return to shiny blue grasshopper
last updated 09.04.05
You pay $8 for a ticket, then stand in a long line for the privilege of spending ten more dollars on fake-buttered popcorn and over-iced soda. You finally settle into your seat, anticipating the thrills and chills of Friday the 13th Part XVII. The lights dim, and...
Few of us mind the pre-movie trailers. Those are entertaining and since we are movie-goers, we're interested in what other movies are coming up. But I did not pay $8 (no wait -- $18) to sit through ads for Nintendo, Pepsi, Jeep, and who knows what else. If you're as annoyed as I am by these pre-movie ads, here are some easy things you can do:
And lest you think speaking up is pointless, it does have an effect: "Filmed ads are not allowed before any films distributed by Disney Studio Entertainment films, a ban that went into effect in the early 1990's after the company received angry letters and phone calls from parents."3
First, decide what you're going to say to the movie theater chains. I've included some examples below, but it means more if you write it in your own words. After you formulate your comments, click each of the links below and submit your comments to each chain. If you'd like me to post your email as an example on this site, also email it to me. You also can use Planet Feedback -- they'll help you formulate your letter and get it to the right place. You can even post your letter in the Shared Letters section for the world to see!
AMC (their survey form has no room for extra comments, so you can either call them toll-free at 1-877-AMC-4450 or try emailing them with an email address we found sneakily)
Carmike
Cinemark
Consolidated Theatres
Famous Players (one reader suggests starting your email with a request that they not respond with a form response)
General Cinema
GKC Theatres
Hoyts Cinemas
Kerasotes
Landmark (Landmark used to be ad-free but is no longer, so please consider mentioning that in your email)
Loews (you'll have to select a topic and your region to get to a form)
Marcus
National Amusements
Regal Cinemas (the comment form is long, but you only need to fill out your comments, a theater, a date, and your email address)
Signature Theatres
United Artists
...any more big chains? email me
Please stop showing pre-movie ads! It's bad enough there are so many product placements paid for by brand name companies in the films themselves without frontloading my movie experience with more ads.4
Please stop showing ads before movies. You tell us the movie starts at a certain time, but then we have to sit through 10 to 15 minutes of ads before the trailers even start.
I am dismayed by the growing trend to show commercials before movies. As recent as a few months ago, most theaters showed only trailers before the main feature. I do not buy the argument that you need to show commercials because you're having financial trouble. If independent movie theaters around the country can survive (and thrive) without having to partner with huge advertising companies to show pre-movie ads, your movie theaters should be able to accomplish the same. Please stop showing commercials before movies.
I am writing to request that your theater refrain from airing pre-movie ads. Our society is over-loaded with advertising. We do not need more of it -- nor pay $8+ for it! Our patience is wearing thin.9
Stop showing ads before movies. You tell us the movie starts at a certain time, but then we have to sit through 10 to 15 minutes of ads before the trailers even start. Caught captive without the ability to fast forward or surf around ads, yours is an unfair advantage. This trend will lead, if I can help it to a noticeable drop in theater attendance. The home theater movement is surging. Digital technology is getting more affordable. Be careful! It's happening faster than you think. I will boycott all movie theaters showing ads until it stops. Perhaps greed is marking the end of another era.9
I am outraged by your company's policy of running advertisements before movies. Absolutely outraged. My friends unanimously share my sentiment on this topic.
Your theater chain is taking advantage of its customers. This is not how a good company operates. Your greed is blantant here. Your priority is to make as much cash as possible and you are glad to do it at the expense of your customers' movie-going experience.
I am NOT captive. The next time I visit a theater that runs commercials, I will walk out and demand my money back. I will also note the companies that you've sold advertising to and I will contact them to let them know that this form of advertising is intrusive and unacceptable. You need to learn to respect your customers if you want to keep their business.9
We've seen enough advertising on television. I come to the movies to watch one, not sit through advertising. If I wanted to do that, I'd be watching TV.9
Please stop showing advertisements prior to movies.
