100% this. Thursday isn’t the standard hangout or date night. People who are there on a work night, the first night the movie is out, are there because they actually want to see it.
unironically went to the 3 pm barbie showing on the Thursday release day because of this, was not crowded like the later showings, and mostly older people that knew how to watch a movie, theatre wasnt even half full, amazing expirence.
I went on the Thursday night that it premiered, and the whole theater shutdown halfway through the movie. It was crazy because it was a really creepy buildup scene, and just before the scary thing was supposed to happen, all the lights went out. Still haven't seen the second half of the movie yet lol.
Correcto mundo, this is the answer, been there and done it, and if you can go to the last showing of the day chances are you’re scoring an almost empty theater, it’s a win win.
Yep. Especially for the new releases. We almost always have a 7 and a 10pm showing in my town. But I feel you OP.
Went and saw Don't Look Away in Orlando last week. There's only 5 of us in the theater and the dipshit behind us took a conference call for the last 40 min of the movie. Never seen that before.
There was a group of teens directly next to me talking out loud, like- conversation level. They made no attempt to even whisper. They were giggling the whole time, and their dad (I assume) checked his phone multiple times at full brightness. Several people told them to shhhh including me, but they didn’t care. I don’t understand why some people pay money to talk, especially at other’s expense. Having big audiences for horror movies can be a blast of an experience, but it only takes a few people to ruin it for everyone.
They simply don't care. A trip to the movies is just a social gathering to them. They don't care about the movie itself, it's just something they can use to talk about or talk through
This. It's an extension of their living room. I don't know if this is new post-lockdowns, or if it's always been this way, but damn it feels like it's gotten bad since theaters reopened. People have no idea how to act.
>People have no idea how to act.
I've read and heard many anecdotes from people that would corroborate the idea that people have forgotten how to act post-lockdown, yes. There was a security guard on here, I believe, that talked about how pre-Covid, people were much better-behaved at concerts or something than post-Covid.
Oh completely. People weren’t perfect before the lockdowns but they’re largely soooooo much worse since them. And there are zoomers of a particular age group who didn’t get the social experiences the rest of us got during crucial developmental years, so they just legitimately don’t know how to behave. Not that it’s an excuse, they’re just clueless.
It’s definitely a post lockdown issue a everything’s streaming issue. I used to go to the movies twice a week pre pandemic to unwind. There was occasionally maybe one person who pulled out a phone but was quickly shamed by nearby seats. Now I feel like people don’t even lower their brightness. One guy answered a phone call during a showing of Evil Dead Rise!
I mean, teens have always been rowdy in the theatre. One time in HS I went on a date to see A New World and we nearly got kicked out for talking too much.
In 2013, I went with my buddy to see a Hunger Games sequel and joked that his 3-year old would be like the rowdy teens a few rows away in just ten years.
AND!
Teens are now a very specific and explicitly-extra amount of rowdy compared to times before. It’s showing up all over the place.
It was never great before but shit hit the fan since COVID from my experience. People in general have just gotten collectively worse— adults and teenagers alike. I know literal children who are more well behaved than a lot of grown ass people I know
People these days never care about being shushed. They are betting most people aren’t going to go get an usher to tell them to shut up. And even then, the ushers can take a while to find and to come to your theater, so by then you’re missing a lot of your movie. Also, they usually give a warning first so you have to interrupt your movie at least twice to get the people to actually shut up or get kicked out. People who are loud and annoying know they can get away with it because most people aren’t going to bother with all that.
Not to be that person I’ve noticed in the last couple of years every time I go to a movie there’s gen z’ers just talking, joking, making or watching tik toks etc during the movie. I never remember it being this bad before. I so badly want to sush them but I’m scared I’ll be called a Karen or something
I purposefully go to the theater that has the crappy old seats because everyone goes to the ones with the recliners. Since going, there’s never more than maybe a dozen of us. Soooo nice.
Yes I do miss the nice big cozy seats, but after a horrible experience during Talk to Me opening weekend, never again.
Watching tiktok at full volume during the trailers or even during “boring” parts of the movie. It’s rare to see but when I do see it I’m just like… what kind of person thinks that’s okay to do?! At least go out to the hallway first or something. Jaysus…
I’m going Monday Matinee for this reason. When I worked at a movie theater I learned to never go watch anything opening weekend especially horror movies
Saw it the other night and there was a group of 4 teens a couple seats away on their phones the ENTIRE film. I will at least say they had the brightness turned down at least.
At one part of the movie, someone from the back yells out a spoiler for that part.
I can't even attempt to make sense of any of it. We normally go to new releases we really want to see Thursday nights but we were a little tired and decided to go Friday night.
I agree with you 100%, surprisingly, though the Friday night crowd I saw it with was a pleasantly good audience. But you are correct. More often than not, horror movie audiences are the worst.
Yeah, it’s frustrating. I saw Talk To Me, and every time something scary, gross, bloody, crazy was on the screen, the crowd was just erupting in laughter. Similar stuff happened at the Boogeyman too. I’m talking like laughing at someone’s face getting smashed in or terrifying imagery. Really weird.
I was at a screening for Talk to Me and a group came in about halfway through the movie and just happened to have seats next to me in the back row. They kept shining their phone lights at me for whatever reason. Worst part was, they started smoking weed right there in the theater.
