Mumsnet users share their cinema memories with ODEON

[JustineBMumsnet]

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Whether you go often or it’s a rare treat, trips to the cinema often leave memories in a way watching a film at home rarely would. ODEON would like to hear about your memories of going to the cinema - either when you were a child or when taking your own children now.

Chris Bates, Commercial Director at ODEON UK & Ireland said: “The festive period is a special and magical time for the whole family, and what better way to celebrate than by enjoying one of the most highly anticipated films of the year – Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns. Across our cinemas, we’ve been busy sprinkling a little bit of extra magic on the cinema-going experience – including live performances from magicians, decorating our foyers, and a special Magic Mix deal on food & drink. Tickets to see the return of everyone’s favourite nanny are available to book now and we can’t wait to welcome guests through our doors to watch this truly magical film with ODEON."

Do you remember a particular film? Perhaps you have memories of a family member laughing so loudly it was embarrassing? Maybe you remember going without your parents for the first time? What are your favourite memories of taking your own children to the cinema?

All who post their memories below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

I remember mum and dad taking my brother and me to see Harry and the Hendersons on Christmas Eve because we were driving her mad with excitement and she didn't know what else to do with us. My Dad had been in the pub earlier in the day so fell asleep during the movie and snored loudly through the whole thing :)

The first film I saw in the cinema was 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' a long time ago, with friends as we never went to the cinema as a family. I was also really happy that a friend's family took us all to see Grease so I didn't miss out on the craze and the music! With another friend on holiday I saw 'The Empire Strikes Back' but hadn't actually seen Star Wars then!

My DS' first film was the Tarzan animation and he was entranced, aged 2-3, DD's first film was Monsters Inc and she was the double of Boo in the film, complete with bunches. DC are now adults but a family cinema trip is still something we all love.

The best one has to be taking my nephew to the cinema for the first time to give my sister a break, he was perfectly behaved and amazed by the big screen, but what makes it memorable is that he asked us after the film if he could take the dvd home for his little sister to watch. His comment was really sweet and really funny and so it stuck in our minds and is mentioned every now and then by anyone in the family

The first cinema trip I remember was Casper, although I'm sure I went before that, but this visit I was taken by my super cool cousin. Family trips my mum used to cook popcorn to take in bags before going as cinema popcorn was far too expensive.

The first time I took my eldest was to a special toddler showing. There's no way I would have taken her to anything else as she would have been far too disruptive. Conversely my second was much more patient and her first trip she sat through a mini morning showing. These days we only go to vue. We get 6 free tickets a year through our bank account and also utilise the free tickets occasionally given out by school. Aside from that tickets only cost £5.99 which is fantastic in comparison to Odeon as the last time I looked were charging £11 a ticket in cinemas that were pretty grotty. I had patience for a few years but Vue have well and truly won our custom with their well maintained cinemas, good prices and they even let us bring in our own snacks....because let's face it wherever you go popcorn costs a silly amount of money.

I remember going to see Santa Claus the movie and my dad falling asleep and snoring!! This became a regular occurrence whenever we went to the cinema 🤣🤣

I remember seeing Evita with my granny - I found it quite sad but she said she remembered all the awful things the peron regime had done and so couldn't feel sympathetic towards her.

We went yesterday... to see the
Favourite. Not what i was expecting and we both (me and husband) came out a little dumbfounded. Great acting but not your usual period drama. We all recently went to see Wreck it Ralph 2 - so funny! We all loved it and the kids were dancing in the aisles at the end. My youngest was that annoying kid laughing laudly at everything. It was quite an empty showing luckily.

About 14 years old
Can’t remember the film
A couple having loud sex in back row

Jewel of the Nile was the first film I ever saw at the cinema, I was about 9. I loved the whole experience and felt so grown up! I love the odeon kids club at weekends and school holidays it makes it an affordable way to take the dc to the cinema.

Saturday morning pictures, waiting to see that week's cliffhanger. Watching Bambi, Dumbo, The Hound and the Fox - in fact any Disney film on the big screen was amazing. But the film that had the biggest impact was Superman with Christopher Reeve, I loved the superman character from he comics and I was so excited I took my younger brother and sister and sat through it twice, you could back then. Those titles at the start and the end were amazing. I did get told off for being back so late!

I very rarely go, so expensive these days. Sadly always been a bit of a luxury. last trip was to see Beauty and the beast about 2 years ago with daughter , I quite enjoyed it , but with tightening budgets some things are now a rare treat.

The first film I remember going to the cinema to see was The Never Ending Story. I was about 5 and my mum took me and my best friend. It was a real treat in those days! I loved the film but cried my eyes out at the horse scene.
I have two boys now and am being constantly dragged to see Marvel Movies which I have secretly began to love

My first ever film was Dumbo and I can remember being so small that the seat kept tipping up.
Next memory is of my mother taking me to see Grease, I was young, and it's a really happy memory for me of just me with my mum.
As a teenager I lived near an arts cinema as it was called then, so I went every week to watch foreign and alternative films. I consider myself so lucky to have had that opportunity. That's where I fell in love with French cinema!!

