Goin’ Rogue: New Star Wars Movie Shows How Times Are Changing at the Theater

RICHARDSON — In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new Star Wars movie coming out.

The release date for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is tomorrow, which means tonight’s the night for a midnight showing.  Of course, midnight showings start at 7pm or so these days.  But hey, it’s midnight somewhere, even if that somewhere’s in a galaxy far, far away, right?

As “midnight” showtimes creep earlier and earlier, and assigned seating takes away the need for waiting in line, the “new Star Wars” experience has changed a lot!

“There was something about lining up that was really fun,” said James Wallace, programmer, and jack-of-all-trades at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas. “You would make all these new friends because you’re in line with a bunch of other Star Wars nerds.”

But Wallace says not all the changes are for the worse.

“We’re lucky enough now to have a  Star Wars movie every year in December, and we’re going all out just like we did last year,” Wallace said. “Costumed characters, droids, stormtroopers, Darth Vader… We’re kind of going for this beach theme with Rogue One because of the big beach battle sequence, so we’re having fun with that.”

All the fun of a big nerd party without having to spend an entire day sitting in a theater lobby?  Sounds like a win!

And speaking of new things being good… Wallace works for the theater, so he’s seen the movie!

“It’s… Oh, it’s so good.  It’s so good,” he told NewsFix. “I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it.”

Us regular folks will be able to see it for ourselves, starting at midnight (or, you know, 7 pm) tonight.