You’ve booked a film for 7:30pm, rushed to the cinema and settled into your seat. But instead of the opening scene, you’re watching another 20 minutes of adverts and trailers.
Sound familiar?
At many UK cinemas, the advertised screening time isn’t when the film itself begins. Major chains commonly schedule around 15 to 30 minutes of adverts and trailers beforehand.
The timing varies by cinema, though, and some venues work differently. At BFI Southbank, for example, films are scheduled to begin at the advertised time.
Use our calculator below to estimate the start time, then check our cinema-by-cinema guide for the exceptions worth knowing.
Calculator
Cinema Advert Time Calculator
Find out when your film is likely to start, based on the cinema's published advert and trailer timings.
Estimated film start
Your film is likely to begin between 7:45pm and 7:55pm.Odeon guidance: Typically 15–25 minutes, and it can be considerably less. ODEON Kids adverts are shorter, and ODEON Events often have none.
An estimate from published guidance, see Odeon's guidance (checked 25 October 2026). Not a guaranteed start time. Special screenings can differ, see when there are fewer adverts.
Know the advertised finish time?
Some booking pages show a finish time. Enter it with the film's runtime to see how much time the schedule allows before the film.
Enter a runtime and a finish time to see the implied allowance.
How long are adverts at UK cinemas?
Here is what each cinema says in its own published guidance. We checked every source on 25 October 2026.
| Cinema | Typical adverts and trailers | Important exception |
|---|---|---|
| Odeon | Typically 15–25 minutes, and it can be considerably less | ODEON Kids adverts are shorter, and ODEON Events often have none |
| Vue | Usually around 20–25 minutes | Estimated finish times in the booking journey include adverts, trailers and the film |
| Cineworld | Normally 20–30 minutes | Asks you to be seated at the advertised time in case adverts run shorter |
| Picturehouse | Usually 15–20 minutes | Screen Arts events have reduced or no pre-show adverts |
| Everyman | Around 25 minutes, and up to 30 | Advises arriving no later than 20 minutes after the advertised time; special events vary from 15 to 40 minutes |
| BFI Southbank | Film scheduled for the advertised time | About 5 minutes of adverts and trailers may play before the advertised time |
| BFI IMAX | Around 15 minutes from the advertised time | Separate from BFI Southbank; latecomers may not be admitted |
| Genesis Cinema | Roughly 20 minutes | Some special events have no adverts and start at the advertised time |
These figures describe a normal screening. They are guidance rather than a contractual guarantee, and every chain says the length can vary from one performance to the next.
How long are adverts at Odeon?
Odeon says its adverts and trailers typically last 15–25 minutes, but this varies with each performance and can be considerably less. It recommends arriving in time to enter the screen at the scheduled start.
ODEON Kids screenings have shorter adverts. For ODEON Events, arrive at the advertised time, as there often aren’t any adverts at all.
How long are adverts at Vue?
Vue says the start time on its website and app includes adverts and trailers, and the main feature usually begins around 20 to 25 minutes later.
Vue is also the one chain we found that explains its finish times. Where the booking journey shows an estimated finish time, it includes the adverts, trailers and film runtime.
How long are adverts at Cineworld?
Cineworld says adverts and trailers normally last 20–30 minutes before the film begins. It still recommends being seated at the advertised time, in case the adverts are unexpectedly shorter.
Event cinema, such as live broadcasts, and special formats can run to a different schedule, so check the listing for those.
How long are adverts at Picturehouse?
Picturehouse says its adverts and trailers vary but usually last 15 to 20 minutes, and recommends arriving for the advertised start time.
Its Screen Arts events, such as opera, ballet and theatre broadcasts, have reduced or no pre-show adverts and introductions.
How long are adverts at Everyman?
Everyman’s help centre says it typically shows around 25 minutes of adverts and trailers, so the film usually begins about 25 minutes after the advertised time. To be safe, it recommends arriving no later than 20 minutes after the advertised time.
Its general FAQ puts the upper limit at up to 30 minutes. For special events it can be anything from 15 to 40 minutes, so treat the 25-minute figure as approximate.
Do films start on time at BFI Southbank?
Yes. This is the most important exception in London. BFI Southbank says films start at the advertised time. It might show a few adverts and trailers for about five minutes before that time.
So if your ticket says 6:10pm, the film is scheduled to start at 6:10pm. If you’re running late, BFI Southbank reserves the right not to admit you.
