The ad industry is destroying every form of entertainment or data access available. Even within the entertainment itself we get product placement for cars, foods, etc.
this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2025
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Movies used to be fun
If the sentiment in this thread is representative of the population, it seems like theaters no longer have a value proposition. Home theaters are good enough, we have streaming, and we have budget limitations.
There's an independent cinema near me which is doing it right.
The venue is a heritage building which has been refurbished to a high standard, and they have reasonably priced food and drink, including beers.
They participate in film festivals and show a lot of niche and foreign movies that would be impossible to find otherwise, so it's actually worth going to see something different or interesting.
To support accessibility they have child-friendly showings with zero ads or trailers, autism-friendly showings also with no ads, brighter light and less volume, and even pay-as-you-can tickets that go down all the way in price to completely free if you ask for it, so everyone can see a movie, even people who have nothing.
To me, making the cinema experience actually appealing again like that, and an actual part of the community, is the only way for cinema to thrive going forward.
Of course, the big chains can't possibly adapt to that, but as far as the big chains go, then fuck 'em.
To all those people saying “well I’ll just show up late”, wait till they start denying entry if you are past a certain point with no refund, forcing people to sit through the ads.
Pop in earbuds, pull out phone, and find something else to do for (hypothetical required minutes prior to main feature).
Eject me due to using phone during compulsory ad viewing time? I’m never coming back to the theater again.
That's the day movie theaters die
Sail the high seas.
I now warn AMC to expect more yarr 🏴☠️
Same "logic" that expects me to watch ads for a streaming service I pay for at home.
I can get ads for free, capitalists. You're not even playing your own game anymore. You're playing some bullshit home version and hoping we don't see the difference.
I recently watched cable television at a hotel.
Honestly, appalled. The ad segments are, as an aggregate, SHORTER than YouTube.
How tf did we get to this point, media fragmented across 20 different streaming services that want $10-$25/m to see their Alice of the media you're interested in.
Shits ridiculous
I won't sit through an ad, at home, in my underwear. I most certainly am not putting on pants, leaving the house, and paying admission to see ads.
Well...I'm never going to see a movie in any theater ever again.
It's already been a decade for me. Doubt I'll ever go again.
Theaters are really testing the limits of the bullshit its viewers will sit through.
I think the saddest of all is when they roll ads for themselves. I'm already in your shitty theater, why are you advertising how "magical" your experience is? Just reeks of desperation and won't convince me to visit more frequently, there are many reasons why I very rarely go to AMC theaters and wasting my time advertising yourselves while I'm already there won't change my mind.
"Oh boy, here I go [pirating] again"
Guess I'm never going to their theaters again.
Seems like a major selling point for theaters could be that they DON'T show ads, and that would be a draw.
They're competing with my big TV at home, my comfortable couch, surround sound, private bathroom, control over the volume, ability to pause, great snacks, and no annoying people. The only thing they have is first access, and I'm more than willing to wait to get all the benefits of watching at home.
Alamo Drafthouse already does this. Their pre-movie things are all related to the movie being shown, usually featurettes or meme videos related to it.
I haven't been in a theater since the first Deadpool. I doubt I'll ever see a movie in a theater again.
This comment section seems to think this is news. 15 minutes of trailers is probably the least I've ever seen in my life at a chain at least. 25 minutes has been pretty standard for years. Doubt it's increased very much over the past ten years.
Arrive 25-30 minutes later
Soon they'll add an "intermission" to make sure you can't miss all the ads.
When I was a teenager we would regularly go to a smaller local movie theater instead of the more fancy large chains. The vibe was better, but they also had an intermission during the movies and I loved that. During the intermission you could stretch your legs, use the bathroom and get some fresh drinks and snacks. The theater was also really good at scheduling so only one movie had an intermission at one time, so it was pretty quiet at the bathrooms and bar. The intermission was only for 10-15 mins or so. Of course prices back then were normal, so I didn't mind buying more. There also weren't any ads, they just played some music and had an intermission screen up with a countdown.
It's been ~25 minutes of trailers since 2010. All that's new here is the transparency.
It been 30 mins for ads and trailers for as long as I can remember and I am in my 40's.
The last two years have been a hard 35 mins of ads. Not just expected blockbusters as before.
Actually went to an AMC a few days ago to see that new Wes Anderson film. There were A LOT of previews (trailers), like what i would consider an excessive amount, with some ads sprinkled in. Reminded me why I don't go to the movies 😒
The movie was great BTW, 10/10 enjoyed.
I'm going to warn AMC that I will be watching my movies somewhere else.
I didn't think there was anything worth watching before. I'm certain now. All ads are insults to your time and intelligence.
Most didn't even notice the 12 mins of every hour taken for ads on TV (old stat; could even be worse now). And if you brought it to their attention, something about doing chores during them or somehow accepting them as the only way in which you'd receive your entertainment was what you heard. Any moment of most ads is an insult to your mental as far as I'm concerned. And others just don't want to protect themselves.
In the late 80’s the Simpsons ran 22 minute episodes which I think was normal. That would be 16 minutes of ads an hour.
Back in the late 50s/early 60s, a tv season season ran 39 weeks long, and an hour-long show ran for 54 minutes.
Most of society is exceptional at something and important, and most of them are shallower than a valley girl.
I haven't been to a cinema in over 10 years. So not missing much I see.
Also a "theatre" is where people perform live on stage. A "cinema" is where you go to see movies on a screen.
Next you're going to tell me that biscuits aren't fluffy breakfast foods great with things like eggs and sausage gravy.
If you're going to be a pendant, don't be wrong
A movie theater is correct though.
Their website literally said a movie started at 7 pm tonight so we get there at 7. Unfortunately it was a mistake and the movie started at 6:30.
We got to our seats with 3 trailers to spare.
this is why my family gets to the theater like 20 minutes late
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