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AIBU?

To think children shouldn't be allowed in late showings at the cinema ?

53 replies

shakesbeer · 21/02/2018 01:12

I went to see The Greatest Showman tonight at an 8.30pm showing.

Just as Jenny Lind was about to sing Never Enough- which for anyone who has seen will known its one of those jaw dropping moments that leaves you in awe covered in goosebumps (for many at least) when two young children start playing up and arguing and not quietly.

This was my third time seeing it but I felt so irritated for those who hadn't. It completely ruined the atmosphere of the moment.

I'm sure I'll get a fair amount of bashing for this but I really feel like night showings should be child free.
I know some may say that their parents must've really wanted to see it and perhaps couldn't afford a babysitter but why not go on a weekend? And if it was the children who really wanted to see it I can't quite believe that no other times would've suited them.

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swanmills · 21/02/2018 01:16

Omg I'd have been livid if someone ruined Never Enough! That moment deserves complete and utter silence Grin
I do agree though As I personally only go to evening showings to avoid children. Maybe not completely bad kids from later showings but have specific adult only showings would be the answer.

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BoomBoomsCousin · 21/02/2018 01:21

I don’t see why the time of day makes any difference. People who go see things at 2:30 are no more or less deserving of a good experience than people who go at 8:30.

It would be really infuriating though.

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DeathStare · 21/02/2018 01:22

8.30pm is hardly a late showing. If you'd said you were at the 11pm showing I'd have probably agreed that they could make is child-free. 8.30 is hardly late for children to be out with their family - especially in the school holidays.

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shakesbeer · 21/02/2018 01:25

Death I don't have kids myself so you may be right but I can't help but think that 8.30 (closer to 9 after all the ads) for a 2 hour long film is fairly long even in the holidays for 5/6 year olds ?

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shakesbeer · 21/02/2018 01:27

Boom I see what you're saying but I think often people go to later viewings deliberately to avoid children being there. If I went in the day I'd expect there to potentially be some interruptions from kids and wouldn't be so annoyed but I don't think most people expect children to be there later at night. I think going in the day you need to at least anticipate the possibility of interruptions.

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BoomBoomsCousin · 21/02/2018 02:00

Just because you want to avoid children doesn’t mean you have some sort of greater right to that more than someone else has a right to go to a show that’s convenient for them. Also I tend to agree with Death that 8:30 isn’t really that late for some kids, so I don’t think it’s a reasonable time to be going and be that surprised that they’re there.

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Namechangefailagain · 21/02/2018 02:56

If I take my eldest we go to sittings around 7.30/8 30 as by time he's home, fed and done his homework it's impossible to go any earlier. (Local only does 3 sittings a day). Plus it means youngest is settled in bed so less stressful for us trying to leave him behind.

But I do think 5/6 is rather young to go to anything that late, especially to a film they'd probably not enjoy.

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Cavender · 21/02/2018 04:07

I think people should just ensure that their children behave themselves in the cinema.

They shouldn’t have been fighting, and their parent should have dealt with it the second it started.

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DeathStare · 21/02/2018 05:53

Death I don't have kids myself so you may be right but I can't help but think that 8.30 (closer to 9 after all the ads) for a 2 hour long film is fairly long even in the holidays for 5/6 year olds ?

So it finishes at about 11pm? To be honest in the school holidays I would expect their to be a fair few families with children at a film with that showing time. It's the perfect sort of time for parents to come home for work, get tea and then go out as a family. In bed by 11.30ish. Lie-in in the morning.

I'd have expected a lot more than 2 children to be honest. And I think anyone who goes to a film showing, of a family film , at that time in the school holidays in order to avoid children is being naive .

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BoomBoomsCousin · 21/02/2018 06:42

YY Cavender

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bluebells1 · 21/02/2018 06:45

ODEON gallery is your friend! We only watch movies there and love the fact that there are no under-18s ruining the experience.

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AuntieStella · 21/02/2018 06:51

Agree with Cavender

Anyone's DC could have an off day, but DC shouldn't be in cinemas (except for specified children's screenings) until there is a reasonable chance they will be able to sit nicely for the whole film. And if they can't the parents should intervene rapidly - but by then the disturbance is made.