How long are adverts at BFI IMAX?
BFI IMAX at Waterloo works differently from BFI Southbank, even though both are run by the BFI. BFI IMAX says it shows adverts and trailers for around 15 minutes from the advertised start time.
Its venue rules also warn that latecomers may not be admitted, or may be directed to other seats. Don’t apply this figure to other IMAX screens, since each chain sets its own schedule.
How long are adverts at Genesis Cinema?
The independent Genesis Cinema in Mile End says in its FAQ that its pre-film programme of adverts and trailers is roughly 20 minutes long. Some special events have no adverts or trailers, so those films start at the advertised time.
What about Curzon, Barbican and other London cinemas?
We haven’t included these in the calculator because we couldn’t find an official, current advert duration for them:
- Curzon: no chain-wide published advert duration.
- Barbican: no published duration for its cinema programme, so check the screening page or ask the box office.
- The Light: no published chain-wide duration.
- Prince Charles Cinema: there are reports of shorter pre-show periods, but no official figure. Its FAQ does say there are no admissions 25 minutes after the advertised time.
If any of them publish official timings, we’ll add them.
Can you arrive 20 minutes late to the cinema?
At many major UK cinemas, the film often starts around 15 to 30 minutes after the advertised screening time. That means arriving 20 minutes late might still leave you time to catch the beginning.
But it’s not guaranteed.
Some cinemas have shorter pre-show programmes, and certain special screenings have no adverts at all. BFI Southbank is a particularly important exception, as films are scheduled to begin at the advertised time.
Late entry can also be restricted. BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX reserve the right to refuse latecomers, and the Prince Charles Cinema stops admitting people 25 minutes after the advertised time. If missing the opening scene would spoil the experience, the safest option is to arrive by the time printed on your ticket.
Does the advertised cinema finish time include adverts?
Sometimes, and that gives you a useful clue. If a booking page shows a finish time, subtract the start time and the film’s runtime. Whatever is left is the time the schedule allows for the pre-show.
For example, a 19:30 screening of a 120-minute film with a 21:55 finish time leaves 25 minutes: 19:30 plus 25 minutes of adverts and trailers, then two hours of film.
Vue confirms its estimated finish times include adverts, trailers and the runtime. We haven’t found an equivalent policy from other chains, and rounding, intervals or other scheduling factors can affect the result. Treat the number as a hint, not proof. The “Know the advertised finish time?” option in the calculator does the maths for you.
When are there fewer or no cinema adverts?
The calculator is meant for regular feature-film screenings. These often run to a different schedule:
- Live broadcasts and other event cinema, such as theatre, opera and concerts
- Picturehouse Screen Arts screenings
- Film festivals and special presentations, including premieres, Q&As and introductions
- Kids’ screenings, such as ODEON Kids, where adverts are shorter
- Some independent cinema screenings, and venues with their own house rules
Not every one of these is advert-free. Everyman, for example, says special events can have 15 to 40 minutes of pre-show material. Check the listing, and arrive at the advertised time if in doubt.
Frequently asked questions
How long are cinema adverts in the UK?
Typically around 15 to 30 minutes at the major chains, according to their own guidance. Odeon and Picturehouse publish the shortest windows, and Cineworld and Everyman the longest, at up to 30 minutes. Times vary by screening.
Do cinema adverts start at the advertised screening time?
At the major chains, usually yes: the advertised time is when the pre-show begins. BFI Southbank is a notable exception, as the film itself is scheduled for the advertised time.
Can I skip cinema adverts?
You can choose to arrive later, but you risk missing the start if the adverts run short. Some cinemas also restrict late entry.
Does the film runtime include adverts?
The published runtime generally refers to the film itself, not the adverts and trailers beforehand. Add the pre-show time to work out roughly when you’ll leave.
Does the cinema finish time include trailers?
It depends on the cinema. Vue says its estimated finish times include adverts and trailers. Other chains don’t publish an equivalent policy.
Are cinema trailers counted as adverts?
In this guide and calculator, the pre-show allowance covers both commercial adverts and film trailers, because that’s how the cinemas describe it.
Do IMAX screenings have adverts?
Some do. BFI IMAX says it shows adverts and trailers for around 15 minutes. IMAX screens in other chains follow that chain’s own schedule.
Which London cinemas start films on time?
BFI Southbank is the one major London venue that publishes a policy of starting films at the advertised time. Don’t assume every independent cinema works the same way.
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