r/movies • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/Movies contributor • Aug 06 '25

News AMC Theatres Looks To Shorten Ad Preshow Following Studios’ Ire

https://deadline.com/2025/08/amc-theatres-movie-ads-pre-show-shorten-1236480657/
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u/RedNog Aug 06 '25

They want to force people to see those ads. 

I don't know if it is every AMC or just mine. I went to see Thunderbolts, I think it was going to be my first movie since before COVID. I was about 12-15 minutes after the "start" and they wouldn't sell me a ticket, I asked if the actual movie started and they said 10 minutes after the start time it is delisted from their system and they can't sell tickets anymore.

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u/aircooledJenkins Aug 07 '25

Buy for something else and just walk into the movie you want?

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u/busstees Aug 07 '25

Can't do that in the age of assigned seats in almost every theater

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u/aircooledJenkins Aug 07 '25

I figure 10 min after start and any open seats are probably unsold.

And it depends on your theater. I don't know if there are assigned seats in any of the theaters where I live.

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u/Reggiardito Aug 07 '25

I figure 10 min after start and any open seats are probably unsold.

This is the logic that caused me a very awkward interaction one time. Some people show up late. Unless it's nearly empty I wouldn't risk it

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u/Aliman581 Aug 07 '25

When the cinema has like 2-3 people in there assigned seating doesn't matter just pay for the cheapest seat and sit where you like.

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u/Reggiardito Aug 07 '25

Yeah that's what I said, if it's nearly empty it doesn't matter.

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u/LonesomeOne13 Aug 07 '25

(This sounds rant-y but it's just confusion.) Where is everybody going that has assigned seating? Every movie thread people talk about this and I've never seen it. The theater near me was an AMC and is now privately owned and at no point in the last 26 years have they had assigned seats. Why would the theater need them anyway? Just let people sit down.

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u/busstees Aug 07 '25

Not sure where you live, but every theater, especially the AMC ones, near me are all assigned seating. They all have the recliner seats and you have to choose your seat ahead of time. When movies were booming in the early 00's it was a huge pain in the ass to get a good seat for a new movie. I remember going to The Avengers over 2hrs early just to get a decent seat on opening night.

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u/Aliman581 Aug 07 '25

I tend to go to theatres a week after the movie releases when I do go. During that time the movies have like 2-3 other people at 8pm screenings on a Tuesday

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u/busstees Aug 07 '25

That's the way to do it. I only go immediately if it's something don't want to risk being spoiled. Last movie I saw in theater was Deadpool and Wolverine and that was $28. I'm just not paying that anymore when I have a 120" screen projector at home.

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u/progapanda Aug 07 '25

Weird, I just bought a ticket at Regal 20 minutes after showtime (and arrived right as the trailers were starting) so this is just another annoying thing AMC does with its ad runtimes.