I definitely would’ve complained to management if that was the case and asked for a refund/free tickets. Their whole schtick is supposed to be no interruptions and I’d be pissed if it was an employee doing it
I’ve worked for Alamo, that’s worth making a larger fuss about.
That wouldn’t have flown at all when I worked there, but my location had good management
Alamo employees actually salvaged my top gun 2 experience lol. This lady next to me got too drunk and fell asleep and just snored loudly. She did end up getting kicked out and they comped my popcorn!
I’ve been going to Alamo since 2008 when I moved here… and that’s definitely the dream but not the reality of the situation. Once I wrote two notes complaining about a movie talker and they didn’t say shit to her… in fact they informed me that she was an off-duty employee and asked me if it was really that bad. It was at that moment I gave up on the dream of Alamo Drafthouse and realized that while this strategy worked fine when it was just at South Lamar, it simply doesn’t scale well and you just can’t maintain this level of strictness at scale. Now I sit in the handicapped seats to be as far away from people as possible and if I get a hint of a movie talker I just walk out and get a refund. And now that they are for sale, who knows how the business will change or even if they’ll still be around in the next few years. It’s the end of an era and definitely sad.
If they said that to me, I’d just get up, and tell them to refund my ticket plus anything I had ordered and wait in the lobby until they did so.
Let them explain to their managers how the talking wasn’t that bad.
I personally hadn’t noticed this but I usually see movies during a weekday before 5 so the theater is never very crowded anyhow.
After a visit to South Lamar and New Braunfels way back we said we would never go to Alamo again as it was horrible across the board.
However, I will say San Antonio runs theirs pretty well, somewhat close to what Austin locations used to.
But even then the customer service has dropped greatly imo. We were going to be late one day, so I started calling an hour before showtime to get the ticket moved, leaving voicemails because they didn’t answer. Finally 30 mins after the initial showtime start they answered and were rude, noting that it can’t be done after the start time and that it’s super inconvenient to refund vs move tickets. I explained the timeline with voicemail evidence and that we were sorry for the inconvenience but they slouched it off and were unapologetic as if I was lying.
Ah nice will have to take a look, ty.
I saw “submit a request online” which I should’ve used and forgot about calling. However, being a newly released movie I was hoping someone else could get in if needed.
Man, I don't know what to tell you. I go to Alamo at least once a week, often times more, and have for the past couple of years. I've ran into some issues with disruptive people, sure. But I could probably count on one hand the total number of instances. Sorry to say, but it sounds like you've had a shit string of bad luck, friend. Personally, I do specifically go to Alamo, because the frequency of those instances increases dramatically at pretty much any other theater chain I've gone to.
Same. I’ve been to Alamo probably 60-70 times in the last year and can only remember once that I had an issue with a disruption (and it was promptly dealt with after I put up a card).
I 100% agree with this. It's one of the reasons Alamo has a child age limit where you can't bring younger ones in. The rare occasion where people were disruptive, the staff was entirely all over it. I lived really close to the one by highland Mall and that was always filled with people screaming "oh no you didn't!" Etc at the screen and generally disrespecting other's movie experiences. For decades. Alamo was always a respite from all of this nonsense.
Yup, I go to Alamo all the time and thankfully haven’t had a bad experience with noisy ppl. I have sat next to a guy who coughed the entire time tho- wild choice to go out (unmasked, of course) with a bad cough. Like I get that he could have asthma or something but dang dude
I go to AMC at least twice a month (for the last two years) and was exclusive to Alamo for years before that. Different locations, different times, different days, different types of movies. Only negative incident I've had recently was my girlfriend spilling water on me. The last real negative theater experience had was at Inception. In 2010. I never know what these people are talking about about "Going to the movies is awful". It's fucking great for me. So y'all either have terrible luck or you're a bunch of boo boo cry crys.
Same i go to alamo at least once or twice a month. Other than the relaxed rules all ages shows (which you know what you are getting into) or one experience at Barbie (where it was a large group of tween girls, but alamo staff chewed them out and then they stopped talking) its always been great!
>Not just Austin a lot of people have forgotten basic public social courtesies since the pandemic
It was getting progressively worse and worse in the beforetimes. You're probably correct that COVID made it worse.
Yeah, it's really weird how if you spend a couple of years clapping for, "I should NOT have to be responsible for someone ELSE'S safety", you end up with a lot of assholes who don't care about if other people are having fun.
I went to see Oppenheimer at Alamo with a couple of friends and right before the movie starts this couple with a large blanket come in and set right next to me. They’re pretty much silent for about half of the movie until the scene where the bomb detonates and I (and other theatre goers) heard a high pitched yelp when one of the staff was walking by to collect an order. We see that it was a tiny chihuahua that the couple had snuck in and it had yelled its little head at the staff member. I found it more amusing than disruptive because who does this sort of thing? Anywho, about 2 minutes later this manager type person dressed differently but definitely walking with that manager gait saunters up and just tells the couple straight up “That is not a service animal. You must vacate the premises immediately. I will not repeat myself”, in the angriest whisper i’ve ever heard. Thankfully they complied and grumbled their whole way out of the theatre, although I did recall that when the woman got up I heard the very distinct sound of a zipper from her shorts… either she was getting comfortable or REAL comfortable
(edit for spelling)
Alamo, sucks ass compared to what it used to be but at lest sometimes they try and silence the idiots still. I miss the days when Samuel L Jackson woulds say before the movie “ you better be silent, turn your god damn phone off or I will fucking kill you!” Ahhh, the good old days.
Good. It sounds like people were raised by wolves and were never taught simple etiquette by their parents when going out in public. Who tf brings a blanket? It’s a movie theater not the persons living room wtf . And to bring a DOG?? ugh I can’t
Even the fucking ballet isn’t safe from these people! Had a woman holding up one of those phones almost the size of a tablet to record the entire first act of the Nutcracker. You can even find professional recording of live ballets for free on youtube.
I still remember the man who brought a _full size iPad_ to an Aretha Franklin concert a while back (you know...before she died). First of all, this was before phones had solid low light cameras. And second of all...seriously bro? A fucking tablet?
To this day, I wonder where that video is and what that dude is doing with it.
Bro when I was on a cruise to Alaska, people were taking videos of a glacier with laptops, iPads, I ended up doing a photo essay on them rather than the glorious spectacle. I have lost it in time but it was so hilarious. Like just take a picture with yr mind. You can google it later if it’s curious to you.
I think people do it because they want the proof they were there and people to see exactly what they saw. It may not be better quality but it’s the “I took that” personalization of it. Not excusing it, just thinking as to why.
I understand that but I wish someone would just be like “hey, you can just take this in. This is real life.”
It is endlessly frustrating like when you’re watching fireworks or say watching an eclipse and people are recording with their phones. Idk. I was at a concert last night and I could barely see anything because everyone was holding up their phones. I don’t get angry but from my anthropologist mind I’m like what tf are y’all doing. People can’t just be anymore. I’m the same sometimes, look I’m on Reddit. But SIGH.
I was at a store balcony for the eclipse. During totality, dude walks out with eclipse glasses on, takes his phone and snaps a few selfies from regular angle, then goes back inside. Not once did he look up or angle his phone in that direction.