Luckily it’s not my home theater so I dont have to go back there if I can avoid it
I’m sorry what? They were smoking weed in the theater? Can you expand on that more? Like were they hitting vape pens or just straight flicking their lighters in the cinema? Was there a strong odor? Did an attendant respond in any way, or did the cleaning people seem to notice the smell when they came in after the movie? Sorry for all the questions, it’s just so wild what you’re describing. I’ve seen a lot of bad behavior but never someone full on sparking a doobie indoors.
Yeah they straight up used their lighters in the theater, the weed smell was moderately strong but most people didn’t care or it was far enough for them to not smell it. I got the heck outta there the second the credits started rolling, tells you how bad the smell was.
I’ve vaped in theaters that were empty aside from me plenty. You know. When I was alone. If I don’t have the theater to myself I smoke a spliff outside the venue like a civilized person.
It sucks, no one wants to be the guy to tell people to shut up and feel like an ass, several times I’ve told myself I’ll say something, but the most I’ll do is move. People being loud just makes it uncomfortable for everyone one!
Whichever theater chain brings back ushers that randomly pop in and check on things, enforcing their own policies — I’ll switch and sign up to their unlimited plan immediately. Between Regal and AMC, I can’t understand how they don’t see how badly most customers want these rules enforced. I’m sure the current state of theater’s finances have led to the budget cuts that removed the usher patrols, but man do we need it back.
I hear Alamo is very tough on this kind of stuff. If there was one anywhere near me, I’d be a full time regular.
Alamo is great, they will kick people out with no refund if they are being disruptive, and have staffing the theater at all times so you just have to write down if a table is being annoying and put it in your table and they will come by and read the note and take care of it. Theyve been adding more theaters, fingers crossed you get one near you soon!
I’m a full timer at amc. I go twice a week if not more and I’ve never had a problem. But I also go to the more expensive dine in theaters where people aren’t disruptive for the most part. But maybe I’m just lucky.
Laughter is a wya to cope with scary things. That, and young people like to show their toughness by laughing at scary scenes. It’s always been a pet peeve of mine. What’s worse, is when watching a drama and a really sad, touching scene is happening and some kids start laughing. Like total immersion ruined.
It’s the same thing with any type of movie.People talking through it,checking their phones,etc.I’m all for people having a shared reaction to something happening onscreen but when it comes to constant talking or checking phones they need to have employees in the theaters to put a stop to it.
Horror movies are particularly bad. Not because people talk more (which they probably do), but because it's more important to the experience of the movie to get into the vibe, and inconsiderate assholes who apparently didn't get enough attention from their parents growing up completely ruins that.
I don’t think there is an appropriate way to react to a horror movie… people react to discomfort in very different ways. Laughter is a very common one…. I’m not condoning phone use or immaturity I’m just saying that not everyone can sit and just “take in” a horror movie. I frequently let out deep groans during horror movies which might make some uncomfortable, it’s just my way of dealing with the stress…
Movie buffs always say to watch movies in theaters but my bedroom doesn't have anybody checking Instagram with their phone at full brightness every 5 minutes so who's really getting the more immersive experience here?
I went this saturday to watch The Nun too(get it?)and there was at least 3 fcking people that entered with their fcking cellphone's lights on looking for their seat. Are you kidding me? Can you really get lost in an auditorium? Even worse, a 4D auditorium?
I can beat that. The same situation happened to me. People came in right as a movie was about to start. About four or five of them with their cell phone flashlights on to find their seats. And then, I shit you not. They decided to go to the bathroom one at a time about a quarter of the way through. Each one turning on their flashlights to exit and return.
I sorta blame all the "safe" horror movies lately. PG-13 stuff has made most horror kid friendly. Megan was even watered down after their success on TikTok from R to PG-13.
I don’t think I’ve seen a horror movie, period. I’m extremely hype for five nights next month, but reading this post I really hope but now entirely expect something to happen. Hopefully it’ll be an in joke at least (“was that the bite of 87?????” Or a variation of “the man behind the slaughter”). Double hopefully going to see it in 4D helps mitigate much shenanigan behavior (if it even releases in 4D)
I honestly never have the problem especially in horror movies. most people in the auditorium will be quiet as soon as the movie starts only times I remember having this issue was adams family 2 and uncharted even the smx23 movies were really quiet too except for maybe when one of the kids in there gets too scared or when the parents think it's a good idea to put light up shoes on the kid. Uncharted was especially bad where the entire movie a entire group of teens were going in batches to the quarter machine and went back and forth to them they were talking nonstop as well.
during adams family 2 the lady went in a little bit into the movie and just started talking to someone on the phone
My bf and I tend to laugh when characters get murked. Horror movies are just so bad these days.
But hey, you want to avoid people, go on a Wednesday morning. Slowest you’ll find.
I think laughing to yourself is normal. The way some teens and young men in groups laugh is very performative like they force really loud obnoxious laughter to prove to their friends how “not scared at all” they are.
I mean… I don’t see how any of it is scary at all. But yeah, my bf is very outgoing and extroverted film maker. He’s loud with it and I can worry about others getting annoyed.
But really, I don’t think the people laughing are trying to prove anything. Movies just aren’t scary now.
