Movie Theater Etiquette for the Modern Day Audience
Nov 4, 2009 by Paul YoungPeople don’t seem to have a clue about how to behave in a movie theater – fine, we’ll tell you how.
Scenario #3: We’ve all sat in front of Captain Movie Know-It-All and had to sit through his ridiculous ramblings as he brags to all of his friends, at a volume just slightly lower than a jet plane taking off, that he already knows who the killer is, figured out the twist, or thought the comic book version was better, yadda, yadda. I used to be one of those guys – yes, even I am not immune to being the “ass” of the theater by spouting forth my Mentalist-like observations of a film. “Oh man they’re setting it up for the Phoenix!” was my most famous observation made at the end of X2. My friends still rib me to this day about it, and the embarrassing experience forever cured me of being “that guy” in movie theaters.
Still, just because I learned my lesson doesn’t mean other people have learned theirs. Believe it or not, people don’t go to theater to hear your insight on the film, director, writer, actor or so forth. No one cares what YOU think about the budget or special effects, so keep those comments to yourself or at least wait until the film is over and the credits are rolling to make your “observations.”
I understand that there are some times when it is absolutely necessary to talk to the person you are sitting with (to ask a question or make a comment). Maybe you lean over and ask your date if she wants some popcorn, or perhaps you didn’t understand what just happened and you ask your friend to explain. If those things MUST be done then please, do them at the volume of a whisper. Unless you want the entire theater to answer your question or you plan on buying us all popcorn, use your inside voice to communicate. Whispers are annoying but at least they aren’t distracting.
What does all this lead us up to? Common courtesy, folks, that’s it. Just good ol’ fashion common courtesy. We could spend all day talking about what irks us and detracts from our movie viewing pleasure and I hope you leave those remarks in the comments section. I, for one, am really annoyed when someone I don’t know sits in the seat directly next to me in a mostly empty theater. A crowded theater is fine but when there are 7 rows of empty seats all around me, you have no business making me share an arm rest!
Guys have an unwritten bathroom rule: never use the urinal next to another guy if there’s another one free two spaces away. Unless the bathroom is full, of course – in that case it’s eyes front until your business is done. Same rule applies in an empty theater.
If I’ve stopped one cell phone, removed one baby or quieted one loud-talker with this article then I have done the world a favor.
What annoys you during a film and what bad habits do you wish people would nix while watching a film?
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I hate hate hate when people sit next to me when there are plenty of available seats. When I saw Rush Hour 3, a group of about 15 ROTC military teens/college kids sat directly next to me. Split up. You all dont have to sit next to each other. Reassemble after the movie.
Another time, I saw The Dark Knight during opening weekend. I’m sitting 4 seats away from a dad and little junior that has running commentary and questions during the entire movie. Hey Dad? It’s ok to tell little junior to shush. No, really it is.
People with babies need to just get a dang babysitter. How hard is that?
I generally go during the very early morning when I’m either there by myself or sharing a theater with senior citizens.
When I went and saw the new Transformers movie, there was a man and his son who was probably about 5. Through the WHOLE movie the little boy was saying “it’s Bumblebee! it’s Bumblebee!” like everytime Bumblebee appeared on the screen. The first time, it was cute, by the 5th time it was annoying. And then towards the end of the movie in a really intense part where I was about start sobbing I was so into it, that little boy goes “is he dead Dad? Is he dead?” I felt like picking up my bag and hurling it at him!
Nowhere Man, I like your style!
For the few of you who mention how you sat in a theatre for an entire movie while some brat kicked your seat, or whoever that joker was whose friend took calls during the movie–you are more crazydriving to me than the idiots at the movies. I mean, you TOLERATE that crap. By doing so, you enable them.
No one has mentioned overpowering cologne or perfume. That’s something I really don’t want to deal with.
I went to see Frequency on my own. It came out in 2000, so cell phones were popular but not universal like they are now. Someeone received a call and actually *took it* rather than (what I would do) embarrassingly slink out to the side and talk outside the doors. But it was a dumb montage that had no audio, and I was not incredibly annoyed.
As the movie concludes, timelines and plotlines converge. It’s a rather complex culmination. But sometime near the beginning of the end sequence, this chick gets ANOTHER call. She takes it and stays in her seat, talking loudly-right?-to be heard over the movie. I was alone, so no moral support, but I turned and shouted, Hang up! I gave her about 10 seconds and I said it very loudly and insistently–it was no request, it was a command–HANG IT UP! She did, and I thought I got some non-verbal signs from others that they were grateful (sighs, murmurs). I felt incredible pride in myself for speaking up, but the adrenaline, my heartbeat, and the psychic energy it took to do that, consumed my mind for over a minute. By the time I settled down and really “heard” what was on the screen, the elements had come together and I could only know on superficial level, what had happened.
Other than that, I’ve not had too many bad experiences. I’ll have to remember the flashlight(s) trick!
@ Azza
Dude, get a job at Manchester’s AMC, you’ll have your work cut out. Bunch of ignorant teenagers go there who talk all the way through. Went to see fourth kind t’other week, people were talking and laughing, phones going off etc. Boiled my blood. If you want to talk go to a mates house, or your local street corner, or a playing field. Not in a Movie theatre. Went to see Ice Age 3D at the same theatre. People sat behind us talking at the beginning, you think they’ll shut up once the film starts rolling. Do they heck, they carry on, then they start pegging sweets and popcorn at people, (and me) sat in front of them. Talking on the phone, basically – not watching the film. Seems they like to pay a premium to deliberately sit in the theatre and annoy everyone. Why waste your money? Anyway, I go to the Odeon mostly, the extra 70 pence you pay usually scare most of the little scroats away and you generally have a hassle free screening. AND it has an IMAX – roll in Dec 16th, and Avatar. Bought my ticket yesterday, so stoked!
@Sylar, I hope you’ve watched that movie again later when you can really concentrate on it, it’s a great movie.
The worst experience ever was some guy laughs out really really loud when
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Rorschach was killed by Doctor Manhattan in Watchmen, he totally screwed up the shock.
The next worst thing would be someone constantly kicking the back of your couch
Last one would be complaining about how the last audience made a mess on the floor, seconds later your gf drops the whole pile of popcorn on your lap
I rarely ever go to opening shows, as I hate sitting right by someone I don’t know, but Terminator 4 was a movie my brother wanted to go to. We arrived early and happened to get great seats all together (5 of us). There was a reason why…an overweight native sat next to us and he had the worst body odor imaginable. Every time he reached for his popcorn a wave of stench drifted over us. There was even people complaining about the smell three rows back. It was the worst movie experience ever. I just wish I reported it and got my money back.
My pet peeve is when parents bring their kids but don’t sit with them. I went to Transformers and this little kid sat directly in front of me while his father sat at the front. The child was continuously moving and flailing his arms about, so I started to kick his seat. Each time he did it I kicked harder, and eventually the brat moved and sat with his dad.
Might have missed it, but couldn’t see that anyone has mentioned the UK’s ‘Mark Kermode/Simon Mayo Film Review’. Their weekly show/podcast, sometimes called ‘Wittertainment’ published a ‘Code of Conduct’ earlier this year raising many of the same points. Poster is here:
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Have to say I just listened to your podcast and felt such immense sympathy for you guys. This year alone I have also suffered from 127 Hours beng ruined by a first date couple 2 rows back talking and flirting endlessly, Tinker Tailer being ruined by a persistent rustling of carrier bags to reach massive bag of crisps that then proceed to be rustled for 15 minutes and X-Men First Class being ruined by mobile phones to the side of me endlessly lighting up as texts are noticed/responded to. SO annoying!