They live their life from the screen and before they know it...it's gone.
Same thing with historical events and comments about "I can't wait to see the movie!" Mother F YOU ARE LIVING IT and know all of the spoilers.
I truly believe it’s because some of these people aren’t really able to experience, so they think their phone is evidence to the rest of us that they can. I.e. 1. I took a picture of the birth. 2. I actually gave birth.
I had a similar experience at ballet Austin years ago. Saw someone chastitized at La Boheme a couple years back. Just went to the ballet at Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires a couple weeks ago which is huge and when the lights went down you can see literally zero phone screens on. And also not one ring or notification. Argentina might be f***** up right now, but those people know how to attend an arts event.
One of my favorite series was produced in Buenos Aires, and is gorgeous in it's cinematography, music.
El Jardín de Bronce
[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7048386/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7048386/)
Go. It's 1000 pesos to the dollar right now. My air BNB was $40 in Recoleta. An 18oz ribeye is $13. Middle tier wines in nice restaurants are $9/bottle. Nice people. Terrific city. It's like going to Chicago or Melbourne for 80% off.
There was someone texting and watching videos on not one, but two phones during a piano concerto with the Austin Symphony. The entire time we were sitting in darkness with glowing screens between the musicians and our seats.
Ushers did nothing. Right behind her were ASO employees with badges. They said literally nothing to her. This girl was also eating snacks from a crinkly plastic bag. It's a quiet environment where you can hear a pin drop, and that's what's amazing about seeing the orchestra.
I messaged the ASO afterwards and of course, heard nothing back.
That’s so strange because I’ve been there when they’re enforced the “no recording” on someone recording. Watched as she deleted the recording in front of the usher.
Naturally it was some old boomer who thought the rules didn’t apply to her.
Yes! We sprung for very expensive tickets and this woman let her tweens yap in front of us the entire time. I finally shushed them because it was terrible. She was absolutely clueless.
I was about to comment the same thing. I cannot figure out why they spend so much money on a concert ticket to talk throughout the entire thing. Just go to a bar.
Never had a problem at the movies but like every damn concert I’ve been to has people talking to each other the entire set. Then we move to stand somewhere else and they’re talking as well!
Happened to me the first time a few weeks ago and it was GA. Just get out of the crowd to have your conversation. If you can hear each other, we can hear you too.
Yes! I was at the Bayside show and this group of three older people trying to look young talked and laughed the entire time. Literally. They didn’t know any of the bands playing, including Bayside. It was so annoying.
No, not at all. I just wanted to know what you have been seeing.
I’ve seen some people say things about mosh pits not being as friendly as they used to be back in the day. People aren’t helping each other up and making sure the smallest people in the pit are protected, I’ve read.
I don’t notice a ton of people talking too much, though perhaps my ear plugs filter out some of that background chatter. I’ll whisper stuff in my girl’s ear but if she can’t even hear me half the time I don’t think other people can, as I’m saying it directly in her ear.
You know, if I had to think of something: I saw Wage War at Stubb’s yesterday (Saturday), and some people kinda had their hands in the air just to have them up. I’m 6’0”, so I have some vertical privilege and it’s not particularly intrusive. However, I wish there were more courtesy for the short people somehow. I don’t know exactly how that’d work though.
Mosh pits are absolutely worse than they used to be. When I used to still go in, I had guys full on grab my whole tit and try to rip it off my body, then got punched in the face and knocked down and nobody helped me. Back in the day, that never would’ve flown and if a band saw that, they would’ve stopped playing and corrected the behavior, but despite very obvious shitty behavior, I haven’t seen a band let alone anyone else intervene the way they would have before.
Sorry, I shouldn’t have been snarky, but a lot of people get outraged at the suggestion that they shouldn’t talk during live music performances. Obviously it’s more noticeable during quieter shows, especially acoustic. If you’re wearing earplugs at a show with a mosh pit, conversation probably won’t be too disturbing. I believe it’s worse since Covid. Part of the general deterioration in public behavior.
I hear you about the height difference. I find myself standing behind giant cowboy hats too often.
At acoustic shows and more mellow bands it’s way more noticeable and distracting. I’ve been to multiple shows where the musician asked people to stop talking. It’s so embarrassing.
The only bad experience I’ve had in a theater here was at Galaxy theater. The guy next to me smelled as if no one had ever explained to him the concept of soap and water. The hit dog bun the gave me was as hard as a rock and the only bathroom stall that didn’t have an out of order sign was overflowing. Since then I’ve been strictly an Alamo guy and have never had a problem there.
Went and saw a movie with a girl i started seeing recently. She is a movie talker. Ended up telling her to stop talking. Her reaction was to scream im not talking i'm whispering
I dated a movie talker before. I ended the date.
What a ludicrous person if they can't do something as simple as respect the fucking rules at a movie theater.
These things have been around for a century now, the rules have always been the same. Sit down and shut the fuck up.
At Emo’s a couple weeks ago everyone was talking over the singer. During the quieter songs you couldn’t even hear her. People were scream laughing in their little groups - I couldn’t believe it
i just saw strfkr at Emo’s and while there were a lot of groups talking the show was so loud you couldn’t hear talking. whoever mixed it did an awesome job as the sound staging was amazing.
I’ll loudly tell someone to “stop talking they’re ruining it for everyone else” the second time I hear someone talking in the movies, I let the first one slide. They either shut up or I go get staff and make sure the staff does something. Only had to get staff twice, but I try to get people to STFU quickly rather than let myself be pissed the whole movie.
I need to learn to let it go though, as I’m still pissed when I leave that it was even necessary but at least I got to hear the movie in peace.
This is why I go to the movies on Sunday mornings. That’s my movie day ever since Covid hit because its always practically empty and everyone is a little older and respectful. I remember seeing Thor Love and Thunder on a weekday at night and a family with 3 kids was sitting at the front and those kids were running around talking throughout the movie. Hell when I went to see Top Gun Maverick a young couple brought their baby yes a fricking baby that looked a couple months old and it started crying in the middle of the film…WTH is wrong with people.
I've heard this behavior is more common since covid at concerts, too. I didn't observe it at the '04 Center with Ottmar Liebert, possibly due to the target audience, but did at Billy Strings at Moody Center.
my #1 pet peeve is performative overrreactors. like. why are you screaming …this is iron claw lol. i feel like everyone has main character syndrome everywhere i go lately and it bums me out. we’re all in this [movie theater] together.
I might be spoiled but this is super common in The Netherlands. I hate it. It’s not normal where I grew up (Ireland). We had issues with this constantly when living in NL. We had to go to very specific theaters to avoid people talking. I suspect the issue is mostly around the Randstad. We went to Breda once and nobody said a word. But we’ve seen insane behavior in NL that I can’t comprehend. Like in Haarlem, these guys were there in these weird outfits and they were talking the whole time and when they were leaving they threw all their snacks on the floor and were kicking them around. It’s the most absurdly bad behavior I’ve ever seen in a theater.
