showtimes.com
Although movie theaters have taken a big hit in recent years, it is too early to declare them extinct. Something about going to the movies has become ingrained in the cultural DNA of many countries, including the United States. It is a beloved pastime for many people and I don't think it will ever become obsolete.
So if you're thinking of going to the movies any time soon, I highly recommend checking out one of the theaters in your area. And, really, who can beat sitting in a dark theater, with friends or family around you, and watching a movie that you've missed for months or even years?
The streaming services have had an immense impact on the movie theater industry as a whole, but it will never be able to fully take it over. Not only are they excellent for watching movies, but cinemas are also highly popular for activities like dating. Considering how many first dates have taken place in movie theaters since they were invented, this power of the cinema is immense.
I think it would be a great idea to go see a movie by yourselves. You don't have to come up with interesting topics of conversation, it puts the two of you in a dark room for a few hours, and it automatically gives you something to talk about after the movie ends. It is really quite perfect.
Even though people are not going to be going to the movie theater for a while (at least until we find ways to get a handle on the current COVID-19 pandemic), I don't think streaming services will ever fully decimate the cinema. In fact, as soon as the quarantines are lifted, I wouldn't be surprised if movie theaters saw a huge spike in sales from everyone being so eager to get out of the house.
When the day finally arrives that you need to find out when movies are playing at the theater, it will be much harder than it should be. I have often thought about how helpful it would be if there was a dependable website that let me figure out where and when I could go catch a flick. Plus, if this website also offered reviews, trailers, and entertainment news articles, it would be perfect.
I was extremely grateful when I discovered the site, Show Times. It's not affiliated with the network, Showtime, but is instead focused on helping people find out what playing times all the best movies are in theaters near them. Plus, the site will help you stay up-to-date on all of the hottest upcoming movies and reviews as well as ratings and availability on DVD and Blu Ray. Additionally, I can trust Show Times to let me know how a movie is doing at the box office.
Show Times provides trailers, credit information, and entertainment news to keep users up-to-date on the latest in film and entertainment. If you are looking for a site that can provide everything you need to stay informed about new movies and celebrities, Show Times might be the perfect choice for you.
Design
Overall, I found Show Times to be unimpressive. It's a fairly simple website with easy navigation, but it doesn't have much of an aesthetic or design focus.
I don't like the way Show Time is put together. It's cluttered and there isn't enough space to let the information breathe. I personally don't like sites that are too packed, and this one is. It creates confusion and an overall effect of chaos.
At the top of the page, there are a carousel of new DVD and Blu Ray titles. These do not span the entire length of the page and cut off abruptly at a very awkward place. Furthermore, why would you put DVD releases at the very top of the site? This is not like people are really buying many DVDs these days anyway. Below that, you will find a box of new and upcoming releases which is wedged between a few highlighted news stories and a list of trailers. There does not appear to be any rhyme or reason for the format of this site.
That being said, it is important to note that Show Times website is far from the worst-designed I have ever seen. They could have done much better, but, then again, they also could have done much, much worse.
Content
Show Times offers information on new and upcoming movie releases. They also have trailers, news articles, showing times of movies currently in theaters, links to reviews sites, and plenty of sweepstakes and promotions. Some sections on the site suffer from trying to do too many things, but overall this site is a reliable source of showtimes.
As far as the news section is concerned, I feel that it is the thinnest component of the site. Stories are not being added as frequently as they should be, and the articles themselves are less in-depth than I would like. Show Times seems to include about 2 or 3 stories each day, making it in my opinion more of an entertainment blog than a proper entertainment news section.
Desktop and Mobile Experience
The site is pretty similar whether you access it on your computer or your smartphone. Neither version is better than the other, but the desktop version has a better menu bar and appears to be more optimized for mobile.
There is currently no Show Times app available for the site. I think that this site could greatly benefit from one, given the nature of much of its content (movie showtimes and news). Sure, any site can benefit from the streamlining an app provides, but given the fact that movie times are often accessed on the go, I think that this site could especially benefit from an app - movie times are often accessed on the go, right?
Pricing and Plans
The site is free to use, with no paywalls or content limitations. However, ads are always a little bit annoying. I would prefer Show Times to offer a premium version of the site which could be ad-free. This could come with some sort of promotional discounts to certain movie theaters as well. This could end up funding a sleek app too. There we have it - problem solved!
Suggestions that I have for Show Times
It is my opinion that Show Times should undergo a redesign in order to make themselves more successful as an entertainment news source and to attract a broader commercial audience. An app would be a great way to start this process, and a premium version of the site could amplify this effect.