Share your Christmas cinema memories with ODEON for the chance to win a £300 voucher + a soft porg toy! NOW CLOSED

[EllieMumsnet]

Over the Christmas holiday many of us like to get out of the house and spend time with the family by going to the cinema. Whether it’s because you’re fed up of being indoors or desperately trying to entertain children, ODEON would like to find out what you do when you venture out of the house at Christmas to see a movie.

Here’s what ODEON has to say: “With so many family films out and many families planning their trip to the cinema to see Star Wars: The Last Jedi, ODEON wanted to know what Mumsnetters' best memories were of family visits to the cinema over the holidays.

Maybe you got taken to see a particularly Christmassy movie or a big blockbuster you'd been waiting ages to see. Or maybe you've got a great story to tell about visits with your the kids. Share your comments and stories below and you could win a £300 voucher or one of our extra special porg soft toys for the kids.”

So whether you are a regular Christmas cinema goer or have gone on occasion to escape home after over the festive season, share your Christmas cinema memories below.

Everyone who comments on the thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list) as well as one of 50 soft porg toys .

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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We were taken to see The Muppet's Christmas Carol as a surprise when I was 8 and my little sister as 6. We still talk about it as a favourite Christmas treat and watch the movie together every year.

Another Christmas movie memory is seeing Love Actually aged 19 with my 2 flat mates, we took in a bottle of baileys and took turns to swig from the bottle through the film. Fun Christmas times!

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone 🎄🎄🎄

We very rarely went to the cinema as a family. However, one year I asked to go and see 'the lion king' and it was before Christmas. My dad and I went, and I remember being bowled over with the sound and vision of it. We went to the local odeon, and I had, what seemed like, a massive popcorn. Now, we've just started taking our elder child to the cinema. We went to see peppa pig. She LOVED it- the ticket, he popcorn. She was so excited, and exhausted afterwards!!

I remember my mum taking us to see ‘Santa Claus the Movie’ (the one with Dudley Moore).

It was bitter-sweet though... even though it was the holidays our dad wasn’t with us - he’d had to travel abroad unplanned as my uncle had died suddenly and unexpectedly

I remember really enjoying it and feeling Christmassy (I was about 7?) but then feeling guilty about it because of my uncle... my poor family, they still tried to rally and make it a nice Christmas for us kids though.

I was taken to see a special Christmas screening of ET. I cried and cried - tbh I still do whenever I see it on TV. Going to the cinema as a child was a real treat. They used to have a cartoon beforehand and sometimes a nature film. I don't think there was as much snacking or maybe that was just me family!

When I was a teenager I went to see Help ( the Beatles) multiple times. Me and a mate would go and catch the first showing of the day about 12pm and then stay for the rest of the day with a packed lunch and watch it several times over. In those days (1960s), they didn't kick you out after each performance. There was a B film showing too so we had to sit through alternate showings of that as well.

When my dad was young and his family didn't have much money he used to try and sneak into the cinema by waiting for the side doors to open after a performance and try to walk in backwards!!! He loved westerns.

Years and years ago I saw Dougal and the Blue Cat at a Bounds Green cinema one Christmas. Never forgot it...it was a thoroughly weird film and occasion. Never been to Bounds Green before or since!

We always go on a Christmas cinema trip - this year it will probably be to see Paddington 2 and Star Wars. I also love a solo Christmas cinema trip, I have been to see many films on my own on Christmas Eve.

I loved going to our local cinemas baby friendly screenings of films at Christmas when my dad was new. It was wonderful to do a adult thing while on maternity leave

We didn't go very often as kids but I usually take the DC over the Christmas period, the last couple of years we've seen the Star Wars films and we're going to see the new one on New Year's Day.

Usually take them to see one of the cheap kids club showings as well when I've had enough of them being indoors and it's too wet/dark/cold for a walk!

