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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wish they still had intervals at the cinema for long films?

46 replies

OriginalM · 15/04/2022 14:48

I watched Secrets of Dumbledore yesterday and although not the longest film I've seen (think it was about 2 1/2 hours plus the annoying 30 mins trailers) I wish they still had intervals so you can nip to the toilet, adjust your back from the restrictive seat and move about a bit so you don't get Rigor Mortis when the film ends and you try to stand up or even get a coffee to keep you awake if the film is a bit slow.
Does anyone else miss the intervals and wonder why they stopped them?
Guessing it's a money thing to fit more films in the day and the 15 min breaks would add up to probably 1 less showing a day but surely the amount people would spend on snacks on the break would make up for it?

OP posts:

Fuckingfuckssake · 15/04/2022 16:32

@fairylightsandwaxmelts long live The Roxy.

Lunar27 · 15/04/2022 16:34

@Chely

Nope and it really pisses me off when dh pauses movies at home for a toilet or brew break.

How dare he need to relieve himself mid movie

. Tea though, that's not on!

Sadly as I get older, my bladder isn't what it used to be. I went to watch Lost City and visited the men's room before but was feeling like I needed to go again after an hour!

Sortilege · 15/04/2022 16:37

YANBU.

I went to the cinema to see La Traviata live from the ROH this week, and that had two intervals. Four hours overall. It was so civilised.

But then, personally I’d like to see long programmes come back; Double bills with cartoons and intervals and ice cream sellers. Bring the proper vintage cinema experience back. I think that would find a market.

Cinemas are really going to have to rethink and do something to compete now that releases are so short and streaming so widespread.

Lunar27 · 15/04/2022 16:39

OP, weren't intervals originally to enable a reel change? Quite handy though and gave us the Pearl and Dean commercials

TheLeadbetterLife · 15/04/2022 16:41

I live in Portugal and we still have them here, even in the big multiplexes. They stopped doing them during covid though, hope they bring them back. Many films are so bloody long these days.

LampLighter414 · 15/04/2022 16:47

Let's all go to the lobby;
Let's all go to the lobby;
Let's all go to the lobby
To get ourselves a treat.

Never experienced an interval outside of West end musicals in my life. I think they are a nice idea though.

Could have definitely done with one when I was watching Rob Pat in The Batman a few weeks back

notanothertakeaway · 15/04/2022 16:48

I like watching a film in one ho, but would prefer shorter films.90 mins is plenty long enough for me

TulipCat · 15/04/2022 16:51

I think they should just stop making ridiculously self-indulgently long films, as seems to be the norm these days. I don't go to anything over 2 hours.

jay55 · 15/04/2022 16:52

Loads of people were late for the start of Dumbledore when I went last weekend, because there were only 3 trailers and no ads.

I'd like an interval to pee, but agree they'd need more loos to accommodate this.
Maybe like kids showings, and relaxed showings they need to add interval showings.

Suzi888 · 15/04/2022 16:52

Good God no.

I mean handy, but what happens when 200 people get up for the loo/snacks…

Woobeedoo · 15/04/2022 17:49

I’ve moved home and to my joy discovered that there’s a restored Art Deco cinema a 3 minute walk from my house. There are no adverts, a woman walks on stage to welcome you to the cinema and instruct you on food and drink orders (you can order a Prosecco to be brought to your seat from the bar), tiny battery tea lights stay on if you’ve booked one of the love seats which are beyond comfy, you only sit through two very brief trailers and the film starts without the soundtrack being deafening. They’re so old school they probably would have a pause for a toilet break for super long films too (they’re having dressing up events for the new Downton Abbey film and people really go for it too!). Flippin’ love it.

Jux · 15/04/2022 17:56

They manage to intervals in the theatre so why not in the cinema? I would like it very much.

mogsrus · 15/04/2022 18:16

@Lunar27

OP, weren't intervals originally to enable a reel change? Quite handy though and gave us the Pearl and Dean commercials

No. All the film was joined together

Comedycook · 15/04/2022 18:17

We saw the secrets of dumbledore last week too op. I thought exactly the same thing. An interval to stretch our legs, go to the loo and grab a snack and drink would have been great.

axolotlfloof · 15/04/2022 18:26

What did you think about the film OP?
I might give it a go next week.

FrankLeeSpeaking · 15/04/2022 18:53

Me and my tiny overactive bladder would like one, but I think it would just annoy most people!
(I always choose an aisle seat where I won't disturb anybody as I always have to pee at least once)

FrankLeeSpeaking · 15/04/2022 18:55

@TulipCat

I think they should just stop making ridiculously self-indulgently long films, as seems to be the norm these days. I don't go to anything over 2 hours.

Agree. If its a really long film, I'll just wait for the DVD/streaming to be released.

BookHermitBlack · 15/04/2022 19:12

We have this at our local independent cinema. It's great they even have an ice cream cart that comes out. You can pop to the bar and toilet too. Took my niece once and she put her coat on at the interval thought it was time to go home and was so excited to have an ice cream.
My dc don't like going to any other cinema now because it's not the same without an interval.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 15/04/2022 19:13

@Suzi888

Good God no.

I mean handy, but what happens when 200 people get up for the loo/snacks…

Well, they manage it at the theatre without much issue.

Lots of people won't get up at all, they'll just stay in their seats and check their phones etc.

GhostofMaudFlanders · 15/04/2022 19:16

We have an old independent cinema near me that has an intermission.

To be honest, I dont think I would go and see a long film at the cinema now if it didn't have an intermission..over 3 hrs sat in a cinema seat doesnt appeal now.

If we watch films at home now, they are punctuated by loo breaks and one of us checking IMDB to find out what we've seen 'thingymibob' in before .

TooManyAnimals94 · 15/04/2022 19:18

I just wish films weren't sooooo long these days. Nearly all of them have a good half hour in the middle that could be cut without taking anything away from the plot.

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