Movie Intermissions: Yay or Nay?

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

So, I’m watching The Godfather Part II last night and it has an intermission card about 125 minutes in, with about 75 minutes left, and it got me thinking about movie intermissions. What’s everyone’s thoughts on them?

Personally, as the average movie length continues to grow, I’d love to see a return of intermissions to anything over 150-165 minutes. Gives you a chance to stretch, piss, maybe grab another snack and/or drink and just reset your brain a little. I feel it would make the longer movies a much more enjoyable theatrical experience.

I’m sure most people here have gone to one of those 3 hour+ flicks that you ended up enjoying more on DVD because you didn’t spend the last 45+ minutes trying to take your mind off how badly you need to use the washroom. Movies shouldn’t feel like an endurance challenge. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[Deleted]

I've never been to a movie that had one, but I would appreciate them when a movie is longer than 2 hours (which I guess is most summer blockbusters these days). I have to pee, stretch, etc. after sitting still in a little chair that long, and people who smoke probably need a cigarette.

[arrogantmodel]

Only for 3+ hour movies. An hour and a half, two hours is average.

[Fade]

Dec 19, 2019 8:34:36 GMT -5 @therealoblivion said:

I've never been to a movie that had one, but I would appreciate them when a movie is longer than 2 hours (which I guess is most summer blockbusters these days). I have to pee, stretch, etc. after sitting still in a little chair that long, and people who smoke probably need a cigarette.

As a smoker, I’m inclined to just say yes. lol

Honestly, I’d say it depends. Might not be the worst idea to try and integrate back. I say this because (And I don’t think it’s just getting older and my attention span varying) most movies suck with their pacing. There’s a lot of flicks (probably more mainstream ones you go to the theater for) where the pacing drones on a bit. Off the top of my head, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Blader Runner 2049, and Joker come to mind. Keep in mind I absolute love those three movies but wouldn’t have minded a break. In fact, may have enhanced my viewing pleasure.

And then there’s just average/meh flicks like, oh let’s say, Ready Player One or Far From Home where personally I would of relished a break BUT therein lies the problem: I might of left

The theater chain and movie still has my money, so I guess it’s no hair off their back but I do know this is why the head of my Theater Department started experimenting with taking out Intermissions during certain plays that were written to have one. You can’t necessarily compare stage to screen adequately because of the live aspect vs screen aspect....but sometimes it worked surprisingly well and I found to enhance the pacing of some of the plays. Conversely it absolute f***ed the pacing of some and added that droning to the pace.

All in all: wouldn’t say it’d be the worst idea but pacing needs to be highly considered and take precedent. I don’t know how some flicks bypass/don’t focus on it. Pacing is key.

[Dr. T is an alien]

Honestly, for a huge blockbuster that might be a cool thing to do. Build up a cliffhanger moment between acts to build that anticipation. Let the viewers stew on what they are about to witness as the finish of the film.

['Foretold' Joker]

I hate them with a passion, I am just getting into the movie and then lights up and break just so some one can go to the loo or get a box of nachos. Worst of all they sometimes even start playing music.

I saw The Hateful 8 and they gave it an intermission, they started playing Alvin and the Chipmunks music during the break, awful

[Natural Born Farmer]

With movies getting longer it’s something I wish would get brought back.

I imagine the amount theatres would make in additional concessions would probably make up for the couple showings a day they’d lose, so it’s probably studios who don’t want it.

[wildojinx]

I've heard that in Opera there are (or at least used to be), shorter operas meant to be performed during intermission. I wouldnt mind seeing that done for movies, put a short 10-15 minute short film on during intermission. Just make sure the tone isnt TOO jarring (ie, a screwball comedy while the main movie is an issue-driven drama).

[Deleted]

Yeah theaters aren’t going to add an extra 15 minutes to an overly long run time. Even if that means losing some intermission concussion money. Cause if they did that for each showing they might end up losing an entire screening during prime hours, and they aren’t going to do that.

Now there’s a theatre but my parents house that only shows old classic movies. So if a film originally had an intermission they keep it in. So it’s kinda neat. But unnecessary today. I could see Tarantino using it as a gimmick or something.

[MiLB Fan]

The movies I see aren’t long enough to warrant an intermission, even when you include the coming attractions.

I saw the 70mm version of The Hateful Eight, which did have one. As far as I know, that was the first time I saw a movie at the theater with a break in the action.

It was an interesting departure from how I usually watch movies, but I wish they would have put a timer on the screen so people knew how long they had before they had to get back to their seats. You just had to guess how long the intermission was.

[bob]

I think this is a good idea for movie that are longer then 2 1/2 hours

that's one of the reasons I didn't see Infinity War in the theater --- bathroom break is needed

[Deleted]

I think they're a pretty uniformly terrible idea.

[burdette25159]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadshow_theatrical_release

Roadshow releases had a 10-15 minute intermission. for roadshow releases, a large-scale epic film would open in larger cities in an engagement much like a theatrical play or musical, often with components such as an overture, the first act, the intermission, the entr'acte, the second act, and the exit music. The overture should not be confused with the main title music. The overture, recorded on film without a picture (and years later, on tape), was always played before the beginning of the film, while the lights were still up and the curtains were still closed. As the lights dimmed, the overture ended, the curtains opened, and the film began with its main title music and opening credits. Likewise, the exit music should not be confused with the end title music. The exit music, also recorded without a picture on film, was always played after the end of the film, while the lights were up and the curtains were closed. As the lights came on, the end title music ended, the curtains closed, and the exit music began. Most movie theaters until the 1980s had curtains which covered the screen, and which would open when the show actually began and close when it ended. So, intermissions were important to the roadshow experience.

[Duke Cameron]

I got to experience one when I saw Gone with the Wind in theaters in 1998. I thought it was a pretty cool thing and would be in favor for more films to use an intermission.

[BorneAgain]

Only if this plays:

[thetower52]

God no. It kills the flow of the story

[A Platypus Rave]

A movie would need to be structured to include it, like stage shows.

That said I don't see any theater really going for it.

[adamclark52]

Nah, I get immersed and that takes me right out of it

[twiggy101]

I would say 'May'? I'll never forget the time I had to piss really bad when I watched Sherlock Holmes 10 years ago.

[mcmahonfan85]

the only movie i ever went to in its theatrical run that had an intermission was "Gods & Generals". of course the run time for that movie was longer than the Civil War...

went to go see "The Godfather" on the big screen once, and for some reason not only did the theater decide to put an intermission in it, they decided to do it extremely early and in the middle of a scene. it was when the Corleones were discussing what to do right after Vito got shot, Sonny tells Michael to try calling Luca Brasi again, and the movie just stopped. not even a full hour into the three hour movie, and they randomly had an intermission in the middle of a scene. come back fifteen minutes later and they play the last 45 seconds of the scene.