+1
Beyond obnoxious.

Bingo. You need to like, or at the very least, root for a character.

V lock

Between trailers and ads, I saw one of the funniest parts of a movie twenty times before seeing the movie. That killed it. A punch line doesn't work without punch. So I avoid everything, including posters and reviews. Friends know not to talk to me about movies I haven't seen.

Modern trailers are horrible. After revealing most of the movie, they pile on another minute or two. Really, what's the point, other than how desperate studios are? Look for The Shining trailer (the original, but also watch the excellent, three act parody trailer), a thirty second dolly shot, with no characters, while the announcer lists the genre and director's name.

The best way to pick a movie is with a trusted recommendation. I was ready to eject the DVD during the opening shaky cam and staccato editing of 21 Grams. Luckily, a friend recommended it. Result: I saw a great movie I would have missed.

Short of that, consult http://www.rottentomatoes.com. Keep in mind, the rating is the percentage of positive reviews, not a rating scale.

During trailers, I wait in the lobby. Ask theatre staff how long. Last night, I was told eight minutes, so I entered as the studio logo started playing. Everything about the movie was fresh.

Come on Minu.
Read the rules before you start flinging accusations.

In theory, it's not a lottery. You should win based on the content of your essay, not a random number drawing. So your odds are what you want to make them.
Speaking of odds, what are the odds 3500 people will enter.
The bigger question is, do you really want to operate a theatre?