Is it normal now to behave in the cinema exactly as you would when watching a film at home?

[tulippa]

Went to watch Finding Dory with the DCs today. The parts of the film I could concentrate on were great but the whole thing was spoilt by the amount of people having constant full volume conversations.

I didn't feel I could say anything as it would have meant asking the people both sides of us and behind us to be quiet. Also because the adults were joining in the conversations I would be directly challenging their parenting/child caring methods iyswim. The fact that so many groups were doing it had me doubting myself as well.

I don't mind laughing, children getting generally excited about the experience or whispered conversations at all. When did constant loud questions/answers/comments/getting in and out of your seat become such a normal thing to do at the cinema?

AIBU to stop going to the pictures at all if it just means having to listen to other people's conversations and not being able to concentrate on the film? It seems to happen more when it's busy - we had this problem at Star Wars as well.

Unfortunately you're not alone. We went to see The Revenant when it came out and three women in the seats in front had clearly only come along with their partners but had heard that Tom Hardy was in it. So rather than watch Tom Hardy on screen, they all had their phones out and were looking at Wikipedia and chatting about Tom Hardy. How cute these pictures of him were. At the point where one declared: "This film is a bit confusing, I don't really like it"
I said, "Well if you actually watched it rather than talking through it and being on your phone you might understand what is going on - and so might the rest of us who have paid to watch it". Thankfully she went quiet but still was on her phone lit up on the highest brightness

You can go get a staff member, just say come in, in 5 so it looks lien I've been to the loo and not complained, if that's easier?

I'm so grateful for the autism screenings, means we can go to the cinema without pissing anyone off. Well we might, but things going on kind of come with the territory.

And as a bonus they skip straight to the film and you don't have to endure 30minutes of adverts and trailers.

Try your local independent cinema... Likely to be quieter, cheaper and better behaved!

Absolutely. Where I live has 3 independent cinemas. They aren't cheaper but they definitely attract a better behaved audience. They sell popcorn, none of them sell hotdogs or nachos.

Of the chain cinemas one only has 3 screens so although part of a chain still feels more of a local cinema

I can't stand it either.
It really bloody winds me up and in the past I have had to say something as these people always do it in groups, but then I thought to myself that it's not my job to do as I am a customer myself and why should I get into a argument.

I wonder why it is that so many people appear not to be able to sit still for a couple of hours, without eating, drinking or talking, to watch a film! Other people talking is the most annoying, followed by loud rustling and crunching, followed by people getting up from their seats to go out to the loo!

Back in the day, if you left the room you weren't allowed back in until the interval - and talking wasn't allowed. If you talked to excess, you would be kicked out!

If enough people walked out and went to complain and get a refund because people talking, using phones etc were causing too much disruption, perhaps the cinemas would take notice and enforce some rules of etiquette.

We must all complain, in writing, to the head offices of the cinema chain, every time this happens. Also put it up on social media, "I am never going to XYZ cinema again because they don't bother controlling the audience", something like that.

It really bugs me when adults have to go to the toilet halfway through a film! It's bloody 2 hours long fgs can't you wait!

I'd have to go to outside and complain to one of the staff who take your tickets when you come in.
Absolutely cannot abide inconsiderate arseholes in the cinema, they drive me batty!
People with their phones out. Do you KNOW how irritating it is to be sat behind someone with their phone lit up?! Regardless of whether it's on silent or not. It's distracting, and I want to be concentrating on the film not your sodding phone lit up like a beacon in the dark.
Talking?! Shut. UP. Watch the damn film.
When I'm saving up to go and then forking out 30 quid in cinema tickets before I even get near popcorn and drinks, I want to be able to enjoy it!

We went to se Matilda at the theatre last month and there were two families that just chatted away through it. FFS!

I usually avoid the cinema now because of this
Last two visits included
A couple coming in late with very noisy shopping bags, looked like a full week shop, they made lots of noise arranging them, then going through for snacks, then at the end we heard them say they didn't understand a vital bit - because they missed the first twenty minutes!

