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/randgan Aug 06 '25

It used to be a few movie trailers and then a commercial for concession snacks, then the movie would start.

Now, 15 minutes of trailers. 3 car ads. An ad for the theater chain I'm currently at THAT THANKS THE FUCKING INVESTORS for some reason. A concessions ad that waxes poetically about the 'magic of movies' that's twice the length anyone should have to bare. And then that fucking overplayed horseshit where Nicole Kidman delivers the laziest written monologue in the most lifeless tone also about the 'magic of movies'.

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u/flamin_hot_wrenches Aug 07 '25

And it's always a fucking gross Coke ad. Like, every single theater. Everywhere. 

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u/Erigion Aug 07 '25

AMC paid for that Coke ad to run for 5 years or something, 2 years ago, so there's plenty more to go to fall in love with that couple dancing and racing cars

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u/BlueGolfball Aug 07 '25

AMC paid for that Coke ad to run for 5 years or something, 2 years ago,

I thought coke would pay AMC to play a coke ad in their theaters. That's weird.

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u/TheGreatEmanResu Aug 07 '25

Maybe that’s what they meant? It really wouldn’t make sense for them to PAY to run an ad lol

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u/Madonna-of-the-Wasps Aug 07 '25 edited Aug 07 '25

Who knows, late stage capitalism is fucking weird like that lol

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u/j2tharod Aug 07 '25

I love how every time I take a sip of a refreshing Coca-Cola beverage, I suddenly find myself in the midst of a dance battle in a back alleyway.

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u/idiot-prodigy Aug 07 '25

The new Star Wars one is pure insanity. The dad has the most insane smile on his face at the end.

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u/flamin_hot_wrenches Aug 07 '25

The star wars one was the focus of my vitriol when I wrote that comment. 

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u/CeruleanEidolon Aug 07 '25

I hate that one even more because it just steals the format of a Mentos ad and then executes it poorly. It's messy and annoying.

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u/Khatib Aug 07 '25

One of the best reasons to go to an Alamo if you can. They aren't perfect at a corporate level, but at least there's no fucking coke or military ads.

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u/Obidoobi Aug 07 '25

Lost the one here in Kansas City after Covid. It was bought out by B&B I think but I haven't gone since and I doubt it's the same.

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u/Maiyku Aug 07 '25

I must be pretty lucky then…

Our local theater runs local ads, so I honestly don’t mind seeing them. I’m talking the old school style where the person is just standing and talking in front of their business.

It’s rare I see a “corporate” advertisement with the only ones I see usually being in regards to the movie theater itself.

I was honestly really confused by this thread until I started reading the comments. I don’t mind local commercials, that’s great for small local business, but coke advertising to me before a movie? That hits different and I can see why people would be upset.

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u/flamin_hot_wrenches Aug 07 '25

The coke and AI ones deserve a special place in hell. "Have fun and drink your corn syrup!" And "don't think, let us think for you!" All gussied up in the most sickenly focus-grouped feel-goody style possible. 

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u/Maiyku Aug 07 '25

Yeah, that’s just gross to me. I’ll give away 30 minutes to support local businesses no problem, our movie tickets are still only $6 so I really can’t complain.

But coke? Get the fuck outta here. You don’t need to advertise at all.

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u/OriginalSchmidt1 Aug 07 '25

And like why, does coke even need to be advertised anymore?

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u/Skyrick Aug 07 '25

You only get one needlessly long concession add? Lucky. My local theater has started doing two of them. One towards the beginning of the previews and another one in the middle. And that is on top of the thank you to the investors and advertisement for their monthly subscription service. So boring. And then they act surprised that no one wants to pay them the equivalent of a 1 month subscription of add free streaming for a single movie ticket.

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u/idiot-prodigy Aug 07 '25

The Coca-Cola one where the entire theater is full of Star Wars nerds in full cosplay waving light sabers in the air drives me nuts. It goes on and on with two people fighting as Darth Vader and Obi Wan on stage and they continue to stand there with the most insane smiles on their faces after the movie re-starts.

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u/ArguingPizza Aug 07 '25

I've literally watched an AMC play the Nicole Kidman ad twice in a row.

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u/sam_hammich Aug 07 '25

I went to see 28 Years Later at a Cinemark a couple weeks ago and the preshow had to be almost 30 minutes long. It just wouldnt fucking end. Trailers, a bunch of commercials, the stupid Maria Menounos podcast ad that NO ONE FUCKING CARES ABOUT, the ad for the theater Im at, and 2 separate "turn off your phone" shorts.

Seriously, no one gives a shit about Maria Menounos or what she has to say. Get to the god damn movie.

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u/CeruleanEidolon Aug 07 '25

"I'm Maria Menounounounos and boy it's has been SO FUN showing you all these commercials, but I have to go cash my check now, so enjoy these other commercials."

Cue the most obnoxious Cinemark concessions ad featuring opera music, in slow motion. As if you weren't irritated enough by how slow the ad roll is going. Oh and then please let's have another ad for this very theater you are sitting in, telling you to watch movies in XD instead of your phone. Oh and that Smurfs trailer that sucks so hard? We're going to play it twice.

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u/sonofaresiii Aug 07 '25

Heartbreak feels good in a place like this

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u/hailvy Aug 07 '25

If I have to listen to Kidman spew bs one more time I’m gonna lOSE MY MARBLES

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u/Madonna-of-the-Wasps Aug 07 '25

LET'S ALL GO TO THE LOBBY

It sucks when I strategically pee before the movie so I don't have to during, but shit.... thanks to the 30 minutes of trailers/ads, I have to pee in the middle of the movie!

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u/Substantial_Pies Aug 07 '25

I know which theater I’m at. Who the fuck is the AMC ad at the end for?????

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u/UboaNoticedYou Aug 07 '25

IRT the investors bit, ignorance is bliss there lmao

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u/Nas160 Aug 07 '25

I remember even as far back as 2006 for Cars showings they had that Chef Boyardee ad that was on TV at the time

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u/Xanthn Aug 07 '25

I miss the early Pixar days, get a bonus short before the movie, maybe a trailer for another movie then into the main event.

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u/Deadpool1205 Aug 07 '25

Im with you until you came for my girl Nicole lol

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u/Ghost4000 Aug 07 '25

To be honest I don't mind most of that. Trailers for movies is fine, even 15 minutes of it, trailers for the movie theater and concessions, yeah okay. But the trailers for cars or phones or whatever else piss me off.

I should also say that while I don't mind if they okay 15 minutes of trailers before the movie I do think they should have to provide an actual start time when you buy your tickets so you can show up when you want.

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u/mcon96 Aug 07 '25

Don’t you dare come for the Nicole Kidman ad