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

[shakesbeer]

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.

[SweetMoon]

YABU suggesting evenings should be adults only.
YANBU to be annoyed that young children were in a fairly late showing and disturbing it.

I wouldn't take a young child to an 8.30pm screening however much I wanted to see it. I would take a 10 year old if it was a film they wanted to see. But that 10 year old would know how to behave in a cinema!

My biggest bugbear though is the scrunchy rustly noisy fuckers who can't sit through a 2 hour film without stuffing their face whilst making as much noise chomping and rustling away as they can (can you tell this irritates me!) So I'd probably take a bratty kid for a few minutes over hours of that!

[Roomba]

I think it's the bad behaviour that's the issue here,not the fact that they were children per se. Children have as much right as anyone else to be out in public (though I'm aware many in this country would prefer children to be out of sight and hearing at all times, plus in bed by 6pm daily). As long as it wasn't an unsuitable film for children I don't see the problem. I wouldn't take my 5 year old out at that time generally because he'd be too tired to behave. I could have taken DS1 at that age, if it wasn't a school night, and he'd have been fine. I've come across plenty adults who ruined the cinema experience too!

[FreeNiki]

@vitalogy musicals do usually appeal to me but I couldnt stand this.

The music is very samey samey.

[Vitalogy]

@Vitalogy go to Rotten Tomatoes. It has a rotten rating of 55%. People are far from alone in disliking it. I've not seen it, musicals don't normally appeal to me but those two songs from the clips I watched I thought were great. I might have a look at it when it gets to the TV.

[ruleshelpcontrolthefun]

My eldest is 4 and can sit through a film at the cinema quietly as long as:

• it is animated
  
• it is of interest to her
  
• we go when she is alert (so no later than a 2pm start as we'd need it to be finished by 4ish)
  

I would expect all parents to know their own children. If they can sit through a 12A at 8pm then great. Mine can't so we go to see Disney movies at 11am. It sounds like the kids in the OP should be doing the same.

[Graphista]

Another cinema thread that makes me very grateful for my local independant. They wouldn't even have been admitted here. The ushers there take no nonsense. ANYONE who disturbs a screening more than once is out - no refund either. Which honestly is as it should be. The bigger chain cinemas claim part of the reason ticket prices are so high is not as many people go to the cinema any more. From on here and discussing in real life with friends who don't live near me and so can't use my local cinema, a big reason people don't go is others behaving badly and NOT BEING DEALT WITH even after complaints have been made to staff.

If the big chain cinemas want more patrons stricter ushers I believe would help a great deal.

I love children I worked as a child carer for years in paid and voluntary roles but no!

Not only for the potential disturbance to other cinema goers but that is far too late for children that age to be up. Holidays irrelevant it's not good for them to have their regular routine disturbed like that, they likely wouldn't have got to sleep until after midnight. No wonder they were playing up if their parents are messing them about. They were probably overtired and understandably fractious.

[NataliaOsipova]

I was in awe of the fact that she was the worlds biggest opera singer and she sang as if she was on the x factor. She didnt even sing opera.

Finally - someone else who agrees with me! Everyone loves this film. I thought it was totally cringe inducing.

But I digress. Agree with a pp who said that children per se aren't the problem, but badly behaved children.....

[SoxonFeet]

@FreeNiki - to be fair I'm quite strict so any naughty behaviour and I would have left immediately.

I understand that getting people to leave would cause more disruption but society appears to be more selfish than it was previously. Maybe the cinemas need ushers again. Or maybe people can behave appropriate (unlikely).

[FreeNiki]

@SoxonFeet that's wonderful that your child is so well behaved.

However if the policy is ask to leave if creating a disruption, that means the film has already been spoiled and more disruption in throwing someone out.

[crazycatgal]

It's not just children. I went to see The Greatest Showman again a couple of weeks ago and two women - one 50s and one 70s were talking loudly throughout the whole film. Ignored my shushes and finally shut up my when DP lent over and asked them to be quiet because they were spoiling the film.

I can't be bothered with the cinema anymore due to other people.

[maddiemookins16mum]

YANBU but I suspect that they would have behaved/been allowed to behave like that at the 2.30pm showing too.

[SoxonFeet]

My 8 year old went to a showing last Saturday for the same film at 8:30pm. My child was so well behaved that when we were leaving adults were commenting on how good she was, and that they didn't know she was there.

So no, I don't think children should be banned from cinemas. However, people should be asked to leave if they are disrupting the film. I've seen both adults and children disrupt the film, and unless its specifically a children's film then its not acceptable.

[FreeNiki]

@WitchesHatRim

I agree about la la land too. Lala Bland more like. It didnt deserve the hype. But nor did greatest showman.

I agree that's no excuse to spoil it but I've noticed people jump down others throats for saying they dont like what they do on here...just as school children do.

[WitchesHatRim]

I personally thought it was abysmal and couldn't bare to sit through that again

Doesn't mean there aren't many many people who do like it. It is now selling out cinemas with sing a long versions.

I thought Lala land was awful and would never watch it again. I certainly don't understand why it was Oscar nominated. I know lots of people however loved it.

[FreeNiki]

Bear not bare.

Sodding autocorrect

[FreeNiki]

@Vitalogy go to Rotten Tomatoes. It has a rotten rating of 55%. People are far from alone in disliking it.

I personally thought it was abysmal and couldn't bare to sit through that again. People are entitled to their opinion and even many film critics have been vocal in their dislike.

[Willow2017]

I would never have taken 5/6 yr olds to the cinema that late. Especially to a film that really isnt for little kids. Why on earth would they sit quietly through 2 hours of a film that wont hold thier interest?

I dont want to pay £40 for myself and teens to have a film ruined by badly behaved kids either. Its called using your common sense and being mindful of others around you. If your kids start playing up deal with it and if that means leaving so others can enjoy what they paid for so be it.

[FreeNiki]

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

I was in awe of the fact that she was the worlds biggest opera singer and she sang as if she was on the x factor. She didnt even sing opera.

My jaw dropped at the colossal let down from that part and also most of the film.

That aside I agree. People go to late showings to avoid young children.

I'll never forget going to see the first Harry Potter at 9pm and a child of about 5 right behind me kicking my seat and asking Muuuuum is Harry Potter a real wizard.....is he reaaaaallllly muuuum. The whole time.

[Vitalogy]

Well I'm surprised you went to see it a 3rd time, personally I thought it was shit. oow, you ray of light you.

[WitchesHatRim]

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.

Just because you have children you don't have some sort of greater right to allow them to spoil films for others

[Cockmagic]

Well I'm surprised you went to see it a 3rd time, personally I thought it was shit.

I'm not surprised the kids played up they were probably too young for that kind of film anyway.

[Vitalogy]

Apparently Hugh wasn't supposed to do any singing as he'd just had surgery on his nose, he couldn't help himself though.

[Vitalogy]

The clip:

[Vitalogy]

I've heard talk about this film The Greatest Showman, now I love Hugh Jackman but not the biggest fan of musicals so haven't seen it as of yet. I've just been watching a few clips. The Jenny Lind number, tis beautiful isn't it. Sorry it was somewhat ruined for you. Here's a clip from the rehearsals to hopefully cheer you up, Hugh Jackman and Cast. Wow!

[TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross]

Went to see Les Mis last weekend and the adult couple in front of our seats periodically swapped comments all the way through, culminating in the woman laughing and chatting during the final tear jerking moments.

Not just kids who don’t know how to behave in cinemas and theatres.