Movie theater etiquette: What are your thoughts?

James Fox35 said:John Doe 😁

Folks, yesterday's premiere of The Avengers was hands down the best cinema experience I've ever had. The crowd was massive. It felt like every fifth person was wearing a themed shirt (mostly Team Captain America 😁), and every third person was carrying a promotional menu. Honestly, it felt like being at a miniature Comic-Con... haha. And once the movie actually started? Incredible. People were cheering, laughing, and I think even a few people were tearing up. Such a unique atmosphere...

I'm a total movie junkie. I hit the theaters so often that my experiences are almost always positive—maybe a 10% failure rate at most.

True, there are those rare moments that make you forgive all the bad movie experiences.

Take the premiere of Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring. The theater was overflowing, including some high-profile VIPs and a whole crowd of soldiers... just everyone glued to Gandalf & co.🙂...unforgettable. I remember catching my breath in the lobby afterward, grabbing a drink, and then heading straight to line up for Tim Burton's King Kong...😁

Though I'm a little worried I might lose my cool and turn into a villain myself, trying to take over the theater.

Wait, did Tim Burton actually direct King Kong? 😕

Daniel Kelly57 said:Shh! Don't go spilling the secret that they won't be hunting us at the entrances!🤣

Man, I just had this dream where I was watching a movie and some woman walked into the theater just to tell me she wanted to have a talk later. 🤣 🤣 🤣

David Barrett7 said:To dodge the crowds of obnoxious people, I started hitting up those early morning showtimes—like Sunday mornings—and honestly, the crowd during those slots is actually pretty decent so far.

When it comes to movies I absolutely love and can't wait to see on the big screen (like Star Wars), I make it a point to catch them on the very first or second day. That way, I’m guaranteed to be surrounded by actual movie lovers who know how to stay quiet and respect the film. 😁

You can really feel the difference in the vibe of the audience on opening night versus two weeks later if you're someone who watches the same movie multiple times.

I agree. I went to see the > yesterday, and the crowd was great. You could tell everyone was there to actually watch the movie rather than mess around.
It was a pleasant experience; I left feeling recharged.

Morgan Brown4 said:Wait, did Tim Burton actually direct King Kong? 😕

Planet of the Apes🙂

Lately, I’m seeing a ton of articles where everyone is just weeping about how much they miss old-school movie theaters.

Look, I remember back in the late 90s, theaters were basically going bankrupt while video rental stores were absolutely killing it.

AMC Theatres is basically a spaceship compared to those old places. It’s better, cleaner, and way more organized. I used to drive from Cleveland to Indianapolis to hit up those crusty old theaters, and honestly, AMC Theatres eats them all for breakfast.
And if you can't stand kids making noise, just go on a Monday or whenever the place is empty.
Or just stay away from animated comedies and superhero movies.😁

As for movie quality, that’s a totally different conversation that has nothing to do with the theaters or AMC Theatres. You get great stuff on cable TV now; honestly, modern series are better than most movies anyway.
Pay for it or play pirate—if you don't know how, some nephew or the neighbor's kid definitely does.

No offense intended, but people are getting exhausting with this nostalgia trip. Yeah, I loved VHS too, I have a mountain of them, but today everything fits on a single thumb drive.
I loved old gaming consoles, I loved those printed magazines we used to get.
So what? What's the point?

Morgan Brown4 said:But she didn't say they stopped selling popcorn—just that eating it in the theater wasn't really the vibe back then. 🙂

Sorry, but this whole thing feels bizarre and kind of petty to me.

What, is a movie experience supposed to be so intense that ladies need to wear evening gowns and men need to be in suits?

If someone's annoyed by people chewing, they should just watch the movie at home.

Richard Wilson4 said:Lately, I’m seeing a ton of articles where everyone is just weeping about how much they miss old-school movie theaters.

Look, I remember back in the late 90s, theaters were basically going bankrupt while video rental stores were absolutely killing it.

