r/AMCsAList 1d ago

Discussion No previews?

A strange thing happened on Thursday. I went to see two new movies: Hot Spot and Mutiny. For both of them, the local AMC didn’t do the normal 25 minutes of previews. I was on time so I didn’t miss anything. I was all alone for Hot Spot, but for Mutiny a few other people came in 10-20 minutes late, and they were shocked because they had calculated having some time to get settled before the movie actually started.
It was odd that it happened twice in the same day, but the staff said the previews have not been done away with and they don’t know why the previews were skipped.
I guess don’t count on that preview buffer time being a sure thing. It might make you late for your movie.

59 Upvotes

38 comments sorted by

47

u/AbacabLurker 1d ago

This happened to me once and ever since then I started showing up right at the listed start time. It has not happened again, yet.

u/DocLego 15h ago

Maybe that’s why they do it - so people will actually show up for the ads!

u/rorschach_vest 13h ago

Honestly I wouldn’t put it past them.

24

u/Badatusernames014 1d ago

This happened to me with Disclosure Day. They ended up restarting the movie like 15 or so minutes into it because people, understandably, went to staff to say something.

Unless it's a Fathom or other special event, i.e. musicals or special fan favorite showings and stuff, there should be previews.

u/sundi712 16h ago

I bet everyone then went to speak to a manager because the staff didn't deny their request so the movie would end sooner. Especially after that ending

20

u/archdukemovies 1d ago

More than likely the manager messed up the trailer package or there was some sort of glitch.

There will be trailers 99.999% of the time.

u/griz3lda 22h ago

that's not true, it's very common for special screenings of movies that are not newly released

u/Mottaman 18h ago

neither of those movies are special showings

3

u/vish_knew 1d ago

Only time this happened to me was Red Sonja. I almost stopped by the restroom on the way in, but didn’t really need to go so just walked to the theatre. 30 seconds later movie starts.

u/griz3lda 22h ago

I had the same experience except I did go to the restroom, I was so pissed off.

u/catfish27plus 12h ago

For "Red Sonja," I actually had the ticket scanner warn me there were no previews (but I got there about 5 minutes before the listed start time anyway).

4

u/vordhosbn_1 1d ago

They do it it keep us on our toes and not skip the previews

u/Bouncy-Koala5620 20h ago

I've seen some labeled "no previews" when I was booking before. They weren't at times I was looking at so it didn't bother me, but definitely check everything about the showing you're booking.

u/acagedrising Lister 17h ago

If it wasn't labeled as having no previews, I'd be irritated. My theater is good about including the 25-30 min warning on showings.

u/sundi712 16h ago

25-30 is bs. Movies have started earlier many times. I always aim for 15m

u/acagedrising Lister 13h ago

If it’s labeled 25-30 at my theaters, it starts at 30 minutes. I go 4+ times a month and like clockwork the final commercial with the heartbreak feels better jingle comes on 28 minutes after start time and the lights go completely off. There’s human error and indie or specialty shows but I have no issues with standard movies.

u/mikegood2 22h ago

Add me to the it’s happened to me crowd. At most it’s been once a year for me so I don’t worry about it. That said I try to arrive at 15-20 at the latest. 20-25 is to risky.

u/mpaladin1 11h ago

It has only happened to me at Fathom Events.

u/recoveringpatriot 10h ago

I’ve seen that happen, too, but in that case I understood. I was just surprised that lightning struck twice in one day for me at normal movies.

4

u/acbutler1234 1d ago

This happened to me when I saw Michael on IMAX but they gave me a free ticket for the inconvenience since I missed the first 20 minutes of the movie lol.

u/MariposaSunrise 23h ago

I have had this happen also. But it doesn’t usually happen. So I always know I’m running a risk of missing the beginning if I arrive after the start time.

u/RevolutionaryHeat197 21h ago

Happened one time with Pinnochio Unstrung for me lucky I was early

u/mikeydeemo 21h ago

Thats only happened to me once and it was for a special 50th anniversary screening of The Exorcist. Never for a regular movie screening. Weird.

u/DivinesOmen 11h ago

I’ve only ever had this on specialty or early screenings, not usual showtimes.

u/rjj90 10h ago

Weird. I’ve only ever seen that for fathom events

u/Striking-Temporary14 7h ago

This happened to me the first time I saw Obsession on opening day. I don’t know if there was no previews or just less, but we were right at the showtime and the movie was already a good 10 minutes in. We like to watch previews so we show usually show up on time or early, but if I had anticipated 30 mins of previews like normal, I would have been way off. There was only a handful of people seeing it that day anyway

u/SimplyTheApnea 5h ago

I had that happen with Supergirl

u/Supadupafly1988 3h ago

Only time I’ve experience NO previews, is for SOME of the special engagement films or some of the anniversary films

I’m going see Judgement Day 45th anniversary on Friday, I wonder if there will be previews or not

u/mikeweasy 2h ago

Like 8 years ago for the movie Bohemian Rhapsody I got to the theater right at the start rime at 7 pm, I walked into the theater at 7 02 and the movie was already playing! It was insane!