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It turns out that the elapsed amount of time from a wacky, but sorta relevant City Council proposal and thing happening can be as short at 2.5 months! In February, City Councilwoman Gail Brewer floated the idea making movie theaters list the times movies actually started, versus having people sit through the countless commercials before them. Now, Loews Theaters will be printing when movies really start, sorta: The NY Times says movie listings, ads, and web litsings will still have the time when movies+trailers+commercials start, but a note will say "the feature presentation starts 10 to 15 minutes after the posted show time." Ha, nice try, but "10-15 minutes" is hardly precise - when it comes to moviegoing, Gothamist like exactitude! Our moviegoing missions are timed like clockwork: Arrive 30-40 minutes early. Find seats. Settle in. Dispatch person to get popcorn. Go to bathroom about ten minutes before movie starts. Make fun of trivia questions. Do not enjoy the "Twenty." Laugh at people who desperately look for seats five minutes before showtime. The plan will be tested in Connecticut next week, and then come to NYC in a few weeks.
What do you think of publishing a disclaimer that movies start a little later? Gothamist likes the idea of this, but our biggest worry/future annoyance is that people will be even more cavalier and traipse into movies late, trying to shuffle into seats, blocking our view of trailers (which we do want to see), or worse, the opening credits. Luckily, speciality theatres like the Angelika, Lincoln Plaza, Film Forum, and the Sunshine tend to have less commercials than the big commercial chains like Loews and Regal, but Gothamist has been noticing they've been creeping in. Related: Ask Gothamist on moviegoing annoyances and latecomers.
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What's the big fuss? Isn't it obvious that movies don't start at the time indicated? Besides, seeing previews is part of the fun. And choice of seats is key.
I really don't get the point either. Everyone knows there's a 10-15 timespan before movies start. I like seeing the previews. I like to know that when I'm running late, I'm not really late; its just like setting your clock ahead.
Is this really worthy of legislation?
But previews aren't the point, it is the out-and-out advertising. I sat through twenty minutes of product ads after the posted start time of 'Closer' at the Loews at 3rd & 11th; it's like being locked in and farted on. I haven't been to a Loews theater since.
I have no problem with, say, Regal's "Twenty", which is timed to end at the posted movie start time. But Loews is still not listing movie start times. Their nebulous "10-15 minute" guess only shows how much they hate their customers.
I will continue to avoid their chain until they decide their patrons are as important as Beyonce's new fragrance.
In England, they write the time the movie starts, and the commercials/previews air before that time. In other words, instead of putting the burden on the customer to avoid the ads and previews, the burden is put on the theater to get the ads and previews done before the movie start time. I'm all for this idea. I pay over $10 to see a movie in a theater, and I pay $3 for a bottle of water. I shouldn't have to pay by watching ads, or previews, for that matter.
I don't go to movies much at all, but the last time I did (four years ago) and sat through 15 minutes of commercials I was wicked pissed. My time has value.
I don't know if this is worthy of legislation, but for sure it's not right for people to be told the time something starts, pay money, and then be exposed to commercials.
Maybe this has value in the 'burbs, but here in NYC if you're not in a seat 20 minutes before start time you're basically out of luck.
So what does this do for anybody? Make them more aware of the amount of commercials they'll be forced to suffer through?
FWIW, the Ziegfeld, in addition to being a great spot to take in a movie, seems to have begun running its adds and previews prior to start time.
jamie -- I live in Manhattan but am not familiar with movie theaters here -- haven't been to one for several years. Are you saying they now sell tickets but if you don't take a seat early there will be none left?
jt - that's correct. Much like airlines, theaters oversell tickets because they know a certain percentage of buyers won't show up. For popular movies that means show up early or you're out of luck (you can get your money back, however).
Get used to in-theater advertising; it's only just begun. If people would just sit at home and watch network television for several hours as they used to back in the day we wouldn't have to worry about all of this "out of the box" advertising. Choose your poison. And yes; I am in the advertising industry.
Let me rephrase my earlier comments. This is a COMPLETE waste of legislation. We all know movies start 10-15 minutes after the time listed. You can walk into a movie any time you want. A good moviegoer knows coming early is essential to getting a good seat. If getting a good seat isn't such a big deal, come 10 minutes after the scheduled time.
You don’t need the government to make your movie watching ad free when you can do it yourself. Going to the movies should be fun. If you can’t sit for 15 minutes with your friends without feeling like your wasting time, there are other issues at hand. If 15 minutes of your time is really worth something, you could buy your own home theater and NEVER have to worry about ads or finding a good seat again.
You also wouldn’t be blowing those precious minutes reading and posting on blog sites anyway.
Knut> W-O-R-D!
I don't mind the movie starting late. I want to know what kind of laws we can pass to make people stop talking during the movie.
I 2nd K's 'W-O-R-D'
Knüt, first, not everyone knows about these ads running so long. I sure didn't the last time I went to a movie and think the annoyance contributed to the fact that I haven't been to a theater in several years. The experience was bad beyond what was on the screen (this was at a theater on E86th Street -- too loud, too long previews/ads, too expensive for what I got.)
