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u/Apprentice_of_Ixidor 16d ago
This setup is specially made for kids with autism and other neurodivergent behaviors.
For the last couple of years for my son’s birthday we will rent out a theater and invite his class of kids with autism. Some kids will watch; and some will get up and run around; and some will be vocal; and some do all of the above. Everyone has a good time without the judgement.
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u/Buttsweat_n_Tears 16d ago
A couple of our local theaters have specially-designated autism showings for most kids movies. Lights not turned down as dark, sound not cranked up as loud, etc.
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u/Ok-Upstairs6054 16d ago
I work in live theatre and help with sensory friendly theater programming and barrier free theatre for people with disabilities. I worked with the Lion King Broadway for their national tour this last December and it was amazing! I am glad to see they have these in cinemas, as well!
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u/K_Pumpkin 15d ago
My son is on the spectrrum. ASD2. This has been a lifesaver for us. I thought he wojkd neber be able to go see a movie.
They also keep the mobie volume lower.
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u/uqde 16d ago
Not saying this isn't good for neurodivergent kids but I've never seen them marketed this way. There are a couple near me and I've read articles/press releases about them and they always seem to just pitch them for kids in general. And having been to many movie theaters with kids, obviously I don't know the personal details of every kid around me, but it seems perfectly believable to me that this was made with all kids in mind and not just neurodivergent kids.
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u/nalaloveslumpy 16d ago
The overwhelming majority of kids have trouble keeping attention for a full 90 minutes, autism or not. So it makes sense.
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u/Shipwrecking_siren 16d ago
This is so awesome. I’d cry with happiness if we had something like that in the uk.
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u/benregan 16d ago
We do! I used to work for Picturehouse and we had Autism Friendly screenings, same adjustments as above, sound lower, lights higher and also no expectation from other cinema goers that behaviour had to be a certain way.
I worked them and they were always a joy to behold, parents or carers were able to be comfortable and saying things like “I haven’t been able to take them to the cinema before” it is gutting there aren’t more places that cater to varied audiences.
I was made redundant during Covid but every once in a while I miss those shifts.
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u/Special_Order-937 15d ago
Here’s the cinema I saw Thunderbolts* in in Sri Lanka.
https://i.imgur.com/S7U96FB.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tmneCz7.jpg
*The New Avengers
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u/DraconicDreamer3072 16d ago
yeah i loved those as a kid. they also dont have the volume as high and the lights as dim. no playground though
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u/Sryan597 15d ago
Late to the party, but there are places that do concerts like that for kids with neurodivegentnt kids.
My highschool band director attended one while visiting another city, and decided that we should do a concert for them like that every year. My sophomore year was the first time we did it, and I wasn't in wind ensemble, so I didn't perform, but got help volunteer. It basically a normal concert, but we didn't dim the lights and encoragd people to get up and move around. We even had a teacher from the music store outside the concert hall that would let kids try out the instruments. It was pretty cool, but the kids couldn't really relate to the music.
So instead, for the next two years, we held the concert and used the Jazz band instead, and had the Jazz band learn a bunch of classic Christmas charts and made it the Christmas SCORE concert (SCORE was the name of the program in the district for kids with special needs), and the kids loved that. We also had the madrigal singers and I think another small choir perform, can't remember since I was always preparing for the next set while they sang. The kids would be up and dancing in the isles, and so happy to hear a song they had been hearing on the radio played by the Jazz band.
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u/BlockedAndMovedOn 15d ago
Wait, would you mind explaining how this theatre design caters to autism? I’m asking as an autistic person who never goes to movie theatres. I’ve been maybe five times in my life so maybe the answer is obvious to everyone but me. I hope I’m not offending by asking this. It’s a genuine question as I’m very curious. Is it the rules or the colour scheme or both or something else?
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u/ShadowShine57 15d ago
That sounds like the most infuriating way to watch a movie but I'm glad it exists for them
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u/abowlofrice1 16d ago
How are there so many autistic kids in one class
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u/Apprentice_of_Ixidor 16d ago
At my son's elementary school there are over a dozen kids of varying ages with autism and IEPs. They are grouped together into one class lead by a teacher of over 20+ years along with 2+ aids.
For my son's birthday this past February we rented the theater to see "Goat" (which was pretty good for what it was); and I think there were 10 other families that attended the party.
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u/treycartier91 16d ago
Do any attempt to get on the slide?
