Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People using phones in cinema

54 replies

username112 · 02/08/2021 07:28

Went to see a film yesterday, at least 3 people in there were checking their phones regularly throughout the film

What has happened to people that they now can't sit and watch 2 hr film without getting their phone out every 15 minutes and checking FB etc? Seriously?!?

It winds me up so much and its so distracting from the film

Just to add I have no problems with telling people in my immediate area to put their phone away (and I do regularly!!!) but these were spread out further down.Which I guess makes a change as I'm usually like a magnet and they end up sitting next to me Angry

OP posts:
CounsellorTroi · 02/08/2021 10:12

@GreenTortoise

You can't police other people's phone. As long as the brightness is somewhat down then who cares. They could've found the film utter shite so went on their phone.
Then they should have left.
Palavah · 02/08/2021 10:14

@drspouse

I was at the back the other day (one other family in the whole cinema) and I texted DH once at the start to say we'd missed the horribly loud ads (DS has SEN and hates them) and once to say we were just leaving to come home (as I needed a quick turnaround to meet a friend later). Not "glued" to it and I could have waited to tell him but it was easier to do it then and there.
So the first message was unnecessary and the second was after the credits?
JammyDozen · 02/08/2021 10:15

I find my local independent art cinema better because it tends to attract people who are after that immersive cinema experience, while the chain cinemas don’t always. I know that sounds snobby, but it’s true in my experience. I say ‘tends’ because it can’t be relied on, unfortunately. On one memorable occasion a bloke towards the front fairly bounded out of his seat and ran noisily up the stairs to get out. I assumed he must have some sort of medical issue that meant he needed the toilet immediately, but he was just as disruptive when he came back in.

Dreamstate · 02/08/2021 10:20

Its really pathetic that people cannot stay quiet or not check their phones for 1-2hrs. Exception being laughing if a comedy movie.

I'm not fussed about the food, just why the feck do you wait until the movie starts to open your noisy crisps when you had 20 mins of trailers to do it.

I now go during the daytime when there are less people going as its a much better experience. I'll never go in the evenings again because too many people which means far more likely to get those twats

ActonSquirrel · 02/08/2021 10:23

I'll get flamed for this but the other bug bear is kids.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them...years ago.

Mum explains the plot all the way through to young child as he was too young to understand. Muuuuum is he a real wizard.

Fucking hell take your children to age appropriate screenings.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/08/2021 10:25

Just put your phone on silent but on vibrate then you won't miss any urgent calls

This ... it's really not difficult
Oh, and if it's on "night mode" too that's job done

ginghamstarfish · 02/08/2021 10:28

Haven't been to the cinema for years and won't go again. So many selfish idiots, and yes WHY can people not go for two hours without stuffing their faces (with noisy/stinky/crunchy things), talking loudly, using phones etc? Given the cost of cinema tickets now it's even more baffling.

CounsellorTroi · 02/08/2021 10:29

@JammyDozen

I find my local independent art cinema better because it tends to attract people who are after that immersive cinema experience, while the chain cinemas don’t always. I know that sounds snobby, but it’s true in my experience. I say ‘tends’ because it can’t be relied on, unfortunately. On one memorable occasion a bloke towards the front fairly bounded out of his seat and ran noisily up the stairs to get out. I assumed he must have some sort of medical issue that meant he needed the toilet immediately, but he was just as disruptive when he came back in.
Once went to an art cinema to see Twelfth Night. Someone had brought their children with them, they were obviously bored stiff and spent the who,e time running up and down the stairs and chasing each other.
BlossomCat · 02/08/2021 10:39

I work front of house at a theatre, and after hours of observation, scientific study and research we have established why people feel the need to continually check their phones throughout a performance.

It's because they're cunts.

I hope that helps 😉😁

storminabuttercup · 02/08/2021 10:40

I was at the cinema last week, maybe 10 groups of people in. Not so much checking phones but up and down to get drinks, go to the loo, talking and so on. I know some people have conditions that mean they have to leave for the loo etc and i totally understand and would not judge, but the sheer number of disruptions made me think it wasn't just people who had no choice. I've probably worded that all wrong but I'm trying to say there's no way thinking of law of averages that all those people had medical conditions.

Mrgrinch · 02/08/2021 10:41

Perhaps the film was boring?

whoami24601 · 02/08/2021 10:41

GreenTortoise do you have a point? It was a simple recount of my recent trip to the cinema and I described the people disrupting things using appropriate adjectives...

