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

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

The first film I remember seeing at the cinema was The Jungle Book. I was about 5 and thought Baloo had died at the end. I was so distraught I didn't realise he had woken up and cried for about an hour afterwards I remember seeing and loving The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast with my mum and sister. My first cinema trip with my eldest was to see Moana which is now one of my favourite Disney films. We're going to see Mary Poppins Returns over the holidays

The film that's probably had the biggest impact on me at the cinema was Saving Private Ryan. I remember just sitting through the first section with my mouth open and it has stayed with me ever since. Just incredible.

We don't go as often now, partly due to having young DC, but mostly because it's become ludicrously expensive.

Went with my partner and 13 year old daughter to see Mary Poppins Returns the other night and enjoyed it, great music, some similar to original film,,( very musical, but fab) but with similar themes in the story line to the original film which I loved as a child. One of my earliest memories is watching the film back in the early 70's - they must have been showing it again, round about Christmas time. Climbing the stairs, with my mum and dad, (as a small child), of the fab big Odeon in Bolton which we used to have and listening to that lovely music as we walked. Then seeing that wonderful film on the huge screen we had then, which seemed even bigger as a small child. Even my 13 year old loved it , which I didn't expect, and it brought back so many memories for me.

Going to see Ghostbusters with a school friend and the whole audience joining in with the theme song 😁

Went to see Purple Rain "back at the ABC Cinema in town, for one night only, due to popular demand!"
There was me and my mate, a snogging couple and 2 homeless blokes who snuck in through the fire escape

I remember going to see Who Framed Roger Rabbit for my birthday, and the queue being around the block. The cinema we saw it in is a Wetherspoons now.

My first film was Gone with the wind ( it was a showing in the 80s - I'm not old enough for the original) . Went with my DF and remember coming back from the toilet to discover he'd eaten all my popcorn.

That evening I went to Kramer vs Kramer with my DM and her friend.

Some of my most treasured cinema memories are from the Watch With Baby screenings I went to when my children were very small. It’s one of the great perks of early motherhood, and the only time in my life when I’ve been really up to date with cinema because I saw at least one film every single week (we have two local cinemas and they did WWB on different days so I could do two a week). It gave me a couple of hours when I could just sit, feed and cuddle baby and do nothing else except concentrate on the film. I saw big blockbusters, art house flicks and a bunch of subtitled films which are convenient because you can still follow even if a baby decides to have a quick yell.

A favourite memory is from when DD was getting just old enough to pay attention to the screen - so almost her last trip. We went to see Return of the King and she turned around as Liv Tyler appeared on the screen as Arwen in a giant 15 foot soft focus closeup. The look of awe and fascination on DD’s face as she stared at this vision of beauty was a thing to behold.

We took my 85 year old mum to the cinema to see Paddington 2 last New Year’s Day and I haven’t seen her laugh so much in ages. She’s a bit deaf and seemed to forget that there are actually other people in the cinema as well so she was a little loud but our 8 and 12 year olds thought it was hilarious!
As a child, I don’t remember going to the cinema that often but it was a real treat. I cried my eyes out at Watership Down, and thought Superman was the most exciting thing ever.

I remember going to see the first Star Wars film at our nearest Odeon. My dad took the afternoon off work and met us there and I can still remember the thrill of the music starting and the words scrolling up the screen. It was such a precious memory that when Episode 1 came out decades later, I insisted on going back to the same cinema to watch it.

I remember seeing so many amazing films at the local Odeon growing up. Harry Potter films were always special family evenings out.

The memory that sticks with me the most though is the first time I went to the cinema alone as a young teenager. I have ASD and I felt so uncomfortable when I first sat down because there was a stranger right next to me, and I was so aware of his every move and the feeling that my personal space was being invaded. But when the lights came up at the end, I was very surprised to realise that there was someone there...I was so completely immersed in the film, I had forgotten where I was! It was like I was totally alone, within the movie itself, and it was fantastic! I went alone to the Odeon many times after that, and the best thing about the cinema experience was the way that my brain got tricked into thinking I was all alone and inside the film itself! No TV movie/programme can do that.

As an adult, I can't quite reach that level of immersion any more, which is sad, still love the cinema though.