AMC Theatres is basically a spaceship compared to those old places. It’s better, cleaner, and way more organized. I used to drive from Cleveland to Indianapolis to hit up those crusty old theaters, and honestly, AMC Theatres eats them all for breakfast.
And if you can't stand kids making noise, just go on a Monday or whenever the place is empty.
Or just stay away from animated comedies and superhero movies.😁

As for movie quality, that’s a totally different conversation that has nothing to do with the theaters or AMC Theatres. You get great stuff on cable TV now; honestly, modern series are better than most movies anyway.
Pay for it or play pirate—if you don't know how, some nephew or the neighbor's kid definitely does.

No offense intended, but people are getting exhausting with this nostalgia trip. Yeah, I loved VHS too, I have a mountain of them, but today everything fits on a single thumb drive.
I loved old gaming consoles, I loved those printed magazines we used to get.
So what? What's the point?

Sorry, but this whole thing feels bizarre and kind of petty to me.

What, is a movie experience supposed to be so intense that ladies need to wear evening gowns and men need to be in suits?

If someone's annoyed by people chewing, they should just watch the movie at home.

👍

The funniest part was when I brought a bag of chips to an indie screening at an AMC Theatres in Chicago—this entire crowd in their fancy velvet coats started whispering about me like I was some kind of criminal. 😁

Apparently, I’m one of those "uncultured" people who goes to the theater. I’m always commenting on things—actually, other people's comments don't bother me at all; sometimes you can pick up some good info from them.
By the way, I read recently that ticket sales in the USA actually went up last year, while they dropped in Europe. No clue why. You'd think they'd be tanking everywhere because of all the streaming services out there.

I honestly don't hear anyone else's popcorn. I can't tell if I'm just lucky enough to sit next to people who stay dead silent, or if theaters just crank the volume up so high that the noise levels are physically painful, making it impossible to notice anything else.

It really bugs me when some idiot is staring at their phone screen, or the people sitting right in front of me who won't stop stretching, or that lady who spends the whole movie talking about her office life... I usually catch the early screenings, so it’s almost always just a few people there, which lets me actually enjoy the peace.

I’ll probably have the whole bucket of popcorn finished before the trailers even wrap up 🤦

Patrick Martin said:I’ll probably have the whole bucket of popcorn finished before the trailers even wrap up 🤦

What kind of amateur are you... either your popcorn is too small or you eat way too fast... 😁

I have to admit, I’m the same way. Eating at the theater is a massive part of the whole experience for me. I absolutely live for the popcorn and nachos at AMC Theatres...

I love them best when they’re still steaming hot. Once they cool down? Total garbage. Honestly, I can't even deal with eating them one by one—that’s too slow for me. I just cram a massive mouthful in all at once, stuff is practically leaking out the sides of my face, and then I just sit there like some kind of caveman survivor, chewing and chewing and chewing...
Once I get going, there's no stopping me...

Patrick Martin said:I’ll probably have the whole bucket of popcorn finished before the trailers even wrap up 🤦

Same here... I’m telling you, next time I’m just gonna wait for the movie to hit streaming.
I’m a regular at the local AMC Theatres, honestly. There’s just nothing that compares to the actual experience of being in a theater and being able to fully lock in on the movie—home setups just don't hit the same.
I haven't really had any issues with the crowd so far, mostly because I make sure to hit the screenings during the more serious showtimes.

I don't mind people snacking in the AMC Theatres, actually 😁
But since I’m not much of a popcorn fan, I usually sneak in some salty chips instead. It feels like the trailers go on forever lately... maybe I should start carrying a bigger bag. 🙂

Richard Wilson4 said:Lately, I’m seeing a ton of articles where everyone is just weeping about how much they miss old-school movie theaters.

Look, I remember back in the late 90s, theaters were basically going bankrupt while video rental stores were absolutely killing it.

AMC Theatres is basically a spaceship compared to those old places. It’s better, cleaner, and way more organized. I used to drive from Cleveland to Indianapolis to hit up those crusty old theaters, and honestly, AMC Theatres eats them all for breakfast.
And if you can't stand kids making noise, just go on a Monday or whenever the place is empty.
Or just stay away from animated comedies and superhero movies.😁

As for movie quality, that’s a totally different conversation that has nothing to do with the theaters or AMC Theatres. You get great stuff on cable TV now; honestly, modern series are better than most movies anyway.
Pay for it or play pirate—if you don't know how, some nephew or the neighbor's kid definitely does.

