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

The first film I remember seeing was the original Star Wars film, the cinema was five minutes from our house. When I got older I was always trying to sneak in to the films I wasn't actually old enough for. I borrowed my sister's makeup to try and look 15 so I could watch Mad Max 3 the lady at the box office commented that the following week when I wanted a child's cheaper ticket I'd be 13 again !

In my childhood I had a few rare trips to cinema because we have always struggled financially. I'm always remember a long queuing up to enter cinema. Now, as the family we enjoying take our children to see new releases. The last one we went to see as the family was The Grinch.
My children were super excited because many of their friends already have seen it and the film got a lot of publicity. They always behave very well and whole experience is magical for all of us. This is great for family bonding.

The first film I was taken to in the cinema was bambi. It was just my mum and me in the broadway cinema in letchworth it was freezing. Sometime later my mum took my cousins and I to who framed roger rabbit. We loved it and actually that film is still very original and different.

I went to the cinema on my wedding day in 2009. The reel cinema in Plymouth used to me 2.50 on Tuesdays. Dh and I went every week then. We got married on a Tuesday and went to a matinee if I think 27 dresses though I'm not sure. I was pregnant with dd1 so no partying for me. My marriage didn't survive but that was a nice memory of when things were better between us.

My first memory, well only memory of the cinema as a small child was to see the fox and the hound. It was a small cinema in a small town. My most enduring cinema experience was seeing Jurassic Park as a mid teen. I don't think anything will ever compare to how much I loved that film.
It is true that with the right film and if it's a proper treat then going to the cinema is an experience.

My older brother and I used to go to a Saturday morning kids cinema club thing. We would see a couple of short features then an oldish film. I particularly remember it because we went on our own I was maybe 6 and my brother was 9ish so we felt very caring .

The only film I can remember seeing was Escape to Witch Mountain (the original one).

I remember going to see Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone at the cinema when I was younger.
We had gotten some of the promotional plastic buckets of popcorn and at one point during the film, something frightened me and I put the bucket on my head refused to take it off as well. Luckily it didn't get stuck!!

I also recall going to the cinema for a date and my then BF booked us into the 'comfort seats' - giant beanbags on the floor right in front of the screen.
So uncomfortable and I couldn't help but cringe in disgust at thinking what was on those beanbags

Absolutely love going to see films (as does my DF) so cannot wait until DD is old enough to sit still and enjoy one too.

Watching a star is born in oden luxe- first time I’ve ever been to one & the extra comfort really leaves you focused on the film!

Going to see Aladdin with my mum and brother. We laughed the whole way through. My dad was away with work and it was a treat from my mum so we didn't miss him too much (or have time to)
We became obsessed with the film and quoting the lines from it ( all the Robin Williams ones)

The first film I remember seeing at the cinema in my little town was The Jungle Book, followed by the Aristocats!
I remember getting a bit bored halfway through Aristocats and looked round for my Mum and Dad, to find they had left us five kids in the cinema watching these two films back to back, while they enjoyed a pint in the cinemas bar!
Feelis like that could have been last week, but that was nearly 35 years ago! lol

I remember seeing Grease five times when it came out at the cinema. I was obsessed. I wanted to be Olivia Newton-John.
I remember being taken to see Star Wars and falling asleep - not my thing!
Also I remember Kia-Ora drinks and Pearl & Dean adverts. I think I vaguely remember ice cream being sold in intervals too but I could be wrong.

The Gaumont near us had a kids club. We used to go on our own on Saturday morning while my parents did the shopping. The Odeon had an amazing moulded surround to the screen, sort of like some kind of Italian palace (at least that's what I imagined it was).

We always got Kia Ora and Munchies. I don't think you can even buy Kia Ora any more! The adverts before the film were always exactly the same and featured a local Indian restaurant and a carpet shop.

I was very excited to see Snow White but horrified by the wicked Queen and wondered why I'd been taken there. Loved a Disney Alice in Wonderland although it didn't seem to have quite the same story as my book, singing flowers?
DD's first film was Mary Poppins but she now has no memory of seeing it!

I was taken to see Mary Poppins for my 7th birthday (I think). This was in the days when there were no videos or DVDs and just an hour or so of children's TV a day. I absolutely loved it, and sang the songs for the rest of the year.

I remember being in my 20s living in London, when there seemed to be a lot of French films that everyone was talking about and going to see. Jean de Florette, Manon des Sources, Les Amants du Pont Neuf, Diva... are some that come to mind. And the '3 colours' trilogy by a Polish director. I can't remember the last time I went to see a European film with subtitles now, it seems less fashionable.