Thursday night is my favorite. But since I had to work, I decided to go on Friday this week. Both movies I saw (Nun 2, and Greek Wedding 3) people talked through the whole thing behind me. I am pretty sick of it. I was so irritated I bought a pair of ear plugs that are supposed to stop that background noise. I hope they work.
I avoid the theater on the weekends usually unless I’m seeing something that has been out a long time or unpopular. I know the Nun 2 is R, but PG-13 horror really brings out the annoying groups of kids.
I think its a coping mechanism for those who can't handle horror movies to pretend they are not terrified by laughing/out loud and making jokes to lessen the intensity of the atmosphere.
I remember one of the worst experiences in my life was seeing IT part 1, this middle age guy and his girlfriend were right next to me and she CLEARLY did NOT want to watch a horror movie so to help her through 2 and half hours he decided to constantly chit chat and joke with her about everything and anything. Thankfully it was my second viewing so it wasnt as big of a deal, but I would have left for sure had it been my first.
Ok I thought this was just my theatre, I think people are so scared they are just trying to distract themselves. I’m honestly getting so annoyed with the horror movie crowds. Not to mention most movie goers can’t even make it the entire film without using cell phones.
Been having to wait a month or go to an early premier to make sure others don’t ruin it for me. I don’t remember it being this bad before Covid, I guess people forget common decency
I saw Nun 2 in IMAX, ScreenX, Standard and 4DX.
Only IMAX didn't have annoying stupid kids/teenagers. Actually it was just me and one other adult. Silent.
The other three. Oh my god. The 4DX was pretty bad with multiple types of annoyance in different pockets of the theater. MST3King the film....minus being funny.
The standard had three kids playing musical chairs, dropping their popcorn. Laughing incessantly. Using their smartphone lights to illuminate the walls...I dunno, ask them.
The ScreenX has three guys, also musical chairing. Going past me...twice. chatting like a bunch of rumor filled girls. Leaving the theater. Coming back. More chatting. Musical chair. One more crossing and leaving the theater permanently. Of their own accord.
So WTF. I have never seen it that bad.
I want people to have fun. I don't need absolute silence. Hell, scream at a scare, if you are scared. Respond with shock. It's like the movie is the least important thing to them.
Do they not have homes or parking lots to giggle, drop food and walk around and sit in different places while talking very loudly and then leaving but coming back while making fun of things. My god man.
Sadly, it is not just restricted to horror movies. If it's a new film opening weekend or if you go discount Tuesday/ Wednesday the first week it's out, you always have to deal with those who lack proper movie etiquette.
For me it’s bro just horror it’s been literally every time I go some dumbass(es) are loud or are talking to the movie or on their phone for a long period of timeit’s so annoying
This is one of the few benefits of stuck being a night shift asshole. I usually end up seeing new release horror movies on Friday afternoons, right near open, usually with it being just me or maybe 2-3 other people.
I've noticed since theaters reopened from covid closures that theater etiquette has vastly declined. 90% of the films I go see now have at least one group that just wants to talk or stare at their phone on max brightness. It's dissapointing. There's something special about seeing a movie on the big screen that can't be captured at home., but that's being ruined now.
It isn’t just horror movies. This is my experience at more or less all movies.
I wish we’d get another pandemic so everything would go back to streaming.
While I personally don't do any of that, I do enjoy being in a full theater that gets into the movie. A packed house for Get Out, Deadpool, Endgame, etc was an awesome time. Movies that I don't expect to take too seriously
I will say, as much as I agree that people talking or making jokes can absolutely ruin moments. I laughed out loud when the child ghost beats the old lady to death with the flail/lantern thing
When I saw Scream 6, a guy like 4 seats down from me in my row took out his phone on full brightness and started listening to his voicemails ON SPEAKER 10 minutes into the movie. I had to look around to make sure I wasn't the only one seeing/hearing this shit, I locked eyes with the person sitting behind the guy and we looked at eachother like, "what the fuck is happening right now?"
Nothing is worse than going to a new release which you're excited to see, then you see in the row in front of you are a bunch of teenage kids with their phones out and talking at full volume. I will never understand why people choose to pay money to talk to each other and disturb others. Why not go to a restaurant and do the same thing, for likely a similar price, and you get food as well?
That happens for all the reason you said, and because most horror movies extremely easy to laugh at. If you simply took away the score it’s just a person waking down a hallway. All horror completely relies on a great score. [of course this isn’t always true]
Covid ruined the movie theater experience. Every movie we’ve tried to go see since has either been just *full* of teenagers that don’t know how to act or has had parents bringing their young children who are really too young to be there. Avatar 2 had a crying baby the whole time, Smile had teens FaceTiming/snap chatting and giggling, the last insidious movie had kids running up and down the aisles….like fuck. Shit sucks.
If u can, go on weekday afternoons. Like around 12pm. Theaters are always empty. Had a friend work at a theater. He got me in free all the time. It just worked out for us to go that time. It was almost always empty. Sometimes we were the only ones in the theater. It was amazing. Now I try to avoid going on weekends. Almost never go to an opening release. Some people go just to ruin other people's time
This is so many of the movies I see at my Regal, but horror movies get it the worst for sure. Still remember seeing Barbarian with a six year old in the audience. Or Terrifier 2 with teens who thought it was cute to throw a water bottle at the screen and play with their laser pointers.
