Sony Boss Urges Theaters to Stop 30 Minutes of Trailers and Ads Before Movies

I just went and saw Project Hail Mary last week and I was all worried I'd be late after navigating the parking situation, arriving at 7:35 for a 7:30 show. My worry was needless as after the ads and previews the actual show didn't start until 8:15! I could have even stopped and gotten popcorn instead of rushing in afraid I'd missed the beginning of the film.

Even better: allow theaters to charge different prices to different movies. It's ridiculous that a big budget action movie with A-list cast costs the same to watch as a cheap indie film.

Smaller movies could get a huge boost if they cost less to see than the big franchise releases, and the difference in filled vs empty seats would really add up.

Glad we have q little indie theatre nearby, it’s very close to the old school egalitarian moviegoing experience of my youth

What % of the ticket revenue does Sony take? Some light searching says it's just over half. Are they willing to help the problem by taking less money? I thought so.

could they also ask United to stop showing me ads after the safety video? thanks.

It was the late 90s when I first had my cinema-going experience cheapened by commercials. Television commercials on the silver screen. Like a steakhouse with plastic cutlery. That was my first conscious encounter with enshittification. The ticket cost the same but the experience got worse. Penny-wise pound foolish, it was a demand destroying play because it had the effect of making me want to go to the movies less.

The local retro/indy/arthouse has been revived by Gen-Z film-goers who appreciate that having a community of people going to movies each week matters more than the specific film being watched. Which is to say the medium is the message. Many cities now have not-for profits operating in historic theatres, and they're great places to see a movie.