Hate spending $20 at the movies, only to sit through 20 minutes of previews?

One top state lawmaker does, too. Connecticut Senate President Martin Looney wants theaters to tell you exactly when films start.

His proposal is gaining national attention, but theaters are warning that it could threaten their very survival.

When you go to the movies, a 7:30 start time can actually be much later – because of all the ads and previews.

“A lot of times, it’s 20 minutes before the movie starts, and that’s a long time to be sitting there,” said Andy Lubitz, of Brewster, NY “I always felt it kind of odd to go to the movies and watch a whole bunch of commercials. You have no choice but to sit there.”

Looney’s bill would require movies to start exactly at the advertised time. Theaters could face up to $1,000 fines for each violation.

“It’s a matter of truth in advertising and fairness to the public and providing inaccurate public information,” Looney said. “I heard from one couple who said that they wound up having to pay for their babysitter more by being delayed getting home. They hadn’t factored in the time for the promos. Another couple said they lost their dinner reservation.”

Many moviegoers support Looney’s bill.

“Sometimes I have enjoyed the previews, but sometimes it’s kind of boring,” said Mark Damoth, of Ridgefield.

Customers may like the idea, but movie theaters told state lawmakers on Wednesday that advertising true start times would be a logistical nightmare.

“If it’s not impossible, it’s near impossible,” said Truman Thompson, the regional manager of Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas. “Because the run time of those trailers changes every single week.”

Independent theaters, like The Prospector in Ridgefield, which employs dozens of people with disabilities, could be hit especially hard.

“The movie industry has not still fully recovered from the pandemic,” said Prospector CEO Ryan Wenke. “We don’t want to give the studios any reason to not play content in the theater. If they think that nobody is watching their trailers anymore, they'll shift to possibly streaming.”

He said the law could also kill vital concession sales.

“We say here, we’re kind of in the popcorn business, not the movie business,” said Wenke. “Because that’s where theaters make their money, at the concession stand.”

The Legislature’s General Law Committee has a March 24 deadline to vote on Looney’s bill. If it takes no action, the proposal is likely dead for the year.

You can submit written testimony HERE.