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Time To Bring Back Movie Intermissions?
Posted on 7/28/26 at 2:26 pm
Posted on 7/28/26 at 2:26 pm
Maybe an older person can/will correct me, but didn't older "epic story" movies like The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, and others have an intermission so patrons could go to the bathroom or buy concessions?
If yes, for a movie like The Odyssey, at 2 hours, 55 minutes, is it time to bring back this practice? Wife and I saw it yesterday, and using an app named RunPee, we knew when it was safe to duck out for a quick pee break. However, wouldn't it be easier to build in a definitive break so that everyone could/would come back at the same point in the story?
I would be grateful for a defined and uniform break, but maybe I'm in the minority. What do you guys think? FWIW, I'd only add an intermission for movies that are longer than 2.5 hours. But again, maybe others have other ideas regarding when to use, or not use, an intermission in films.
If yes, for a movie like The Odyssey, at 2 hours, 55 minutes, is it time to bring back this practice? Wife and I saw it yesterday, and using an app named RunPee, we knew when it was safe to duck out for a quick pee break. However, wouldn't it be easier to build in a definitive break so that everyone could/would come back at the same point in the story?
I would be grateful for a defined and uniform break, but maybe I'm in the minority. What do you guys think? FWIW, I'd only add an intermission for movies that are longer than 2.5 hours. But again, maybe others have other ideas regarding when to use, or not use, an intermission in films.
15
Posted on 7/28/26 at 2:29 pm to ronniep1
Seems like a good idea if it’s part of the movie, like The Brutalist. If you allow theaters to insert intermissions, they will just fill those with ads.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 2:40 pm to Esquire
quote:
If you allow theaters to insert intermissions, they will just fill those with ads.
As long as the break isn't unreasonably long, that'd be fine with me.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 2:54 pm to ronniep1
Didn't Oppenheimer have one, or am I wrong?
Posted on 7/28/26 at 3:00 pm to ronniep1
I vaguely remember some movies having an intermission. Gone With the Wind was one, a re-release not the original showing. I'm not that old 
Posted on 7/28/26 at 3:01 pm to Funky Tide 8
definitely need to do it if a movie is approaching three hours
they still do it for broadway plays with long run times or between acts
they still do it for broadway plays with long run times or between acts
Posted on 7/28/26 at 3:06 pm to ronniep1
quote:
2 hours, 55 minutes,
I think this is likely just around the mark for a break.
quote:
buy concessions
I think most theaters now deliver food to seats (or at least the ones I have been to the last couple years)
Posted on 7/28/26 at 3:06 pm to ronniep1
quote:
Maybe an older person can/will correct me, but didn't older "epic story" movies like The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, and others have an intermission so patrons could go to the bathroom or buy concessions?
80 years ago before the introduction of the multiplex.
How much do you think tickets would cost here?
Posted on 7/28/26 at 3:08 pm to ronniep1
already have a pause feature with my home theater
Posted on 7/28/26 at 3:24 pm to ronniep1
I'd definitely vote against intermissions if I had a vote.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 3:26 pm to ronniep1
Titanic had an intermission (3 hours and 14 minutes).
I’m cool with anything at the 3 hour mark having one.
I’m cool with anything at the 3 hour mark having one.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 3:26 pm to ronniep1
the last i could find with an intermission was the hateful eight 2015 with a running time 187 minutes that's the only i could see a three hour movie today.
when i was a jr. in high school that summer i went by myself to a saturday showing of the godfather saga with a running time of 434 minutes.
when i was a jr. in high school that summer i went by myself to a saturday showing of the godfather saga with a running time of 434 minutes.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 3:44 pm to ronniep1
Lawrence of Arabia has an intermission. I've seen the movie many times on my home theater but never in a traditional theater. Was awesome! And the intermission was much appreciated after a large drink!
Posted on 7/28/26 at 3:51 pm to DRMPHD
quote:
Lawrence of Arabia has an intermission. I've seen the movie many times on my home theater but never in a traditional theater.
For some reason, as a teenager over the summer more than 30 years ago, I opted to see Lawrence in 70mm at a theater just off of the IU campus in Bloomington. I was broke enough I didn't buy any concessions. I don't know how I made it, or what I was thinking.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 4:03 pm to ronniep1
quote:
Wife and I saw it yesterday, and using an app named RunPee
Man there is an app for everything
Posted on 7/28/26 at 4:05 pm to dickkellog
quote:
the last i could find with an intermission was the hateful eight 2015 with a running time 187 minutes that's the only i could see a three hour movie today.
Man the 4 part extended edition is so much better if you haven't watched it yet. Think it's like 3.5 hours. If they ever put that in theatres I'm going to see it.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 4:24 pm to ronniep1
I would take an intermission for anything over 150 min runtime. This gives the viewer a restroom break, a concession stand run, and the ability to check their phone (which hopefully means less checking during the actual movie).
Will it happen? No. Theaters are already trying to cram as many showings as they can get per day, and the convenience of the viewer has mostly gone out the window since many don't crack down on talkers, phone users, disruptiveness, etc. Adding 10 minutes to each showing would not fly.
Will it happen? No. Theaters are already trying to cram as many showings as they can get per day, and the convenience of the viewer has mostly gone out the window since many don't crack down on talkers, phone users, disruptiveness, etc. Adding 10 minutes to each showing would not fly.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 4:35 pm to ronniep1
The movie theater is in the business of selling concessions, not movie tickets. Some egg head probably ran some numbers and decided that concession buyers would buy a smaller sized drink - and refill it for free during the intermission. Same with popcorn. That extra 5 minutes over 6 showings, that's 30 wasted minutes.
Maybe if they reran the numbers and pushed the ACTUAL start time to the published start time, they could find those 5 minutes to give everyone a break.
I think I remember Braveheart having an intermission. I know it had 2 VHS tapes.
Maybe if they reran the numbers and pushed the ACTUAL start time to the published start time, they could find those 5 minutes to give everyone a break.
I think I remember Braveheart having an intermission. I know it had 2 VHS tapes.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 6:23 pm to ronniep1
Yup. GWTW, Ben Hur, Godfather all have them.
I think if movie is over 2 1/2 hours long, it's nice to have.
I think if movie is over 2 1/2 hours long, it's nice to have.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 7:00 pm to ronniep1
Download Runpee
Used it for years
Never steered me wrong for a movie to find a pee time
Used it for years
Never steered me wrong for a movie to find a pee time
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