Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for movie theatres.
A checklist built from how movie theatres work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Screens and show schedule
- Ticketing across counter, kiosk and online
- Film bookings and distributor settlement
- Concession stock and sales
- Private hire and seat holds
- Equipment servicing log
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For owners
- For managers
- For box office staff
- For the snack counter
- For projection and engineering
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Takings by film, screen and show
- Attendance and occupancy by day
- Distributor return per film
- Snack sales and stock movement
- Private hires and holds
- Offers used and their takings
- Equipment service dates due
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- SMS
- Payment gateway
- Ticket scanners
- Accounting export
- Messaging apps
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Can the box office, kiosks and website share one seat map?
- How are show clashes avoided?
- Can film terms be held for each booking?
- Does it prepare distributor returns?
- Can combos draw down stock?
- How do private hires work?
- Can staff shifts follow the show times?
- Is there a ticket scanner link?
- What is the cost?
- How do our records leave if we move on?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- Ticket and till counts disagree
- Distributor returns take a night
- Concession stock runs out unseen
- Holds and private hires live on paper
- Equipment is serviced when it fails
Prefer to talk it through? See the movie theatres page.