Time Savers

The Moviegoer's Guide - click here for the newest version of the guide!

Think of the term sets as a grouping of similar showtimes. Ever notice that films usually start within 90 minutes of each other? That gives the staff enough time to clean up the lobby and then set about cleaning auditoriums.

Purchase box office tickets & concession items between sets.

If you purchase movie tickets or concession items during this time, you'll be skipping the long lines that seem common at popular movie theaters.

Purchase tickets early.

Prepurchased tickets allow you to buy admission between sets. When seeing movies with a large group, this becomes especially important. During the set, you bypass the box office and walk directly into the theater. Remember to get inside early to get group seating because advanced purchases reserve a seat, not location.

Know which movie you want to see.

Do your best to select a showtime before getting to the box office attendant. It speeds up the line.

Use exact change when possible.

Exact change also increases the line speed.

Throw out your own trash.

It helps the staff clean auditoriums quickly. This allows them to get back to the concession stands and reduce waits. More importantly, its highly appreciated.

Avoid the weekend rush.

Popular showtimes are Friday evenings, most of Saturday, and Sunday mornings. If you decide to go during these times, be sure to get there extra early.
Holidays also draw many moviegoers.
Personally, I enjoy watching certain films when the auditoriums are near capacity. There's more audience participation. Just remember to arrive early.

You can be 7 minutes late.

Although you may not get the best seats or even sit together, remember that movies have 7-10 minutes of preview trailers. You can get in a few minutes late and still see the entire film.