AMC Streets of Woodfield 20 — Attraction in Schaumburg Township

I normally don't like to write negative reviews, but our experience today was completely unacceptable. We purchased tickets for the 12:45 IMAX viewing of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. We entered the theater at about 12:15 and it was PITCH dark, as if a movie was being shown, but there were no pre-movie promos playing or anything on the screen for that matter. This was not only annoying but potentially dangerous. We didn't think much of it until 12:45 came and went with no movie or previews. We waited a full half hour, still in the dark AND after a few other patrons attempted to locate a manager, for a staff member to enter the theater and inform us of technical problems. The staff member informed us that they were attempting to "reboot" the IMAX system. Another patron asked for a manager and the staff member, in a very rude and defensive tone, told us that the manager was busy rebooting the system. Another patron asked why we weren't informed of technical difficulties closer to 12:45 and the staff member couldn't give an answer. We were then given vouchers for a free movie ticket and were given the option to leave and get a refund or wait for the projector to reboot. About 10 minutes later the same staff member returned and informed us that they were unable to get the projector to work and the movie was cancelled. Other patrons continued to ask why a manager never came to talk to us and why the lights were turned off the entire time, but the staff member again could not give us answers. We were instructed to go to guest services for refunds and we were allowed to keep our vouchers as well (the only reason this review has 2 stars instead of 1) We stood in line for over half an hour to get our refund with a single staff member handling refunds. It was clear at that point that the theater was understaffed which obviously led to the poor communication regarding the technical issues and the long wait for refunds. From the technical difficulties, to the communication between staff and patrons, to the refunds, all of this could have been handled so much better. Next time I go to an IMAX film, it'll be at Golf Mill...

"Today, we had a very bad and embarrassing experience. My wife, daughter, and I decided to go to the movies. After the movie ended, my daughter asked me to buy her a collectible cup, so we returned to the theater. While I was buying the popcorn, my wife and daughter went back to the bathroom. Just as they were about to reach the bathroom, they were intercepted by the theater employees, who demanded their movie tickets to allow them to use the restroom, but we had already thrown them away. The way the employees escorted them was very rude and embarrassing,one of them was Molly as if they had been caught stealing or doing something wrong. When we met at the door, I accompanied them back inside so my daughter, who is 8 years old and needed to use the bathroom. We live 40 minutes away from the theater, and she couldn’t wait that long. When I spoke to the person at the door and they saw the items I had bought, they said it was okay for them to use the bathroom. Do you really need to check tickets for people to re-enter the bathroom? It seems ridiculous and extremely rude.

Once they were inside the bathroom, a woman named Molly told them they couldn’t be there and called security, even though the other staff had already said it was okay. Molly scared my daughter so much that she cried in fear, as she was extremely rude, the aggressive way in which she approached them scared my daughter a lot, demanding they leave the building because they didn’t have the tickets, which we had already thrown away after leaving. When my wife was leaving, she told Molly that she had been very rude, to which Molly mockingly replied, 'Yes, yes, bye, have a nice day,' repeating it at least three times. I believe the employees need to be more respectful, and the aggressive way Molly spoke to them is something I do not appreciate. I demand to speak to the general manager, and I want this matter to be seriously addressed. I don’t want this to be left as it is." I dont have the receipt or the tickets but I do have the receipt for the items that I bought...

My afternoon movie experience at the theater screening was nothing short of a disaster, thanks to a family of six who seemed determined to make sure nobody else enjoyed the film. From start to finish, their disruptive behavior cast a shadow over what should have been an enjoyable outing.

The family's disregard for basic cinema etiquette was appalling. Their children treated the theater like a playground, climbing over chairs and creating chaos. Meanwhile, the parents seemed more interested in capturing every moment on their phones, oblivious to the annoyance they were causing to those around them. Flash photography during a movie screening should be strictly prohibited, yet it went unchecked.

To make matters worse, the family maintained a constant stream of chatter throughout the entire film, rendering it nearly impossible to focus on the storyline. Despite numerous glares and polite requests from other patrons, they remained oblivious or indifferent to the disturbance they were causing.

Incredibly, when I approached a member of the staff to address the issue, the response was shockingly dismissive. The staff member's lackluster acknowledgment of my concerns, followed by a complete failure to take any action, was utterly disappointing. It's disheartening to see such apathy from theater management towards ensuring a pleasant experience for paying customers.

The sad truth is, incidents like this serve as a stark reminder of why many people, myself included, have opted to avoid theaters altogether. With the convenience of streaming services, the comfort of home theaters, and the absence of disruptive patrons, it's becoming increasingly difficult to justify subjecting oneself to the frustrations of a movie theater environment.

If this theater hopes to retain any semblance of credibility and attract loyal patrons, it's imperative that they address these issues with more urgency and enforce stricter policies against disruptive behavior. Otherwise, they risk driving away what little remaining audience...