Conn. Lawmaker Proposes Bill Requiring Movie Theaters to List Actual Start Times After Commercials

Mar. 15, 2025

Movie theater.Photo:Getty

Getty

Are there too many ads and trailers before movies? Cinemagoers in Connecticut may see two start times for listed films — one before commercials and one after — if a lawmaker successfully gets a new bill passed.

Looney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

“It seems to be an abuse of people’s time,” the lawmaker said in an interview withThe Register Citizenabout his proposed bill.

If audience members “want to get there early and watch the promos, they can,” he added. “But if they just want to see the feature, they ought to be able to get there just in time for that.”

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In aPopculturologyblog post last March, writer Bill Kuchman recalled a moviegoing experience when trailers did not begin until 10 minutes after the start time listed on tickets. “Before the trailers could begin, we had to sit through several Coke commercials, a promo for IMAX and a new bit where AMC thanks their investors," Kuchman wrote. “By the time we got to the actual trailers, the crowd had grown restless.”

Kuchman continued, “Maybe it’s time we put our collective foot down and all show up twenty minutes past a movie’s start time.”

Nicole Kidman AMC ad.AMC

AMC

AMC, the world’s largest movie exhibitor, does include a note on its website or app next to a movie’s listed run time that urges patrons to “please allow approximately 20 extra minutes for pre-shows and trailers before the show starts,” perIndieWire. Among the clips that play before movies at AMC Theatres areNicole Kidman’sad for the company.

source: people.com