Yeah, I agree, free seating is much better (especially if you tend to get in early). And unless it's the first week and the screening is packed, why bother? (I say this as someone who almost never gets round to going in the first week!)

Even the machines at the cinema I went to the other week now let you pick the exact seats. I don't go very often but I'm sure this is new and they didn't do it last time we went.

I find it odd, although occasionally I've been tripped up when it turns out there *wasn't* a full thirty minutes of adverts and trailers! It can be a useful gap if you're relying on public transport to get to the cinema, but I find it very tedious these days. And how you can *still* be late I don't know! Although I did go to see something a while ago and a bunch of kids came in late and then left a bit later. Apparently some people just like going around to see what film suits them best? Very odd and very inconsiderate tbh, but I suppose it might explain why they're late if they started off in another screening.