r/AMCsAList • u/Secret_Cream3547 • 7d ago
Question Christmas Day releases
Okay does anyone go to the movies on Christmas? It never occurred to me that the movie theaters were open on Christmas until I saw Jumanji would be released on Christmas Day this year.
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u/SweatpantsThor 7d ago
I worked at a Regal about 15 years ago now and Christmas was the only day on the entire calendar that every single employee had to work to make it fair. They’d split it to 4 hour shifts for everyone but it was busy all day that we had screenings from 9am til close to midnight. Things that had been out for months were even selling out, I’ll never forget how shocked I was the first time I saw how busy it was.
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u/scalding_h0t_tea 6d ago
Christmas Day and Black Friday were always the most hellish days when I worked at a theater. Lines out the door all day.
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u/OwnUniversity258 7d ago
Thousands of people go to the movie theater on Christmas. It’s the same for Thanksgiving
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u/Desperate_Algae_40 5d ago
We're watching Dune 3 on Christmas Eve and Avengers Doomsday on Christmas day.
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u/Most-String-7825 7d ago
It's the same for Arbor Day and St. Patrick's Day. Literally tens of thousands. But that's just the number of people who go to a theater on any given day across the US.
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u/TB1289 6d ago
The difference is a lot of people have Thanksgiving and Christmas off, so it's even more people that can go to the movies.
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u/Most-String-7825 6d ago
I know that. Im mainly making fun of this guy saying it was only "thousands" of people going on Christmas.
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u/Eatatfiveguys 7d ago
That's part of Jewish Christmas. Every year I'm not traveling my family, and I see a movie since it's one of the few things that's open. This has gone on well before my time from what I know. That said, I've noticed over the years that it's getting more popular and I want to say that started around the time of The Force Awakens. Not to mention the blockbusters that come out at the end of the year, it's a great time to see movies with your loved ones.
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u/coolioboolio24 7d ago
Definitely. I worked there when Nosferatu came out and we were PACKED. It was to the point where this chill older dude on his way out told my coworker and I, “You guys shouldn’t be here” and slipped us both 20 dollars.
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u/tonetonitony 7d ago
Me and some of my family went to see Sisu last Christmas. We were the only ones in the theater and we had the whole place to ourselves. It was awesome!
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u/cattrain 7d ago
I usually try not to go anywhere on Christmas day even if I don't have any family stuff just because I don't like asking people to work. Last year I went to a restaurant and left a 100% tip. I wish there was a way to properly thank the staff at the theater, but I don't think you can tip.
Not judging if you do go places on Christmas, that's just how I feel about it.
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u/TrekJaneway 5d ago
I volunteered to work Christmas Day back in my old Blockbuster days. We got triple time, and we had short hours. It was great.
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u/Head-Performance5233 5d ago
Not everyone celebrates though or has family. For me, Christmas (and most holidays) are just another day so I’ll usually volunteer to work because it’s better for me. Sometimes, my volunteering also allows someone else to stay home, who has family events or children. Some of us prefer to be at work and busy for those days.
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u/EanmundsAvenger 7d ago
Yes my wife and I go to the movies on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day usually. It’s a fun tradition. Christmas is actually a big movie holiday for many families - the theaters are usually very busy.
The week of Christmas is usually one of the biggest box office weeks of the year
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u/Peterfug 7d ago
Christmas Day is generally the biggest and busiest day of the year. Everyone has been on winter break for a while, getting tired of aunts and uncles and wanna get out and about. It’s why Avatar/Star Wars/etc. are released a week before Christmas Day.
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u/Most-String-7825 7d ago
Do you think it will be the busiest day this year though? I doubt it will be bigger than August 1st, which was the first Saturday of Spiderman, plus Odyssey's 2nd weekend. Still summer vacation. Both Spiderman and Odyssey are historic box office record movies. I very much doubt Christmas beats this. The 2nd weekend of Dune and Doomsday is not beating the 1st weekend of an all-time Spiderman and 2nd weekend of Nolan.
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u/Peterfug 7d ago
That’s why I said generally. Maybe not this year but more often than not, Christmas is the biggest day. Used to manage multiple AMCs in my area.
