The film opens nationwide in the US on 250 screens in 30 major cities, on this day in 1987.

Let's talk about it.

I went with my late-friend Steve Carter (who was a navy buddy and a friend until he died a couple of years ago) to a theater on the Black side of Philadelphia. I had never been to a movie in a Black neighborhood. I was the only white boy in there (yes, Steve was Black), and got an earful on screen and with people around me. For a green little 19 year old kid from Oklahoma, it was an experience I'll never forget. We laughed about that for years after.

I remember someone coming out of the theater and said, "Prince dies at the end!" to all of us in line. We knew he was joking. It was cold that day, but so worth the effort.

Okay, your turn.

I went to see this film at The Cameo in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Cameo was (and still is) a small arthouse type cinema.
I can't remember the year '88-'89, maybe even '90?

I went with my older sister.
I remember it was great to see it on the big screen, but if I'm honest that's all I remember.

I don't thin we got it in the theatres here in Holland (because we got the tour) back in '88 but I saw the brand new 2K print in Utrecht in 2017 that had a limited theatre run of it, was awesome!

I saw it in Chicago with my best friend who was a minor Prince fan. We saw it the day it came out. People were INTO it! Dancing and cheering like a live concert. The people next to us shared a joint with us...lol. My friend became a major fan after that (still is!). SO fun. One of my fave Prince memories.

I though it would do better commercially than it did after that experience. Oh well.

I never got to see this in the theater. When it was released, I was still living in the American South, and I don't think it was anywhere near me. I certainly never saw a newpaper ad, or a TV commercial.

.

I didn't see it until a few years ago, when I plopped down some serious coin for the awesome Japanese Blu-Ray. Man, what an experience! I watch it two or three times a year.

JorisE73 said:

I don't thin we got it in the theatres here in Holland (because we got the tour) back in '88 but I saw the brand new 2K print in Utrecht in 2017 that had a limited theatre run of it, was awesome!

SOTT movie wasn't released widely in The Netherlands, but it had a cinema run for sure when it was released. I know because I went to see it with some friends. Don't remember if it was in Leiden or The Hague?

I remember hoping people would dance in the isles, just like it happened in the USA during Purple Rain. I read about that in magazines and thought it would be cool if that would happen in The Netherlands too, now that Prince had become a huge star? Unfortunately there weren't a lot of visitors, maybe 10 or 15, and there was no dancing vibe. But still I loved it, it was amazing to see Prince on the silver screen with booming music from the cinema's sound system!

I was fortunate enough to see it once on the big screen in 1987. I had planned on seeing it multiple times, but before I could go back for seconds and more... it was gone from theaters.

Didn't see it again on the big sreen untill April of 2022. Drove all the way to the other side of Denver, because that was the only theater showing it. Totally worth it!!!

JorisE73 said:

GiggityGoo said:

I never got to see this in the theater. When it was released, I was still living in the American South, and I don't think it was anywhere near me. I certainly never saw a newpaper ad, or a TV commercial.

.

I didn't see it until a few years ago, when I plopped down some serious coin for the awesome Japanese Blu-Ray. Man, what an experience! I watch it two or three times a year.

It didn't show in any theater near me either in 1987. I finally got it on DVD all the way from Canada several years ago.

I saw it opening weekend in Atlanta with my college sweetheart, we had a great time! I would love to see it again in a nice dolby atmos theater.

[Edited 11/22/23 11:39am]

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

Saw it for first time in the cinema last year. Ruined by idiots singing along badly. But i saw it many times on video first. it pains me seeing talking heads stop making sense get so much attention and critical raves when it was re released recently. i mean, thats a good concert movie, but SOTT kills it. better performances, better musicians, better choreography, better furry hats, better crystal balls... [Edited 11/23/23 0:45am]

I am not sure, I really like Stop Making Sense. SOTT is marred by the Paisley Park close ups that were added later, and the noticable lipsynching ruins the experience quite a bit for me.

I saw it in a mostly empty theatre but I had a great time.When Prince launched into "Housequake",I wanted to stand up and start dancing in the aisle it's such a fantastic concert film! That's truly his best band,imo.

funkaholic1972 said:

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

Saw it for first time in the cinema last year. Ruined by idiots singing along badly. But i saw it many times on video first. it pains me seeing talking heads stop making sense get so much attention and critical raves when it was re released recently. i mean, thats a good concert movie, but SOTT kills it. better performances, better musicians, better choreography, better furry hats, better crystal balls... [Edited 11/23/23 0:45am]

I am not sure, I really like Stop Making Sense. SOTT is marred by the Paisley Park close ups that were added later, and the noticable lipsynching ruins the experience quite a bit for me.

Co-sign.