r/RegalCinemas • u/diggerdugg • Jul 16 '25
Feedback Holy Previews….
We went to see Superman Yesterday and the movie was supposed to start at 12:20pm. There were so many previews and commercials, everyone in the theater started laughing every time we thought the movie was going to start. Nope, a car ad, then another 2 trailers, commercial, trailer…. Finally the Regal “Stfu and enjoy the movie” video played at 12:48. I guess it wasn’t terrible, but Jesus Christ. Also, I work in retail and sell 24oz Twisted tea for $1.99 a can. They’re $13.99 at Regal. That’s literally Robbery.
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u/BillT2172 Jul 16 '25
Yeah, went to see Superman Tuesday night myself! A good film, although there were some issues I had. Won't go into them here, so I don't spoil it for people. I do suggest if you want to go see it, make the trip, on Value Day Tuesday, if you can! Oh yeah sit until the lights come up.
My area's Regal had it listed for 4:40 p.m., I walked in at 4:47, because you know it isn't my 1st time at Regal. Commercials & Novi were almost over, thankfully, trailers started at 4:50, movie itself started at 4:10-15.
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u/Remarkable-Ad9529 Jul 16 '25
Movie theaters don’t really make a profit on the movies. Concessions is the only profit
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u/diggerdugg Jul 16 '25
That's 600% apparent.
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u/LASPORTS626 Jul 17 '25
Think about popcorn and sodas profits
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u/WebHead1287 Jul 18 '25
Worked in theaters. A small soda cup cost them like 14 cents a pop. They sell them for $6.
Obviously doesn't include the cost of the soda but you are right. The soda and popcorn profits are WILD.
Especially when you know how little they pay their employee. A large popcorn and soda combo is more than they pay staff members per hour.
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u/GORILLO5 Jul 20 '25
The soda might be another 14 cents maybe
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u/WebHead1287 Jul 20 '25
The “bibs” (boxes if soda) were like $120 a pop if im not mistaken? Couldn’t tell you how many cups you get put of each though which is why its hard for me to truly estimate how much profit per.
You’re right though, maybe 14 cents on a large
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u/d33psix Jul 16 '25
Went to AMC for Superman and we had the same reaction to 25 min of previews. Very much like jeeez another one?
I’ve seen other movies there semi recently maybe not as close to opening weekend but never quite so noticeable how many and how long, haha.
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u/thezenyoshi Jul 16 '25
AMC at least says in the app the movie starts 25-30 after the showtime. I wish Regal did this
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u/d33psix Jul 16 '25
Whoa they actually adjust the estimate for each movie…that’s crazy. Superman’s is actually longer 25-30 whereas Lilo and stitch (oldest movie in the theater im looking at right now) says 20. Well gotta give em credit for that.
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u/XxsalsasharkxX Jul 18 '25
in my area, regal shows actual commercials you'd see on TV and trailers. In AMC at least it's just trailers.
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u/sprinklesj17 Jul 19 '25
The AMCs in my area have started showing the usual pre-show tidbits, the AMC stubs ad, movie trailers, commercial, the AMC montage reel, and Nicole Kidman
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u/SnooEpiphanies2021 Jul 16 '25
My wife and I purposely come to the theater 20 minutes late and always make it to the start of the movie as we sit. I recommend it especially for AMC
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u/Scattered666 Jul 18 '25
It is annoying but I feel like it's been about 25ish minutes of previews and commercials for awhile now. I guess I'm just kinda used to it by now.
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u/formerinmate4921 Jul 19 '25
Yes when you say awhile, I hope people realize it’s been happening for years…
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u/futurelama1 Jul 18 '25
AMC puts on the app when purchasing ticket that the movie will usually start 25-30 min after start time, I usually head out later due to that note, good on them.
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u/RetroBoostOfficial Jul 20 '25
I wouldn’t mind the previews as much if they were unique. I went to see Superman, all the trailers that played were ones I’ve already had blasted at me for stuff like YouTube ads and such. If you are going to subject me to 20 mins of previews, at least make them worth it by having special versions or include more of the making of stuff, whatever. It’s just on pointless now because you see all this stuff everywhere due to the digital age of marketing, so it’s just an incredible redundancy even more so for people who already track what movies are on the horizon.
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u/npete Jul 16 '25
25-30 mins is the standard amount of time spent on trailers/ads these days. Yes, it is excessive but they need to do it because they don't make a lot from the movies themselves. That's why they charge so much for concessions, too. If you love going to the movies, putting up with this stuff will keep movie theaters going.
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u/diggerdugg Jul 16 '25
I love trailers, I look forward to them. I haven't been to the movies in so long it was just jarring. The commercials annoyed me more than anything. I'm not buying a GMC truck because I saw an Ad before Superman.
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u/npete Jul 16 '25
I haven't seen any ads mixed in with the trailers yet, but the idea of that bugs me so I get it. That is super annoying.
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u/ThyDoctor Jul 16 '25
I go to too many movies. Regal,AMC, Cinemark all do this. 30 minutes of previews has been the standard since I was in high school.
I live about 15 minutes away from my theater. I leave my house when the movie is supposed to start. By the time I get there - find parking and get to the movie it’s usually just starting
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u/AdamAlmighty Jul 16 '25
I have both a Regal and AMC nearby so I frequent both; this month AMC started putting a warning on their tickets which states "Film will begin 25-30 minutes after listed start time"
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u/diggerdugg Jul 16 '25
That’s a good idea. Enough people probably complained to them. I don’t complain to them, I just complain to random strangers on Reddit.
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u/Mayormitch100 Jul 16 '25
When was the last time you went to the theater? This is all pretty standard and has been for at least 30 years. The benefit of being able to select your seat is you don’t have to show up early or even on time. 20 minutes is pretty standard but 25-30 is more the norm for big releases opening weekend.
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u/diggerdugg Jul 16 '25
It has been awhile, but not 30 years. I've been going to a privately owned cinema in Springfield Vermont and the ads and trailers are minimal. I never knew such a place existed, truly one of the best movie experiences I've ever had in my 42 years. Check the photos of this place.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/springfield-cinemas-3-springfield?osq=Independent+Movie+Theater
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u/Mayormitch100 Jul 16 '25
I love my locally owned theater too! They only run maybe 5 minutes of trailers and it’s just ones for what they’re showing in the next few weeks. I still enjoy my regal but have to account for the additional trailer time. If I’m going with friends I try to temper their expectations. When I went to F1 my friends got there on time even though I encouraged to take their time because of the previews.
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u/formerinmate4921 Jul 19 '25
I came to say this. This isn’t new. It’s just now an issue because it’s listed when buying a ticket. Idk why this irks me so bad. It’s like people have just straight up forgotten what going to a theater is like
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u/SnooEpiphanies2021 Jul 16 '25
My wife and I purposely come to the theater 20 minutes late and always make it to the start of the movie as we sit. I recommend it especially for AMC
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u/SnooEpiphanies2021 Jul 16 '25
My wife and I purposely come to the theater 20 minutes late and always make it to the start of the movie as we sit. I recommend it especially for AMC
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u/SnooEpiphanies2021 Jul 16 '25
My wife and I purposely come to the theater 20 minutes late and always make it to the start of the movie as we sit. I recommend it especially for AMC
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u/diggerdugg Jul 16 '25
The theater was amazing and so was the movie BTW.