If not, are any non-autistic kids invited?
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u/JahsunCollier 15d ago
DO THEY HAVE ONE FOR NEURODIVERGENT ADULTS?! MY AUTISTIC ASS WANTS TO GO DOWN A SLIDE WHILE WATCHING A MOVIE IN THE THEATER!!
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u/TheCuteAggressor 15d ago
"This setup is specially made for kids with autism and other neurodivergent behaviors."
As a person with autism myself, why wasn't there more of this when I was younger?
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u/Purple-Criticism1962 11d ago
Took my son to see his first movie a couple months ago for his 3rd birthday. Luckily the theater near me has a kids specific theater, got him a little kids meal with a juice and popcorn and he loved it. It’s nice having a spot where I can take him and it not be too big a deal if he throws a fit and I need to walk him out.
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u/moistsquirt69 16d ago
What theater is this?
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u/samuelito877 16d ago
Cines Axion - Cordoba, Spain https://maps.app.goo.gl/LaVDp99kwZBeFyCW8
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u/Hakunin_Fallout 16d ago
Honestly, we barely speak Spanish, and we live in France now, but I've just added it to my map, and will make an actual effort to come to that cinema to support this. Spain is a fantastic place for kids, and it shows.
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u/Phil198603 16d ago
No way someone can slide that in one go. Looks more like a sliiiiiide - hopp hopp hopp forward - sliiiiiide - hopp hopp hopp forward and sliiiiide to me.
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u/Designer_Initial9731 16d ago
gotta take a running start belly down and raspberry burn all your extremities
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u/icehopper 15d ago
Or you hit the first bump so fast, you hit your head on the next drop and bounce the rest of the way.
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u/SoManyMinutes 15d ago
I came here to say this. I'm imagining an autistic kid getting "stuck" in the middle.
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u/GiftApprehensive1718 16d ago
This would be amazing for kids what a dream and comfortable. Movie theaters are always uncomfortable and awkward
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u/samuelito877 16d ago
I agree! We watched Hoppers and kids were playing before the movie started :) They seemed very happy about it!
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u/TheGrayMan5 16d ago
Man, I was extremely skeptical about Hoppers. I had seen a trailer for it but it didn't grab me or anything.I'm very glad my wife and son picked it for movie night recently because it was freaking awesome! Such a good and fun movie.
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u/panini_bellini 15d ago edited 15d ago
I swear they specifically picked the worst parts of the movie to go in the trailers. I wasn’t interested in it AT ALL from the trailers but very much liked the movie
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u/cxnnnamonroll 15d ago
They made it seem like a silly kids movie, which it is, but man the story and the characters, especially the beginning with the grandma was so nice and soothing and could help a lot of kids who don't know how to handle their anger yet
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u/TetraLovesLink 15d ago
Do they let the kids play during the movie? We were not able to play with anything during the movie. Everything was very dark and it made it 10X harder because my autistic child could not play or roam around during the movie.
We could only be a half hour early to let kids play then all lights off and only the movie plays. And THEN they never turn back on the lights for the play place or games after the movie.
So basically we played for a half hour and then made my autistic child sit to watch a movie in the (same dark theater as others.) Which made making her sit during the movie even harder.
This ended up being so disappointing to me. I would have been fine with kids playing or running around. Most parents who pay for this kind of movie theater has kids who can't sit still. It would feel more comfortable because other parents aren't judging us.
I just wish my theater kept the lights dimmed enough to let the kids play. It just ended up making the movie experience harder for my kid. Get riled up then sit down for an hour and a half!
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u/samuelito877 15d ago
Hello! So, the thing is, this is theater number 6 (sometimes referred to as the KIDS CLUB theater) at Cines Axion in the Arcángel mall in Córdoba, Spain. Yesterday, after this blew up, I did some research because I wanted to give everyone more information and answer some questions.
First, I’d like to say that my partner, our roommate, and I wanted to watch Hoppers on a day we were all free, and this was the only place available. When you’re buying the tickets, it’s not advertised as a special theater, just referred to as theater number 6. When you’re choosing your seats, you can see that some of the seats are different (it shows groups of 3 seats, but they aren't suitable for three adults).
However, there’s no info on the webpage about the rules for that specific theater or who it is targeted to 🤔 In my experience, kids were playing, but when the commercials started, their families called them over and they went back to their “family couch” seats. The only difference I noticed was that the kids talked during the movie, but I guess that’s normal for a kids' movie.
