Well, well, well, movie theaters. It seems someone is finally being honest with Michigan's feature film-loving populace and is finally owning up to the amount of time we spend watching trailer after trailer before finally showing us what we came to see.

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There was a time, many moons ago, that I worked as a projectionist at a movie theater in Jackson, Michigan, and would attach trailers to the films. Two to three was the normal then, meaning about 7 to 10 minutes of previews were shown before the feature started

How Long Are Previews in Michigan Theaters?

Though I hadn't counted, today it seems like there is a nearly infinite number of commercials, television show promotions, commercials, and trailers. My suspicions were confirmed when Culture Crave pointed out via X some fine print on one of the country's largest movie theater chains' websites:

See there, right under SHOWTIMES, AMC confesses: "Movies start 25-30 minutes after showtime." That's the same amount of time it takes to watch a single episode of The Office and have time to refill your popcorn before the feature starts.

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For Michigan moviegoers who like to plan, this is welcome news. As someone who likes to be early for being early, this allows me to unclench a bit and not worry about missing the first few minutes of the movie.

RELATED: Hollywood's Favorite Michigan Filming Location Revealed

How to Plan Your Arrival

A movie theater packed with people with the lights still partially up as previews and commercials play before the film.
Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash
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Of course, I like the trailers too, but if you're wondering when they play the good ones, those limited to theaters only, you'll want to get there 7 to 10 minutes before the "start time." Enjoy the extra few minutes to refill the pop you polished off during the first 15 to 20 minutes of previews, advertisements for M&M's, and reminders to turn off your cell phone.

The 100 Snobbiest Cities in Michigan in 2025: Complete Countdown

WARNING: The following countdown requires a sense of humor. I asked ChatGPT to use US Census data, including median household income, the percentage of college degree holders, median home value, the percentage of residents working in management, population density, and more, to determine the 100 Snobbiest Cities in Michigan. Here's the countdown to #1:

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

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