diff --git a/source/common/cutscenes/movieplayer.cpp b/source/common/cutscenes/movieplayer.cpp
index e2e2ec24c..8ea3967c5 100644
--- a/source/common/cutscenes/movieplayer.cpp
+++ b/source/common/cutscenes/movieplayer.cpp
@@ -797,7 +797,9 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(_MoviePlayer, Create)
 DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(_MoviePlayer, Start)
 {
 	PARAM_SELF_STRUCT_PROLOGUE(MoviePlayer);
+	I_FreezeTime(true);
 	self->Start();
+	I_FreezeTime(false);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/source/common/cutscenes/screenjob.cpp b/source/common/cutscenes/screenjob.cpp
index e53bd84f0..9175a6f62 100644
--- a/source/common/cutscenes/screenjob.cpp
+++ b/source/common/cutscenes/screenjob.cpp
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ PClass* runnerclass;
 PType* runnerclasstype;
 CompletionFunc completion;
 static int ticks;
-int intermissiondelay;
 
 //=============================================================================
 //
@@ -287,6 +286,7 @@ bool ScreenJobValidate()
 			VMValue parm[] = { runner };
 			VMReturn ret(&res);
 			VMCall(func, parm, 1, &ret, 1);
+			I_ResetFrameTime();
 			return res;
 		}
 	}
@@ -315,8 +315,6 @@ bool StartCutscene(CutsceneDef& cs, int flags, const CompletionFunc& completion_
 				runner = nullptr;
 				return false;
 			}
-			if (flags & SJ_DELAY) intermissiondelay = 10;	// need to wait a bit at the start to let the timer catch up.
-			else intermissiondelay = 0;
 			if (sysCallbacks.StartCutscene) sysCallbacks.StartCutscene(flags & SJ_BLOCKUI);
 		}
 		catch (...)
diff --git a/source/common/cutscenes/screenjob.h b/source/common/cutscenes/screenjob.h
index eaf6a10a9..92cb766e8 100644
--- a/source/common/cutscenes/screenjob.h
+++ b/source/common/cutscenes/screenjob.h
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ void Job_Init();
 enum
 {
 	SJ_BLOCKUI = 1,
-	SJ_DELAY = 2,
 };
 
 struct CutsceneDef
@@ -51,7 +50,6 @@ DObject* CreateRunner(bool clearbefore = true);
 void AddGenericVideo(DObject* runner, const FString& fn, int soundid, int fps);
 
 
-extern int intermissiondelay;
 extern DObject* runner;
 extern PClass* runnerclass;
 extern PType* runnerclasstype;
diff --git a/source/common/engine/gamestate.h b/source/common/engine/gamestate.h
index edea03a69..5f674a33b 100644
--- a/source/common/engine/gamestate.h
+++ b/source/common/engine/gamestate.h
@@ -26,4 +26,3 @@ enum gamestate_t : int
 
 
 extern	gamestate_t 	gamestate;
-extern int intermissiondelay;
diff --git a/source/common/utility/i_time.cpp b/source/common/utility/i_time.cpp
index 61f7baecb..0a7179660 100644
--- a/source/common/utility/i_time.cpp
+++ b/source/common/utility/i_time.cpp
@@ -195,9 +195,16 @@ void I_FreezeTime(bool frozen)
 	else
 	{
 		assert(FreezeTime != 0);
-		FirstFrameStartTime += GetClockTimeNS() - FreezeTime;
+		if (FirstFrameStartTime != 0) FirstFrameStartTime += GetClockTimeNS() - FreezeTime;
 		FreezeTime = 0;
 		I_SetFrameTime();
 	}
 }
 
+void I_ResetFrameTime()
+{
+	// Reset the starting point of the current frame to now. For use after lengthy operations that should not result in tic accumulation.
+	auto ft = CurrentFrameStartTime;
+	I_SetFrameTime();
+	FirstFrameStartTime += (CurrentFrameStartTime - ft);
+}
diff --git a/source/common/utility/i_time.h b/source/common/utility/i_time.h
index 4c63515ac..8b4eff05c 100644
--- a/source/common/utility/i_time.h
+++ b/source/common/utility/i_time.h
@@ -38,3 +38,6 @@ uint64_t I_msTimeFS();
 
 // Nanosecond-accurate time
 uint64_t I_nsTime();
+
+// Reset the timer after a lengthy operation
+void I_ResetFrameTime();
diff --git a/source/core/mainloop.cpp b/source/core/mainloop.cpp
index 24e1c65fd..3db1e65fe 100644
--- a/source/core/mainloop.cpp
+++ b/source/core/mainloop.cpp
@@ -372,11 +372,6 @@ static void GameTicker()
 		break;
 	case GS_CUTSCENE:
 	case GS_INTRO:
-		if (intermissiondelay > 0)
-		{
-			intermissiondelay--;
-			break;
-		}
 		if (ScreenJobTick())
 		{
 			// synchronize termination with the playsim.
@@ -421,7 +416,7 @@ void Display()
 	case GS_INTRO:
 	case GS_CUTSCENE:
 		// screen jobs are not bound by the game ticker so they need to be ticked in the display loop.
-		if (intermissiondelay <= 0) ScreenJobDraw();
+		ScreenJobDraw();
 		break;
 
 	case GS_LEVEL:
diff --git a/source/core/screenjob.cpp b/source/core/screenjob.cpp
index d90e29f29..dff5b473d 100644
--- a/source/core/screenjob.cpp
+++ b/source/core/screenjob.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ void Local_Job_Init()
 //
 //=============================================================================
 
-void CallCreateMapFunction(const char* qname, DObject* runner, MapRecord* map)
+static void CallCreateMapFunction(const char* qname, DObject* runner, MapRecord* map)
 {
 	auto func = LookupFunction(qname);
 	if (func->Proto->ArgumentTypes.Size() == 1) return CallCreateFunction(qname, runner);	// accept functions without map parameter as well here.
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ void PlayLogos(gameaction_t complete_ga, gameaction_t def_ga, bool stopmusic)
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		if (!StartCutscene(globalCutscenes.Intro, SJ_BLOCKUI|SJ_DELAY, [=](bool) { 
+		if (!StartCutscene(globalCutscenes.Intro, SJ_BLOCKUI, [=](bool) { 
 			gameaction = complete_ga; 
 			})) gameaction = def_ga;
 	}