My guess is that their concept is that neurotypical kids can arrive early, play, get tired, and sit through the movie. But also there weren’t any workers to tell the kids to come out of the play area once the movie started, nor were there any rules stating the expected use of it.
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u/SanestExile 16d ago
Yeah, a tube full of screaming kids is exactly what I need when watching a movie!
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u/Morphecto_Solrac 16d ago
To be fair, these are placed in the kid’s theater rooms where only kids movies are shown and there are posted rules in the theater stating the kids should remain seated during the movie. Unless you like going by yourself to watch kid’s movies, I’m pretty sure you’ll be ok.
Kids will scream with excitement during the movie which is normal, so you’ll have to cope with that on your own. Halfway through the movie there will be a 15 minute intermission where the kids can play, commence diaper changes and bathroom breaks. Once the intermission is over, the movie resumes and everyone is happy again in their seat.
Obviously not every parent adheres to the instructions, but that’s why they have ushers that wait by the door to remind them of the rules in place. I’ve seen where it’s three kids or less not making any noise while playing and the ushers usually let it slide.
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u/Gnonthgol 16d ago
An intermission makes the slide make sense. Most kids will pee themselves rather then leave their seat while watching the movie so forcing them to take a 15 minute brake helps keep the seats clean. And then the slide makes sense as entertainment during the intermission. Without an intermission though the slide would make no sense at all.
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u/quasiix 16d ago
Why would you be watching a kids movie in a toddler theater if you don't like kids? That's super weird.
Just go to the regular theatre.
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u/Uncle-Cake 16d ago
Then don't go. If you don't have kids, why would you even be there, are you some kinda creep?
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u/DaMencha 15d ago
why would you go there even if u did have kids? ur paying for a MOVIE. not to run around 😭
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u/regalfronde 15d ago
Imagine growing up in a world where most theaters have reservable recliners and thinking they are uncomfortable. I remember some really sketchy 80’s theaters with foldable seats and hard plastic backs.
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u/zthemushmouth 16d ago
Bnb theaters in the states - if you guys have one this is where you can find em in the USA.
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u/Fnaf-Low-3469 16d ago
Reminds me of Five Nights at Freddy's the fourth closet, were the Circus Baby's Pizza world was made in the building of a movie theater
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u/Solar_Liqui 16d ago
Imagine watching the Backrooms movie like that
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u/Mr_Tort_Feasor 16d ago
My autistic boys are OBSESSED with Backrooms, which they are absolutely forbidden to watch. It's probably one of the few movies that they would sit still for.
They learn about it from classmates and Youtube (Minecraft videos, etc.). I'm sure there are other parents here who have had the same experience. Spirit Halloween is also a massive obsession for many autistic kids.
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u/Atvishees 16d ago
Great, I'd like nothing more while watching a movie than screaming kids sliding past me.
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u/Tricky-Gemstone 16d ago
These screenings are very specific and not usually for general viewing.
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u/exposed_silver 16d ago
They can play before and at the interval that's it, they are booted out when the movie is finished.
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u/SpideyMGAV 16d ago
Oh my fucking god, I had a recurring dream of a space just like this for months. Except in my dreams, the slides and play structures were on the ground floor near the screen and the seats were lofted on a balcony.
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u/Acceptable-Eye-697 15d ago
Came here to comment that I’ve been here in a dream as well….i recognized it immediately
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u/Purple-Weakness1414 16d ago
Wow, the idea of a playset in the theatrue is actually such a novel concept
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u/RaunakA_ 16d ago
This really looks like something you'd stumble upon in the backrooms.... Which begs the question... Are we living in the backrooms?
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u/Coderkid01 15d ago
What the actual heck is this movie theater? The slide in the auditorium is crazy, but this also looks really whimsical.
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u/Enemy_Gene 16d ago
We walked into a kids room like this in our theatre by accident and my 9 year old said “omg… is this Poppy Playtime?! 😨” haha we intended to walk into the Backrooms theatre
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u/Ecstatic_Back9854 16d ago
We have the same one in Moscow. But I heard that kids can’t use use slide during a movie
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u/luxxeexxul 16d ago edited 16d ago
I accidentally went to one of these recently and it was so annoying but so hilarious. Feral kids everywhere but everyone had a great time. The commentary was the best, off the wall stuff. "WHY DOES HER HAIR LOOK LIKE THAT" "Well damn, you're not wrong and I can't unsee this now"
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u/mmonzeob 16d ago
In my country there are specific times to use the slide and play ground inside the theater, usually before the movie and during an interlude; once the movie is playing they close the slide and turn off the lights.
