RunPee App Helps Moviegoers Time Restroom Breaks

The app tells viewers when a film pauses for a bathroom break and recently gained roughly 7,000 new users.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Documentary

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of an empty cinema seat in a warm-lit aisle beside a dark folded device, with a pale round shape above the armrest suggesting timing. — RunPee, a free app, tells moviegoers when a film pauses for a restroom break, and it gained roughly 7,000 new users around the premiere of 'You Can See Everything.' *AI Illustration.* Upload story photo >

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Do you think movies have gotten too long for comfortable viewing?

RunPee tells moviegoers the best moment to take a restroom break during a film, selecting three to four-minute scenes viewers can choose from. The app gained roughly 7,000 new users around the premiere of 'You Can See Everything.'

Why it matters

Long runtimes, such as a three-hour documentary, can leave viewers with the choice of missing parts of a film or sitting through an urgent need. RunPee offers a way to step out without missing plot points, and it has grown to over 250,000 monthly users.

RunPee reports over 250,000 monthly users, and the app selects three to four-minute scenes for viewers to choose from. The gain of roughly 7,000 new users around one premiere is the only growth figure provided, with no baseline for comparison.

The players

RunPee

A movie break-timing app that identifies scenes viewers can step out for during films.

Dan Gardner

The creator of RunPee who came up with the concept after watching 'King Kong' in 2005.

The details

RunPee lets users look up a movie before it starts and view staff-selected 'Peetimes' that mark when to step out. Creator Dan Gardner conceived the idea in 2005 after watching 'King Kong' and officially launched the app in 2008.

2005: Dan Gardner conceived RunPee after watching 'King Kong.'
2008: Gardner officially launched the RunPee app.
2009: RunPee began gaining traction a year after launch.

Market Landscape

RunPee was launched in 2008 as a niche tool for moviegoers facing long runtimes. Its growth to more than 250,000 monthly users reflects continued demand for ways to manage lengthy films in theaters and at home.

RunPee lets viewers plan a restroom break around specific scenes without leaving a film's plot unclear. The app is available to anyone who wants to check break timing before a showing.

The takeaway

Checking break timing before a long film can help viewers avoid missing key scenes. Planning a short pause around staff-selected Peetimes is a practical step for longer documentaries.