Page 5 | People who go to the cinema and sit on their phones for the whole film, why?

HeadNorth · 26/08/2025 08:55

Even worse when they are scrolling in the theatre during a live performance - so rude and disrespectful to the performers and annoying for the person sitting next to them.

Anecdotally, I have only ever seen older/boomer age people doing this, never the young 'uns that are usually subject to criticism for their use of social media.

MrsVinceVega · 26/08/2025 08:54

Corfumanchu · 26/08/2025 08:49

Because tgeir companion chose the film , and they aren't interested

So either don't go, or just be a bit bored for a couple of hours. It's not the end of the world!

TheKeatingFive · 26/08/2025 08:54

SquitMcJit · 26/08/2025 08:48

Please don’t do this.

Announcement/ screen instructions ask you to put your phone away when the film starts. It doesn’t say crack on if you turn your screen brightness down.

We’ve all sat through kids films that aren’t are to our taste or got stuck watching a bad film. It doesn’t give you the right to spoil other people’s experience.

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I'm not spoiling anyone's experience however

RimTimTagiDim · 26/08/2025 08:53

I had the worst cinema experience a few weekends ago. A woman in my eyeline on her phone the whole time, someone behind me crunching nachos that seemed to last the entire film, and a man a few places away from me hawking up snot every couple of minutes. I vowed never again to go to a popular film on the weekend. Usually I go on a weekday after work and it's much more civilised.

ItsFineReally · 26/08/2025 08:52

Soontobe60 · 26/08/2025 08:13

Is it heck 😂
I often take my grandchildren to the cinema. The films aren’t my cup of tea, it’s too loud for me so earbuds and Mumsnet on the phone helps me get through it.

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I cannot fathom this level of selfishness.

landlordhell · 26/08/2025 08:51

Corfumanchu · 26/08/2025 08:49

Because tgeir companion chose the film , and they aren't interested

So you say that and don’t go or do something else.

Corfumanchu · 26/08/2025 08:49

Because tgeir companion chose the film , and they aren't interested

SquitMcJit · 26/08/2025 08:48

TheKeatingFive · 26/08/2025 08:36

I do this when I'm with the kids sometimes and the film is awful. I turn the screen brightness down to the minimum setting though.

Please don’t do this.

Announcement/ screen instructions ask you to put your phone away when the film starts. It doesn’t say crack on if you turn your screen brightness down.

We’ve all sat through kids films that aren’t are to our taste or got stuck watching a bad film. It doesn’t give you the right to spoil other people’s experience.

SnailPail · 26/08/2025 08:46

A serious inability to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes at a time.

No-one who cannot switch off their phone for 2-3 hours should be in a cinema. If you need to be in contact all the time, you should find other activities.

It’s an epidemic - the worst are people who stare at it walking down the street. There are exceptions - reading a map for example - but it’s clear many aren’t.

SquitMcJit · 26/08/2025 08:44

Soontobe60 · 26/08/2025 08:13

Is it heck 😂
I often take my grandchildren to the cinema. The films aren’t my cup of tea, it’s too loud for me so earbuds and Mumsnet on the phone helps me get through it.

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Please don’t do this.

It’s inconsiderate and spoiling other people’s paid for experience. The light from your phone in a dark room is distracting - you are not in your phone in a cafe in daylight.

Also, if you can’t work that out yourself/think your needs are more important then the fact that cinemas literally announce that everyone needs to put their phones away when the film is starting shows that it’s a requirement for being in the cinema. As is not talking.

TheKeatingFive · 26/08/2025 08:36

I do this when I'm with the kids sometimes and the film is awful. I turn the screen brightness down to the minimum setting though.

Bonjovispyjamas · 26/08/2025 08:34

All this is reminding me of why I haven't been to the cinema for 10 years 🤣

Nannyfannybanny · 26/08/2025 08:25

We used to go to a little independent cinema,cheap as chips, manager in person made a joke about phone usage, but everyone complied, Covid killed the cinema. Cineworld, always people on their phones throughout the whole films. Last time 3 girls late teens, sitting next to me,calls, texts you name it, I ended up with a migraine because of the flashing lights. So we have granny on here boasting she does it, great example for future generations!