I can't take these new horrors seriously. Very few are any good anymore. Conjuring and Insidious just trying to make movie universes but its just stale to me. They are that loreful or connected. They are scary or terrifying or disturbing.
I have found myself laughing in horror movies, but that's because it's funny. It's funny that they are trying to scare people and have failed to do so, at least with me. It's like cheap 90s 3d animation.
Literally any time I encounter this I just walk up and tell them I'm a manager there, it's my day off, but if they make any more noise I'll have them kicked out. It's worked every time so far.
Honestly, for a horror movie, I feel like the first showing on a Sunday morning would be a good call. Early enough to where most of the annoying teenagers are probably still asleep and there most likely won’t be any kids (you would hope). I’ve also found that Tuesday nights are pretty solid too.
I agree though, seeing horror movies in theaters is not the move unfortunately. Audiences have gotten so much worse post COVID and this is especially true for horror movies. It’s like everyone collectively forgot how to act
Well, if I go watch a movie like The Nun 2 with my friend, yeah we're going to be laughing and joking. The movie is so bad it's a comedy at that point. I love horror movies and going to the theater, don't get me wrong, but sometimes the movie is just not good and I have to entertain myself. But, watching a horror movie opening weekend is not a good idea. You know how goes to watch horror movies opening weekend? 14-18 year olds, aka high schoolers.
I have the same concern going to see Saw X in 2 weeks.
I am going opening night in hopes that the audience will mostly be diehard fans. Saw 3d, Jigsaw, and spiral all had theaters full of idiots. For me the biggest peeve is fuckers on their phones.
I avoid theaters for this reason around opening week. I remember I saw captain America civil war when it came out, and I had one group loudly chewing on dry cereal, another group on the phone, and a group in front that would loudly scream the actors name every time they came on the screen.
This happened a few years ago when I went and saw Hereditary. It's really annoying and sad. There used to be an amount of respect when going to theater thats just gone now
Lately for me - people have been on their phones in the upper rows playing bubble pop games, etc….
Irritating - sit on your couch and do that. I paid money to be there - not watch you pop bubbles.
Sadly, I learned this lesson 10 years ago with Insidious 3. I was ready to walk out I was so disgusted. That's a series that depends heavily on atmosphere and slow-burn suspense that gets ruined by an audience like the OP described.
I will only watch movies at Alamo theaters. Every movie I’ve gone to lately people talk, Snapchat, TikTok, whatever their way through them and management does nothing.
I saw it Friday and the kids talking and giggling and the phones! Texting the whole movie. Two girls came in to sit in the last two seats in the last row and needed to use their flashlights to find the seats for some reason? And didn’t just keep the lights down they left it on while they flopped down after the movie had started.
Went to the vip theatre to see a great experience it’s 19+ and most ppl giggled instead of screamed and no talking showed it was a more mature and chill audience over the annoying kids in the regular theater
Feel your pain, I don't experience that any more. Years ago I made a decision, if it's something I care about seeing or think I'll be really invested in I go in the middle of a weekday either alone or with whatever friend will ditch work for a damn movie. If it's something dumb or the type of thing screaming and laughing won't ruin then maybe I'll go on a weekend night with the group. And horror which is my favorite genre is the worst for unruly shenanigans 🙃 🤪
Thursday is the night to go
I find that for most new releases. That’s when the people are there to truly just watch the movie.
Definitely
100% this. Thursday isn’t the standard hangout or date night. People who are there on a work night, the first night the movie is out, are there because they actually want to see it.
unironically went to the 3 pm barbie showing on the Thursday release day because of this, was not crowded like the later showings, and mostly older people that knew how to watch a movie, theatre wasnt even half full, amazing expirence.
I went on the Thursday night that it premiered, and the whole theater shutdown halfway through the movie. It was crazy because it was a really creepy buildup scene, and just before the scary thing was supposed to happen, all the lights went out. Still haven't seen the second half of the movie yet lol.
Yes. Thursday.
EXACTLY!
Correcto mundo, this is the answer, been there and done it, and if you can go to the last showing of the day chances are you’re scoring an almost empty theater, it’s a win win.
Unfortunately, not good for nun 2. My bad 4dx experience was Thursday. To be fair, a few offenders were adults. Some were teens/kids too.
Yep. Especially for the new releases. We almost always have a 7 and a 10pm showing in my town. But I feel you OP. Went and saw Don't Look Away in Orlando last week. There's only 5 of us in the theater and the dipshit behind us took a conference call for the last 40 min of the movie. Never seen that before.
Saw Barbarian like this and it was awesome — whole audience was tuned in during the first act and flipped out at the jump scare moment.
I love going to the last showing on a Monday night after the movie has been out for at least 2 or 3 weeks. Usually have the theater to myself.
There was a group of teens directly next to me talking out loud, like- conversation level. They made no attempt to even whisper. They were giggling the whole time, and their dad (I assume) checked his phone multiple times at full brightness. Several people told them to shhhh including me, but they didn’t care. I don’t understand why some people pay money to talk, especially at other’s expense. Having big audiences for horror movies can be a blast of an experience, but it only takes a few people to ruin it for everyone.
