# The time between "showtime" and when the movie actually starts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083 "2017-06-04T03:09:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/21 "2017-06-05T00:14:38Z")
My theater switched to assigned seating. I hated the idea when I heard it was coming but now that I actually use it, I love it. Only remaining complaint is it was a stealth price increase since you basically have to buy your tickets on line and they charge an extra fee for that. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/22 "2017-06-05T01:16:56Z")
Just saw Wonder Woman. To back up Qadgop, I timed it. 24:30 and change from the listed start time to the beginning of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/23 "2017-06-05T01:29:26Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > …seat’s are not allocated at ticket purchase time in the US? > [@USCDiver](#): > > Rarely. You just get admission, find your own seat. 1. Even in theaters where they issue you an assigned seat, whoever purchased earlier gets a better choice. 2. Most U.S. theaters these days don’t have really bad seats. 3. USCDiver is right. Traditionally, in the U.S., tickets are general admission tickets and once you enter the theater, you can sit anywhere. Even in theaters that still have balconies (which is almost unheard of these days) the prices are the same. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/24 "2017-06-05T03:33:53Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > My theater switched to assigned seating. I hated the idea when I heard it was coming but now that I actually use it, I love it. Only remaining complaint is it was a stealth price increase since you basically have to buy your tickets on line and they charge an extra fee for that. The one large theater that we go to has assigned seating, and for a family, the online order charges start to add up. Fortunately it’s next to a shopping center that we visit often, so if we want to see a particular time we go earlier in the day and buy the tickets in person, without a service charge. They had a special TCM showing of _North by Northwest_, and we bought the tickets for that two days ahead of time. They didn’t have a problem with that. (Upcoming TCM shows: The Godfather, Some Like It Hot, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (!), and Bonnie and Clyde). ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/25 "2017-06-05T10:34:38Z")
After not going to the theater for years I recently saw _Logan_ and _Guardians of the Galaxy 2_ in the theater. Yep, nearly a half an hour of pre-show for both. Notably longer than in the past. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/26 "2017-06-05T11:40:04Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > … > Also, since so many morons like to roll in ten to fifteen minutes after the published showtime, this helps minimize the disruption of my enjoyment to the actual feature film due to people fussing around trying to find a seat long after they should be seated and silent. Back when shows started closer to “showtime” I used to leave a margin to get there on time. Now I assume that getting there 10 minutes late will still give me time to buy popcorn and find my seat. And on-line purchase means I can do that and know I’ll get decent seats. I’m pretty sure the “people arrive late” issue has gotten worse due to the long trailers. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/27 "2017-06-05T14:14:26Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > This has been my experience in the Chicago areas although I only hit two or three theaters so maybe it’s not representative. And these aren’t the “Dinner & a Movie” types but just standard popcorn theaters where someone must have thought “Audiences are down by 50% so, to save the other 50% and keep the room full, we can increase the seat and aisle sizes.” It’s definitely becoming more popular in Chicago to have assigned seating. I can think of 4 in the city with them. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/28 "2017-06-05T14:49:32Z")
Classic Simpsons: > [@](#): > > Homer: > Stop the madness! Start the movie! > > Lisa: > Maybe we should try to calm dad down. > > Bart: > I prefer to egg him on. Hey, dad, has the movie started yet? > > Homer: > [hysterical scream] YAAAHHHHHH! ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/29 "2017-06-05T17:20:00Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Also, since so many morons like to roll in ten to fifteen minutes after the published showtime, this helps minimize the disruption of my enjoyment to the actual feature film due to people fussing around trying to find a seat long after they should be seated and silent. How does rolling in ten to fifteen minutes after the published showtime make me a moron, when I am doing so to avoid having to watch the full 20 minutes of previews? If movies started at the published time I would be there by the published time. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/30 "2017-06-05T18:05:40Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > The one large theater that we go to has assigned seating, and for a family, the online order charges start to add up. Fortunately it’s next to a shopping center that we visit often, so if we want to see a particular time we go earlier in the day and buy the tickets in person, without a service charge. > > They had a special TCM showing of _North by Northwest_, and we bought the tickets for that two days ahead of time. They didn’t have a problem with that. (Upcoming TCM shows: The Godfather, Some Like It Hot, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (!), and Bonnie and Clyde). I went the other route and joined their loyalty program. It is $15/year but the fee gets waived. I definitely buy more than 10 tickets a year so it will pay for itself but it irks me that I have to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/31 "2017-06-05T18:34:22Z")
Thanks for the info, all. I don’t mind the previews, but what I find is that when the official showtimes is reached, that’s **not** when the previews start, that’s when we move from the cheap ads for for the local businesses to the high budget ads for the national businesses. After 5 or 10 minutes of those, we moved to the previews. ---
**Author:** ![Dancer\_Flight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dancer_flight/32/7601_2.png) [@Dancer\_Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancer_Flight)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/32 "2017-06-06T06:02:41Z")
Just got back from Wonder Woman. Listed showtime 7:30 Time the film started 7:38 Small town theatre FTW Trailers: Guardians of the Galaxy 2, King Arthur, Transformers ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/33 "2017-06-06T07:04:34Z")
When I was a kid every movie had about ten minutes of ads, three or so trailers, and then halfway through there would be an intermission while they changed reels, which would, on most occasions, also have ads. Now, with no intermission, it’s all jammed into the beginning. On the one hand, that means if you’re late to the cinema you won’t miss anything, but on the other hand if you’re early it’s an interminable wait, and you’re a captive audience who can be subjected to anything they please. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/34 "2017-06-06T11:29:19Z")
I absolutely count on the fact that a movie starts at least 15 min after posted showtime. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/35 "2017-06-06T11:49:57Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > When I was a kid every movie had about ten minutes of ads, three or so trailers, and then halfway through there would be an intermission while they changed reels, which would, on most occasions, also have ads. To me, the existence of “intermission” and “ads” (excluding trailers) do not overlap. I.e., it seems to me that ads died off before non-trailer ads showed up in cinemas. When I was growing up (I saw Star Wars in the cinema), there was only one theater in town the still had intermission, and it was looked upon oddly even then. Commercials didn’t start showing up until the late 1980’s, at the earliest. I miss the shorts (usually some cartoon) the preceded movies. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/36 "2017-06-06T13:00:01Z")
This is the main reason that I almost never go to movie theaters. I’d much prefer to wait a couple of months and get the bluray from Netflix and watch at home. The previews and commercials are excruciating. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/37 "2017-06-06T15:12:08Z")
In my local theater it is generally 10 minutes of theater instructions and previews. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/38 "2017-06-06T15:46:07Z")
I’ve noticed in the last few years there are less outright commercials before movies in my theater and rather they have a bunch of “Infotainment” ads. Things that plug upcoming shows and movies but staged like they are a talk show. Ads embedded in the Turn off your phone speech, that sort of thing. Only one or two traditional thirty second ads. ETA: Also, FWIW, in my theater this stuff is mostly before the scheduled time. At the scheduled time the lights dim and the trailers start and then after the trailers the lights go out fully and the movie starts. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/39 "2017-06-06T16:13:10Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Over the past 5 years or so, most of the theaters in the Boston burbs have put in recliners & assigned seating, which you can pick when you order online. Extremely useful for getting in 10 minutes “late” and skipping previews. The only exception I can think of is an Imax at a furniture store. Jordans? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083/40 "2017-06-06T16:45:52Z")
> [@Labtrash](#): > > Jordans? Yes. They’ve got Imax theaters in Natick & Reading. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-time-between-showtime-and-when-the-movie-actually-starts/788083.md?page=3)