1. Let the first show begin
Your cinema begins at 10 a.m. with one auditorium, three staff and a house classic booked for all three daily slots. Press 1× to open the doors. The first screening starts at noon; the next two start at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
A screening lasts three hours. Ticket and concession sales are collected when the show begins. The audience stays seated until the end, then ushers clean the empty auditorium.
2. Programme a reason to come back
The Last Lighthouse is permanently licensed. Other films require an upfront fee for seven days plus a percentage of ticket revenue. License a film in Films, then choose it for a specific screen and showtime in Programme.
Paid licenses eventually expire, so renew them or switch back to the house classic. Repeating one film across several screens dilutes demand. Weekends, reputation, marketing and your ticket price also affect attendance.
3. Keep the popcorn counter running
Every combo uses one popcorn and one soda. Stock orders arrive in four game hours. A missing ingredient prevents combo sales, and a shortage at a busy showing can lower satisfaction.
Each box-office attendant admits up to 115 guests per showtime. Each concession server handles up to 85 combos. Add staff as audience demand grows, and keep ushers available to clean between screenings.
4. Expand after the first screen works
Open up to four auditoriums. Each has seating and sound upgrades, plus projector condition and cleanliness. Construction and improvements need cash; room upgrades require an empty auditorium.
Fixed costs are charged at midnight. Accounts shows operating profit after royalties, consumed snacks and daily expenses. Equipment, licenses and supply orders also affect your cash balance. Keep a reserve before opening the next screen.
5. Build a neighborhood landmark
Screen all six genres, improve reputation and welcome 12,000 moviegoers to finish the six campaign chapters. Claim each reward in Goals. Experience from screenings unlocks projects such as online booking and wholesale concessions.
The campaign closes after three consecutive negative daily cash balances. Sandbox removes forced closure and offers optional extra funding. Both modes save in your browser; export a backup through Cinema menu to move devices. There is no offline simulation.
Check the foundations.
- All scheduled films have an active license.
- Popcorn and soda can cover the next showtime.
- Ticket and concession staff can handle the crowd.
- Cash covers supplies and the next midnight’s costs.
Your next move is in the game.
Put the guide to work in Cinema Tycoon.