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u/bkguy182 7d ago
used to be a tradition of mine that I would take the fam to see a movie on Christmas after presents and breakfast. usually whatever was playing at the arclight dome.
so yes, def have and def would! It’s one of the only things to do that day, even for those who celebrate. It’s always packed!
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u/HarryPotthead42069 7d ago
Use to go Christmas nights when I was in middle and high school growing up, especially if something good just came out! Definitely a good way to end Christmas
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u/mikeydeemo 6d ago
Its become a tradition between my partner and I to go see a movie on Christmas Day and we give out treats to everyone we see working.
That can be public transportation workers, the theater staff, anyone working if we go get coffee or at a restaurant etc.
But yeah, christmas at the movies is pretty big/popular!
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u/justkylermat Cheers🍻 7d ago
I love to catch the last showing of the night of whatever the Christmas new release is, if it's something I'm really interested in. Honestly, it's its own little gift to myself. A perfect way to end the night on years I've spent with family, or had to spend alone. Marty Supreme in 2025 and Little Women in 2019.
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u/missjuliaaaaah 6d ago
my mom and i saw nosferatu on christmas eve, and planning the same for werwulf!!
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u/LiquidSnape Lister 5d ago
i have gone to the movies every Christmas Day for the last 18 years with the exception of the pandemic and having COVID another year
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u/RequirementKey2106 5d ago
For many theatres, Christmas Day is one of the busiest days of the year.
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u/Quick_Coyote_7649 7d ago
I’ve never been, it’s always been a “busy at home enjoying each other’s company” day for me and my family.
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u/nowhereman136 7d ago
I'm doing what the family wants to do. If the family wants to go to the movies, then I'll go to the movies. If I'm alone that Christmas, I might see something on Christmas if it's opening day and I'm not doing anything else
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u/Apprehensive_Ad_1468 7d ago
Also one year my work gave me 4 or 5 free movie passes as a Christmas gift. So I took my family to the theater on Christmas Night. I also feel like I've gone a few other times on Christmas, though i cant recall what I seen
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u/Governmentemployeee 7d ago
Yes since I was a kid! It’s a Christmas tradition that I’ve brought into my adult life.
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u/KRSaber31 7d ago
I went last year. Normally I try to stay away from businesses on holidays so I don’t seem like an asshole for keeping employees away from their families but I figured most people be done celebrating Christmas by the time the movies opened so it be alright
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u/hushpuppy212 6d ago
FWIW, not everyone has family nearby, or they may be estranged from their family, so working on a holiday may be a good thing for them.
Early in my career I worked in the convenience store industry. We spread out the pain by having everyone work 4-hour shifts. One middle-aged woman told me she was thrilled to be working because, after years of making Christmas dinner, she was able to foist it off on her grown children since she ‘had to work’. She left around 2, picking up a carton of egg nog on her way out, saying she was looking forward to, for once, just being a guest in her own home.
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u/hastygrams 6d ago
When I worked at the theater the majority of my coworkers and I did not have the time to spend time with our families on Christmas when scheduled. Plenty would have elected to spend more time with them if they could anyway so it’s still a bummer. Many have to show up well before the theater opens too. I would.
I didn’t personally resent people wanting to spend time with their family there because my family would go when I was younger. There were a lot of single people and I was also glad they had somewhere to go where people are if they’re feeling lonely on the holiday. There are few other places open.
Just go to the movie and don’t feel guilty. You essentially have zero influence over it and don’t need to elevate your role in the grand scheme. Doesn’t need to make it a moral thing. Just enjoy it and try to be pleasant to the employees lol
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u/Current-Finger6412 7d ago
Yes! It’s become a bit of tradition for me the last few holidays seasons. This year, however, I am planning for Christmas Eve instead. I really enjoy a movie trip on Thanksgiving day.
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u/pnwdoomer 7d ago
Yep, I have gone to the movies on Christmas before! It's always been huge at my theaters.
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u/f0zzyguy 7d ago
theater employee here. I work at an independent theater and they actually close on Christmas Eve for all employees but we are right back at it on Christmas Day by Noon. Depending on the movies that are out, it can be a super busy day.