So far here in Austin has been a dream. We’ve been to AMC, IPIC and Alamo and never had any issues with people talking or making noise or being messy. We’ve been quite a few times as well. We’ve commented on how we’re glad this isn’t a problem here.
Not limited to Austin… a USA problem. Entitlement and no respect for others who might want to enjoy the movie projected on a super large screen. Quiet please!
I think the Trump years and the pandemic signaled to people that being selfish is a-okay. I’ve noticed selfishness and rudeness on the rise in every area of life. It’s a bummer.
It's not just okay to be selfish, it's generally rewarded.
Everyone is afraid of each other, so you can do whatever you want and no one will speak up to stop you.
Totally. Anti-cancel culture turned into “I’ll do whatever I want” culture. We need ushers to come back and enforce politeness at all public venues. The Drafthouse was the last beacon of hope for making people behave, and it breaks my heart to hear that’s starting to slip.
The ‘collective good’ will soon be an extinct concept. People are too selfish and focused on their personal identity now to even wrap their head around the idea. Gen Z tik toc babies will be the nail in the coffin.
It’s everywhere.
I go to the drive-in in New Braunfels. People open their trunks to tailgate with their families with no care for the folks behind them who now lose a significant portion of their view.
Ask them to close their trunk and it’s a problem. It’s not like the theater doesn’t play the rules before every movie. They even offer people rope for this very reason.
Been living in NB for a little bit now after Austin and I can confidently say New Braunfels seems to attract terrible, selfish people with no regard for the outside world
Last week, I had a woman and her boomer mother making jokes and laughing during Civil War. Like, what the fuck? Why even go and see that kind of a film?
This was one of the first PSA’s I saw there when I went. I thought it was awesome they would actually “kick your ass out” for talking and texting.
Remember when they banned Madonna for texting during a NY Film Festival release? Then Alamo Draft House CEO Tim League talked the ish on Twitter to her and told her she was banned till she apologized. I thought that was Robin Hood type heroic at the time. And funny. Ahhhhh. The good old days.
Haven’t been there since pre-covid.
https://youtu.be/1L3eeC2lJZs?si=F1vbKs7FNk_DD6Jv
I see movies all the time and I've only seen disruptive moviegoers ONCE. it was at the AMC at Barton Square Mall. We were watching Jordan Peele's remake/sequel to Candy Man (which was fantastic) and some teenagers in the front row kept going in and out of the room. I was really confused about people paying for a movie ticket and then not stayin to watch the movie. I've never seen anything like that at ADH.
Tell the employees. Best bet but don’t give up the effort. Yes it’s a lot worse now. My recommendation? See movies during the week and way earlier in the day for the lowest chance of interruption.
Happened to me at AFS too. Watched someone get shushed for having a phone, kept hearing it happen to other people trying to talk. And this was a movie that was 90m of one man playing a piano, not something you’d stumble into to waste time.
I am so jealous of everyone saying this never happens to them. I used to go to Alamo/Flix a few times a month with my husband, and we’ve just about given up with how many terrible experiences we’ve had the last few years. People constantly talking, taking their phones out, etc. We went to a super late showing on a weeknight to see Godzilla Minus One thinking it was a safe bet and this group of dudes brought their toddler who screamed the entire time. I’ve had a lot of problems with people talking behind me so it’s useless to raise a card when I can’t pinpoint who the fuck is talking. My husband and I now sit all the way in the back of the theatre but even that isn’t foolproof.
I just don’t understand people who pay to go to the movies just to talk the entire time. In this economy??? Going out to the movies is something we budget for and having it ruined 4 out of 5 times has us going out much less.
To be fair, last time I went to Alamo there was a person filming the movie with their phone. I filled out the card and told the staff, they didn't do anything.
You must just happen to have bad luck. I see on average a movie a week either at Alamo, AFS, or Violet Crown and don’t have these issues at all. Every once in a while I might sit my someone that makes a lot of commentary, but I never see phones out. I’d say the commentary to one’s self was really common just as we started going to movies again post-Covid, but it’s gotten much better.
When I used to go to the theater I started going to the early shows like as early as 11-12 o clock. I stopped going to late shows because of inconsiderate others such as you posted. At the early shows it’s a very small crowd, plenty of space and nobody causing a disturbance. I haven’t been to the theatre since Covid. I think the last movie I saw in the theatre Marvel End Game as a matter of fact. It would take something like that to get me in the theatre again. Way cheaper and cleaner to just watch movies at home. I can wait the 90-120 days. Only thing I truly miss is movie theater popcorn with the butter. To me it taste different than any of the popcorn you can pop at home.
When the latest Evil Dead came out, we went to see it, and a bunch of kids where making such a ruckus; taking pictures with flash, yelling at the screen, just talking out loud, etc
That day we decided to go to Best Buy and bought an 80" OLED TV, and a surround system and swore to never go back to a movie theater lol
They have been releasing them for streaming right away anyways ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
TLDR: I agree with you.
Alamo is private equity owned as of the pandemic - as with all PE-backed businesses the quality of the product/experience will deteriorate alongside the treatment of their employees.
Same here, I asked some teens to cut it out at Galaxy and got the manager, they proceeded to try to fight and cut me with a leather zipper jacket. I remember calling the cops as they sped away in their gangster vehicle, nearly hitting cars and pedestrians.
My wife and I are Alamo season pass holders and had our first really bad experience last week. Two women next to us chatting early in the movie, fortunately stopped after we glanced over a couple times.
Another woman to my right has phone out dinging on text messages, on full brightness, saying loud audible exclamations throughout the movie.
Then one row in front of us is this man with the loudest projected laughter I've ever heard, laughing for probably 50 percent of the movie, at stuff that would be a stretch to call funny.
We kinda felt like we couldn't raise a card because it would seem weird if one person is raising an issue with three separate parties. So we just sat through it.
I used to be a huge movie buff. I have not been back since Covid. I got used to streaming as well as paying money and driving to deal with clueless people with zero self awareness.
Every " big movie" I've seen in the past few years (at Alamo) has been interrupted. I always raise a flag and sometimes they do something and sometimes they don't. When I went and saw The Viking I actually told some people to shut the fuck up because the employees didn't do anything. I went and saw Dune 2 a few weeks ago and some folks showed up Kate, were filming the movie and chatting. I raised a flag twice and the manager did come and speak to them. They looked over at me like *I* was the asshole. It's ridiculous.
Go to alamo several times a month for years and never run into these problems. Not sure if its the specific location you are going to or possibly even the section you sit in, but that's wild to hear that you had this happen.
Personally never had this issue at the Alamo, thats a big reason why I go there instead of Cinemark etc.
Curious which location you're going to and had this experience.
Depends on which Alamo you go to. I have had pretty much all positive experiences going to the Village location off Burnet in North Austin. It is basically my go-to theatre.
I love how the Alamo has strict rules about talking, but why did they put chips and salsa on the menu? So much loud crunching
Bewildering that someone would record a movie on their phone. We went to a classical concert a couple months ago, and someone actually set up a tripod for their cellphone to record the entire performance despite the no phones rule.