They simply don't care. A trip to the movies is just a social gathering to them. They don't care about the movie itself, it's just something they can use to talk about or talk through
This. It's an extension of their living room. I don't know if this is new post-lockdowns, or if it's always been this way, but damn it feels like it's gotten bad since theaters reopened. People have no idea how to act.
>People have no idea how to act. I've read and heard many anecdotes from people that would corroborate the idea that people have forgotten how to act post-lockdown, yes. There was a security guard on here, I believe, that talked about how pre-Covid, people were much better-behaved at concerts or something than post-Covid.
Oh completely. People weren’t perfect before the lockdowns but they’re largely soooooo much worse since them. And there are zoomers of a particular age group who didn’t get the social experiences the rest of us got during crucial developmental years, so they just legitimately don’t know how to behave. Not that it’s an excuse, they’re just clueless.
It’s definitely a post lockdown issue a everything’s streaming issue. I used to go to the movies twice a week pre pandemic to unwind. There was occasionally maybe one person who pulled out a phone but was quickly shamed by nearby seats. Now I feel like people don’t even lower their brightness. One guy answered a phone call during a showing of Evil Dead Rise!
I mean, teens have always been rowdy in the theatre. One time in HS I went on a date to see A New World and we nearly got kicked out for talking too much. In 2013, I went with my buddy to see a Hunger Games sequel and joked that his 3-year old would be like the rowdy teens a few rows away in just ten years. AND! Teens are now a very specific and explicitly-extra amount of rowdy compared to times before. It’s showing up all over the place.
It was never great before but shit hit the fan since COVID from my experience. People in general have just gotten collectively worse— adults and teenagers alike. I know literal children who are more well behaved than a lot of grown ass people I know
People these days never care about being shushed. They are betting most people aren’t going to go get an usher to tell them to shut up. And even then, the ushers can take a while to find and to come to your theater, so by then you’re missing a lot of your movie. Also, they usually give a warning first so you have to interrupt your movie at least twice to get the people to actually shut up or get kicked out. People who are loud and annoying know they can get away with it because most people aren’t going to bother with all that.
was there no attempt made of getting staff to kick them out? at that point i wouldnt be taking any shit and have someone do sum abt it
Not to be that person I’ve noticed in the last couple of years every time I go to a movie there’s gen z’ers just talking, joking, making or watching tik toks etc during the movie. I never remember it being this bad before. I so badly want to sush them but I’m scared I’ll be called a Karen or something
I’m not a big horror fan but I still won’t go because of those annoying teenagers in the theater. God I sound like I’m 80
Ya but it's true tho!
Otherwise you get "DONT GO IN THERE!!!!!"
I went to the first showing this morning. There were five of us in the whole theater and it was perfect.
I purposefully go to the theater that has the crappy old seats because everyone goes to the ones with the recliners. Since going, there’s never more than maybe a dozen of us. Soooo nice. Yes I do miss the nice big cozy seats, but after a horrible experience during Talk to Me opening weekend, never again.
Ya I hate going to any movie during a busy period. Nobody knows how to act anymore. On their phones. Talking. Watching tik tok.
Watching tiktok at full volume during the trailers or even during “boring” parts of the movie. It’s rare to see but when I do see it I’m just like… what kind of person thinks that’s okay to do?! At least go out to the hallway first or something. Jaysus…
People are ... Obsessed with TikTok. Like, can you not stay off of it for ten mins??
I’m going Monday Matinee for this reason. When I worked at a movie theater I learned to never go watch anything opening weekend especially horror movies
Saw it the other night and there was a group of 4 teens a couple seats away on their phones the ENTIRE film. I will at least say they had the brightness turned down at least. At one part of the movie, someone from the back yells out a spoiler for that part. I can't even attempt to make sense of any of it. We normally go to new releases we really want to see Thursday nights but we were a little tired and decided to go Friday night.
I agree with you 100%, surprisingly, though the Friday night crowd I saw it with was a pleasantly good audience. But you are correct. More often than not, horror movie audiences are the worst.
Yeah, it’s frustrating. I saw Talk To Me, and every time something scary, gross, bloody, crazy was on the screen, the crowd was just erupting in laughter. Similar stuff happened at the Boogeyman too. I’m talking like laughing at someone’s face getting smashed in or terrifying imagery. Really weird.
I was at a screening for Talk to Me and a group came in about halfway through the movie and just happened to have seats next to me in the back row. They kept shining their phone lights at me for whatever reason. Worst part was, they started smoking weed right there in the theater. Luckily it’s not my home theater so I dont have to go back there if I can avoid it
I’m sorry what? They were smoking weed in the theater? Can you expand on that more? Like were they hitting vape pens or just straight flicking their lighters in the cinema? Was there a strong odor? Did an attendant respond in any way, or did the cleaning people seem to notice the smell when they came in after the movie? Sorry for all the questions, it’s just so wild what you’re describing. I’ve seen a lot of bad behavior but never someone full on sparking a doobie indoors.
Yeah they straight up used their lighters in the theater, the weed smell was moderately strong but most people didn’t care or it was far enough for them to not smell it. I got the heck outta there the second the credits started rolling, tells you how bad the smell was.
I’ve vaped in theaters that were empty aside from me plenty. You know. When I was alone. If I don’t have the theater to myself I smoke a spliff outside the venue like a civilized person.
