Cinema chain Pathé tests 15-minute intermissions as films grow longer

Pathé is experimenting with 15-minute intermissions during long films, testing whether moviegoers want a break after years of screening films without pauses, the Dutch cinema chain said.

A Pathé spokesperson confirmed the pilot to ANP following reporting by De Telegraaf, saying visitors have responded positively to the brief interruption. The trial initially ran in several theaters, including locations in The Hague, and has since been expanded to eight additional cinemas.

“The results of this pilot help us determine whether and how we continue with pauses during films,” the spokesperson said.

Pathé said market research shows audiences are “roughly evenly divided in their preference for having or not having a break.”

The cinema chain stopped screening films with intermissions in the early 2000s, based on the belief that uninterrupted viewing best serves the film’s narrative.

“At the same time, we observe that films have become increasingly longer in recent years, which has increased the demand for a break, particularly for long titles,” the spokesperson said.