Another cinema memory: seeing The Killing Fields when I was in my teens, and at the end the audience just sitting there in stunned silence. It was the only time I can remember such a reaction.

I remember going to the Odeon in Edinburgh in 1976 to see Richard Chamberlain and Gemma Craven in 'The Slipper and the Rose'. She was the beautiful Cinderella and he was the handsome prince. It brought a magical fairytale to life and I loved it.

I remember my (much older) brother taking me and my sister to the cinema for the first time to WATCH Home Alone. I was blown away by the whole thing and couldn't get over how good popcorn was! My parents watched Dancing with Wolves at the same time. My mum came out raving about it but my dad looked like he just wanted to go home!

I remember going to see "A clear and present danger" in America whilst I was working there as a waitress. Not sure why I remember it so vividly. Was the afternoon and everything was so different, including that films were released so much sooner over there! Loved the whole experience.

The Cinema used to be such an exciting thing to do back in my youth!

I used to either go with a group of friends, or on a date, (but I'd actually want to watch the movie, no back seat shenanigans for me ) , with family, or now as mother with my child.

My favourite memory was going to see Gremlins as a child. I found it so scary but it became and still is one of favourite films! Quite scary for the age rating though!

My first cinema trip was to see Bambi with my mum, my friend and her mum. It was an old retro style cinema which isn't there anymore, which is a shame as there aren't any in the centre of town now. There were ushers and usherettes with ice cream! It was awesome 😎

My first film was The Jungle Book, my dad brought my siblings and I whilst my mum escaped for a few hours of blissful peace! It remains one of my favourite movies and I was so thrilled that my children liked it too!

When I was 10, I wanted to go to the cinema to watch ET which my parents were happy for me to do, on the condition I took my 5 year old sister (those were the days!!). I had been absolutely DYING to see ET as anyone who was around at the time can relate to.

A few minutes into the film, my little sister started whimpering because she was finding it scary. I ignored her and carried on watching the film. She whimpered louder. I told her to close her eyes and cover her ears if she didn't like it. Then a woman, who seemed to me quite elderly at the time but was probably my age (mid 40s) said "I don't think your sister is enjoying this, why don't you take her outside." I GLARED at her as if to say "are you fucking mad? This is ET. The most important film of my life." Then I glared at my sister and said "She's enjoying it, AREN'T YOU" and my sister just nodded bless her.

I have apologised to my sister since! But to be fair, she was a right little whinger. Scared of Santa Claus, ALL elderly people, the Soda Stream advert etc. No way was she going to ruin ET for me.

I remember the harry potter movies.a lord of the rings one.
I cant remember the movies but there were certainly a fair few when we were little.ill have to ask my mum what they were
but it was so fun.wanting to play on the games and begging dad for some coins.but we had to wait til after if we were good.
the sweetie isle as you walk in.
popcorn and drink.
we usually went to pizza hut after or before hand as it was in shopping complex so the the pizza hut was right next door.

the cinema is far too expensive now so its not possible to go which is sad.
we had a family( my mums best friend) who would always or mostly be our cinema buddies.

I became very ill when I was younger.and was taken 6hours away to specialist hospital.it was the hardest part of my life.but when I got well enough to be allowed out my dad would drive all the way up on the weekend and we would go to the cinema together.so through the hardest moment of my life the cinema now has a cherished part in healing me and getting me with my dad.

I always get told off for laughing by my family. But the crux was watching the shagging dog and laughing when a voice piped up "Groovee? Is that you?" In the dark cinema 🤣🤣

Not shagging SHAGGY 😳😳😳

I went to the cinema with my sister a lot as a child, we'd buy tickets then head to Woolies for pick n mix and a panda pop before going into the film.
One time we lost our cinema tickets, but luckily we remembered the seat numbers. The cinema manager saw that though the film was otherwise full, the two seats we'd said we had tickets for were empty at the start of the film, so he believed us and let us in. The film in question was "it could happen to you" and boy did we feel lucky that day!

I clearly remember the first movie I ever saw in the cinema - my big cousin Christine brought me to see Annie in 1982 when I was just 6! I loved it and have seen the film many times since.

When my eldest daughter was v tiny and I was on mat leave, I went weekly to catch the latest releases at the Big Scream, the mother and baby screening at our local Picturehouse.

Since then, I've not been able to get to the cinema much to see grown up films but go quite regularly with the DC. We are looking forward to seeing The Grinch at the Odeon on Christmas Eve!