My family and I used to attend an average of one movie per month. However, in 1999, I unfortunately sustained a back injury that left me with persistent problems. One such issue is sitting for any extended period of time. At first, I had to limit myself to movies that had run-times of less that 130 minutes. Over the past couple of years, with more and more advertisements being added to the previews, I have had to limit myself to movies with run-times of less than 110 minutes. To say the least, I am now only visiting theatres once or twice a year. If the trend continues, I will no longer be visiting theatres.9
...want me to post your comments? email me
I plan to keep a list of movie theaters that do not show pre-movie ads, but I need your help. Please email me with the name, city, state and web site (if available) of any such movie theaters in your area.
Canada
USA: California | Connecticut | Idaho | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri | Nevada | New Mexico | Ohio | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | Texas | Washington | Washington, D.C.
British Columbia
Pinetree 6 Cinemas
Alameda
Auctions by the Bay (classics)9
Berkeley
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive9
Fine Arts Cinema (closed for remodeling in 2003; opening again in 2004)9
Oaks Theater9
Lafayette
Park Theater9
Long Beach
Art Theatre9
Los Angeles
Arclight9
Oakland
Grand Lake Theater9
Paramount Theatre9
Parkway Theater9
Orinda
Orinda Theater9
Pasadena
Academy Theatre9
San Francisco
The 4 Star9
Castro Theatre9
Red Vic Movie House6
Roxie Cinema9
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts9
Seal Beach
Bay Theatre9
Stamford
Avon Theatre9
Boise
The Flicks9
Baltimore
The Senator Theatre9
Attleboro
Tri-Boro Cinema (first-run movies for $6.50)1
Williamstown
Images Cinema9
Ann Arbor
The Michigan Theater
Columbia Heights
Heights Theater9
Minneapolis
St. Anthony Main Theater9
Kansas City
Tivoli Cinemas9
Las Vegas
Century 16 Santa Fe Station (shows one Fandango ad but is otherwise ad-free)9
Century 16 Suncoast (shows one Fandango ad but is otherwise ad-free)9
Century 18 Sam's Town (shows one Fandango ad but is otherwise ad-free)9
Century Orleans 18 (shows one Fandango ad but is otherwise ad-free)9
Las Vegas Drive-In (shows one Fandango ad but is otherwise ad-free)9
Albuquerque
Guild Cinema9
Santa Fe
Cinemacafe9
Bowling Green
Cla-Zel Theater9
Dayton
The Neon9
Yellow Springs
Little Art Theatre9
Cornelius
Cornelius Nine Cinemas10
Forest Grove
Compass Room Theater10
Portland
Bagdad Theater and Pub10
Cinema 219
Cinemagic9
Clinton Street Theater9
The Hollywood Theatre9
Kennedy School Theater10
Laurelhurst Theater9
Mission Theater and Pub10
St. Johns Dome Theater10
Troutdale
Power Station Theater10
Harrisburg
Midtown Cinema (theater and coffee bar)9
Middletown
Elks Theatre (historical theater in operation since 1911)9
Northampton
Roxy Theatre9
Providence
Avon Cinema1
Cable Car Cinema and Cafe (they have couches, as well as all-you-can-eat popcorn for $3!)1
Castle Cinema Cafe (second-run movies)1
Columbus Theatre1
Abilene
Century 129
Austin
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown
Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
Alamo Drafthouse Village
Highland 10
Houston
Alamo Drafthouse West Oaks
San Antonio
Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes
Centralia
Olympic Club Hotel and Theater10
Visions Cinema/Bistro/Lounge (story)
BadAds: Movie M(ad)ness—Includes suggestions for stamping out other needless advertising in your everyday life.
The Captive Motion Picture Audience of America—Includes frequently asked questions about the issue.
Commercial Alert—Includes information about freeing your kids' lives from harmful ads.
Didn't I Already Pay for This Movie?—Tackle pre-movie ads by letting advertisers know you hate their ads.
Eliminate TV-Like Commercials Before Movies—Online petition against pre-movie ads.
No Movie Ads—Includes information about the class action suit against Loews.
...any more? email me!