Mumsnet users share their cinema memories with ODEON

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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

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I will always always remember going to see Peter Rabbit/Beatrix Potter film as a child in the 1990s with my mum. I remember the old arty cinema exactly, and the sensation of returning to daylight feeling like I'd been in another world! Going to the cinema was a very rare treat for us as children. But the best thing about it was going out alone with my mum without my siblings! I remember feeling very special and grown up.

The first film I ever saw at the cinema was ET - it was a real treat for us and we didn't go very often with my parents. Showing my age there! When I was a teenager I used to go to the cinema quite regularly with a couple of friends - we used to be able to get cheap student tickets and go on a weekday matinee during a free period, so often the cinema would be almost empty which was quite a luxury!

My everlasting memory of the cinema was magical, it was the first Mary Poppins, I was transported to another world, I remember crying when 'feed the birds' scene was on, I was in heaven. When the film ended the ceiling lights in The Odeon, Rotherham were stars, it was bliss, I'm guessing I'd be about 8.

My Mum suffered a lot of mental illness when I was growing up and would take me and my younger brother to the cinema on occasion when she needed a distraction (for herself or us, I'm not sure). Mum took us to see Pinocchio one time and the whale scared me so much I twisted and twisted my gold signet ring around and made my finger sore. I took it off and gave it to my Mum and never saw it again...it must've missed her purse in the dark.

My Dd and I go to the cinema when we can and love it. I just wish it wasn't such an expensive thing to do. We last saw Bohemian Rhapsody - Dd somewhat reluctantly but, she was hooked and glued to the screen, bobbing around in her seat for the duration of the film and has downloaded a load of Queen songs and plays them constantly :)

My fondest memory of the cinema - I am a total movie freak and I go to the cinema whenever I can - is watching How to Train Your Dragon with my daughter. She has Asperger's and found the whole cinema experience terrifying. But this happened before we had a diagnosis and knew. She sat clinging onto me terror for the first 15 minutes then slowly something happened and the story took her over and she came out of the cinema loving the film and (just a bit) less scared of films than she used to be.

A real dad and daughter bonding moment.

These days, aged 16, she's a real film buff too and makes me watch all sorts of unsuitable stuff as she tries to broaden my horizons into the areas of modern horror that I have been carefully avoiding for years..

I remember seeing Independence Day in cinemas and almost falling off my seat when the whitehouse exploded. That feeling of wonder and excitement has never left me and inspired me to follow a career in film. I think every person should be transported the way I was as a kid!

The Odeon I went to as a teenager (70s, 80s) was a single screen and it was possible to stay and watch the film through again, also started with a short film or documentary rather than ads, like today. When I was 14 a group of us sat through 3 showings of Airplane and finally got home at 11pm, my mum was furious (no mobile phones) and worried, and we had had just a laugh. Saturday morning pictures was the place to be with friends. Happy days.

I was six - had to look this up. The film was "Candleshoe" It was at a small (probably independent) cinema. The film projector stopped working about half way through the film. The cinema manger offered tickets for everyone to come back the following week - all these mums were furious and said no! From what I can recall it must have been half term and they all stated how we would be back at school next week. Somehow the projector was fixed and we saw the rest of the film. There may or may not have been free ice cream while this happened. So many years ago 😳

A rat once ran over my foot in the Odeon at Hull.

A better memory was my wonderful Nan taking me to see The Mask 4 times in 3 weeks because I loved it. Found out years later that she absolutely despised the film, but came with me each time and laughed along anyway.

Taking the family to see Frozen at the cinemas is an experience I won't forget in a long time! I heard great reviews from friends and family about the film and this was my first time seeing the film. When the songs came on in the films, everyone was singing along - even the adults! The cinema turned into a huge united choir - it was such an amazing experience.

I remember going to see 2001 A Space Odyssey as a young teenager when it first came out. I was supposed to meet my mum and my gran at the cinema but my train was late and I didn't see them there. Halfway through I heard my mother's distinctive sneeze! They'd gone in before me, and I was able to meet up in the interval and we sat together for the actual movie and all of us thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

The first film I remember seeing at the cinema was 'Diamonds Are Forever'. I was only six (I think it was a treat for my older brother) & still remember the feeling of horror at the scene when James Bond is nearly cremated... 😳

I remember queuing for hours outside the ABC in Nottingham (no longer there) so that my sister and her friends could go and see Grease for my sister's birthday party. The looks I got when my sister and her friends turned up.....

I remember being too young to go and see Power Rangers The Movie! It was a 12 and it was one week before my twelfth birthday. A group of my mates and I went to watch it at the cinema and they wouldn’t let me in! I was absolutely gutted… I am very short and they thought I was much younger than I was and I couldn’t prove my age. All my mates went in and I had to wait for them… #devestated

I vividly remember the first time I went to cinema on my own. It seemed like a right of passage almost. I was about 19 at the time and went to see 'As good as it gets' with Jack Nicholson. Apart from the fact that the movie was pretty decent, it was also a real eye-opening experience to do something that normally is supposed to be enjoyed in company. I go to cinema a lot on my own still and every now and then still enjoy the brief moments of luxury when I can be on my own.

Mrs Doubtfire. It was a 12 at the time, and I had only just turned 12 and my parents allowed me to go see it (my first ever 12 film, how grown up!!)

They dropped me off with my friend, bought us popcorn and drinks and then left us (picking us up after of course)

Felt so adult finding our way to our seats and settling down with our coats and fussing over the drinks.... great experience

I don't get to spend much time on my own with DS anymore since we had DD but have taken him to the cinema to be on our own a few times. Remember cuddling up in front of Coco (loved it) and recently Mary Poppins Returns. I can remember going to the cinema loads with friends as a teenager - particularly remember us all seeing Dead Poets Society and Parenthood.

I received an Odeon Limitless for my birthday last year. When a good movie comes out my kiddies and I will be there. I love the excitement of going to the cinema. It’s a really nice thing to do with the kiddies.

Growing up my dad would bring me and my sister to the cinema every weekend. My favourite time was when we went to see Babe. My poor dad missed the end of the movie because I needed the toilet every 2 minutes haha

I think it shows how much more we're willing to spend on our leisure and family time now, that we go to the cinema so regularly despite the massive expense (once you've added in the cost of snacks and drinks)

When I was a child the cinema was a rare treat - probably only a couple of times a year, during the summer holidays and at Christmas. I have a clear memory of going with my dad & mum staying at home, possibly to save cash, and we had a tube of wine gums bought at the supermarket to share between us! Now we think nothing of going a couple of times a month, & spending a small fortune on the trip.

It would be taking my nephew to first see Cars when it was in the cinema. It was his first trip to the cinema and he loved it. Hestood for the whole time and cried happy tears at the end, babbling how great it was.

My biggest memory of going to the cinema as a child is my dad always falling asleep ha ha

I remember when I was 10, and I took my 5yo cousin to see Beauty and the Beast. There is no way in the world I would let my almost 10yo take her cousin, or even go by herself! Luckily, we enjoy going as a family, even if DH did snore ALL through Mary Poppins last week!