Comments on: Do You Like Midnight Screenings?

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:49:52 +0000

Just like you, if i’m on holiday, I had this ritual to go and see movies at midnight with my little bro. Well usually, we go out around 8.00pm, have some drinks, walk around and buy the tickets, then watch the movies. Yeah but, we only did this on friday nights and never on the weekends since its too crouded. Anyway, I’m totally support the idea of watching movies at midnight.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:52:32 +0000

Like many people have said, my first midnight show was also the Phantom Menace. I was in middle school at the time so it was a big deal. I have been to quite a few since, including all of the Lord of the Rings movies, Harry Potter 4-6, and the last Matrix movie. I think a few others, but I don’t remember.
That said, I have found the only movies worth the trouble is the ones with a ravenous fan base. Like with HP and LOTR, there is this amazing electricity in the air. The crowd is explosive and enjoying every minute of just being there. Cheering, chanting, and costumes, the whole thing can have more of a community feel. Even if you are not really a fan and just there for fun or friends, the energy of the audience can be infectious.
Though, without a pre-existing fan base, I don’t see the point of a midnight show.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:33:09 +0000

At packed theaters, it’s really quite rude to leave empty seats between you and your friend.

By: Tony Cal

Tony Cal — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:17:01 +0000

My first midnight showing was The Phantom Menace as well. I think midnight showings are more for the uber fans of the movie. And I think it should only be for big movies or movies that have a big fan base ie Star Wars or comic book movies.

Last midnight showing I went to was The Dark Knight and it was awesome!

ps- most midnight showings you will see someone dressed up like you are at a comic con!

By: Meghan

Meghan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:38:35 +0000

So funny… the very first midnight screening I ever went to was also the Phantom Menace… with a large group of friends in Vancouver… we waited for hours and still didn’t get very good seats, but it was great fun!

Though, I agree with all of you… it’s a marketing ploy… movies NEED to make $$, and it is fun for the participants, so why not?

By: MEDavidson

MEDavidson — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:37:02 +0000

There was a movie about the opening of Phantom Menace, John. It’s a documentary called “A Galaxy Far, Far Away.”

I’m always skeptical of the motives of the studios. What I see (sometimes) is that they are trying to capitalize on their marketing and their need for big first weekend numbers. So they whip people into a frenzy on a (sometimes) sub-par movie and get to rake in “midnight showing” dollars.

Call me a skeptic.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:45:09 +0000

I work second shift (3-11:30) at a hospital so I usually catch my movies late night anyway. I’ve noticed the same thing John did. Once summer was here, EVERY release had a Thurs midnight screening (or Tues for Wed releases). This was the same as last year, but it tapered off around the time school started back up again. However, this year, we’re well into September and they’re STILL doing it! I love it! Even something like “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”, a family film, gets a midnight screening.

By: Louisgamers

Louisgamers — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:28:36 +0000

never been to one we dont those kind of movie experiances here in letchworth uk

By: Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:19:51 +0000

I go to them occasionally, but I like it because the crowds are the BEST.

People typically aren’t getting phone calls on their cells at this hour.

People don’t bring their fucking kids to midnight screenings.

People are very pumped to see the movie, and are more respectful of the movie. They don’t yap through the whole fucking thing.

By: Marc

Marc — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:39:26 +0000

The only midnight screening I ever went to was X-Men 3, and it was such a poor experience that I doubt I’ll ever go to another midnight show again. Aside from the movie not being very good, the people in the audience were loud and obnoxious…mostly high school kids just acting like idiots.

I can see how a midnight show might be fun for something like Star Wars where people get really into it, and where there’s a genuine bond of devotion to the franchise among the people there, but for anything else, in the future…count me out.