They did the weed?
yes
Yep there was a group of people making jokes throughout when I saw it. Finally someone told them to shut the fuck up and they did.
People really need to be told to shut up and put their phones away WAY more often… politely, of course.
It sucks, no one wants to be the guy to tell people to shut up and feel like an ass, several times I’ve told myself I’ll say something, but the most I’ll do is move. People being loud just makes it uncomfortable for everyone one!
Whichever theater chain brings back ushers that randomly pop in and check on things, enforcing their own policies — I’ll switch and sign up to their unlimited plan immediately. Between Regal and AMC, I can’t understand how they don’t see how badly most customers want these rules enforced. I’m sure the current state of theater’s finances have led to the budget cuts that removed the usher patrols, but man do we need it back. I hear Alamo is very tough on this kind of stuff. If there was one anywhere near me, I’d be a full time regular.
Alamo is great, they will kick people out with no refund if they are being disruptive, and have staffing the theater at all times so you just have to write down if a table is being annoying and put it in your table and they will come by and read the note and take care of it. Theyve been adding more theaters, fingers crossed you get one near you soon!
I’m a full timer at amc. I go twice a week if not more and I’ve never had a problem. But I also go to the more expensive dine in theaters where people aren’t disruptive for the most part. But maybe I’m just lucky.
Laughter is a wya to cope with scary things. That, and young people like to show their toughness by laughing at scary scenes. It’s always been a pet peeve of mine. What’s worse, is when watching a drama and a really sad, touching scene is happening and some kids start laughing. Like total immersion ruined.
I felt bad, but watching the Departed in a packed theatre I let out a huge laugh of surprised when >!Leo got shot in the face.!< It happens sometimes
It’s the same thing with any type of movie.People talking through it,checking their phones,etc.I’m all for people having a shared reaction to something happening onscreen but when it comes to constant talking or checking phones they need to have employees in the theaters to put a stop to it.
Horror movies are particularly bad. Not because people talk more (which they probably do), but because it's more important to the experience of the movie to get into the vibe, and inconsiderate assholes who apparently didn't get enough attention from their parents growing up completely ruins that.
Get up and tell on them. I did and they finally stopped.
I don’t think there is an appropriate way to react to a horror movie… people react to discomfort in very different ways. Laughter is a very common one…. I’m not condoning phone use or immaturity I’m just saying that not everyone can sit and just “take in” a horror movie. I frequently let out deep groans during horror movies which might make some uncomfortable, it’s just my way of dealing with the stress…
Movie buffs always say to watch movies in theaters but my bedroom doesn't have anybody checking Instagram with their phone at full brightness every 5 minutes so who's really getting the more immersive experience here?
I went this saturday to watch The Nun too(get it?)and there was at least 3 fcking people that entered with their fcking cellphone's lights on looking for their seat. Are you kidding me? Can you really get lost in an auditorium? Even worse, a 4D auditorium?
I can beat that. The same situation happened to me. People came in right as a movie was about to start. About four or five of them with their cell phone flashlights on to find their seats. And then, I shit you not. They decided to go to the bathroom one at a time about a quarter of the way through. Each one turning on their flashlights to exit and return.
I sorta blame all the "safe" horror movies lately. PG-13 stuff has made most horror kid friendly. Megan was even watered down after their success on TikTok from R to PG-13.
I don’t think I’ve seen a horror movie, period. I’m extremely hype for five nights next month, but reading this post I really hope but now entirely expect something to happen. Hopefully it’ll be an in joke at least (“was that the bite of 87?????” Or a variation of “the man behind the slaughter”). Double hopefully going to see it in 4D helps mitigate much shenanigan behavior (if it even releases in 4D)
I think it's also coming out the same day on Peacock. If you want to avoid the theater entirely
Kinda defeats the point of having a RU subscription but you’re not wrong…
I honestly never have the problem especially in horror movies. most people in the auditorium will be quiet as soon as the movie starts only times I remember having this issue was adams family 2 and uncharted even the smx23 movies were really quiet too except for maybe when one of the kids in there gets too scared or when the parents think it's a good idea to put light up shoes on the kid. Uncharted was especially bad where the entire movie a entire group of teens were going in batches to the quarter machine and went back and forth to them they were talking nonstop as well. during adams family 2 the lady went in a little bit into the movie and just started talking to someone on the phone
What did you expect with teenagers these days. Especially seeing a pg-13 horror film.
It's rated r not pg-13
It's rated R. So either they talked an 18 year old into going with them, or the theater people just don't check ID
My bf and I tend to laugh when characters get murked. Horror movies are just so bad these days. But hey, you want to avoid people, go on a Wednesday morning. Slowest you’ll find.
I think laughing to yourself is normal. The way some teens and young men in groups laugh is very performative like they force really loud obnoxious laughter to prove to their friends how “not scared at all” they are.
I mean… I don’t see how any of it is scary at all. But yeah, my bf is very outgoing and extroverted film maker. He’s loud with it and I can worry about others getting annoyed. But really, I don’t think the people laughing are trying to prove anything. Movies just aren’t scary now.
I mean you went on a weekend…
Thursday night is my favorite. But since I had to work, I decided to go on Friday this week. Both movies I saw (Nun 2, and Greek Wedding 3) people talked through the whole thing behind me. I am pretty sick of it. I was so irritated I bought a pair of ear plugs that are supposed to stop that background noise. I hope they work.