MrsVinceVega · 26/08/2025 08:24

Soontobe60 · 26/08/2025 08:13

Is it heck 😂
I often take my grandchildren to the cinema. The films aren’t my cup of tea, it’s too loud for me so earbuds and Mumsnet on the phone helps me get through it.

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You sound awful.

iloveeverykindofcat · 26/08/2025 08:24

BitOutOfPractice · 26/08/2025 08:17

I can feel it happening to me (I’m actively trying to resist and retrain it back) so goodness knows how children and younger people are coping.

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None of us are immune. I self impose a phone ban for minimum 2 hours before sleep, preferably 3.

Makes me feel ancient but I clearly remember when I first started, it was a reasonable assumption that most students could properly focus on an hour's lecture. Feels like another world now.

LidlAmaretto · 26/08/2025 08:22

Soontobe60 · 26/08/2025 08:13

Is it heck 😂
I often take my grandchildren to the cinema. The films aren’t my cup of tea, it’s too loud for me so earbuds and Mumsnet on the phone helps me get through it.

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Can't you listen to a podcast or audiobook instead? It's the light from the phone screen that's distractin.

BitOutOfPractice · 26/08/2025 08:18

Soontobe60 · 26/08/2025 08:13

Is it heck 😂
I often take my grandchildren to the cinema. The films aren’t my cup of tea, it’s too loud for me so earbuds and Mumsnet on the phone helps me get through it.

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It really is bad manners no matter what your excuse. It’s really rude.

Just do what I did when I used to take young kids to the pictures, have a snooze.

BitOutOfPractice · 26/08/2025 08:17

iloveeverykindofcat · 26/08/2025 08:13

@BitOutOfPracticeHaving been a lecturer for several years now and observed the change as ultra short form content gets more and more popular, minutes might be an overstatement. It's genuinely concerning.

I can feel it happening to me (I’m actively trying to resist and retrain it back) so goodness knows how children and younger people are coping.

landlordhell · 26/08/2025 08:16

LidlAmaretto · 26/08/2025 07:55

How can you not realise a light in a dark room bothers others? It's really distracting. Just say no to the cinema and meet them afterwards if you don't like cinema or films. It's perfectly possible to sit in a room watching a film on your own. Tell your friends/ boyfriend to stop being babies and go on their own.

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Tbis

landlordhell · 26/08/2025 08:14

Soontobe60 · 26/08/2025 08:13

Is it heck 😂
I often take my grandchildren to the cinema. The films aren’t my cup of tea, it’s too loud for me so earbuds and Mumsnet on the phone helps me get through it.

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How arrogant .

Soontobe60 · 26/08/2025 08:13

lotsofpatience · 25/08/2025 23:17

Bad manners.

Is it heck 😂
I often take my grandchildren to the cinema. The films aren’t my cup of tea, it’s too loud for me so earbuds and Mumsnet on the phone helps me get through it.

iloveeverykindofcat · 26/08/2025 08:13

@BitOutOfPracticeHaving been a lecturer for several years now and observed the change as ultra short form content gets more and more popular, minutes might be an overstatement. It's genuinely concerning.

opencecilgee · 26/08/2025 08:09

I tend to only go to kids films these days but it’s irritating. Also chatting, getting up and down, popcorn munching, sweet paper rustling

Rather wait for Netflix

BitOutOfPractice · 26/08/2025 08:05

NuffSaidSam · 25/08/2025 23:20

Complete inability to focus.

This. People’s attention span has reached mere minutes now. I know mine has deteriorated.

ETA I would NEVER get my phone out on at the pictures though. I also put my Apple Watch on theatre mode just in case I get a notification.

AHellOfAGoodNight · 26/08/2025 08:05

They’re probably been dragged along by someone else to a film they’re not interested in. I’ve done this, only if it’s almost empty and I’ve been able to sit at the back with no one near us though.