Also a woman sitting next to me who I had to tell to shut up as she was just talking, then she got cross, got her laptop out and began tapping away.. ...at which point I said "you are fucking kidding me" in a low but irate tone. She put it away, then we left, we heard her mate said to her "how could you embarrass me like that" and she said "well I was bored".

I only went because I had access to a lot of free tickets but now I think the aggro isn't worth it.

I do have sympathy for those who might need the loo though, that's does happen.

It really bugs me when adults have to go to the toilet halfway through a film! It's bloody 2 hours long fgs can't you wait!

seahorse no I can't actually BUT I do always make sure I sit in an aisle seat for this very reason

Just don't go. It's AWFUL at the cinema. Horrible. I never understand why anyone would bother!

Lorelei76,
Yes, the aggro isn't worth it .
Even though I feel like and want to tell the person or persons to kindly shut the (f) up , it's not worth it as you don't know who you are dealing with.

Went with DS and nectar voucher to Vue cinema today. After a couple of threads like this.recently I was worried, but they did a recorded announcement at the start to turn phones onto silent, not to use them to look at because of the bright screens and no.talking. Worked!

At a recent screening two older men sitting near us started chatting before the movie began. Harmless, you might think, but they were most certainly not using inside voices and they were talking about undertaking. As it turns out, they were both undertakers, and they had both had a busy week, apparently (I won't shock you with the shop jargon, but it isn't for the delicate ).

Another time - same cinema - a couple in front of us kept going in and out, sometimes for longish periods. We couldn't work out for a while, until one come back with a full noodle meal from a shop down the road. This was a full hour AFTER the movie had started. They both then shared and slurped the noodles, and left before the movie finished. Aargh!

This sort of behaviour gives me the rage as well. Luckily I mostly go my loc arthouse cinema where the behaviour is good-it is also civilised as you can take your drink in a glass or cup and saucer in with you.The UK council run cinema near where relatives live has the Mark Kermode rules on a poster in a prominent position by the entrance. During one film an usher told someone who was using their smartphone during the film to turn it off or leave. It was and stayed turned-off.

YANBU. We go very rarely now due to the awful manners of so many others. Where do people get the idea that's it's ok to let your DCs run up and down the stairs having races?

If your DC needs to have every bit of the plot explained in a VERY LOUD voice then they shouldn't be there. Wait for the DVD.

And I wish they'd use those gadgets that block phone signals.

It's pricey, but come to Australia, the home of well-behaved cinema audiences. With few exceptions, I've enjoyed every screening in peace and quiet for the last ten years. Not just art house cinemas either.

At the cinema yesterday there was the most infuriating man who took both of his children out of the screen THREE TIMES during the first hour of the film. Fine, you may say, one of them may have toilet issues. The problem was he chose to sit in the middle of of row, 3/4 of the way to the back and walk slowly, looking at his (brightly lit up) phone all the way out, and back in. On the third trip back in I hissed "turn your phone off!" at him through gritted teeth.

I quite like a relaxed cinema actually. I live in a country where normal voice conversions, children wandering around, and lots of food rustling is the norm. Makes it very easy to take my three. Id find it stressful having to hiss at my 4yr old to be silent in the dark for 2 hours. Well, i probably wouldn't go to the cinema if i lived in a country where you're supposed to be quiet.

SharingMichelle You must live in the UK then! (joke )

Try your local independent cinema... Likely to be quieter, cheaper and better behaved!

This was my local independent cinema in a very naice part of the city we live in. It was the worst I've been to in terms of anti-social behaviour during a film by so many people at once. The building was lovely though.

Don't think I will be going again or to any cinema unless the film's been out a good couple of weeks and the crowds have died down.

I always go a few weeks after things come out, less people so quieter and less crowded. That means DS (4) is less likely to be influenced by the behaviour of others around him too, which is good, as he has just got to the age where he will sit through a full movie and we're trying to teach him good habits.