English for the Cinema: Tickets, Snacks and Showtimes
Five sentences carry most cinema visits in English: What time does it start? Two tickets for the 7:30 showing, please. A large popcorn and a medium soda, please. Where's screen 3? Can I exchange these tickets? A cinema trip is a short line of polite requests, and each stop has its own phrases.
Below: showtimes, tickets and seats, the snack bar, finding your screen, common problems, film words, and two short dialogues. Level: A2 to B1.
Showtimes and tickets
Start with the time, because every other question depends on it.
| Question | What it asks |
|---|---|
| What time does it start? | The start time of the next showing |
| How many showings are there today? | All the times for one film |
| Is it dubbed or subtitled? | Voices replaced, or original language on screen |
| Do you have student tickets? | A cheaper price for students |
| Are there assigned seats? | Whether you choose a seat number |
| Can I book online and collect at the counter? | Buying ahead, picking up in person |
Useful answers are It's sold out, Only the front row is left and The next showing is at nine. A quiet afternoon showing is a matinee. Booking ahead follows the same frames as making an appointment: name what you want, name a time, and confirm.
Choosing seats and ticket types
Once you have a time, say who is going and where you would like to sit.
| What to say | What it means |
|---|---|
| I'd like two seats in the middle, please. | Best view, away from the walls |
| Is the front row too close? | Asking for advice before you pay |
| One adult and one child, please. | Two different ticket prices |
| Could we have aisle seats? | Easier to leave without disturbing people |
| Can we sit together? | Checking that the seats are not split up |
An aisle seat is next to the walkway; the front row is closest to the screen and the back row furthest away. In some cinemas seats are numbered, and in others you sit where you like, so ask Is it free seating?
At the snack bar
Snack bar English is mostly sizes and polite requests. Say the size, the item, and please.
| You | Staff |
|---|---|
| A large popcorn and a medium soda, please. | Do you want butter on the popcorn? |
| Yes, please. Is there a combo deal? | Yes, popcorn, soda and candy for twelve dollars. |
| Then I'll take the combo. Can I get a refill? | Free refills on large drinks. |
| Perfect. A bag of candy as well, please. | Anything else? That's fourteen fifty. |
Sizes are small, medium and large. Prices vary, so the useful questions are How much is the large one? and Do you have anything without butter? The shopping phrases cover paying and checking your change.
Inside the screen
In British English a screen is one room in a cinema; in American English it is an auditorium. Signs and tickets show a number, so ask Where's screen 3?
| Question | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Is this seat taken? | Someone's coat is on the chair |
| Where are the restrooms? | Before the film starts |
| What's the rating? | Checking the age limit for children |
| Is there an intermission? | Long films sometimes have a break |
| Could you turn your phone off? | Asked politely if a screen is too bright |
Keep requests short and soft: Would you mind turning your phone off? sounds friendlier than Turn off your phone! Save your comments about the film for afterwards, when you leave the room.
When something goes wrong
A cinema problem has a short, clear report and a polite request.
- The ticket machine isn't working. Is there another one?
- I booked the wrong showing. Could I exchange these tickets?
- Can I get a refund? We missed the first ten minutes.
- The film stopped halfway and the screen went dark.
- The sound is too loud in screen 2.
- I left my jacket in screen 4. Has anyone handed it in?
Film words to know
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| blockbuster | A film that is very popular and makes a lot of money |
| sequel | A film that continues an earlier story |
| trailer | A short advert for a film coming soon |
| subtitles | Words shown at the bottom of the screen |
| dubbed | Actors' voices replaced by another language |
| rated PG / R | Age guidance for the film |
| matinee | An afternoon showing, often cheaper |
| box office | Where tickets are sold, and a film's sales |
| usher | Staff member who checks tickets at the door |
| advance booking | Buying tickets before the day |
British and American English
| British | American |
|---|---|
| cinema | movie theater |
| film | movie |
| queue | line |
| interval | intermission |
| sweets | candy |
| the pictures | the movies |
Dialogue 1: buying tickets and choosing seats
| You | Box office |
|---|---|
| Hi. What time does the new science fiction film start? | There's a showing at 7:30 and another at 9:15. |
| Two tickets for the 7:30 showing, please. | Are you both adults? |
| One adult and one child, please. Are there assigned seats? | Yes. Where would you like to sit? |
| Two seats in the middle, if you have any. | Row H, seats 8 and 9. |
Dialogue 2: at the snack bar
| You | Staff |
|---|---|
| A large popcorn and a medium soda, please. | Do you want butter on the popcorn? |
| No, thanks. Is there a combo deal? | Yes, with candy for twelve dollars. |
| I'll take that, then. Can I get a refill on the soda? | Yes, free on medium and large. |
Two habits help here: keep requests short, and ask a follow-up question rather than guessing. To talk about the film afterwards, the small talk phrases give easy openers such as What did you think of it? The common mistakes guide covers the small slips that make a short answer sound abrupt.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a cinema and a movie theater?
They are the same building. Cinema is the usual word in Britain, Ireland and Australia; movie theater is the usual word in the United States.
How do I buy two tickets for tonight?
Say Two tickets for the 7:30 showing, please. If you need a child or student price, add One adult and one child, please. Then ask Are there assigned seats? to see whether you can choose where to sit.
What should I say at the snack bar?
Name the size and the item: A large popcorn and a medium soda, please. Ask Is there a combo deal? to save money and Do you want butter on the popcorn? is what the server will ask you. Can I get a refill? is useful for large drinks.
How do I ask about subtitles and dubbing?
Ask Is it dubbed or subtitled? A dubbed film has different voices recorded over the original; a subtitled film keeps the original language and shows the words at the bottom of the screen. Many cinemas list both versions.
What can I say if I booked the wrong showing?
Say I booked the wrong showing. Could I exchange these tickets for the 9 o'clock instead? Exchanges and refunds depend on the cinema, so ask before the film starts and keep your receipt.