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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I REMEMBER MY SISTER TAKING ME TO SEE GREMLINS AS A CHRISTMAS TREAT.

I miss our old 2 studio cinema. The big multiplexes just leave me cold.
I spotted some photo's of our long derelict 'picture house' on Tumblr. The 'fags' in the machine were still priced below £1.

I loved how the tickets shot out of the slot at the kiosk counter, all joined together, like at the seaside amusements.

Sometime in the 80s, a group of us teens went to watch 'Nightmare on Elm St' and the back seating section was all ripped out. No-one had mentioned anything when we paid. So, we sat down on our coats to avoid splinters in our bums and shared around our contraband - fizzy drinks and sweets smuggled in at risk of getting us all thrown out, and perfectly within the rules Benson & Hedges.

It was the same cinema that, a decade earlier, my whole family - and every other in the town - queued outside in the rain for hours, only to not get in to see 'The Adventures of the Wilderness Family'. You didn't get through the doors until you had your ticket in your hand. I can still taste the bitter disappointment. My mum was furious, and vowed never again. As far as I know, she hasn't stepped foot in any cinema since.

My Dad, sister and me did get in to see Waterside Down, though, and I was the only one to leave dry-eyed.

I went there on my first ever 'date', although I hadn't realised that's what it was until my mum's friend's older son did the yawning/arm around my shoulder thing. Something in 'The Adventurers' (?) an animated film about cute mice in a boat made from a leaf, obviously did it for him!

I do wonder if these kinds of memories are being made in today's identikit multi screen retail outlets. I hope so.

Me and my youngest , James watched Paddington while my husband and the other two kids, Toby and Lara watched Star Wars. It is great to have a choice of films to please everyone

It has become a bit of a family tradition to go to the cinema between Christmas and New Year. This year we have been to see Paddington 2 (yesterday) which we all loved and was a nice break to get out of the house - and get the kids away from the Xbox.

My favourite childhood memory is going to watch Santa Claus - The Movie at the cinema. My great uncle helped make some of the wooden toys for on set (he was a carpenter) and I remember waiting for the credits while everyone else left the cinema just to see his name come up! I still watch this movie at Christmas and still look out for his name!

Just this week! Went to the brand new Odeon in Bournemouth to watch Star Wars with husband, Dad and siblings. It was amazing, fantastic film, which brought back brilliant memories of seeing the remastered Star Wars films with Dad as kids. I couldn't get over how comfortable the new cinema was (and the fact your were allowed to take beer in!). Best thing was that my mum looked after the two year old for us - he's a bit young for the cinema yet (but already loves Star Wars...).

I remember my dad taking me to watch the film 'Kelly's Hereos' when I was young and getting ice down my yellow dress.

I don't think it has ever occurred to me to go to the cinema ovee Christmas before - but then my children are only just getting to the age where they will tolerate it. I think we will try and go and see the new Paddington film before we head back to work/school

We've started going as a family and love it. I will be going at Easter for a live ballet or opera too!!

When I was little, we used to go and visit my Grandma in Sheffield and go to see the latest Disney movie at the cinema. I have no other memories of going to the cinema as a child and remember our trips with our Grandma as being really special. She would also buy the Disney movies on VHS (showing my age) to watch at her house.

We've already had one trip and have another one tomorrow. We headed off to our local Odeon to watch Paddington 2 just before Christmas which was lovely and tomorrow we're off to watch an autism friendly showing of Paw Patrol, Big Screen Tails (not really looking forward to this one myself but the kids can't wait :D)
When I was younger a great Christmas cinema memory would be going to see Christmas with the Kranks. We had such a good laugh and even came away with a cardboard cutout of a frozen cat !

I don't really have memories of going to the cinema with family until I was in late teens - but I love taking my kids....will always remember my daughter emptying the contents of her popcorn over the man in front.....he laughed but didn't really look impressed!

I can remember going as a big group of family just after Christmas and it being an exciting treat!

I remember my Mum taking me to the cinema to see The Muppet Christmas Carol a few days after Christmas when I was about 9. I absolutely loved it! We didn't go to the cinema often, & to go alone with my Mum was a real treat! I loved the film then & I still do now. I always watch it at Christmas & remember that special time :) Can't beat the cinema experience!

The two films I vividly remember mum taking me to as a child were miracle on 34th street and Muppets Christmas Carol. Cinema was a real treat when i was young and I remember these films so well - I was actually scared of Muppet Christmas Carol! Looking forward to Paddington these Christmas holidays

Christmas Eve pictures is the best doesn't matter which film it's just a magical time

I remember going to see Star Wars (and the ice cream in the interval). I'm looking forward to introducing my own kids to Star Wars now.

We didn't really go to the pictures as a family when I was a child but one Christmas, my dad took me to see Santa Claus The Movie. It was a real memorable moment for me because it was quality time with just me and my dad. My sisters were too busy with their mates and mum didn't want to go so me and my dad got sweets and drinks and had a great time. It was the first time I had ever had fruit gums out of a box instead of a tube!! I think my dad was more engrossed in the film than I was and we both absolutely loved the reindeer. Every time the film was shown on TV after that, however old we got, my dad and I watched the film, together with sweets and drinks and even though we were in the front room, it still brought back great memories of our trip to The Odeon!

It was star Wars this year, even though not that Christmas like, it felt so to us.

going with my dad and seeing him fall asleep as he found the film so boring. Good times lol

To be honest we don't really go so much now - we used to have a Christmas treat and go to the deluxe screen and watch a voted for movie for Christmas but our local deluxe screen closed and we stopped the tradition

I've not taken my little one to the cinema on Christmas eve as he hates the noise that cinemas have. But we do have snuggles at home to watch Christmas movies. This year his fave was Elf.

We love taking ours to the pictures at Christmas as it is an extra treat they really enjoy! The last few years it has been star wars and they have thought that it is brilliant x

We go to the cinema every year on the 27th, it’s one of our Christmas traditions. This year we watched Ferdinand, it was a lovely film and a great way to spend time with just me, DH and DS.

My earliest memory of going to the Odeon in Harrogate was a Christmas treat with the Brownies to see "Peter Pan". Thirty-one years later, and having lived away for most of the time, I am now back, and my children now enjoy going there as much as I did. I do miss the Pearl and Dean advertising though!