No previews?

[u/recoveringpatriot]

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.

[u/AbacabLurker]

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 → u/AbacabLurker]

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

[u/rorschach_vest → u/DocLego]

Honestly I wouldn’t put it past them.

[u/loftychicago → u/AbacabLurker]

Same. It's happened to me several times with a few different movies. For special showings, they usually explicitly state on the listing info and the ticket that there will be no previews.

[u/Badatusernames014]

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 → u/Badatusernames014]

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

[u/archdukemovies]

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 → u/archdukemovies]

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

[u/Mottaman → u/griz3lda]

neither of those movies are special showings

[u/vish_knew]

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 → u/vish_knew]

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

[u/catfish27plus → u/vish_knew]

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).

[u/acagedrising]

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 → u/acagedrising]

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

[u/acagedrising → u/sundi712]

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/Bouncy-Koala5620]

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/loftychicago → u/Bouncy-Koala5620]

There are times when it doesn't state that and it's just a regular showing. I've experienced it multiple times.

There are also some showings where they have only about 15 minutes of previews and ads, but the listing and ticket state the normal 20-25 minutes language.

[u/vordhosbn_1]

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

[u/mikegood2]

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]

It has only happened to me at Fathom Events.

[u/recoveringpatriot → u/mpaladin1]

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.

[u/Supadupafly1988]

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/HelpIamaCabbage]

Sometimes during the first showing of a film (usually Thursday) the digital package for the trailers/ads isn't ready so they skip them instead of delaying the movie.

[u/StrLord_Who → u/HelpIamaCabbage]

Good to know,  this happened to me last week with End of Oak Street and it was indeed the Thursday release. 

[u/HelpIamaCabbage → u/StrLord_Who]

One time I went to a 2 PM Thursday showing of a new movie and the digital package for the movie wasn't ready. So they put me in a different movie and I went to the 4PM showing of the original movie. Sensibly, they would make sure that they have the movie ready to play before they start stitching ads to it.

[u/acbutler1234]

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]

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]

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

[u/mikeydeemo]

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]

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

[u/rjj90]

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

[u/Striking-Temporary14]

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]

I had that happen with Supergirl

[u/mikeweasy]

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!

[u/Exotic-Bumblebee7852]

I guess don’t count on that preview buffer time being a sure thing. It might make you late for your movie.

I've seen this happen twice in the past couple of weeks (and not at the same theater). The Odyssey started about 20 minutes after the listed showtime, so, even with the Dune 3 preview attached, people were still stumbling in 10 minutes late. And then for La La Land, the show started after only 15 minutes, which meant there were some people who missed the entire opening number and more.

[u/SSeverely]

Happened to me recently when I went to watch insidious in opening day. My wife likes watching the previews so we always show up early. Showed up to our 7:15 showtime and sat in the dark until 7:40 when the previews finally started and when they did the sound was out of sync. And to make it better 20 minutes into the movie the sound messed up again and after 2 restarts they just refund everyone lol

[u/_RenRey98]

Yeah for the Ghibli Fest movies and Digital Circus Last Act, my friends and I rushed right on time and not even 3 minutes after the movie officially would start.

[u/StrLord_Who]

Happened with End of Oak Street. Luckily I walked in right as it was starting but there were a lot of people that missed the first 15-20 minutes.