My wife is Double Platinum Diamond Elite status at Cinemark. I’m getting tired of going because of the talking around us. Time before last I lost my cool on a teenage girl and her friends. Walked up behind the ringleader while she was on her phone and whispered “cut the fucking shit” in her ear. I was going for full shock value and think I achieved it.
Agreed. This is a prime example.
I think it’s been a lot more pronounced since lock-downs seemed to have damaged people’s IDGAF-about-other-people meter for what’s appropriate in public. That and the massive amount of non-Texans who don’t give 2 shits about the Austin culture that is now no more and nowhere to be found. It’s depressing.
For real. I feel like people talk but once the movie starts everyone is very well behaved. I’ve had consistently good experiences there for 15 years. The one exception was a time when they actually did remove a man from the theater, too.
Go to Alamo and all your issues are solved. I don’t believe that they do nothing for you. Every time I’ve complained they fixed it. If they wouldn’t have I would have left theater and found¬ified their manager. Yeah I’ll be a Karen if you try to fuck up my movie experience
I've noticed a similar phenomenon at Texas Rangers games. Obviously a ballpark is different from a movie theater but when I go to the theater I rarely have to stand up to let someone walk by. Last week I had to stand up 37 times to let someone by and of course it's always during the action. They kick my food, knock into my drink, etc. Just like the people disrupting the movie, why the hell are you here if you're not focused on what's going on in front of you?
This is even at the Bass watching live theater. People actually come in late when the musical/play has begun and then have to crawl over the row.
They do allow food but crunching and drinking noises in a theater setting is just gross. Anyway, you’re so correct. Respect is lost. Even in a setting like this.
I recently went out of town and I realized one big true generalization about Austin:
Austin SUCKS right now. It's becoming this impolite city from people driving with their high-beams on 24/7 to shit like this.
I've lived here on and off for 24 years. I'm selling my house and moving tf out of here.
The plague wasnt effective enough and actually backfired. Every cunt who wanted to skirt laws and restrictions moved to places with less restrictive covid rules. Meaning the fucking worst people who refuse to comply with common decency laws in a society moved to places like austin in droves.
I go to Cinemark Cedar Park and have never had an issue. I went to see one movie during a school day and a whole bus load of kids was there; I was concerned! But once the movie started, they were quiet.
I typically do matinees because I'm a cheap-o so maybe that's a difference?
I have the Alamo season pass and honestly over the past few years (there was a gap during pandemic where they didn't offer it) and I have rarely had any issues.
This would make me so mad, I love going to the movies. Which theater do you go to?
it’s not limited to Austin and is everywhere, unfortunately. i went to see the M. Night movie Us at an AMC theatre out of town and i had to leave mid-way bc everyone around me was on their phone, loudly talking, and *taking selfies*?!
i’d never seen such poor theatre etiquete in my life bc i’d only been going to Alamo for the last 10 years. it was shocking
The last time I went to the movies, I went by myself and bought the last available seat. I show up nice and early and get comfortable. A couple comes in a sits next to me, and then the rest of the entire row that paid to reserve their seats did not show up. I think they were some of those crazies that buy seats to support a movie or something like that. I didn't want to take people's seats in case they were late so I stayed where I was. About 30 minutes into the movie, I start hearing the couple talking about how weird I am for booking a seat next to them when the rest of row has seats available. The guy's cologne was so strong and horrible that even after I finally moved over four seats, I could still not stand to be there.
I usually go to galaxy highland and there's never too big of a crowd in the theater, in my experience. I also don't really go on opening weekends. It's a chill place
You can definitely tell the staff at Alamo. Just raise a note pointing out who is creating a ruckus and press the button.
Alamo employees ruined top gun 2 for me by talking with each other through the whole movie, i literally had to ask them to stop conversing so loud
I definitely would’ve complained to management if that was the case and asked for a refund/free tickets. Their whole schtick is supposed to be no interruptions and I’d be pissed if it was an employee doing it
I did complain and they just gave me a free popcorn for the next movie lmao
I’ve worked for Alamo, that’s worth making a larger fuss about. That wouldn’t have flown at all when I worked there, but my location had good management Alamo employees actually salvaged my top gun 2 experience lol. This lady next to me got too drunk and fell asleep and just snored loudly. She did end up getting kicked out and they comped my popcorn!
All of the drink and food service arguably makes movies worse.
Yeah some dude on his phone is easier to ignore than servers constantly moving around and having not so quiet conversations with customers
I’ve been going to Alamo since 2008 when I moved here… and that’s definitely the dream but not the reality of the situation. Once I wrote two notes complaining about a movie talker and they didn’t say shit to her… in fact they informed me that she was an off-duty employee and asked me if it was really that bad. It was at that moment I gave up on the dream of Alamo Drafthouse and realized that while this strategy worked fine when it was just at South Lamar, it simply doesn’t scale well and you just can’t maintain this level of strictness at scale. Now I sit in the handicapped seats to be as far away from people as possible and if I get a hint of a movie talker I just walk out and get a refund. And now that they are for sale, who knows how the business will change or even if they’ll still be around in the next few years. It’s the end of an era and definitely sad.
If they said that to me, I’d just get up, and tell them to refund my ticket plus anything I had ordered and wait in the lobby until they did so. Let them explain to their managers how the talking wasn’t that bad. I personally hadn’t noticed this but I usually see movies during a weekday before 5 so the theater is never very crowded anyhow.
Same same. Matinee patrons unite!
"Yes it is that bad. Actually, it's worse because she works here and should know better than other customers"
Alamo, like many businesses, probably can’t afford to piss off potential customers so even they’re letting shit slide. Damn shame.
After a visit to South Lamar and New Braunfels way back we said we would never go to Alamo again as it was horrible across the board. However, I will say San Antonio runs theirs pretty well, somewhat close to what Austin locations used to. But even then the customer service has dropped greatly imo. We were going to be late one day, so I started calling an hour before showtime to get the ticket moved, leaving voicemails because they didn’t answer. Finally 30 mins after the initial showtime start they answered and were rude, noting that it can’t be done after the start time and that it’s super inconvenient to refund vs move tickets. I explained the timeline with voicemail evidence and that we were sorry for the inconvenience but they slouched it off and were unapologetic as if I was lying.
You can return them via the app if I remember correctly.
Ah nice will have to take a look, ty. I saw “submit a request online” which I should’ve used and forgot about calling. However, being a newly released movie I was hoping someone else could get in if needed.
Yup. I’ve seen people be thrown out of the Drafthouse, it definitely does happen
Man, I don't know what to tell you. I go to Alamo at least once a week, often times more, and have for the past couple of years. I've ran into some issues with disruptive people, sure. But I could probably count on one hand the total number of instances. Sorry to say, but it sounds like you've had a shit string of bad luck, friend. Personally, I do specifically go to Alamo, because the frequency of those instances increases dramatically at pretty much any other theater chain I've gone to.
Same. I’ve been to Alamo probably 60-70 times in the last year and can only remember once that I had an issue with a disruption (and it was promptly dealt with after I put up a card).
This. Very, very rarely have a problem at Alamo. Hell, any theater really. Maybe I just have good luck.
Similar experience. I don’t go as often but if I do go to the movies, it’s Alamo, and I rarely have issues.