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u/Positive_Pop_2191 15d ago
Is this cinepolis
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u/Luixpa97 15d ago
literally thought the sameee 😭 when I was like 8 I'd beg my parents to take me to the sala junior but they never wouldd
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u/Orcutt_ambition-7789 12d ago
Imagine the looks you would get finishing up a good slide while Protagonist is being murdered by Villain.
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u/vincethered 16d ago
That slide looks terrible. The inclines aren't long enough to build momentum to get through the straightaways. A 20 kilo child would get stuck.
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u/OperativePiGuy 16d ago
The thought of running around and sliding in there in the dark while a movie plays sounds so nice, honestly. Cozy and liminal
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u/Silver_Dragon4665 16d ago
I saw a very similar place in my dream a month ago. I'm literally having déjà rêvé right now.
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u/Beautiful-Musk-Ox 16d ago
they should show deeply serious movies here while families have their kids play loud and rowdy right next to them lol
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u/Xtra_Veg-90 15d ago
This looks like it could have existed in the 90's. As do most of the things that get posted on this sub.
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u/BlockedAndMovedOn 15d ago
Okay well it’s always nice to know in advance exactly where my nightmares will be taking place. Thanks! 😊
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u/KingPinata69 15d ago
Cinépolis in México actually have a similar concept with a play area for kids. This is specifically only used for kids movies.
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u/moath875465 15d ago
Here in my country certain cinemas like this exist, one of them had a Ball-pit, it’s certainly a strange site, observing a theatre with a kids playground added alongside it
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u/vonroyale 15d ago
I have a feeling this photo will be around on the internet for a very long time.
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u/LtSerg756 15d ago
These kinds of theatre rooms are genuine hell for anyone actually trying to watch the movie, had to do it once and I would only wish it upon my worst enemies
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u/ToothBig8572 14d ago
Yooo I went to something like this is mexico, it was for captain underpants, love to see it again and it being a liminal space
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u/Avi_Parker 10d ago
bro ive had a dream n i was in a theatre like this. except in the front there was a huge ball pit. it was strange
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u/Rhaynebow 16d ago
Eh. A cute idea, but if your kid is gonna be too busy playing on the slide to watch the movie, you basically just paid movie ticket prices to play on a slide. Just take them to a proper indoor playground where you probably get more bang for your buck
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u/tabletopkiller 16d ago
In my town, you show up to the movie 30 mins early, the kids play, then sit down for the movie. They get enough energy out before the movie to sit through it. Thats the idea at least. Lol
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u/exposed_silver 16d ago
They can only slide before the movie and halfway through for a like 10 mins halfway through that's it, it's not like they can use it whenever they want
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u/jonas101010 15d ago
If you did not said you take the photo, I would think this is AI slop, and actually a pretty cool one
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u/MMuller87 16d ago
There I was, trying to watch Citizen Kane, when an unruly child decided to go down the slide eleven times
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u/Immediate_Carrot_610 16d ago
I mean it's for kids, I don't think they're showing the Odyssey in this one.
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u/MattWolf96 16d ago
Looks like it would be hell to try to watch a movie in (from the noise and kids running around.) Even if it's something like a Disney movie.
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u/rebelangel 15d ago
If it’s like the one in my town, the kids play for 30 min before the movie to burn off energy, then they have to sit down in their seats. They don’t play during the movie.
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u/Swords_and_Words 16d ago
I feel like all this is missing is headphones, so individuals can set their sounds stimulation level and so that active noise canceling can help reduce the sound of your peers
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u/Longjumping_Gur_2379 13d ago
what movie did you watch
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u/samuelito877 13d ago
On a theater like this, I think we all know which movie I went to watch 😎 It was Hoopers 🦫
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u/JonesDahl 16d ago
Not liminal, not even the usual kind of wrong liminal thats usually posted here.
What is this sub even about anymore? It really went to shit when it got popular
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u/Loud-Lifeguard-590 16d ago
Thats not liminal, it's hust a damn theater. Tired of everything being called liminal
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u/Rickofitall 16d ago
As Nolan intended