My earliest cinema memory was going with my dad to see beauty and the beast...but we stumbled into the wrong cinema screen and started watching the fly My first unaccompanied trip to the cinema was with two fairly streetwise girls from my school. We went to see man in the iron mask with Leonardo DiCaprio. It wasn't a brilliant film and cinema was a little rowdy. I learned how to throw popcorn at the projector. I feel awful about it now.

i remember going with my sister in our teens i have a very loud laugh she used to get very embrassed when i laughed loudly,she would try and shut me up. had a blind date at cinema i was so scared i dropped my bucket of popcorn on floor,then couldnt stop laughing. dont go to cinema as much now quite expensive when we do go always take our sweet treats with us to save money.if film is scary i grab arm of person next to me,so i am a bit of a nightmare person to see a film with.last film i saw recently was a star is born with lady gaga,i cried at it went with my hubby, and when lights came on at the end there was only 4 people in cinema including us the other couple both said they cried as well,

I remember going to see Care Bears the movie when I was small. I don't remember much about the film itself (I am sure it was gripping) but I do remember the excitement of going to the cinema

I love seeing films at the cinema. Watching it on dvd is just not the same. When it’s released loads of my friends mention what they’ve seen and what they thought. We have film club on FB (similar to a book club).

My earliest memory is not being allowed to see Grease by my very strict mum. When I was older and had my own money from a Saturday job I watched 3 Rocky films back to back in a special showing with a boyfriend. Old cinema with private boxes and we used to climb into one of them and have a mini picnic.

Doh! Just reread first post more carefully

Lol. Less gin....
That’s on the wrong thread

1st trip to the cinema was Snow White - yep that long ago. I still remember being mesmerised by the experience and the story in the film. In those days a lady came around with ice cream in the break. Amazing - cinema has never died out & is still very relevant to families, children and adults

First film I saw was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, then a while later, The Empire Strikes Back, but I hadn’t seen Star Wars. Both times I was taken by Aunts.

My parents never took us to the cinema. It’s a 40 mile round trip and always clashed with the farm work.

I went the most in the mid-late 80’s with friends when it was all Police Academy, Beverley Hills Cop, Back to the Future etc.

I take DD as often as I can but not every month. The first film she saw was Frozen.

Looking forward to Mary Poppins, The Lion King, Toy Story 4, Dumbo, Aladdin, Frozen 2. Busy year ahead!

I remember seeing The Empire Strikes Back, the cinema was beautiful with a sweeping double staircase with red carpet. Red velvet curtains revealed the screen, and of course the usherette at the interval selling ice-cream! It was so magical, cinemas are not the same!

The first film I saw was Bambi. (Yes I am old). It was in Scunthorpe - the Majestic. The seats were velvet but nowhere near as luxurious as nowadays. There was still an interval when sold icecream.

Back to Bambi - we did not last it out apparently. When the hunter came along to kill Bambi's mother I was so scared I hid under the seat. I was then coaxed out by mum and taken home as I was traumatised!

I still cannot watch Bambi!

I remember going as a child every Saturday morning, parent would drop of the children and the cinema would be full of kids of all ages. We would watch the famous 5 on another adventure, along with flash Gordon or tom and gerry cartoons, I faintly recall there would always be a man who would come onto the stage at the break time to say Birthday messages to those present who had a birthday, and gthey would go up onto the stage and stand in a line and the audience would sing Happy Birthday, there was an ice cream lady who sold the little pots of ice cream.... Ah such lovely times, real treat every week that we really looked forward to...

Sat morning club
5p in the 70's 😀

I remember going to the toilet at least three times before the film to make sure I didn’t need to go during! Then carefully rationing my drink so as not to miss a minute...

I have never got over when bambis mother died. I guess I never will.

Great memories! One of the cinemas near us when I was a child was a 1930s Art Deco style & I absolutely loved it. The main one I remember was where I saw my first film,which was Sleeping Beauty. I loved sitting in the dark, tipping up my red velvet covered seat. I may have had sweets then but on other occasions Mum & I would share a box of sweets which seemed extra special. Maltesers were our favourite. Gutted when I returned to the area in later years & the cinema had become a carpark 😞