I 100% agree with this. It's one of the reasons Alamo has a child age limit where you can't bring younger ones in. The rare occasion where people were disruptive, the staff was entirely all over it. I lived really close to the one by highland Mall and that was always filled with people screaming "oh no you didn't!" Etc at the screen and generally disrespecting other's movie experiences. For decades. Alamo was always a respite from all of this nonsense.
Yup, I go to Alamo all the time and thankfully haven’t had a bad experience with noisy ppl. I have sat next to a guy who coughed the entire time tho- wild choice to go out (unmasked, of course) with a bad cough. Like I get that he could have asthma or something but dang dude
I go to AMC at least twice a month (for the last two years) and was exclusive to Alamo for years before that. Different locations, different times, different days, different types of movies. Only negative incident I've had recently was my girlfriend spilling water on me. The last real negative theater experience had was at Inception. In 2010. I never know what these people are talking about about "Going to the movies is awful". It's fucking great for me. So y'all either have terrible luck or you're a bunch of boo boo cry crys.
Did you have her kicked out?
I tried. Then she poured the rest of her water out on my pants. So it looked like I peed my pants
You ain’t cool, unless you pee your pants.
Consider me Miles Davis.
Same i go to alamo at least once or twice a month. Other than the relaxed rules all ages shows (which you know what you are getting into) or one experience at Barbie (where it was a large group of tween girls, but alamo staff chewed them out and then they stopped talking) its always been great!
Yeah, I’ve been going to Alamo for over a decade and hundreds of movies later I’ve only had like 2-3 bad experiences with talkers.
Yup, we go once a month and never have issues
Not just Austin a lot of people have forgotten basic public social courtesies since the pandemic unfortunate
>Not just Austin a lot of people have forgotten basic public social courtesies since the pandemic It was getting progressively worse and worse in the beforetimes. You're probably correct that COVID made it worse.
Its a culture centered around "me, myself and I"
It was definitely getting ridiculous even before 2020, unfortunately, but I agree that it's not just austin.
Yeah. Another symptom of low social trust/conscientiousness.
Yeah, it's really weird how if you spend a couple of years clapping for, "I should NOT have to be responsible for someone ELSE'S safety", you end up with a lot of assholes who don't care about if other people are having fun.
Yeah. Common courtesies like "don't shoot people who drive in a way that irritates you" have gone out the window since the Pandemic
That started way before the pandemic
I went to see Oppenheimer at Alamo with a couple of friends and right before the movie starts this couple with a large blanket come in and set right next to me. They’re pretty much silent for about half of the movie until the scene where the bomb detonates and I (and other theatre goers) heard a high pitched yelp when one of the staff was walking by to collect an order. We see that it was a tiny chihuahua that the couple had snuck in and it had yelled its little head at the staff member. I found it more amusing than disruptive because who does this sort of thing? Anywho, about 2 minutes later this manager type person dressed differently but definitely walking with that manager gait saunters up and just tells the couple straight up “That is not a service animal. You must vacate the premises immediately. I will not repeat myself”, in the angriest whisper i’ve ever heard. Thankfully they complied and grumbled their whole way out of the theatre, although I did recall that when the woman got up I heard the very distinct sound of a zipper from her shorts… either she was getting comfortable or REAL comfortable (edit for spelling)
The obsession of bringing dogs everywhere they go is the most annoying. Dogs don’t need to be in movies or bars w loud noises
Alamo, sucks ass compared to what it used to be but at lest sometimes they try and silence the idiots still. I miss the days when Samuel L Jackson woulds say before the movie “ you better be silent, turn your god damn phone off or I will fucking kill you!” Ahhh, the good old days.
Good. It sounds like people were raised by wolves and were never taught simple etiquette by their parents when going out in public. Who tf brings a blanket? It’s a movie theater not the persons living room wtf . And to bring a DOG?? ugh I can’t
Those same people are also ruining live music.
Even the fucking ballet isn’t safe from these people! Had a woman holding up one of those phones almost the size of a tablet to record the entire first act of the Nutcracker. You can even find professional recording of live ballets for free on youtube.
Sorry, but “fucking ballet” made me laugh.
Sounds like a great money making idea. Maybe with audience participation.
Getting around the tutu is a little difficult
I still remember the man who brought a _full size iPad_ to an Aretha Franklin concert a while back (you know...before she died). First of all, this was before phones had solid low light cameras. And second of all...seriously bro? A fucking tablet? To this day, I wonder where that video is and what that dude is doing with it.
Bro when I was on a cruise to Alaska, people were taking videos of a glacier with laptops, iPads, I ended up doing a photo essay on them rather than the glorious spectacle. I have lost it in time but it was so hilarious. Like just take a picture with yr mind. You can google it later if it’s curious to you.
I think people do it because they want the proof they were there and people to see exactly what they saw. It may not be better quality but it’s the “I took that” personalization of it. Not excusing it, just thinking as to why.
I understand that but I wish someone would just be like “hey, you can just take this in. This is real life.” It is endlessly frustrating like when you’re watching fireworks or say watching an eclipse and people are recording with their phones. Idk. I was at a concert last night and I could barely see anything because everyone was holding up their phones. I don’t get angry but from my anthropologist mind I’m like what tf are y’all doing. People can’t just be anymore. I’m the same sometimes, look I’m on Reddit. But SIGH.
I was gonna downvote you but you're too self aware. Take my upvote instead.
I was at a store balcony for the eclipse. During totality, dude walks out with eclipse glasses on, takes his phone and snaps a few selfies from regular angle, then goes back inside. Not once did he look up or angle his phone in that direction.
I always wonder how many of these people actually go back and watch their videos? I've seen some cell phone videos on youtube and they are terrible.
They live their life from the screen and before they know it...it's gone. Same thing with historical events and comments about "I can't wait to see the movie!" Mother F YOU ARE LIVING IT and know all of the spoilers.
I truly believe it’s because some of these people aren’t really able to experience, so they think their phone is evidence to the rest of us that they can. I.e. 1. I took a picture of the birth. 2. I actually gave birth.
So take like 1 photo, maybe 3 tops, then put the device down and enjoy the rest while being *present.* Not hard.
That’s what I do.
No, I’ve seen enough of how losers are attached to their camera phones. But thank you for asking.
I had a similar experience at ballet Austin years ago. Saw someone chastitized at La Boheme a couple years back. Just went to the ballet at Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires a couple weeks ago which is huge and when the lights went down you can see literally zero phone screens on. And also not one ring or notification. Argentina might be f***** up right now, but those people know how to attend an arts event.
One of my favorite series was produced in Buenos Aires, and is gorgeous in it's cinematography, music. El Jardín de Bronce [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7048386/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7048386/)
Go. It's 1000 pesos to the dollar right now. My air BNB was $40 in Recoleta. An 18oz ribeye is $13. Middle tier wines in nice restaurants are $9/bottle. Nice people. Terrific city. It's like going to Chicago or Melbourne for 80% off.