I also find the big comfy seats are great for a sneaky nap while the film's on

Cinemas were much smaller and in the middle of towns when I was a child.
When a new film came out, everyone would queue outside the door in a line, waiting for them to open.

Our festive cinema visit has been to see Star Wars the past three years- it has become a tradition now to start the celebrations with a birthday outing for my eldest son to take his friends for a pizza and then on to the cinema to see the latest one.

We did it last Sunday and it was relatively civilised with 5 adults and 6 nine and ten year olds compared to the previous year with 12 kids! He and his friends love it and we all feel that once we have been then the Christmas festivities can really start!

There's something special about walking out of the cinema on a cold December evening and driving back home past all the lights- the magic seems to last a little longer!

We loved the Porgs- they are very cute!

My own childhood memory of cinema at Christmas is going to see Santa Claus the Movie- magical ! My own children now associate Christmas cinema with the release of the latest Star Wars films (is it 3 years running?). We’ve been to the new one already and loved it!

We usually went to the cinema on Boxing Day or in between Christmas and new year but the only film I can remember watching is Night at the museum!

I had a lovely xmas Odeon trip to see one of the Disney fairy movies with my ds and my niece a couple of years ago. She lives abroad so I don’t see her much. They were both good as gold and felt so grown up seeing the film at an actual cinema.

Two years ago we went to see The Force Awakens on Christmas Eve. DH was unsure about whether DS2 was old enough to see it, especially as he’d read that a main character dies. A few days before, we were discussing this when DS2 explained that he would be totally fine because he knew which character dies (as some of his friends had seen it and told him the plot). DH was aghast, as he’d been trying to carefully avoid spoilers up until that point. But it convinced him that DS2 would be fine to see it.

We’re going to see The Last Jedi this Christmas Eve. But DS2 hasn’t let any school-acquired spoilers slip in front of DH yet.

We used to go to the cinema every boxing day for a lord of the rings or Harry potter film. Was very sad when they ended. May reinstate when my little one is bigger but he doesn't currently have the attention span for the cinema.

i rem going from school for the first time ever almost 23 years ago to watch a special pre release showing of The Lion King. i felt like my life was complete haha

Will always remember seeing A Muppet Christmas Carol and being absolutely smitten by the little carol singing bunny!

We never really went to the cinema at Christmas- was more films under a blanket on the sofa. Might take the kids in the Christmas holidays though!
We went to see the last jedi last weekend and it was AMAZING!

We're going in a couple of hours! Train into London, Paddington, then a cake somewhere, look round Fortnum & Mason, meet DH and look at the Christmas Lights, before McDonalds dinner and home again. I'm quite excited!

Before we were married my husband and I would go to the cinema every boxing Day. Mainly to escape the family Christmas party, but it was so nice.

I can vividly remember seeing Miracle on 34th street when I was 9 or 10 (I suspect I was taken out of the way so mum could sort out Christmas). It was truly wonderful to see that little girl and her mum, and Chris Kringle with the sparkle in his eye - and THAT suit. I can remember coming out of the cinema, feeling so happy the cold air and seeing my breath and skipping to the bus with my Gran. The next day I got the Power Ranger which was on my Christmas
list.

I remember as a teenager going to see all the Lord of the Rings films each December with my mum and brother. It was a time when we rarely did anything together due to our ages and my brother suffering from embarrassment at being related to us. I looked forward to each one and was really quite sad when the last one had been released. I know my mum loved going with us too.

She’s taking my ds to see Paddington 2 this Christmas which will be lovely for both of them as they’ve never had a Christmas together yet as we don’t live near each other.

Watching Pocahontas in my Christmas party dress at the proper old style cinema (it's been knocked down for fiats now 😥) as a Christmas Eve treat
I was so excited, my dad fell asleep...

Haha the first movie I remember seeing on a Christmas Day was Buffy the Vampire Slayer with my older sister. It was the first time we went to the cinema without anyone older with us.it is a very good, sweet memory.