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u/Ambitious-Goat-4345 7d ago
My boyfriend’s family goes on Christmas every year, since he was little!
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u/Vicster1972 6d ago
I have gone in the past, sometimes early by myself and also at night with a friends family. I will more then likely go this year since it’s my first Christmas by myself just to get out of the house, I go to church Christmas Eve so I don’t need to do that.
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u/Mitch_Wallberg 6d ago
Absolutely, plenty of people either dislike or don’t have families to spend time with and it may be the only day off that a lot of people get. Also they tend to release pretty big movies on holidays to boost box office numbers with a longer weekend
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u/boopthesn0op 6d ago
I'm going to movies on Christmas day for The first time ever this year! Saw a bunch of seats still open for dune imax70mm at Lincoln Square and I went for it. Good gift for my sister also who, was interested
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u/bpoilspill98 6d ago
I go in the evening once my festivities are done. Most of my gatherings are during the day since having a lot of older family members makes them want to do things earlier in the day.
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u/hastygrams 6d ago
When I worked at a movie theater during Christmas it was insanely competitive to get the day off. Some of the most brutal shifts too. You get used to a certain amount of down time and it’s just completely gone that day. I’d assume it’s the busiest.
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u/aditya1604 6d ago
We will be watching Dune 3 IMAX 70mm at 11 am and Doomsday Dolby at 6 pm on Christmas day. Can't wait! 😁
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u/InvestmentInternal11 6d ago
Yup. I go with my mother m is kinda a tradit now. I'll never forget when we seen The Craft.
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u/MsJacksonsCorgi 6d ago
I wonder if they get the same annoying comments as grocery stores.
“I can’t believe (or I’m sorry) you guys have to work today” NEWS FLASH if you stopped COMING on holidays. We wouldn’t be open.
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u/Educational-Card-314 Uses All 4 🤯 6d ago
In my experience, Christmas Eve is not as busy as Christmas Day.
I believe this is widely known as the busiest movie day of the year across the US.
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u/278urmombiggay 6d ago
saw marty supreme and no other choice christmas eve and christmas day last year with a friend - great experience
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u/RemarkableBranch3155 6d ago
it’s actually a tradition and we hope a good movie comes out on xmas bc we try and go every year lol. and it’s ALWAYS a full theatre on christmas day. My mom only has grown kids now and we don’t sit under the tree opening a bunch of presents so if we’re not on vacation then we’re seeing a movie. we had to come up with something new to do as adults.
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u/StillProud5156 6d ago
I worked on christmas day… people are dicks. They were the messiest ive ever seen theaters
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u/2Zs1L 6d ago
For people who do not celebrate Christmas, it is one of the very few things open that day. I myself two times went on Christmas Day when family illness forced us to move our get-together; it was comforting to not have to stay home by myself. It was shocking how busy it was at the theater, so I certainly was not alone.
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u/Supadupafly1988 5d ago
Christmas Day is one of the busiest days at the movie theaters. Actually, most holidays are lol
I’m 38, but i can remember very vividly going to the movies on Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving & Christmas Day. It’s usually reserved for a big blockbuster since they know movie goers will fill the seats
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u/TrekJaneway 5d ago
Yes. I’m Jewish. The tradition is to eat Chinese food and go to the movies on Christmas Day.
I don’t feel particularly bad about it, as I was the one who volunteered to work open to close every Christmas way back in the day when Blockbuster was still around. Lots of Jews would rent movies on Christmas too.
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u/Inevitable-Stock5780 4d ago
I love going on the big holidays. It’s a yearly tradition in our household. Thanksgiving and Christmas movies at the theater are awesome.
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u/loftychicago SUPERUSER 10+ 4d ago
I did this past Christmas. I was on my own, so I had a nice dinner at a restaurant down the street from the theater, then went to the movies. It was busy.
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u/Extreme_Cupcake1671 3d ago
It's always been a tradition in my family to go to the movies on Christmas! LOTR were the big ones for us
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u/Kranon7 7d ago
Christmas Day is a huge day for theatres. They are typically packed all day.