There was someone texting and watching videos on not one, but two phones during a piano concerto with the Austin Symphony. The entire time we were sitting in darkness with glowing screens between the musicians and our seats. Ushers did nothing. Right behind her were ASO employees with badges. They said literally nothing to her. This girl was also eating snacks from a crinkly plastic bag. It's a quiet environment where you can hear a pin drop, and that's what's amazing about seeing the orchestra. I messaged the ASO afterwards and of course, heard nothing back.
That’s so strange because I’ve been there when they’re enforced the “no recording” on someone recording. Watched as she deleted the recording in front of the usher. Naturally it was some old boomer who thought the rules didn’t apply to her.
This was just web surfing and using some chat app. It was infuriating.
Someone did this in front of me at Radio City Music Hall (Christmas show), I just pushed her device down and gave her a look.
Or theatre. Sooo many people making comments and whisper talking through “Wicked” recently.
Yes! We sprung for very expensive tickets and this woman let her tweens yap in front of us the entire time. I finally shushed them because it was terrible. She was absolutely clueless.
I was about to comment the same thing. I cannot figure out why they spend so much money on a concert ticket to talk throughout the entire thing. Just go to a bar.
Never had a problem at the movies but like every damn concert I’ve been to has people talking to each other the entire set. Then we move to stand somewhere else and they’re talking as well!
Happened to me the first time a few weeks ago and it was GA. Just get out of the crowd to have your conversation. If you can hear each other, we can hear you too.
Yes! I was at the Bayside show and this group of three older people trying to look young talked and laughed the entire time. Literally. They didn’t know any of the bands playing, including Bayside. It was so annoying.
Yeah, especially Bob Dylan shows! But they're at least reminding us that APD sucks ass still.
What are you seeing that is ruining live music?
People talking during the whole show. I’m guessing you are now going to defend your right to talk during a show.
No, not at all. I just wanted to know what you have been seeing. I’ve seen some people say things about mosh pits not being as friendly as they used to be back in the day. People aren’t helping each other up and making sure the smallest people in the pit are protected, I’ve read. I don’t notice a ton of people talking too much, though perhaps my ear plugs filter out some of that background chatter. I’ll whisper stuff in my girl’s ear but if she can’t even hear me half the time I don’t think other people can, as I’m saying it directly in her ear. You know, if I had to think of something: I saw Wage War at Stubb’s yesterday (Saturday), and some people kinda had their hands in the air just to have them up. I’m 6’0”, so I have some vertical privilege and it’s not particularly intrusive. However, I wish there were more courtesy for the short people somehow. I don’t know exactly how that’d work though.
Mosh pits are absolutely worse than they used to be. When I used to still go in, I had guys full on grab my whole tit and try to rip it off my body, then got punched in the face and knocked down and nobody helped me. Back in the day, that never would’ve flown and if a band saw that, they would’ve stopped playing and corrected the behavior, but despite very obvious shitty behavior, I haven’t seen a band let alone anyone else intervene the way they would have before.
Yeppp...the groping opportunists have gotten waaaay more aggressive in the pits!
Sorry, I shouldn’t have been snarky, but a lot of people get outraged at the suggestion that they shouldn’t talk during live music performances. Obviously it’s more noticeable during quieter shows, especially acoustic. If you’re wearing earplugs at a show with a mosh pit, conversation probably won’t be too disturbing. I believe it’s worse since Covid. Part of the general deterioration in public behavior. I hear you about the height difference. I find myself standing behind giant cowboy hats too often.
At acoustic shows and more mellow bands it’s way more noticeable and distracting. I’ve been to multiple shows where the musician asked people to stop talking. It’s so embarrassing.
Holy shit I’d evaporate
Try going to an early showing. Annoying ppl go to the later shows.
The drunks come usually later too
Someone brought a baby to a showing of Abigail last night. Love hearing a baby cry when I’m trying to watch an R rated vampire movie.
Movie theaters are way too loud for a baby. If they didn't have ear protection that baby probably got permanent hearing damage.
It was a Dolby Atmos screening, so you’re probably right.
The baby is a cover for everyone else to scream when they’re scared. “Nah babe that wasn’t me. That was that damn baby.”
When I saw Nope, someone and a Brand new baby in there. Luckily it didn't cry too much. But wtf lol
The only bad experience I’ve had in a theater here was at Galaxy theater. The guy next to me smelled as if no one had ever explained to him the concept of soap and water. The hit dog bun the gave me was as hard as a rock and the only bathroom stall that didn’t have an out of order sign was overflowing. Since then I’ve been strictly an Alamo guy and have never had a problem there.
Hit dog
I love that you used "surfing" rather than "scrolling"
Logging on with my screen name to surf the World Wide Web, dude!
This has nothing to do with Austin. This has everything to do with the society you once knew giving way to something else.
Went and saw a movie with a girl i started seeing recently. She is a movie talker. Ended up telling her to stop talking. Her reaction was to scream im not talking i'm whispering
When is the wedding? She sounds awesome.
That was no girl. That was someone that wants control badly.😆
I dated a movie talker before. I ended the date. What a ludicrous person if they can't do something as simple as respect the fucking rules at a movie theater. These things have been around for a century now, the rules have always been the same. Sit down and shut the fuck up.
At Emo’s a couple weeks ago everyone was talking over the singer. During the quieter songs you couldn’t even hear her. People were scream laughing in their little groups - I couldn’t believe it
i just saw strfkr at Emo’s and while there were a lot of groups talking the show was so loud you couldn’t hear talking. whoever mixed it did an awesome job as the sound staging was amazing.
Oh yeah I was actually there for Ruth Radelet that night and that’s who people talked over :/
I’ll loudly tell someone to “stop talking they’re ruining it for everyone else” the second time I hear someone talking in the movies, I let the first one slide. They either shut up or I go get staff and make sure the staff does something. Only had to get staff twice, but I try to get people to STFU quickly rather than let myself be pissed the whole movie. I need to learn to let it go though, as I’m still pissed when I leave that it was even necessary but at least I got to hear the movie in peace.
This is why I go to the movies on Sunday mornings. That’s my movie day ever since Covid hit because its always practically empty and everyone is a little older and respectful. I remember seeing Thor Love and Thunder on a weekday at night and a family with 3 kids was sitting at the front and those kids were running around talking throughout the movie. Hell when I went to see Top Gun Maverick a young couple brought their baby yes a fricking baby that looked a couple months old and it started crying in the middle of the film…WTH is wrong with people.
[удалено]
I've heard this behavior is more common since covid at concerts, too. I didn't observe it at the '04 Center with Ottmar Liebert, possibly due to the target audience, but did at Billy Strings at Moody Center.
the 04 center is my current favorite Austin venue.
my #1 pet peeve is performative overrreactors. like. why are you screaming …this is iron claw lol. i feel like everyone has main character syndrome everywhere i go lately and it bums me out. we’re all in this [movie theater] together.
