I think not.
Audiences strike back at pre-film ads
In January, Andrew Fleischmann, a Democratic state representative from West Hartford, Conn., proposed legislation to make theaters announce precisely when movies, not ads and previews, begin. Unlike most bills proposed in Connecticut, Fleischmann’s has already been selected to receive a public hearing from the general law committee. He expects it to pass easily.
I mean, gee whiz, this is a problem requiring legislation?
Plus, if advertisers know that there will be less fannies in the seats prior to the actual movie starting, they won’t buy the ads, and all that will mean is higher ticket and popcorn prices. Further, does one really want everyone showing up exactly when the flick starts?
In Illinois the situation was worthy of a lawsuit:
“To steal people’s time in the way that movie theaters are doing, it is as bad as stealing their money,” said Mark Weinberg, a Chicago lawyer who took the Loews Cineplex Entertainment Group to court for consumer fraud.[...]
Weinberg’s quest has proved more difficult. His case was thrown out of Cook County Circuit Court two years ago, but he is to bring it before the Illinois Appellate Court in April.
His friends wonder why he has devoted so much time to this issue, and in response Weinberg recalls the words of an elderly friend: “I’m 76 years old. Ten or 15 minutes is a long time to me!”
So, instead, wasting hours and hours and more money in court is a good trade-off?
February 28th, 2024 at 11:41 am
Actually, most of the ads I see are movie trailers for upcoming movies. I don’t think cutting out a few of those is going to raise popcorn and ticket prices, which are already ridiculous high anyway. (popcorn goes to the local theatre, tickets go to hollywood)
February 28th, 2024 at 3:28 pm
You need to go back and review your economics on the pricing of popcorn.
February 28th, 2024 at 8:16 pm
They just need to cut the time of the previews down. Tease me, don’t show me half the movie.
There should be a law about ads and previews on DVD’s. THAT is annoying.