No offense intended, but people are getting exhausting with this nostalgia trip. Yeah, I loved VHS too, I have a mountain of them, but today everything fits on a single thumb drive.
I loved old gaming consoles, I loved those printed magazines we used to get.
So what? What's the point?

Sorry, but this whole thing feels bizarre and kind of petty to me.

What, is a movie experience supposed to be so intense that ladies need to wear evening gowns and men need to be in suits?

If someone's annoyed by people chewing, they should just watch the movie at home.

Yeah, that gets on my nerves too.
I never understood why people hate on multiplexes and claim they "destroyed cinema"... And then they start rambling about how those old little rooms had "soul" and modern multiplexes are just dead and soulless... Look, I don't give a damn about the room. I came to watch a freaking movie, for God's sake!

Maybe you can complain about the programming—you know, the obsession with blockbusters and Oscar bait—but thank God, they do still offer art and indie films. It's just that those movies usually don't stay on the schedule for long... While the new Star Wars or Avengers movies run for months after their premiere...
It’ll never make sense to me why someone would travel to Europe or an old-school movie theater (where those movies take up slots that could be used for something else) if the same thing is playing at AMC...

Richard Wilson4 said:Lately, I’m seeing a ton of articles where everyone is just weeping about how much they miss old-school movie theaters.

Look, I remember back in the late 90s, theaters were basically going bankrupt while video rental stores were absolutely killing it.

AMC Theatres is basically a spaceship compared to those old places. It’s better, cleaner, and way more organized. I used to drive from Cleveland to Indianapolis to hit up those crusty old theaters, and honestly, AMC Theatres eats them all for breakfast.
And if you can't stand kids making noise, just go on a Monday or whenever the place is empty.
Or just stay away from animated comedies and superhero movies.😁

As for movie quality, that’s a totally different conversation that has nothing to do with the theaters or AMC Theatres. You get great stuff on cable TV now; honestly, modern series are better than most movies anyway.
Pay for it or play pirate—if you don't know how, some nephew or the neighbor's kid definitely does.

No offense intended, but people are getting exhausting with this nostalgia trip. Yeah, I loved VHS too, I have a mountain of them, but today everything fits on a single thumb drive.
I loved old gaming consoles, I loved those printed magazines we used to get.
So what? What's the point?

Sorry, but this whole thing feels bizarre and kind of petty to me.

What, is a movie experience supposed to be so intense that ladies need to wear evening gowns and men need to be in suits?

If someone's annoyed by people chewing, they should just watch the movie at home.

Not like we have a movie theater at home anyway...

Morgan Brown4 said:Yeah, that gets on my nerves too.
I never understood why people hate on multiplexes and claim they "destroyed cinema"... And then they start rambling about how those old little rooms had "soul" and modern multiplexes are just dead and soulless... Look, I don't give a damn about the room. I came to watch a freaking movie, for God's sake!

Maybe you can complain about the programming—you know, the obsession with blockbusters and Oscar bait—but thank God, they do still offer art and indie films. It's just that those movies usually don't stay on the schedule for long... While the new Star Wars or Avengers movies run for months after their premiere...
It’ll never make sense to me why someone would travel to Europe or an old-school movie theater (where those movies take up slots that could be used for something else) if the same thing is playing at AMC...

Not like we have a movie theater at home anyway...

I honestly think you’d find it pretty boring. You wouldn't have that whole "crowd" to deal with—you know, the ones throwing popcorn at you, loudly munching on burritos, or constantly checking their phones to ask everyone, "Hey, where you at?"☕😉

Patrick Martin said:I’ll probably have the whole bucket of popcorn finished before the trailers even wrap up 🤦

It’s futile to lecture today's younger generation about those struggles. They haven't a clue what it was like back then, living through the dark days of communism when a dictator like Marshall could practically snatch the food right out of your mouth. Trying to explain it to them is like trying to teach Pavlov's reflex; once you see food, you feel this primal, desperate urge to devour it immediately. It becomes an instinct. You never truly know when the secret police might burst through your door and seize your last meal just to line the pockets of the elite—to feed the families of people like Špiljak, Bakarić, or Josipović.