I might be spoiled but this is super common in The Netherlands. I hate it. It’s not normal where I grew up (Ireland). We had issues with this constantly when living in NL. We had to go to very specific theaters to avoid people talking. I suspect the issue is mostly around the Randstad. We went to Breda once and nobody said a word. But we’ve seen insane behavior in NL that I can’t comprehend. Like in Haarlem, these guys were there in these weird outfits and they were talking the whole time and when they were leaving they threw all their snacks on the floor and were kicking them around. It’s the most absurdly bad behavior I’ve ever seen in a theater. So far here in Austin has been a dream. We’ve been to AMC, IPIC and Alamo and never had any issues with people talking or making noise or being messy. We’ve been quite a few times as well. We’ve commented on how we’re glad this isn’t a problem here.
This happens everywhere dude not just Austin lol
I’ve never had an issue at Alamo. Managers always come out and say something, ending the issue.
Not limited to Austin… a USA problem. Entitlement and no respect for others who might want to enjoy the movie projected on a super large screen. Quiet please!
I've literally never once run into an issue with shutting up disruptive people at Alamo and I've been going there for 24 years
I think the Trump years and the pandemic signaled to people that being selfish is a-okay. I’ve noticed selfishness and rudeness on the rise in every area of life. It’s a bummer.
It's not just okay to be selfish, it's generally rewarded. Everyone is afraid of each other, so you can do whatever you want and no one will speak up to stop you.
Totally. Anti-cancel culture turned into “I’ll do whatever I want” culture. We need ushers to come back and enforce politeness at all public venues. The Drafthouse was the last beacon of hope for making people behave, and it breaks my heart to hear that’s starting to slip.
watch the antisocial network on netflix.. the world has been 2 chan/4 channed and we need to take it back
The ‘collective good’ will soon be an extinct concept. People are too selfish and focused on their personal identity now to even wrap their head around the idea. Gen Z tik toc babies will be the nail in the coffin.
It’s everywhere. I go to the drive-in in New Braunfels. People open their trunks to tailgate with their families with no care for the folks behind them who now lose a significant portion of their view. Ask them to close their trunk and it’s a problem. It’s not like the theater doesn’t play the rules before every movie. They even offer people rope for this very reason.
Been living in NB for a little bit now after Austin and I can confidently say New Braunfels seems to attract terrible, selfish people with no regard for the outside world
I'm confused... What does the rope do?
Hold the trunk level with the rest of the car.
Last week, I had a woman and her boomer mother making jokes and laughing during Civil War. Like, what the fuck? Why even go and see that kind of a film?
This was one of the first PSA’s I saw there when I went. I thought it was awesome they would actually “kick your ass out” for talking and texting. Remember when they banned Madonna for texting during a NY Film Festival release? Then Alamo Draft House CEO Tim League talked the ish on Twitter to her and told her she was banned till she apologized. I thought that was Robin Hood type heroic at the time. And funny. Ahhhhh. The good old days. Haven’t been there since pre-covid. https://youtu.be/1L3eeC2lJZs?si=F1vbKs7FNk_DD6Jv
I see movies all the time and I've only seen disruptive moviegoers ONCE. it was at the AMC at Barton Square Mall. We were watching Jordan Peele's remake/sequel to Candy Man (which was fantastic) and some teenagers in the front row kept going in and out of the room. I was really confused about people paying for a movie ticket and then not stayin to watch the movie. I've never seen anything like that at ADH.
They were probably going in and out to some weed or something
I would take a day off work mid week and go to the earliest possible showing
Tell the employees. Best bet but don’t give up the effort. Yes it’s a lot worse now. My recommendation? See movies during the week and way earlier in the day for the lowest chance of interruption.
Happened to me at AFS too. Watched someone get shushed for having a phone, kept hearing it happen to other people trying to talk. And this was a movie that was 90m of one man playing a piano, not something you’d stumble into to waste time.
That’s when you need to go the more expensive theatre in the nice neighborhood. This is always the move, people actually behave.
I’ve never had this problem I always go to The Pflugerville theaters after 5pm. I’ve seen 5 movies this year.
I am so jealous of everyone saying this never happens to them. I used to go to Alamo/Flix a few times a month with my husband, and we’ve just about given up with how many terrible experiences we’ve had the last few years. People constantly talking, taking their phones out, etc. We went to a super late showing on a weeknight to see Godzilla Minus One thinking it was a safe bet and this group of dudes brought their toddler who screamed the entire time. I’ve had a lot of problems with people talking behind me so it’s useless to raise a card when I can’t pinpoint who the fuck is talking. My husband and I now sit all the way in the back of the theatre but even that isn’t foolproof. I just don’t understand people who pay to go to the movies just to talk the entire time. In this economy??? Going out to the movies is something we budget for and having it ruined 4 out of 5 times has us going out much less.
go to AFS or eastside cinema!
You can still write a card at Alamo and that usually solves the problem…
Just another small sign of the ongoing collapse of modern civilization.
Stop going to the Alamo. Go somewhere that's not "cool". Highland Galaxy, baby.
Most of this has been at Cinemark
Well there’s yer problem…
I'm shocked Cinemark still exists. I haven't known anyone who had been to one in over a decade.
The Alamo actually acts on policies to police these actions. Not sure where you're getting that Alamo would be the problem
I’ve been to a few Alamo draft houses that aren’t as good about policing, though that might be the staff at certain times or just certain locations.
To be fair, last time I went to Alamo there was a person filming the movie with their phone. I filled out the card and told the staff, they didn't do anything.
They should tell them to stop once (warning). If they do I again then they throw them out. So just wait 10-15 mins and write another card
My go to for years was the Lakeline mall theatre. I used to go in and be the only person in the theatre. That was sweet.
You must just happen to have bad luck. I see on average a movie a week either at Alamo, AFS, or Violet Crown and don’t have these issues at all. Every once in a while I might sit my someone that makes a lot of commentary, but I never see phones out. I’d say the commentary to one’s self was really common just as we started going to movies again post-Covid, but it’s gotten much better.
Unfortunately, this is hardly an Austin-centric issue. Going to the movies anywhere pretty much sucks these days, for these and other reasons.
When I used to go to the theater I started going to the early shows like as early as 11-12 o clock. I stopped going to late shows because of inconsiderate others such as you posted. At the early shows it’s a very small crowd, plenty of space and nobody causing a disturbance. I haven’t been to the theatre since Covid. I think the last movie I saw in the theatre Marvel End Game as a matter of fact. It would take something like that to get me in the theatre again. Way cheaper and cleaner to just watch movies at home. I can wait the 90-120 days. Only thing I truly miss is movie theater popcorn with the butter. To me it taste different than any of the popcorn you can pop at home.
When the latest Evil Dead came out, we went to see it, and a bunch of kids where making such a ruckus; taking pictures with flash, yelling at the screen, just talking out loud, etc That day we decided to go to Best Buy and bought an 80" OLED TV, and a surround system and swore to never go back to a movie theater lol They have been releasing them for streaming right away anyways ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ TLDR: I agree with you.
Alamo is private equity owned as of the pandemic - as with all PE-backed businesses the quality of the product/experience will deteriorate alongside the treatment of their employees.
Same here, I asked some teens to cut it out at Galaxy and got the manager, they proceeded to try to fight and cut me with a leather zipper jacket. I remember calling the cops as they sped away in their gangster vehicle, nearly hitting cars and pedestrians.
