Why don't cinemas display film times?

P

Pregnant With #1!

New member
Went to the cinema last week and as far as I could see the film times weren't displayed anywhere. They were probably on a little printed notice somewhere in the foyer, which seems to be the only way that Vue displays its programmes. Why don't cinemas have large displays of the film times? I thought the idea of multiplexes was that you could choose between several films at different screens rather than going to see a specific film, but this system makes that almost impossible.
 
Yes - this is a problem. What we need is a clear board outside or in the foyer (like in stations) saying 'doors open' time and 'feature starts' time to save having to sit through adverts we don't wish to see. Give us a choice.

And while we are at it, PLEASE give us back our interval for ice creams and a wee. The lack of leg stretching breaks is what has stopped me going to the cinema for any film over 100 minutes - I just cannot sit that long without needing something! Return of the King nearly did for me:(.
 
If you're referring to my post, I'll rephrase it.

I thought that the attraction of multiplexes was supposed to be that you could choose from several films all starting at around the same time, but if the cinema doesn't have a list of films and times on display it's pretty much impossible to do that. Of course you can only go to the film for which you've bought a ticket.
 
Well I don't mind paying extra for a drink or ice cream. Perhaps an intermission would assuage all those crisp-crunchers and chair shovers that seem so prevelant these days. Superman and E.T. had a break and around 50% of the audience made good use of it. People sat quieter in those days so perhaps films without a break cause audience restlessness? Anyway, cinemas need a board showing actual start times - might draw in a few passing punters. The tiny cinema in Lyme Regis had a pegboard with all details of films shown and times. Always had a few people around it.
 
As an aside, could all cinemas change their weekly line up on a Monday and not a Friday? That way we wouldn't struggle to arrange our sons Friday night birthday bash...
 
I'm not understanding correctly.

I go to my local multiplex Vue cinema. In the 'foyer', if you can call it that, there are 2 massive plasma screens telling you what films are on, what times they are on and what screen they're being shown in.

In addition to this. There are 4 'self service' ticket machines, that also tell you the information that you want.

Wait, there's more.

Once inside the cinema, you can purchase your tickets from the food counter, that has 3 strategically positioned plasma screens with all films, times and screens displayed.

Add to that, the website, and the phone line, i'm not sure what information you are lacking that they should be providing?
 
"Little printed notice"

What multiplex cinemas in 2010, display their films via a "Little printed notice"?

I would go out on a limb and say that perhaps you're not looking in the right places.

Are you sure you weren't in a pizza restaurant?
 
I went to the Vue at Park Royal. It has a box office but it wasn't staffed at the time so I had to buy tickets from the food counter. The food counter doesn't have any screens displaying film times. The self-service machines are just inside the main doors so they may have had film times but it's easy to walk past without seeing them. There are no plasma screens that I'm aware of. I think that Vues often have a little printed notice with the film times somewhere in the foyer, or for example the one in ShepherRAB Bush has it on the ground floor near Argos, but otherwise the film times are displayed on small screens behind the food counters.
 
Vue has the least clear display of times, but it's still fairly clear! And in reply to an earlier poster, having an interval would dissuade me from going to the cinema. I go for an uninterrupted and atmospheric viewing of the film.
 
In the CinewolRAB I use they have the screen number as well as the published start times of the film. These are always when the adverts and trailers start though.
What I don't understand is why in their printed timings leaflet they never put the running times of the films. usually I'm sat in the cinema looking at IMDB on my mobile finding out how long the film is so I can check my watch when the film does finally start and know what time I'm likely to get out of there.
I really can't understand why they don't put the running times of the films on their printed literature.
 
I'm not saying that no cinemas display the times, I'm asking why some cinemas don't do it. This thing about "massive display panels" intrigues me though. Most cinemas I've been to have no display panels, massive or otherwise.
 
I am not sure what cinema you visit but at the odeon I visit they do display the times and also have one of the self service counters that tell you what films are on, what cinema is it you go to?
 
i think the OP neeRAB to open their eyes a little bit, we have a Vue and an Odeon 'round here (plus two 'independants'), and both diplay their times clearly on plasma screens above the ticket desks. Plus there are leaflets printed each week displaying that week's screenings available all over the theatre, and of course the good old internets, which I'm told has things called web-sites where cinemas display their listings.
 
I had intended to go today and have a good look for these "massive display panels", plasma screens or whatever, but the film timings weren't convenient. But next time I go I will be sure to leave no stone unturned until I find them!
 
If they put the runtimes of the films out there, then you subversive lot would start extrapolating how long the adverts were, and lose the cinema their precious few shekels from the adverts by turning up just before the feature. What you need to do is turn up on time, get bored by the adverts and feel like stuffing your face with overpriced carbohydrates. :)
 
Back
Top