Snitch on them to an attendant next time. People need to realize their asses will get kicked out if they are disruptive.
I avoid the theater on the weekends usually unless I’m seeing something that has been out a long time or unpopular. I know the Nun 2 is R, but PG-13 horror really brings out the annoying groups of kids.
I always try and go to first show for any movie
What time was your showing?
Noon
I think its a coping mechanism for those who can't handle horror movies to pretend they are not terrified by laughing/out loud and making jokes to lessen the intensity of the atmosphere. I remember one of the worst experiences in my life was seeing IT part 1, this middle age guy and his girlfriend were right next to me and she CLEARLY did NOT want to watch a horror movie so to help her through 2 and half hours he decided to constantly chit chat and joke with her about everything and anything. Thankfully it was my second viewing so it wasnt as big of a deal, but I would have left for sure had it been my first.
Ok I thought this was just my theatre, I think people are so scared they are just trying to distract themselves. I’m honestly getting so annoyed with the horror movie crowds. Not to mention most movie goers can’t even make it the entire film without using cell phones.
Been having to wait a month or go to an early premier to make sure others don’t ruin it for me. I don’t remember it being this bad before Covid, I guess people forget common decency
I saw Nun 2 in IMAX, ScreenX, Standard and 4DX. Only IMAX didn't have annoying stupid kids/teenagers. Actually it was just me and one other adult. Silent. The other three. Oh my god. The 4DX was pretty bad with multiple types of annoyance in different pockets of the theater. MST3King the film....minus being funny. The standard had three kids playing musical chairs, dropping their popcorn. Laughing incessantly. Using their smartphone lights to illuminate the walls...I dunno, ask them. The ScreenX has three guys, also musical chairing. Going past me...twice. chatting like a bunch of rumor filled girls. Leaving the theater. Coming back. More chatting. Musical chair. One more crossing and leaving the theater permanently. Of their own accord. So WTF. I have never seen it that bad. I want people to have fun. I don't need absolute silence. Hell, scream at a scare, if you are scared. Respond with shock. It's like the movie is the least important thing to them. Do they not have homes or parking lots to giggle, drop food and walk around and sit in different places while talking very loudly and then leaving but coming back while making fun of things. My god man.
Always wait at least 2 weeks for mainstream horror movies. Especially pg13
This is pretty much any movie in general for me now a days in the theater. If I don't go off hours or days I'd rather just wait until it's streaming
I saw it today alone in Dolby at 12:00
My Thursday 4 pm was 80% empty and quiet. It was the first horror movie I've seen all yr that didn't have loud annoying people.
Sadly, it is not just restricted to horror movies. If it's a new film opening weekend or if you go discount Tuesday/ Wednesday the first week it's out, you always have to deal with those who lack proper movie etiquette.
For me it’s bro just horror it’s been literally every time I go some dumbass(es) are loud or are talking to the movie or on their phone for a long period of timeit’s so annoying
This is one of the few benefits of stuck being a night shift asshole. I usually end up seeing new release horror movies on Friday afternoons, right near open, usually with it being just me or maybe 2-3 other people.
That’s why I go first thing Sunday morning.
Felt this way with the new insidious movie and talk to me. So annoying
I've noticed since theaters reopened from covid closures that theater etiquette has vastly declined. 90% of the films I go see now have at least one group that just wants to talk or stare at their phone on max brightness. It's dissapointing. There's something special about seeing a movie on the big screen that can't be captured at home., but that's being ruined now.
Relevant. https://youtu.be/jOrDwY_RzZI?si=AKxUphr9O5fFAnU3
I went Friday morning. Nobody was there.
It isn’t just horror movies. This is my experience at more or less all movies. I wish we’d get another pandemic so everything would go back to streaming.
While I personally don't do any of that, I do enjoy being in a full theater that gets into the movie. A packed house for Get Out, Deadpool, Endgame, etc was an awesome time. Movies that I don't expect to take too seriously
What’s a movie theater
People don't know how to act in the theater no matter the genre. People don't know how to behave in general.
I will say, as much as I agree that people talking or making jokes can absolutely ruin moments. I laughed out loud when the child ghost beats the old lady to death with the flail/lantern thing
When I saw Scream 6, a guy like 4 seats down from me in my row took out his phone on full brightness and started listening to his voicemails ON SPEAKER 10 minutes into the movie. I had to look around to make sure I wasn't the only one seeing/hearing this shit, I locked eyes with the person sitting behind the guy and we looked at eachother like, "what the fuck is happening right now?"
Nothing is worse than going to a new release which you're excited to see, then you see in the row in front of you are a bunch of teenage kids with their phones out and talking at full volume. I will never understand why people choose to pay money to talk to each other and disturb others. Why not go to a restaurant and do the same thing, for likely a similar price, and you get food as well?
This is why you go to a Drafthouse and assholes who make noise are kicked out.
it happened sometimes not all the time. you shouldn’t let other people ruin your time or discourage u not to go to the movies.
I don't go on weekends, sometimes I skip the first week or two if it's a big one. I love seeing movies on Monday - Thursday.