I remember going every Saturday morning with either my Nan or mum and my little brother in the 90s.
You would have to get there early and the queue seemed to go for miles.
You would often get sent home because the cinema was full. A member of staff would walk to the queue and say that anyone past this person wouldn't get to see the film today, I was a big cinema as well.
We were never allowed to by the sweets in here but my Nan would bring us sandwiches in tin foil and maybe a yoghurt, always had a banana though. Lovely memory :)

I love the fact that my local Odeon is still the same as it was when I was a child. So when I go into different screens now I have memories from my childhood, teen years and now taking my own children.

Films that stand out are seeing Bambi with my Dad and crying when the mum got shot, date films such as The Golden Child, Pretty Woman, Home alone.

Taking DD1 to see her first film Finding Nemo and how she got so involved I had to keep sitting her down. She is now 19 yrs old and still loves films.

Recently took DD2 (16) to see Bohemian Rhapsody which was fantastic.

I hope our Odeon stays the same in the future!

The cinema has always been an exciring treat for me, The Lion King was my favourite cinema experience and I remember my sister and I doing somekind of saving token scheme in Woolies to buy it when it came onto video. The big screen and tasty snacks made for fun afrernoons out and growing up I often took my younger siblings or nieces and nephews.
Sadly many of the local conemas near us have closed sinve I was a teenager but its still a great time out when we do get to go. I recently took my parents and children to see Winnie the Pooh which they all loved.

Last time I took my kids to our local cinema .....The Odeon,I almost had a heart attack at the cost.
I had to actually ask twice. I spent the first few minutes sat in my seat trying to work out what the Odeon was offering us experience wise in comparison to our other local cinemas Vue and Cineworld! Nothing any different at all unless you include the shock at the Odeon prices experience!
Won't be going again when it's several pounds cheaper per person pretty much every where else!

One of my first trips to the cinema was with my dad to watch Snow White and the 7 dwarves.
Just as Snow White was about to bite the apple I stood up and screamed at the screen NO DONT DO IT, ITS POISONED!
Dad had to force me to sit down and explain the whole concept of cinema/films.....

I love going to the cinema, but with young children I don't go as often as I used to. My DDs are just beginning to want to go; I have pre-booked tickets for the first of February for 'The Hidden World' as they love, love, love the How to Train your Dragons franchise.

My youngest DD (then aged 5) how to describe her? Well just think of a reincarnated Spaniel. Lovely, enthusiastic but not so good with attention. I never knew how much she paid attention to films.

We went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens at our town's one screen Art Deco cinema. We ate popcorn and watched. At one point (spoiler alert for the one human left who hasn't seen it but wants to) Poe Dameron flys in, having possibly died earlier in the film. I leaned over and whispered 'That's Poe.'

DD2 gripped my arm and whispered back 'Poe? Poe's alive?' and bounced in her chair. I was staggered. She was paying attention after all, enough to know the character's names. Though it might just be Poe. She still loves Poe. But this was the moment I knew she loved watching films too.

Return of the Jedi, with my dad at a small cinema in a small town in Ireland, when I was about 8 years old. Probably the first and only outing alone to the cinema with him and I felt so grown up and special. Freezing cold night and I remember clearly the fresh night air mingled with the smell of people’s fires indoors as we walked home. And the clearest memory is of when my uncle opened the front door to let us in to the house, he pretended to zap us with his finger held out as a light saber 😄 I still do that to my kids.

The first film i ever saw at the cinema was the original Ghostbusters in 1984. My Dad took by older brother on one day and I went the next day with my Mum (they were taking turns to look after my younger brother who was only 4 and obviously seemed too young for the cinema).
It was thrilong to be going to a massive dark theatre to see this magical film. We also stopped for tea at McDonald’s on our way home and it was dark outside - all very unusual and exciting for us!
We also had the ghostbusters song on our ‘Now that’s what I call music 4’ (or some similarly low number!) so we relived our cinema experience over and over playing the theme tune at home.
It’s a really vivid and special memory for me!

Queuing round the corner fir Grease when I was 7. Did it twice because I didn't make it in, the first time.

Back in the 80s my gran took my sister, cousin and I to see Ghostbusters. There was a lot of hype surrounding it and I was super excited!

Got our drinks, popcorn etc, sat down...... few minutes into the film (the part were strange gunk comes through the bath taps) my sister COMPLETELY FREAKS OUT in fear and we all have to leave (as my gran was the only adult with us).

I was furious and hold it against her to this day!

My first memory of the cinema was being taken to Robin Hood prince of thieves by my dad and him having a tear in his eye at the end, and how emotional I felt when the credits rolled. It was great.

As a teenager it was a great place to get the train to with friends.

Then as a new mum, I’ve got great memories of going along every week to the special mum & baby screenings when my dd was tiny, and when I see the films now that I saw then, it brings back memories of sitting there snuggling with her.

Miracle on 34th Street was the first cinema date me and lovely Mr Woolly went on about 25 years ago.
Going to see The Greatest Showman 4 times with DD was pretty memorable too, firstly,she’s brilliant company, and secondly, you just can’t have too much Hugh!!