If busy movie theaters overwhelm your child, Minneapolis has gentler options. Below are 4 places offering sensory-friendly movie screenings, many with relaxed theater rules and lights left up and staff who take their time. We list exactly what each one provides so the visit holds no surprises.
Mall of America, Bloomington, MN 55425
Parent tip: Rent a sensory backpack at the desk, and check showtimes for the sensory-friendly screenings specifically.
Participating AMC Theatres locations in Minneapolis — see official schedule
Parent tip: Use the official page to find a participating AMC near you and confirm the title and showtime — films rotate each month.
Participating Regal Cinemas locations in Minneapolis — see official schedule
Parent tip: Search your local Regal on the My Way Matinee page — participating theaters and dates vary by market.
Participating Cinemark locations in Minneapolis — see official schedule
Parent tip: Availability varies by theater — check your nearest Cinemark's page or call to confirm the sensory-friendly showtime.
Sensory-friendly showtimes are scheduled, so timing is everything: AMC runs them on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays (plus Wednesday evenings), Cinemark typically on the first Saturday morning, and Regal at select My Way Matinees. Because the exact film and time rotate and not every location participates, always open the chain's schedule and confirm your specific theater before you go. Arriving a few minutes early to pick seats near an exit can make leaving for a break easier.
It's a regular movie shown with the lights left up and the sound turned down, in a relaxed setting where guests are free to move, talk, sing, or step out and come back. Trailers are often skipped so the film starts right at showtime. The format is designed so families who find a standard dark, loud theater overwhelming can still enjoy a movie together.
The three largest U.S. chains all run a version: AMC's Sensory Friendly Films, Regal's My Way Matinee, and Cinemark's sensory-friendly showtimes. Each runs on its own schedule and at participating locations only, so use the official links on each listing to find the nearest theater and confirm the date and title.
No — they're priced as a standard (usually matinee) ticket. There's no premium for the relaxed format. Pricing and any membership discounts work the same as a normal showing at that theater.
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