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Author Topic: How late is 'too late'? Patrick Dunn Expert Film Handler Posts: 120 From: newark, DE, United states Registered: Aug 2005 posted 04-22-2008 09:26 PM                        We don't have a cut off point except for the last show of the night since our box office closes 15 minutes after the last show has started. But we always get those people who show up about 25 to 30 minutes after the movie was scheduled to start. And we only run 3 trailers on each movie so theres about 8 minutes of trailers at most. So we tell them "you know the main feature has been on for about 20 minutes." and we'll get the response "well thats just all previews" or "Credits". We have so far only had one person who asked for a refund because people were coming in late to a movie, but that was on opening night for the film. Usually we tell crowds that seem like they are going to be loud that they have to be quiet for the people already watching the movie.  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 05-14-2008 08:23 AM                        My policy is 20 minutes after the show starts - which is also when the showing expires on the box office computers. My theatre generally runs about 10 minutes of previews and no rolling stock ads. So this means up to about 10 minutes into the movie. Generally the only exception I make to this is a known regular customer or someone who is meeting a group that is already in the theatre. If someone who already has a ticket shows up really late, I usually let them in unless it's either very crowded or the movie is almost over. When you get down to it, is this any different than someone getting up to use the rest room? As much as we are trying to preserve the movie going experience, we also have to provide customer service and realize we are not running a Nazi state. The main reason I set a cut off time is to avoid the question "can we stay to watch the first half since we came in late".  |  IP: Logged Patrick Dunn Expert Film Handler Posts: 120 From: newark, DE, United states Registered: Aug 2005 posted 05-14-2008 11:00 PM                        I hate the people who try to stay for the next show and then put up a big argument about how they showed up late and missed the first half, and than tell us we didn't warn them they missed the beginning of the movie because they were too dumb to realize that we said they were missing the movie and not just the previews.  |  IP: Logged Ben Goodman Film Handler Posts: 32 From: Danbury, CT Registered: Apr 2008 posted 05-15-2008 01:51 AM                     Our box office computers scroll the movie after 25 minutes, so that's when we stop selling tickets for it-- and we regularly have about 20 minutes of preshow too, including trailers. 6 trailers + ads will do that... If anyone wants to see a movie after 25 minutes in, they'd better have a damned good reason. The only one I'll really accept at first glance is "my family is in there and I'd rather see half of the movie than sit in the car" or something along those lines-- a parent meeting up with a kid, etc.  |  IP: Logged Anslem Rayburn Master Film Handler Posts: 476 From: Yuma, AZ, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 05-15-2008 06:38 AM                     quote: Justin Hamaker When you get down to it, is this any different than someone getting up to use the rest room? Yes. People who come in from outside and are trying to locate people they know, or simply can't see because they are not adjusted to a dark theater are way more intrusive than someone getting up to use the restroom. I HATE people arriving 20 minutes late, interfering with my movie 10 minutes into it. As a manager, I understand we have to balance it so as to not piss off customers, but it works both ways. As a customer, I am angered by inconsiderate people that show up late and disrupt me when I had the common sense to arrive early. quote: Justin Hamaker The main reason I set a cut off time is to avoid the question "can we stay to watch the first half since we came in late". The owners here allow anyone to buy tickets no matter how late they are. I don't like it, but I don't own the theater. But, they instruct us to tell people that they will NOT be permitted to stay and watch what they missed.  |  IP: Logged Michael Moore Expert Film Handler Posts: 188 From: Dover, DE / USA Registered: Jun 2006 posted 05-22-2008 01:02 PM                        at our place we have no cut off for tick sales. the go on sale at 6:00 sharp. However most of our patrons fashionably, purchase tickets at about 6:50 PM. On any given film we only project maybe 2 to 3 trailers. we still have people buying well into the trailers and the first few min of the movie. We start the movie at 7:00 sharp, unless we have a huge line then we may delay for 3 or 5 min. One time when we were screening "An inconvenient Truth" I had a patron actually come up to the booth and bank on the door demanding for me to stop the film, and rewind it back, beucase he just got off work, and did not have time to get home for dinner, and rushed to the theatre, and had several friends in line who needed to see the film on time! I kindly stated, movie was started at 7:05, we have almost 18 mins of trailers on this film. If you can't get here on time then I'm sorry. He said what do you want me to do... I said again get here on time, he called me an ass hole. just one example of the snobs we get who thinks the movie should start when they want it to start. Mike Moore  |  IP: Logged Patrick Dunn Expert Film Handler Posts: 120 From: newark, DE, United states Registered: Aug 2005 posted 05-22-2008 02:37 PM                        We sometimes delay the film about 5 min when there's a long line at box and concession stand for a movie, but sometimes someone with think it's smart to call us on his cell to say that the movie hasn't started yet. And who ever picks up the phone doesn't think "Somebody is using the phone in the theater." I would find it funny if someone said you're in the wrong auditorium, and once the person comes out point to the sign saying "an open phone in the auditorium will result in immediate expulsion with no refund".  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 05-22-2008 02:57 PM                     Are you actually suggesting you'd kick someone out for using a cell phone in an auditorium where a movie isn't playing, especially when they're using it to point out the absolute fact that you didn't start the movie on time?  |  IP: Logged Patrick Dunn Expert Film Handler Posts: 120 From: newark, DE, United states Registered: Aug 2005 posted 05-22-2008 11:23 PM                        Well I wouldn't actually do that, but it does get annoying when people use their cell phones in the theater even though the movie hasn't started. Myself, I hate starting movies late for any reason since really it's less time we have to clean for the next show, and if it gets delayed too long, than the next show would be delayed. The later people show up for a movie, they know they're going to miss something.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 05-23-2008 09:45 AM                     quote: Patrick Dunn but it does get annoying when people use their cell phones in the theater even though the movie hasn't started. I don't see why. Who are they distracting at that point? The people NOT watching a movie?!  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 05-23-2008 10:00 AM                        Dont you know Chris everyone shows up early to play the "trivia" slides on the screen advertising, and listen to the latest "Movie Tunes" compact disc!  |  IP: Logged Patrick Dunn Expert Film Handler Posts: 120 From: newark, DE, United states Registered: Aug 2005 posted 05-23-2008 11:08 AM                        Except for those who show up 45 minutes after the start time so they would get into the theater right when your 10 minute trailer package ended. Makes perfect sense doesn't it? And for people who stop selling after 25 minutes: Would you still sell tickets for the person who comes in about an hour late, but is meeting up with their family who are already in the movie?  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 05-23-2008 12:10 PM                        Patrick, it really depends on the situation. It's a business and we are here to make money, but we are also charged with preserving the movie going experience. The case of someone showing up 30+ minutes late who has a legitimate reason to go in is rare. But I absolutely will not admit someone who just shows up late because they don't bother to pay attention to the schedules. It's basically the same reason why we tell people to stop talking or turn off their cell phones.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 05-23-2008 07:42 PM                     quote: Dont you know Chris everyone shows up early to play the "trivia" slides on the screen advertising, and listen to the latest "Movie Tunes" compact disc! Exactly. No one shows up early just to have a good seat and sit around chatting with friends.  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 05-26-2008 05:05 AM                        One of the things that's come up many times this weekend is people showing up 10 minutes late for Indiana Jones. While we haven't ever been technically sold out, I have completely cut off additional ticket sales as soon as the previews are over. Given that the empty seats were scattered through out the auditorium, I just didn't think it was fair to allow people to go in once the movie started to try and find those few remaining seats. As an aside, I get so irritated by those people who buy their tickets early and then get mad because they can't find a seat when they show up 5 minutes before show time. Especially when you're advising everyone to arrive 30-45 minutes early.  |  IP: Logged

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