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Original poster

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

165 replies

Ahsoka2002 · 25/08/2025 22:58

I'm genuinely curious

OP posts:
OldGothsFadeToGrey · 26/08/2025 08:04

Magpie50 · 26/08/2025 01:27

I did this recently. It was an animated film and I went on IMDB because I wanted to know who was doing the voices.
That's probably the only reason I'd do it though, to look up something film related.

Because you absolutely need to know in that moment, no matter how annoying it is for everyone behind you.

Like PP said, it’s bad manners

LidlAmaretto · 26/08/2025 08:03

Another thing that's irritating. 12a ratings when people bring babies and toddlers in. It's ridiculous. The amount of crying and talking children in the cinema is just ridiculous. How do people think they can get a 4 year old to sit through 2 1/2 hours of Jurassic Park without talking? There should be an 8 strict minimum on 12a's I think.

MrsVinceVega · 26/08/2025 08:02

Jotunn9 · 26/08/2025 07:18

Always on silent but I do read on my phone at the cinema.

I dont like cinemas. Or films (as a rule). But often friends/dp has wanted me to go with them as they want to see something. I didnt realise it would bother anyone else.

It does bother other people. The light from your phone screen is visible to those around you.

I'm incredulous that anyone can be that self centred.

LidlAmaretto · 26/08/2025 08:00

Iloveeverycat · 26/08/2025 07:33

I don't understand why people get up and get a coffee and drinks in the middle of a film or theatre not in the intermission or a concert. I'm there to watch not to drink. Happens all the time

Edited

I was so bored during Cats I tried to get my then 7 year old to come to the toilet with me so I could get a drink and give my eyes and ears a rest. Unfortunately he was mesmerised and not only did I have to watch the whole thing but I had to endure a rendition of ' jellicle cats' all the way home

Tillygan60 · 26/08/2025 07:58

The bright screen is sooo distracting! I'll call out " please switch off your phone" as soon as I see one. Drives me mad!

LidlAmaretto · 26/08/2025 07:55

Jotunn9 · 26/08/2025 07:18

Always on silent but I do read on my phone at the cinema.

I dont like cinemas. Or films (as a rule). But often friends/dp has wanted me to go with them as they want to see something. I didnt realise it would bother anyone else.

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.

TheaBrandt1 · 26/08/2025 07:52

I had to politely tell the twenty something next to me to get off her phone in a theatre 🙄🙄

BallerinaRadio · 26/08/2025 07:49

The cinema is so expensive now. I cannot understand why you would pay so much if you're not going to sit and watch the film.

bruffin · 26/08/2025 07:47

DashboardConfession · 26/08/2025 07:41

Of course it does. All we can see in the corner of our eye is your screen glowing. It's incredibly distracting.

Your DP can go on their own. They won't melt. I go alone every week.

Edited
Show quote history

Its really distracting and can be seen all over the theatre

DashboardConfession · 26/08/2025 07:41

Jotunn9 · 26/08/2025 07:18

Always on silent but I do read on my phone at the cinema.

I dont like cinemas. Or films (as a rule). But often friends/dp has wanted me to go with them as they want to see something. I didnt realise it would bother anyone else.

Of course it does. All we can see in the corner of our eye is your screen glowing. It's incredibly distracting.

Your DP can go on their own. They won't melt. I go alone every week.

Iloveeverycat · 26/08/2025 07:39

Jotunn9 · 26/08/2025 07:18

Always on silent but I do read on my phone at the cinema.

I dont like cinemas. Or films (as a rule). But often friends/dp has wanted me to go with them as they want to see something. I didnt realise it would bother anyone else.

Why would you go to a cinema and pay if you don't want to see a film.

TorroFerney · 26/08/2025 07:36

AgnesX · 26/08/2025 07:21

Why didn't you do it before hand or after wards. Really selfish when other people are around you.

Show quote history

Agree. I’d be really worried about myself if I had so little self control or internal locus of control that I couldn’t see the effect this would have on others enjoyment.