People have paid to see the big screen showing, and should not be disturbed by antics of others (whatever the age of the disturbance-causing person). This might mean film night is on DVD until your DC are capable of adequate behaviour in public places, but they nearly all get there. And if they don't, some cinema chains have specified 'friendly' screenings so there are opportunities for those who need them.

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TheHungryDonkey · 21/02/2018 07:10

I get fucked off by any age person who can’t behave in a cinema. From the woman who let her couple of months old baby scream and cry the entire length of Paddington 2 to the woman who plugged her mobile phone into charge at the Odeon. I wish they’d have proper ushers throughout films.

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BlondeB83 · 21/02/2018 07:14

I think it’s more about the parents controlling their kids to be honest.

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BlondeB83 · 21/02/2018 07:15

Adults can be just as bad.

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Littlebelina · 21/02/2018 07:18

Yy to HungryDonkey and Calender. The issue here wasn't the kids at the 8.30 showing. It was that the parents didn't shut them up as soon as they started. Everyone (looking at you, lady who plonked yourself down in the premium seats with a normal ticket and then started chatting during the Greatest Showman) should keep quiet during a film. The only potential exception would be a dedicated kids showing where I think there is little more leeway

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iceycage · 21/02/2018 07:21

As a non parent perhaps I'm being naive but I'm surprised by how many people on this thread are saying it's normal for very young children to be going to bed close to midnight, even if it is a school holiday.

I spend a lot of time with my young nieces and nephews and it wouldn't occur to me to take them to a showing so late. Not so much because of the late hour (I personally see myself as fun maybe slightly irresponsible aunt who may well let them stay up late but as I say I didn't think most parents would be ok with this) but more as a childless person who appreciates that not everyone wants children around

I admit it's difficult as one attitude from parents would be "well just because you don't like kids around doesn't mean mine should miss out " but I also think that people need to try and be more considerate.
TGS has been on for weeks and will be for a few more I should think. I truly don't believe that there were no other showings on no other days that these parents could've taken them to. I agree with OP that if I go in the day- which I rarely do specifically to avoid this - then I would prepare myself for the possibility of a child kicking off. But I wouldn't expect it at 9pm

Although as others have said, there shouldn't be disturbances in cinemas full stop. I think having ushers wouldn't be a bad idea at all.

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TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 21/02/2018 07:22

Agree with some of above posts^^.

The issue wasn’t that children were there, it’s that they were being allowed to disturb other people.

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iceycage · 21/02/2018 07:25

Also forgot to add that while adults disturbing films is equally as annoying, it's easier to manage that situation. Often I've heard people turn around and ask noisy people to quieten down which they then do (I've never seen anything kick off in a cinema) but I think most people would be anxious of asking a parent to quite their child down. I know I wouldn't like to be that person.

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c75kp0r · 21/02/2018 07:28

Gosh I remember (not in the uk mind you), it used to be cinsidered normal when I was a teen to turn up to the cinema whenever, youd watch the rest of the film and then stay in your seat and watch the next showing up to the bit that you joined at. No one seemed too bothered by the fact you saw the ending before the start of the film....

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c75kp0r · 21/02/2018 07:30

Mind you prople knew how to behave then... the carry on now in cinemas is ridiculous

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Oblomov18 · 21/02/2018 07:32

I think the issue is that the children were badly behaved. And ruined an important part of the film. That would really make me cross.

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Aeroflotgirl · 21/02/2018 07:34

YNBU at all, that is in adult territory, and people don't want noisy kids at that time disturbing the film. They can see it at different times or different day at an earlier time.

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Skittlesss · 21/02/2018 07:35

OP, I agree with you, and having children of the same age (5 & 7) I would not take them to the 8.30 showing of a film they probably wouldn't even like at their age. They're fast asleep by then anyway. Just because it's school holidays doesn't mean they suddenly have the energy to stay up til midnight!

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Trills · 21/02/2018 07:51

I would expect there to be nobody under secondary school age at least in a showing starting at 8:30.

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