Second, it's wrong to equate engaging in a conversation online, or reading a fairly interesting weblog with passively viewing ads that I haven't even agreed to to see. Reading and certainly writing have higher value in scheme of things. And more to the point, even if viewing an ad was generally as enjoyable as writing, the difference is that I choose to spend time here, whereas the 15 minutes of my life taken by movie ads I had no choice and no knowledge about -- the movie listing gave a certain time (which I naively assumed was when the movie would start), I got there a few mintues ahead, sat down and my time was robbed. I can understand your saying this is not a very important issue for the city council, but to say that somehow I deserve it or should no better is way out of line.
Isn't the extra time there for the groundlings to settle down?
Previews are fine. Commercials obscene especially given prices charged.
i call bullshit on gothamist's ridiculously early arrival time. up to 40 minutes early is insane. 20 minutes early should be plenty for a normal movie; 25-30 for a really hot one early in its run. don't be such a movie dork, gothamist!
Yeah 40 Minutes is a little extreme. But for Star Wars Episode III, its better get there at around an hour before, especially if its openning day or openning weekend. It all depends on the movie.
Did you know that the word Dork means Whale Penis? Like I just found that out weeks ago and im still amazed.
Catherine> R-I-G-H-T O-N!
Personally, I dig the R Kelly music and pre-movie trivia. Gets me in the mood.
The best was this cinema in DC I used to go to back in the day that showed moving liquid color on the screen before movies. Psychadelic.
So that means most dorks are well hung?
I think for Star Wars we'll all need to camp out the night prior for tickets and then just sleep in front of the cinema.
Nah Dork just mean's a Whale's Penis. Most Dork dorks still have tiny packages.
Yeah only the biggest Star Wars Geeks will camp in front. I guess im there
Manhattan theaters are more stress than they're worth. If I can sneak my $1 bottle of water in, I'll feel better temporarily, until I have to sit through those 15 minutes of ads. I already f'in paid a crazy amount to get in, and have to put up with all the beasts they call "teenagers," so why should I be subjected to even more crap?
Why do some people think it's ok to barrage people with advertising EVERYWHERE? They're the same ones who get upset with "government interference." Clearly we need some.
I'll stick to the Brooklyn bargain matinees, with a few retired people alongside me, thank you.
Legislate, no. But you have every right to tell theaters that they're pissing you off.
The Loews policy is one of the things that makes 29/29's new release platform -- simultaneous releases in theaters, on PPV and on DVD -- so darned attractive. (Gabby theatergoers is another.)
Advertisers have the freedom to advertise. And because their targets are constantly moving now; seeking information and entertainment from a variety of sources, the communications will logically follow. What will make or break a message (and brand indirectly) is the "permission" aspect of it; in other words, is the invasiveness welcomed by the audience. Hopefully only the truly creative, relevant, and intelligent will survive.
shouldn't the City Council be focusing efforts on more important things?
what about legislation eliminating the ridiculous rise in going to the movies?? can't there be some rent-controled movie prices? Regal Union square now rapes us with a ridiculous $10.75 and Loews E-Walk is $10.50. Who can afford this??
What about when the movie DOES NOT START even though all the pre-show stuff is over? The screen is blank. People just sit there. So I get up and go to the ticket booth and say THE MOVIE STILL HAS NOT STARTED. I think everyone should get a free pass to any show of their choice if this or any other stupid thing occurs.
I actually second Gothamist's opinion on early arrival time. If you actually want the best pick of seats, you need to show up about 35-40 minutes ahead of time to be first into the theater. Think of the time spent getting your ticket from the ticket machine, having them take your ticket, riding escalators to your particular theater (especially at AMC 25, yikes)...it adds up.
If there's one thing I really hate at movies, it's those people who come in 5 minutes before the movie and start asking everyone in a particular row if they can all rearrange themselves for their convenience. I always smile when someone stands up to these dorks and says, "No, I got here first and you came late, so why should I have to move?"
If Gothamist makes it to LA, make sure to try out the Bridge Cinema experience. If you catch a flick at the Director's Hall, you get to have assigned seating in big plush leather seats. Yes, there are still previews, but with assigned seating, you can go and get yourself a martini and stumble in to your seat when you're ready.
Then you can see whether or not that's worth $16 a seat. Better be a good movie!
Most of you have no idea how the movie theatre industry works. If there weren’t any previews, how would you know what movies are coming out? Are you people even old enough to see R-rated films yet? For decades theatres have been running previews before the actual movie starts. Why are people complaining now?
Some of the best movies are independent movies that have no money for TV or other advertising. If they didn’t have the previews in the theatres, these great movies would not be made. The theatre industry would suffer greatly if they had to change the start times of movies.
People who think theatres over sell their seats to try and pack people in are ignorant. I would recommend doing some research before making statements about that are not true.
About gothamist stating you have to come in 30-40 minutes early to find good seats, it is quite often true. Even if the movie has been out for several weeks, it may still be selling out because over a period of time it is moved from the large auditoriums to the small ones to make room for the movies that are in more demand. If you don’t want to come early for a movie, see it Monday - Thursday. There will be plenty of seats available on those days. If you have any questions regarding the theatre industry, I do have all the answers.