Speaking of movies, I first started heading to the cinema back in 1974, usually with someone in tow, though by 1976 I was making my own way there. I remember sipping on a Coca-Cola and looking at the snacks they sold; honestly, that stuff was for suckers. They charged way more for a bag of popcorn than you’d ever pay at a local grocery store.
Growing up, I was always painfully self-conscious about any kind of bodily noise—whether it was the sound of someone crunching too loudly on food or, even worse, the social catastrophe of passing gas. It felt mortifying. But I suppose I can't expect myself to change now. I’m not going to suddenly transform into one of those typical American types who lacks any semblance of discipline, someone who can't make it through two damn hours without needing a constant influx of calories just to function.
Eating in a movie theater is absolutely revolting to me. I can't help but wonder if this distaste stems from my upbringing—being raised with such a staunchly secular, old-school American ideological background.🕺

I’d say the safest bet is hitting those early matinees around 4 or 5, or maybe late screenings after 9 PM. That middle slot is usually just a swamp of garbage, especially if it’s some mainstream fluff—mostly comedies or those heavily marketed horror flicks that aren't actually scary enough to warrant a crowd.
I got lucky last time I went to one of those during high school; it was nothing but non-stop giggling, constant chatter, and people stretching out so far you practically have to dodge them🙄, not to mention screaming at certain scenes. It was a total disaster...
Then there’s the food situation, which is arguably the biggest headache. Honestly, I’ve never encountered anything truly offensive, but I’d like to believe the idea of someone bringing in a massive plate of greasy street food is just an urban legend.😲
Regardless, I’m all for banning people carrying large bags or similar gear. Who knows what they’re hiding in there, or how much they might terrorize us with collective burping... Besides, it’s easy enough to sneak some snacks or a soda into a bag without anyone noticing. And please, let's stick to normal flavors; nobody wants to sit in a packed theater smelling onion or leek chips.

There’s simply no excuse for people who can't behave in a theater. I’ve been going to the movies since I was a kid and I never acted like that. Even when I was stuck in a painfully boring movie, I stayed quiet and didn't bother anyone, whether I was alone or with a group. At this point, if you can't act right, just stay home and stream it. Some basic decorum is required. If people can't manage that, staff should step in, give them a warning, and if they persist, kick them out. Let's see how they behave next time.☕

granitecyclist said:I honestly think you’d find it pretty boring. You wouldn't have that whole "crowd" to deal with—you know, the ones throwing popcorn at you, loudly munching on burritos, or constantly checking their phones to ask everyone, "Hey, where you at?"☕😉

Man, I used to have that exact problem at home. 😁 One time, I accidentally turned on a movie while my mom and brother were hanging out in the living room. People just talking the whole time, making jokes about the movie... Yeah, ever since then, I make sure everyone clears out of the living room before I start a movie at home. 😁

Olivia Roberts7 said:I’d say the safest bet is hitting those early matinees around 4 or 5, or maybe late screenings after 9 PM. That middle slot is usually just a swamp of garbage, especially if it’s some mainstream fluff—mostly comedies or those heavily marketed horror flicks that aren't actually scary enough to warrant a crowd.
I got lucky last time I went to one of those during high school; it was nothing but non-stop giggling, constant chatter, and people stretching out so far you practically have to dodge them🙄, not to mention screaming at certain scenes. It was a total disaster...
Then there’s the food situation, which is arguably the biggest headache. Honestly, I’ve never encountered anything truly offensive, but I’d like to believe the idea of someone bringing in a massive plate of greasy street food is just an urban legend.😲
Regardless, I’m all for banning people carrying large bags or similar gear. Who knows what they’re hiding in there, or how much they might terrorize us with collective burping... Besides, it’s easy enough to sneak some snacks or a soda into a bag without anyone noticing. And please, let's stick to normal flavors; nobody wants to sit in a packed theater smelling onion or leek chips.

