire jerk's voice doing his best impression of Harrison Ford...🙄 Idiots... they really have to synchronize every single movie.

I totally sign off on this... honestly, I was such a hater back before DVDs even became a thing. I still have my gripes when it comes to going to the cinema, but it’s not as big of a deal anymore since I actually have the option to watch movies in their original language at home now...
Lately, in some of the bigger cities, they’ve actually started rolling out non-sync versions in theaters over the last year or two... And apparently, there aren't even subtitles either, from what I've been hearing... 😁

Angela Kern69 said:I honestly can't believe it. I mean, which theater was it? I really would have loved to steer clear of it if I'd known!

It was mostly just the local AMC theaters around Washington, D.C.

The commercials definitely suck, but I honestly have some thoughts on how they pick trailers for certain screenings too.
So, I head to the AMC Theatres with my three-and-a-half-year-old daughter. We grab tickets for Animal Farm—I think the showtime was either 5:00 or 7:00 PM—we sit down, and then the trailers start rolling. I don't even need to say it, but my little girl was absolutely terrified within the first 15 or 20 minutes of trailers before the actual movie even started.
Don't get me wrong, I actually love trailers, but I guess they could really think about which ones they play before movies that are obviously meant for little kids.