The Four Reasons To Bring Back Intermissions

Have you ever reached the point during a movie where your beverage is empty, your eyes are strained, and your seat is starting to feel much less comfortable than when you first sat down? If so, you are not alone. In 2023, “Killers of the Flower Moon” was released with a whopping 207-minute run time, leaving many moviegoers with a difficult decision: run to the restroom and miss an important part of the plot or risk disaster? To alleviate some of the stress of a three-hour movie, some theaters implemented an intermission against the filmmaker’s and distributor’s will. For example, The Lyric, an independent theater in Colorado, advertised an 8-minute intermission for the film but was forced to stop after being contacted by Paramount and Apple Original Films. For The Lyric, this was an unwelcome overreach by the studios, but for the director, Martin Scorsese, adding an intermission was an insult to his film. “People say it’s three hours, but come on, you can sit in front of the TV and watch something for five hours,” Scorsese stated, backed up by the film’s editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, confirming it was a violation of contract as the theaters were not playing the movie as intended. While intermissions have been a heavily debated topic in industry and audience discussions for quite some time, the industry seems to be at an impasse with neither side relenting and no changes being made.

To set the stage, a brief history of the intermission is needed. The earliest recorded intermission was in ancient Greece for live performances. Intermissions started as a way for stage actors to change costumes, for the backstage crew to change sets, and to give the audience a much-needed respite from the dramatic scene unfolding before them. Intermissions became standard in almost every form of visual entertainment for centuries, only to be removed from the cinematic experience.

Filmmakers must come to terms with the facts; longer movies deter audiences from seeing the film in theaters, creating a false narrative that the film is not worth seeing due to low box office numbers.  For movies that are over two and a half hours long, an intermission can bring in some of the audience members who are deterred by the long run time. Even director Alexander Payne stated he was fatigued by all the lengthy films during the Middleburg Film Festival, stating, “You want your movie to be as short as possible. There are too many damn long movies these days.”

For the audience, an obvious perk of an intermission is the chance to stretch their legs and run to the restroom. It also allows the audience to mingle and talk about the film.  If the film is left on a cliffhanger before an intermission, communication with other audience members can enhance the cinematic experience, building excitement for the final part. This communication can bring back some of the lost showmanship of the film industry, creating more of a communal event rather than a solitary experience with the sole intent of viewing the film.

Intermissions can be beneficial to all parties, not just audience members. Intermissions could allow patrons to buy more snacks and beverages, bolstering concessions sales. According to an article by CNBC, while more than half of the profits from ticket sales go to the studios for film rental, theaters have around an  80% profit margin made from concession sales. Another opportunity is selling the film’s merchandise during the intermission, which has been long practiced in live performances and has been proven to be successful.

Advertising can be another great source of revenue, especially during an intermission. Even a 6-minute intermission can lead to more advertising screen time, increasing revenue for the theaters or even the studios.

While intermissions may seem like a great idea to some audience members, others have spoken out against the idea. A common argument is that the films are already long, so adding an intermission would take even more time out of their day, which could lead to audience loss. In response to the surge of moviegoers requesting intermissions for “Killers of the Flower Moon” X user Bria Celest stated, “Hot take: If you’re a grown adult, you should be able to sit for 3.5 hours without needing an intermission. Plan ahead.” Filmmakers take the lead in the fight against intermissions, stating the interruption of their artistic vision as the main concern. Pausing the film can take away some of the plot’s momentum, risking loss of interest if an intermission is not timed correctly. Also, many live performances build their script around an intermission, while movies do not. In order for a film to incorporate an intermission, a screenwriter may have to change the entire structure of their screenplay. Major theater chains are also against intermissions as it would reduce the number of showings they could fit in during a day, reducing income which likely would not be made up by concession sales. Senior analyst for Exhibitor Relations, Jeff Bock says, “From working in and around theaters, I can tell you that the majority of people buy their snacks at the beginning and they’re done. Asking them to get up midway would be the reversal of how we ingest concessions.”

Adding intermissions to films wouldn’t be introducing a risky new idea to the film industry, it would be reintroducing a forgotten standard practice. While intermissions are unlikely to be reinstated, for the weak-bladdered, restless members of our society, we can only hold out hope for the day that the filmmakers and distributors relent in artistic control and major theater chains see a profitable reason to change their schedules.. As always, please reach out to us at Clark Film Buying/Off the Break if you have insight into the topic of intermissions. We would love to hear your thoughts!