Iloveeverycat · 26/08/2025 07:33

I don't understand why people get up and get a coffee and drinks in the middle of a film or theatre not in the intermission or a concert. I'm there to watch not to drink. Happens all the time

RhaenysRocks · 26/08/2025 07:27

Magpie50 · 26/08/2025 01:27

I did this recently. It was an animated film and I went on IMDB because I wanted to know who was doing the voices.
That's probably the only reason I'd do it though, to look up something film related.

But why not wait until the end. Why does it have to be right then? My DP sometimes will pull out his phone mid conversation to show me a picture or check a fact and it drives me mad, it's not that important, just tell me the story.

KillerMounjaro · 26/08/2025 07:24

Jotunn9 · 26/08/2025 07:18

Always on silent but I do read on my phone at the cinema.

I dont like cinemas. Or films (as a rule). But often friends/dp has wanted me to go with them as they want to see something. I didnt realise it would bother anyone else.

It really bothers people and it’s so obvious. I don’t know how you could think it wouldn’t.

Everyone is in a dark room to better see the film they’ve paid for straight ahead. But then you’ve got some inconsiderate person suddenly putting on the bright light of their phone to the side of you.

Even many seats or rows away it’s really annoying and distracting.

Please do not do this.

AgnesX · 26/08/2025 07:21

Magpie50 · 26/08/2025 01:27

I did this recently. It was an animated film and I went on IMDB because I wanted to know who was doing the voices.
That's probably the only reason I'd do it though, to look up something film related.

Why didn't you do it before hand or after wards. Really selfish when other people are around you.

KillerMounjaro · 26/08/2025 07:20

StillCreatingAName · 25/08/2025 23:26

Deserve to be dating those that sit on phones in restaurants when they’re with another person. I have no tolerance for them at the theatre either- especially during the interval, instead of chatting to another human being, perhaps discussing the first half of the production, they’re usually just having a scroll in their seat, nothing urgent, just getting a hit. A nation of screen addicts 😞

I totally get the rage about this during the performance and I have told people to put their phone away numerous times at the cinema and theatre.

I really don’t understand why you have no tolerance “especially during the interval” though. How could it be worse to do it in the interval?

For a start, some people often go to the cinema or theatre on their own, so are they just supposed to hope random strangers want to talk to them and otherwise just stare straight ahead and wait for it to start again?

Jotunn9 · 26/08/2025 07:18

Always on silent but I do read on my phone at the cinema.

I dont like cinemas. Or films (as a rule). But often friends/dp has wanted me to go with them as they want to see something. I didnt realise it would bother anyone else.

landlordhell · 26/08/2025 07:14

Luluissleeping · 26/08/2025 07:12

Probably the same wankers that sit on machines at the gym, scrolling through their phones and hardly using the machine they're on.

Yes this!!!!! This summer holiday, it’s the wanker’s kids sitting on machines while scrolling .Don’t take your kids to the gym!!!

Luluissleeping · 26/08/2025 07:12

Probably the same wankers that sit on machines at the gym, scrolling through their phones and hardly using the machine they're on.

Luddite26 · 26/08/2025 07:03

Denim4ever · 25/08/2025 23:53

I've never seen anyone do this after the ads end

This. I haven't either.

Blueuggboots · 26/08/2025 07:02

Magpie50 · 26/08/2025 01:27

I did this recently. It was an animated film and I went on IMDB because I wanted to know who was doing the voices.
That's probably the only reason I'd do it though, to look up something film related.

Can you not wait until the film finishes???

it drives me CRAZY.

i use my phone a lot but if I’ve spent all that money to watch a film in a dark room, then my phone stays in my bag. I tell people to put them away because I find the bright light really distracting. But I also tell people to shut up when they talk through a film.

landlordhell · 26/08/2025 07:00

Netcurtainnelly · 26/08/2025 00:37

Cinemas should ban them for some stupid people.

They are banned! Every cinema I’ve been to has a reminder at the start that phones need to be on silent and away.

landlordhell · 26/08/2025 06:59

Magpie50 · 26/08/2025 01:27

I did this recently. It was an animated film and I went on IMDB because I wanted to know who was doing the voices.
That's probably the only reason I'd do it though, to look up something film related.

Why couldn’t you wait for the credits?

JMSA · 26/08/2025 03:09

I don’t understand it. Addiction to a whole new level.