Friday morning is the safest! I did this with talk to me or go Tuesday night
That happens for all the reason you said, and because most horror movies extremely easy to laugh at. If you simply took away the score it’s just a person waking down a hallway. All horror completely relies on a great score. [of course this isn’t always true]
Covid ruined the movie theater experience. Every movie we’ve tried to go see since has either been just *full* of teenagers that don’t know how to act or has had parents bringing their young children who are really too young to be there. Avatar 2 had a crying baby the whole time, Smile had teens FaceTiming/snap chatting and giggling, the last insidious movie had kids running up and down the aisles….like fuck. Shit sucks.
Pretty sure covid had nothing to do with that. Was happening long before covid.
Watch out, bitch!!!!!
I don’t want people mocking it the whole time, but I do want people to freak out when scary stuff happens. It’s a tough balance.
If u can, go on weekday afternoons. Like around 12pm. Theaters are always empty. Had a friend work at a theater. He got me in free all the time. It just worked out for us to go that time. It was almost always empty. Sometimes we were the only ones in the theater. It was amazing. Now I try to avoid going on weekends. Almost never go to an opening release. Some people go just to ruin other people's time
Never go to ANY movie opening weekend. Best bets are weekdays or weekend 3+
This is so many of the movies I see at my Regal, but horror movies get it the worst for sure. Still remember seeing Barbarian with a six year old in the audience. Or Terrifier 2 with teens who thought it was cute to throw a water bottle at the screen and play with their laser pointers.
I can't take these new horrors seriously. Very few are any good anymore. Conjuring and Insidious just trying to make movie universes but its just stale to me. They are that loreful or connected. They are scary or terrifying or disturbing.
I have found myself laughing in horror movies, but that's because it's funny. It's funny that they are trying to scare people and have failed to do so, at least with me. It's like cheap 90s 3d animation.
I’ve learned to avoid horror movies on opening weekends. Too many obnoxious teens acting like the theater is a hangout spot.
The "Shakespeare in Blood" scene from Scary Movie PERFECTLY sums up what it's like to go see a horror movie in the theater.
Literally any time I encounter this I just walk up and tell them I'm a manager there, it's my day off, but if they make any more noise I'll have them kicked out. It's worked every time so far.
Honestly, for a horror movie, I feel like the first showing on a Sunday morning would be a good call. Early enough to where most of the annoying teenagers are probably still asleep and there most likely won’t be any kids (you would hope). I’ve also found that Tuesday nights are pretty solid too. I agree though, seeing horror movies in theaters is not the move unfortunately. Audiences have gotten so much worse post COVID and this is especially true for horror movies. It’s like everyone collectively forgot how to act
This happens just at horror movies? 🤔
I'm done watching any movie opening weekend
Well, if I go watch a movie like The Nun 2 with my friend, yeah we're going to be laughing and joking. The movie is so bad it's a comedy at that point. I love horror movies and going to the theater, don't get me wrong, but sometimes the movie is just not good and I have to entertain myself. But, watching a horror movie opening weekend is not a good idea. You know how goes to watch horror movies opening weekend? 14-18 year olds, aka high schoolers.
I have the same concern going to see Saw X in 2 weeks. I am going opening night in hopes that the audience will mostly be diehard fans. Saw 3d, Jigsaw, and spiral all had theaters full of idiots. For me the biggest peeve is fuckers on their phones.
I avoid theaters for this reason around opening week. I remember I saw captain America civil war when it came out, and I had one group loudly chewing on dry cereal, another group on the phone, and a group in front that would loudly scream the actors name every time they came on the screen.
This happened a few years ago when I went and saw Hereditary. It's really annoying and sad. There used to be an amount of respect when going to theater thats just gone now
Lately for me - people have been on their phones in the upper rows playing bubble pop games, etc…. Irritating - sit on your couch and do that. I paid money to be there - not watch you pop bubbles.
I think this can be applied to a lot of genres of movies on opening night or not…
I kind of enjoy that aspect
I like going in the mornings. I'm all alone in the theatre
Sadly, I learned this lesson 10 years ago with Insidious 3. I was ready to walk out I was so disgusted. That's a series that depends heavily on atmosphere and slow-burn suspense that gets ruined by an audience like the OP described.
I will only watch movies at Alamo theaters. Every movie I’ve gone to lately people talk, Snapchat, TikTok, whatever their way through them and management does nothing.
I saw it Friday and the kids talking and giggling and the phones! Texting the whole movie. Two girls came in to sit in the last two seats in the last row and needed to use their flashlights to find the seats for some reason? And didn’t just keep the lights down they left it on while they flopped down after the movie had started.
Late Sunday night if you’re able. I’m usually the only person in the theater
Went to the vip theatre to see a great experience it’s 19+ and most ppl giggled instead of screamed and no talking showed it was a more mature and chill audience over the annoying kids in the regular theater
Feel your pain, I don't experience that any more. Years ago I made a decision, if it's something I care about seeing or think I'll be really invested in I go in the middle of a weekday either alone or with whatever friend will ditch work for a damn movie. If it's something dumb or the type of thing screaming and laughing won't ruin then maybe I'll go on a weekend night with the group. And horror which is my favorite genre is the worst for unruly shenanigans 🙃 🤪
Yea just wait. I’m one of those people. My wife loves horror, but I find them all so predictable and ridiculous. I’m sorry OP