Arrived late to a film? How to catch up on the start

18 October 2026

If you arrived late to a film, you have probably missed less than you think. At the UK chains that publish their running order, the time on your ticket is when the adverts start, not the film. Find your seat quietly, work out roughly how far in the film is, and read a short recap of the opening scenes from the first one down to where the film is now.

Have you actually missed the start?

Often you haven’t. Cineworld says its adverts and trailers normally run for 20 to 30 minutes. Picturehouse says 15 to 20 minutes, and Everyman says up to 30. Cineworld and Picturehouse both ask you to be seated by the time on your ticket in case the adverts run short, so a few minutes late usually costs you trailers, not story. Our guide to how long the adverts and trailers run has the detail for each chain.

To judge how far in the film is, take the adverts off how late you are. If you are 25 minutes late and the adverts ran for about 20, the film is only about five minutes in. You can’t know the exact length of the adverts at your screening, so lean early when you are unsure.

Will they still let you in?

Usually, but not always. Picturehouse’s terms say that someone who arrives after the film has started may be refused admission, so as not to disturb the people who arrived on time. Other cinemas set their own rules, so if you are very late, ask a member of staff at the door. Have your ticket ready on your phone or on paper. Our guide on leaving the cinema and coming back in covers what to carry.

Getting to your seat in the dark

Read your seat before you go in. Check the row and seat number in the foyer, where you can see, not at the top of the steps.
Pause inside the door. According to an investigator at the US National Eye Institute, writing in Scientific American, your eyes take 20 to 30 minutes to adapt fully to the dark, though the first part happens within a few minutes. Coming in from a bright foyer, give them a moment before you start down the aisle.
Keep your phone dim and pointed at the floor. A bright screen lights up every face in the row. Our guide to making your phone screen as dim as possible has the settings for iPhone and Android.
Pick your moment to squeeze past. If your seat is in the middle of a full row, wait for a loud scene, or ask staff whether you can sit nearer the aisle. Our guide to the best seat if you might need to step out helps you book a seat that is easier to reach next time.

How do you catch up on the opening?

The opening is where a film tells you who everyone is and what they want, so it is worth a minute to catch up. Asking the person next to you disturbs the row, and a plot summary online usually runs all the way to the ending.

The Bit You Missed is built for this. You pick your film from the list, drag the dial to roughly how far in the film is, and let go. It shows short lines, one per scene, from the first scene to roughly where the film is now, give or take a scene. The log opens at its newest line, so scroll to the top and read down. A line reads like “A sick Triceratops stops the tour and Ellie stays with it.” The log prints no times, the screen stays dark with dim amber text, and the app never uses your camera or microphone.

If a line describes something you haven’t seen yet, tap the line, then Hide. That hides it and everything after it. If you are unsure how far in the film is, set the dial a little early, because a short log costs you nothing. Our guide to catching up without reading the ending explains why.

The app covers a small set of current cinema releases, so check the list for your film. For other ways to catch up, see our main guide to what to do when you’ve missed part of a film.

Should you read before you sit down?

If you can, yes. A minute in the corridor lets you read without lighting up the row, and you walk in knowing who is on screen. If you are already in your seat, keep the phone low and brief. Our guide to using your phone in the cinema without annoying anyone covers what the people behind you see.

Catch up on the start

Arriving late feels worse than it usually is. The adverts often cover the gap, and when they don’t, you can catch up on the opening in a minute. Open the web app, set the dial to where the film is now, and read down from the first scene.

Stepped out mid-film?

Pick your film, drag the dial to roughly how far in you are, and read what you missed. Open the web app