There’s simply no excuse for people who can't behave in a theater. I’ve been going to the movies since I was a kid and I never acted like that. Even when I was stuck in a painfully boring movie, I stayed quiet and didn't bother anyone, whether I was alone or with a group. At this point, if you can't act right, just stay home and stream it. Some basic decorum is required. If people can't manage that, staff should step in, give them a warning, and if they persist, kick them out. Let's see how they behave next time.☕

Someone on this forum once mentioned being at a screening where a woman brought in chicken...

What even counts as a "normal flavor" to you? And why would onion or leek be such a huge deal?
Tbh, you sound just like the chaperone from my high school graduation trip who told us we couldn't eat sandwiches on the bus because "food smells might get into the vents and make someone throw up." 🤣

bluecyclist64 said:It’s futile to lecture today's younger generation about those struggles. They haven't a clue what it was like back then, living through the dark days of communism when a dictator like Marshall could practically snatch the food right out of your mouth. Trying to explain it to them is like trying to teach Pavlov's reflex; once you see food, you feel this primal, desperate urge to devour it immediately. It becomes an instinct. You never truly know when the secret police might burst through your door and seize your last meal just to line the pockets of the elite—to feed the families of people like Špiljak, Bakarić, or Josipović.

Speaking of movies, I first started heading to the cinema back in 1974, usually with someone in tow, though by 1976 I was making my own way there. I remember sipping on a Coca-Cola and looking at the snacks they sold; honestly, that stuff was for suckers. They charged way more for a bag of popcorn than you’d ever pay at a local grocery store.
Growing up, I was always painfully self-conscious about any kind of bodily noise—whether it was the sound of someone crunching too loudly on food or, even worse, the social catastrophe of passing gas. It felt mortifying. But I suppose I can't expect myself to change now. I’m not going to suddenly transform into one of those typical American types who lacks any semblance of discipline, someone who can't make it through two damn hours without needing a constant influx of calories just to function.
Eating in a movie theater is absolutely revolting to me. I can't help but wonder if this distaste stems from my upbringing—being raised with such a staunchly secular, old-school American ideological background.🕺

Well, then I guess I'm a communist too... What a disaster! 😲

bluecyclist64 said:It’s futile to lecture today's younger generation about those struggles. They haven't a clue what it was like back then, living through the dark days of communism when a dictator like Marshall could practically snatch the food right out of your mouth. Trying to explain it to them is like trying to teach Pavlov's reflex; once you see food, you feel this primal, desperate urge to devour it immediately. It becomes an instinct. You never truly know when the secret police might burst through your door and seize your last meal just to line the pockets of the elite—to feed the families of people like Špiljak, Bakarić, or Josipović.

Speaking of movies, I first started heading to the cinema back in 1974, usually with someone in tow, though by 1976 I was making my own way there. I remember sipping on a Coca-Cola and looking at the snacks they sold; honestly, that stuff was for suckers. They charged way more for a bag of popcorn than you’d ever pay at a local grocery store.
Growing up, I was always painfully self-conscious about any kind of bodily noise—whether it was the sound of someone crunching too loudly on food or, even worse, the social catastrophe of passing gas. It felt mortifying. But I suppose I can't expect myself to change now. I’m not going to suddenly transform into one of those typical American types who lacks any semblance of discipline, someone who can't make it through two damn hours without needing a constant influx of calories just to function.
Eating in a movie theater is absolutely revolting to me. I can't help but wonder if this distaste stems from my upbringing—being raised with such a staunchly secular, old-school American ideological background.🕺

For me, that whole complex was even deeper because I remember that specific feeling of pure bliss* whenever my relatives would fly in from Germany with suitcases packed full of the best candy, chocolates, and sodas. It was this weird, unclassifiable sense of 🕺

...I was drinking Coca-Cola...

I've been reading your stuff since ☕

*read: low standards