Fight in the cinema 🥺

[Usernamqwerty]

I just left a cinema film a few minutes early because a fight broke out between two women. One of them kept getting her phone out and a woman behind her got very upset, got up and said she was complaining to the manager to get her removed if she didn't put it away. Another woman stood up and said she was going to punch the 'complaining' woman in the face and then went for her! I grabbed my coat and ran out... I had a traumatic upbringing and can't be around violence. I am still shaking...

Anyone else had this happen? Cinema is in a rough area about 30 minutes drive from home. Been there with DH loads of times but during the day 😣.

@goldennotyetoldie Just realised you said you were in the mainstream cinema, but still, there are quite a few areas in the country where you really wouldn't want to do this.

Everyone deserves to be able to go to the cinema as one of life's pleasures.

Cinemas need to recognise this increase in antisocial behaviour and try to put more in place (difficult as it is).

Hope you're okay x

That's absolutely ridiculous, but one of the cinemas near here in a rough area is the same.
I stick to the better areas now, and not had any bother.

They do need to firm up the message a bit:

"It's nearly time....so turn off your phones and enjoy the film.........also......you pricks who think it is okay to rest your feet on top of the seat in front, take your shoes off, talk through the film, slurp, munch and rustle your way through your overpriced food, let your kids run around and generally act like inconsiderate arseholes, rest assured you will be forcibly removed from the auditorium, given a few slaps and banned from this venue for life"

If I want to go to the Cinema I now go to the Sunday morning show (I think its 11am). Often I am the only one there or if there are others they may only be a few people purely to avoid some of the behaviours that people in this thread have witnessed.

I won't get involved.

My sister got punched in the face when she asked a rowdy person to keep the noise down in a cinema.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic 😅

But yes, in areas where it's problematic, I think a lot of paying customers would feel better if they actually announced that certain antisocial behaviours are not OK in the cinema.

I went to see Downton Abbey in the cinema, two older ladies in their seventies sat directly behind us and were an absolute pain!! They were extremely loud, shouting over the dialogue about what they thought was going to happen, if anything funny happened they would shriek with over the top laughter.

I saw the second Downton Abbey film in the Storyhouse in Chester (an old 1930s cinema which is now a multipurpose arts venue). A woman actually answered a phone call and started talking. The middle-aged usherette who was present in the room did nothing. I was astounded.

Previously I went to Liverpool's Everyman theatre to see the latest Fantastic Beasts film. Only us and another couple in there, bliss!

On the subject of people who just don't know how to behave, I could also bring up concert venues and quiet carriages.

I agree completely.

I once went to the cafe at my local cinema and queued up to buy a coffee. Little did I know that the monthly 'Over 60s club' film showing had just ended and the audience were entitled to have a free cup of tea afterwards. I suddenly found that all these pensioners were pushing in front of me and tutting! Outrageous!

(I do also agree with the sentiments on this thread)

They need to put security in each screen, and have absolute zero tolerance, if they even see your phone light up, or hear a word after the BBFC notice at the beginning of the film, you're out, no refund, no arguments, nothing. If they have to remove you physically and throw you out of the fire door onto the concrete, that's how it is.

I think some people need to question whether they want to go to the cinema because they clearly have no appreciation or regard for film. I think they just get taken in by the advertising and just sit there bored and that's why they get their phones out and start talking.

we are ok but it was really horrid. We were trapped in our seats too. There are some awful people around m.
thanks for asking x

I only go to our local independent cinema now. It's very "naice", no-one talks during the film or gets their phone out, everyone's polite, the staff (quite a few of whom are volunteers) are all lovely, the seats are really comfy, the sound is fantastically good as opposed to loud and distorted, and you can buy a bottle of wine at the bar and take it in with you. They do nice food in the early evening, too, people get off the train from work, have a meal then watch a film. It's all incredibly civilised.

It's run as a not-for-profit and the money to convert the building was raised by local people, and really is a fantastic place.

I have been totally spoilt by it and my last trip to one of the big cinemas in the nearest city was just awful by comparison.

I don't find watching films on tv the same, it's just not as immersive as seeing them at the cinema.

Blimey op I’m not surprised you feel shaken. That shocking.

there are some really angry people around aren’t there.

hope this doesn’t put you off!

what did you see?

Avatar 2. Very good!

Hope you're ok OP.

I don't get this - why is the person who got punched so bothered about someone else having their phone out? You're looking at the film not what someone else in front of you is doing? More fool them for paying to watch a film and wasting time on their phone.

Was she talking on it? Or just scrolling?

The lit up screen from someone's phone in a dark auditorium is very distracting. The light from a phone is brighter than that of the cinema screen, and is in your field of view if the person is in front of you