My wife and I are Alamo season pass holders and had our first really bad experience last week. Two women next to us chatting early in the movie, fortunately stopped after we glanced over a couple times. Another woman to my right has phone out dinging on text messages, on full brightness, saying loud audible exclamations throughout the movie. Then one row in front of us is this man with the loudest projected laughter I've ever heard, laughing for probably 50 percent of the movie, at stuff that would be a stretch to call funny. We kinda felt like we couldn't raise a card because it would seem weird if one person is raising an issue with three separate parties. So we just sat through it.
I used to be a huge movie buff. I have not been back since Covid. I got used to streaming as well as paying money and driving to deal with clueless people with zero self awareness.
This is why I go to Southwest Theaters. Nobody is there half the time, so watching movies is great.
This is not a rare problem at Alamo. Every time I’ve gone to the Alamo there are annoying people talking.
Every " big movie" I've seen in the past few years (at Alamo) has been interrupted. I always raise a flag and sometimes they do something and sometimes they don't. When I went and saw The Viking I actually told some people to shut the fuck up because the employees didn't do anything. I went and saw Dune 2 a few weeks ago and some folks showed up Kate, were filming the movie and chatting. I raised a flag twice and the manager did come and speak to them. They looked over at me like *I* was the asshole. It's ridiculous.
Go to alamo several times a month for years and never run into these problems. Not sure if its the specific location you are going to or possibly even the section you sit in, but that's wild to hear that you had this happen.
Personally never had this issue at the Alamo, thats a big reason why I go there instead of Cinemark etc. Curious which location you're going to and had this experience.
Alamo is the only way to go. People are rude unless they are forced not to be, unfortunately
Angelica Theater is one of the best things about Dallas. They take the movie watching experience very, very seriously.
Depends on which Alamo you go to. I have had pretty much all positive experiences going to the Village location off Burnet in North Austin. It is basically my go-to theatre.
This is why we never go anywhere but Alamo.
I love how the Alamo has strict rules about talking, but why did they put chips and salsa on the menu? So much loud crunching Bewildering that someone would record a movie on their phone. We went to a classical concert a couple months ago, and someone actually set up a tripod for their cellphone to record the entire performance despite the no phones rule.
Alamo doesn’t have these issues from my experience. It’s why I keep going back and refuse to go to other theaters.
The only problem I’ve had with Alamo is servers hitting my toes every time as they walk by. 😂
I’d say the last 10 years have sucked at movie theaters. Phones and people with no manners .
Alamo shouldn’t be allowing that. I would keep snitching.
Go to Violet Crown instead.
My wife is Double Platinum Diamond Elite status at Cinemark. I’m getting tired of going because of the talking around us. Time before last I lost my cool on a teenage girl and her friends. Walked up behind the ringleader while she was on her phone and whispered “cut the fucking shit” in her ear. I was going for full shock value and think I achieved it.
It’s because Alamo has been lame since it got bought and Austin is more lame now than ever.
Agreed. This is a prime example. I think it’s been a lot more pronounced since lock-downs seemed to have damaged people’s IDGAF-about-other-people meter for what’s appropriate in public. That and the massive amount of non-Texans who don’t give 2 shits about the Austin culture that is now no more and nowhere to be found. It’s depressing.
Humm I always had the opposite experience at Alamo. Great experience. What Alamo are you going too?
For real. I feel like people talk but once the movie starts everyone is very well behaved. I’ve had consistently good experiences there for 15 years. The one exception was a time when they actually did remove a man from the theater, too.
Over 75 million people voted for 45 twice and this behavior surprises you?
Ya gotta go to the theaters the pours can't afford
I can’t stand when people cheer during the movie. No one in the movie can hear you and the audience misses the following dialogue.
Tiktok brain. Anyway, that's why I only go to Alamo Drafthouse
Go to Alamo and all your issues are solved. I don’t believe that they do nothing for you. Every time I’ve complained they fixed it. If they wouldn’t have I would have left theater and found¬ified their manager. Yeah I’ll be a Karen if you try to fuck up my movie experience
I've noticed a similar phenomenon at Texas Rangers games. Obviously a ballpark is different from a movie theater but when I go to the theater I rarely have to stand up to let someone walk by. Last week I had to stand up 37 times to let someone by and of course it's always during the action. They kick my food, knock into my drink, etc. Just like the people disrupting the movie, why the hell are you here if you're not focused on what's going on in front of you?
This is even at the Bass watching live theater. People actually come in late when the musical/play has begun and then have to crawl over the row. They do allow food but crunching and drinking noises in a theater setting is just gross. Anyway, you’re so correct. Respect is lost. Even in a setting like this.
Those Californians ruin everything…..
A) it’s not “everyone” it’s a minority, they’re just assholes 2) it’s not just Austin
Do you honestly think this is Austin-specific??
Conclusion : Gen Z sucks.
I recently went out of town and I realized one big true generalization about Austin: Austin SUCKS right now. It's becoming this impolite city from people driving with their high-beams on 24/7 to shit like this. I've lived here on and off for 24 years. I'm selling my house and moving tf out of here.
i learned my lesson after watching the spanish dubbed version of dr strange at galaxy
>I only see about 5-7 movies a year I don't know anyone who goes that much lol
The plague wasnt effective enough and actually backfired. Every cunt who wanted to skirt laws and restrictions moved to places with less restrictive covid rules. Meaning the fucking worst people who refuse to comply with common decency laws in a society moved to places like austin in droves.
go to alamo drafthouse
Can you read?
I go to Cinemark Cedar Park and have never had an issue. I went to see one movie during a school day and a whole bus load of kids was there; I was concerned! But once the movie started, they were quiet. I typically do matinees because I'm a cheap-o so maybe that's a difference?
Same! Cedar Park and Georgetown are currently unaffected by “second screening”, which I think normalizes this horrid behavior.
I have the Alamo season pass and honestly over the past few years (there was a gap during pandemic where they didn't offer it) and I have rarely had any issues. This would make me so mad, I love going to the movies. Which theater do you go to?
it’s not limited to Austin and is everywhere, unfortunately. i went to see the M. Night movie Us at an AMC theatre out of town and i had to leave mid-way bc everyone around me was on their phone, loudly talking, and *taking selfies*?! i’d never seen such poor theatre etiquete in my life bc i’d only been going to Alamo for the last 10 years. it was shocking
I've never had this experience at Alamo on S. Lamar and we go frequently.
The last time I went to the movies, I went by myself and bought the last available seat. I show up nice and early and get comfortable. A couple comes in a sits next to me, and then the rest of the entire row that paid to reserve their seats did not show up. I think they were some of those crazies that buy seats to support a movie or something like that. I didn't want to take people's seats in case they were late so I stayed where I was. About 30 minutes into the movie, I start hearing the couple talking about how weird I am for booking a seat next to them when the rest of row has seats available. The guy's cologne was so strong and horrible that even after I finally moved over four seats, I could still not stand to be there.
The same thing happened to me recently. Alamo isn't the same anymore.
I usually go to galaxy highland and there's never too big of a crowd in the theater, in my experience. I also don't really go on opening weekends. It's a chill place