Eyesofdisarray · 02/08/2021 10:44

Not only using their phone and ignoring you when you politely ask them to put it away, this CF was recording the film on their phone!!!!!!

Dreamstate · 02/08/2021 10:48

Once this women wouldn't stop talking to her friend and her children. It wasn't even about the movie m. I asked her to stop but she wouldn't so I got a staff member who came and stood by her and she still didn't stop!

After the movie she was there waiting for me in the foyer and started shouting at me how dare I tell her to be quiet and I was the rude one. I couldn't help myself and just turned round and said some parent you are teaching your children bad behaviour and walked off.

Jaxhog · 02/08/2021 10:50

@GreenTortoise

You can't police other people's phone. As long as the brightness is somewhat down then who cares. They could've found the film utter shite so went on their phone.
If you don't enjoy the film - just leave.

It's behaviour like this that has stopped me from going to the cinema.

Mandalay246 · 02/08/2021 11:14

There are no legitimate reasons for using a phone during a film

I totally agree. If for some reason you can't tear yourself away from your phone then don't go to a film. How did people become so selfish?

Mandalay246 · 02/08/2021 11:17

You can't police other people's phone. As long as the brightness is somewhat down then who cares. They could've found the film utter shite so went on their phone.

I've heard it all now - you don't like the film so all you can think of to do is go on your phone????? Talk about the dumbing down of society. Unbelievable.

drspouse · 02/08/2021 11:25

So the first message was unnecessary and the second was after the credits?
DH was worrying about DS reaction as we haven't been to the multiplex for 18 months. So as I could allay his concern without disturbing anyone, I did so. As I said, I wouldn't have done that if anyone could have seen my phone.

lynsey91 · 02/08/2021 11:41

@Mrgrinch

Perhaps the film was boring?
So that's a good excuse to ruin the film for everyone else is it? Good grief!

So many people are just so bloody selfish. If you find the film boring then leave. How difficult is that?

I will never understand why some people bother going to the cinema. If you want to talk all through the film, use your phone, eat etc then go to the bloody pub

ThunderCrow · 02/08/2021 11:45

I suspect this is just another changing social norm - when more people think it's ok than those that don't, it'll become accepted behaviour.

Personally, it's just one of many aspects of cinemas that annoy me - which is why I avoid going to them like the plague and do whatever I can to support attempts by the film industry to offer alternatives to the traditional cinema model.

HOkieCOkie · 02/08/2021 11:53

Oh I agree! My friend is terrible for that. I’m like really!! Whats so important it can’t wait 2 hours.

HeartShapedBalloon · 02/08/2021 11:53

We were at the cinema yesterday too. A bunch of kids (early teens) were sat 4 rows in front of us. 2 of them checking Facebook on and off throughout. It's really annoying! A huge message comes up on the screen immediately before the film asking you to turn them off and not use them!

Abracadabra12345 · 02/08/2021 12:18

@CounsellorTroi

YANBU, and it’s even worse in theatres

nation.cymru/news/michael-sheen-stops-performance-of-under-milk-wood-because-of-phone-interruptions/

Good on Michael Sheen.

Brilliant
whoami24601 · 02/08/2021 12:41

It's terrible at gigs too. I've stopped going because of it. One gig the support band came on and the woman next to me was on Facebook! I've discovered some of my favourite bands by seeing them support a bigger group. And don't get me started on the people who live stream whole gigs! As a short lass it's bloody annoying to have good spot and then have my view obscured by 50 phones being hoisted in the air when the headliners come out Hmm

JammyDozen · 02/08/2021 14:06

@ThunderCrow

I suspect this is just another changing social norm - when more people think it's ok than those that don't, it'll become accepted behaviour.

Personally, it's just one of many aspects of cinemas that annoy me - which is why I avoid going to them like the plague and do whatever I can to support attempts by the film industry to offer alternatives to the traditional cinema model.

I suspect this is right, and it relates to being considerate in general. Seems to have gone out of fashion and there are no norms to relate behaviour to now. I recently spoke to a neighbour about noise and they were very nice and sympathetic - and told me not to worry because they’d be out for the next few nights. It was clear that changing what they were doing wasn’t something that would even occur to them.

Same thing with the ‘maybe they’re bored’ and ‘maybe the film is shite’ comments on here. People who cannot imagine that you might modify your behaviour because it’s considerate to others.