Illinois Moviegoers Say This Theater Chain Is Way Better Than AMC

Following last week's news that AMC Theatres is adding one more commercial to its already bloated preroll before a movie starts, I tripped on this nugget.

Rockford Moviegoers Sound Off on AMC Alternatives

After the story came out, most of the Rockford area sounded off on what theaters they check out instead of spending their money at AMC locations. The theater group that came up quite often was Classic Cinemas, which has nearby spots in both Freeport and Beloit.

READ MORE: Movie Fans in Illinois Might Hate AMC’s New Pre‑Show Change

What Classic Cinemas Does Differently (and Better)

So, as I was checking into these theaters, I realized that what makes the experience so different and apparently better than AMC is the little things Classic Cinemas does better. Just spending a few minutes looking at the Special Offers section of their website reveals a couple of cool and interesting things, like:

• Classic Rewards: A FREE membership program where you get rewards for purchases you're making and earn points toward tickets and concessions.
• My First Movie: Tell the staff it's your child's first flick, and they will make it a special occasion.

Classic Cinemas also offers discounts on Tuesdays and refills for drinks and popcorn. The one thing that kind of blew me away, though, was their biggest Special Offer:

Whether there are too many explosions or not enough, whatever the reason, if you want or need to leave within 30 minutes of the start of your movie, we're happy to refund your admission.

Why Doesn’t Every Theater Do This?

I'm sorry. Say what now? You're telling me that if the movie essentially sucks and you want to walk out, Classic Cinemas will refund your money? I can't begin to tell you how many awful movies I sat through because I wanted to get my money's worth. If I had bought my ticket at Classic Cinema, I'd be set.

READ MORE: Rockford IL Called One of America’s Worst Cities for Movie Lovers

But What About the Popcorn?

What are your thoughts on the popcorn at Classic Cinemas? I legitimately go to AMC because I love their popcorn.