Going to the cinema is always a nice way of entertainment. The young and old like watching their favorite films on the large screens while eating tasty popcorn and drinking soda. However, cinema lovers are very often forced to wait in long queues because this kind of leisure is so popular.
Digital technologies have come to the rescue. Nowadays, the cinema industry provides their customers with handy assistants – cinema apps. They are convenient helpers enabling people to find information about movies along with schedules and the seats available. Moreover, cinema apps are a tool that makes the process of booking and purchasing tickets much more comfortable than ever before. Today’s article describes UI screens and features that are common for cinema applications.
Profile screen
Nowadays, every app aims at making the user experience more personalized and individual, the reason why a profile is an essential part of any kind of application. As for cinema apps, profiles are tools that help users book and buy tickets with a few taps. What’s more, if a cinema contributes a loyalty program, it’s easier to follow customers’ activities because everything is marked in the profile.
A profile should contain only the necessary info. Otherwise, the screen may look too complex. When a user creates their profile, a cinema app usually asks for the user’s name, email, location, and preferences in cinematography. Since ticket purchase is one of the major features, it may be good to add an option for credit card data. This way, users will be able to make a convenient and fast purchase. In addition, by gathering and analyzing data about users’ tastes and locations, an app can inform people about interesting movie premieres nearby.
Home screen
Home screen is a base for any type of digital product that’s why it’s also known as the main page. It is a starting point where users begin their journey within a product. The content of home screens varies depending on the type of app.
The main screen of cinema applications usually includes movie posters followed by captions with the name to show users what is on today. Films can be presented as a list or a feed so that users can quickly scan them and make their choice. The posters should be clickable and lead to the next screen with the schedule and movie info.
Also, the UI of a home screen needs to provide the search field. People who have already chosen a film will be able to type a name and quickly find what they want. It may be a good idea to add some filters, such as film genres, to make the search process more pleasant.
Movie details screen
A poster and name can’t give a proper explanation of a movie plot. That’s why a cinema app needs to provide the movie details so that users would know what they choose.
UI design for a movie details screen is simple. It consists of a high-resolution poster, the name of a film, and a short text description. Mobile typography should be chosen properly so that the text would be legible and pleasant to users’ eyes.
In addition, some cinema apps show the rating of a movie. It can be IMDb ratings or assessments given by users who already watched a film. This way people can see how popular a movie is and decide if they want to watch it.
One more additional feature is bookmarking. Users can fill out their personal wish list or a list of favorites and go back to the selected movies later.
Player screen
It is known that video content is perceived better than copy that’s why it’s always a good idea to include movie trailers in the movie info.
The video player allows users to watch various trailers right in the app. A player can be a part of a movie details screen as well as an app can have a separate screen with a list of movie trailers. This feature is not a key for cinema apps. Still, there are many of them which have already included it.
Schedule screen
A schedule is a vital part of the information which users receive from cinema apps. Designers should pay deep attention to its presentation as it needs to be compact and easy to find.
The schedule usually relates to one certain movie and shows the time when different film showings start. The time is often presented as a button so that users could tap or click it to continue their journey on booking or buying tickets.
Choosing seats
When the movie and the time are chosen, people need to see where they can sit. There are two types of UI for the seat choice screen – the list and visual representation of a cinema hall.
A list includes two main options to choose from – a row and a number of a seat. The list is a light variant that doesn’t take much time to create, and the UI looks nice on various devices, even with small screens.
Today, UI with the visual representation of a cinema hall gains more and more popularity. This type allows users to see exactly where the seats are located and make a proper choice. However, designers have to concentrate on the details while creating the visual representation of a cinema hall for UI. Seats should be big enough so that users could easily tap the right one on the first try. Moreover, it’s vital to make sure a visual cinema hall looks good on different screens.
Purchase screen
The opportunity to buy tickets earlier and choose the best seats is one of the biggest profits which users receive from cinema apps. Designers’ big task is to make the purchase process comfortable and secure.
The checkout screen usually includes a form where a buyer fills in specific personal data such as the name and number of the credit card. As we said above, if users of a cinema app have their personal profiles, personal information can be taken from there automatically.
In addition, it’s vital to make sure people feel that their personal data is secure. Marks of security can be presented via visuals, including callouts in a copy as well as some icons of the famous brands that gave their approval or maybe even some certificate signs if there are such.
Tickets
Tickets are the documents which confirm the payment and allow entering a cinema hall. Some apps send digital tickets to the email so that users can download them on a smartphone or print them to show at the entrance. However, some cinema applications reduce the number of actions. When a user buys a ticket, it is automatically saved in their personal account, and all they need to do is to activate an app right before going into the cinema hall.
Tickets can be presented via custom illustrations which adds originality to an app. Also, if a client wants something more minimalistic, tickets can be represented with simple QR codes.
Map screen
Only small towns have a single movie theatre in the area. There are several cinemas from one company around cities, so the map feature seems important here. If users set their location while creating a personal profile, an app can automatically choose the nearest cinema.
Watching films at home can’t be compared with the feelings of watching them on the big screen. It means that the cinema industry is unlikely to lose its popularity anytime soon. Digital technology should help to improve cinema services so that more people would become loyal visitors. Cinema apps are effective tools for both the cinema industry and its clients. Designers need to learn how to make these tools user-friendly and maybe even improve them with their creative solutions. Stay tuned!
Recommended reading
Mobile UI Design: 15 Basic Types of Screens
Mobile App Design: Big Guide into Types of Mobile Applications
UI for Movies. Collection of Cinema App Designs
Web Design: 16 Basic Types of Web Pages
The Anatomy of a Web Page: 14 Basic Elements
UI/UX Design Glossary. Navigation Elements
Mobile App Branding: Tips, Strategies, and Examples
