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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Toddler in cinema

20 replies

Inastatus · 14/07/2023 20:19

DS (16) and I went to watch the new Mission Impossible film this afternoon. Just as the film was starting, a couple came in with their toddler in a pushchair, I guess he was about 2, and sat in front of us. He was as good as gold for the first half an hour or so whilst he was being plied with snacks but then he got restless, and started talking loudly to his parents who just kept telling him to shush. This carried on for quite some time and it was ok during the noisy action parts but really distracting in the quiet moments. DS and I moved further along the row of seats to try and get away a bit but could still hear the toddler trying to interact with his parents.

It’s a long film, nearly 3 hours, and I felt sorry for him, sat in a dark, loud cinema being told to shush all the time. I was also annoyed that mine and my DS’s enjoyment of the film was being affected. At one point the Dad took him for a walk to check out the reclining seat area in front of us then walked right round the front of the screen and ended up in the exit corridor where the toddler was allowed to run up and down talking whilst the Dad could still watch the film. I mean fair play for giving it a go and maybe hoping the child might fall asleep but surely they should have given up once the child made it clear he had had enough for the sake of the child and everyone else trying to enjoy the film! AIBU to think they were unreasonable?

OP posts:
Caroparo52 · 14/07/2023 20:23

Definitely out of order to bring 2 y child to a 3 hour film... aren't there age appropriate guidelines ?
I would have asked the ushers to intervene

grievinggirlneedsadvice · 14/07/2023 20:24

A two year old watching mission impossible 2 is just weird?!
Completely inappropriate viewing for a 2 year old, and distracting for everyone else...

Inastatus · 14/07/2023 20:25

@Caroparo52 - it’s a 12A which is under 12’s must be accompanied by adult. I really think there ought to be a minimum age though. There are no ushers - only the main check in/food area downstairs.

OP posts:
Marblessolveeverything · 14/07/2023 20:26

Nightmare they could have at least brought him to a baby showing. Though locally they stop allowing them in at about one.

Dreambe · 14/07/2023 20:26

They are definitely out of order taking a child of that age. The rating is 12A and the BBFC says it means that the film would
not be recommended for ‘very young children.’ No one should be disturbing others and romping around the cinema. I think I would have said something to the staff.

Hugasauras · 14/07/2023 20:27

Completely unreasonable and worthy of a complaint to staff.

BubziOwl · 14/07/2023 20:29

Marblessolveeverything · 14/07/2023 20:26

Nightmare they could have at least brought him to a baby showing. Though locally they stop allowing them in at about one.

I should hope they're not doing baby viewings of mission impossible!

QuinnofHearts · 14/07/2023 20:29

I always take my baby to the cinema and I took my son too... until he was 1. After that not a chance. I'd escalated this to the staff.

Whatwaste · 14/07/2023 20:30

Me and my partner watched Mission Impossible today at the cinema, a few teenagers were talking loudly well into the first half hour of the film and I was about to ask them to keep it down when someone else had a go at them, they did shush then (luckily).

So YANBU at all, any noise/disruption is bloody annoying!

cadburyegg · 14/07/2023 20:30

YANBU sounds totally unsuitable. My youngest is 5 and wouldn't sit through a 3 hour long film and a 12A would be too scary for him.

It drives me barmy when people think that they can just carry on with their lives exactly as before when they have kids. If you can't get childcare to watch a film that's not suitable for toddlers then you can't go!

Issuefroth · 14/07/2023 20:31

I would have reported it during the film to the staff. One of them would have scanned/torn the tickets and therefore allowed the toddler into the screening. If they had been removed, yes it’s wasted money, but what about the enjoyment of you and DS?

Caroparo52 · 14/07/2023 20:35

What about all the ( loud) noise- always very loud at my local cinesma, and the poor child's hearing ?

Inastatus · 14/07/2023 20:47

@cadburyegg - exactly! I was talking to DS about it afterwards and he asked what we used to do when him and his sister were little. I said if we had no childcare (usual scenario), we just waited for it come out on DVD!

OP posts:
sandyhappypeople · 14/07/2023 20:50

I've got a 2 year old and we're contemplating taking her to the cinema when the new paw patrol comes out later in the year, to see how she goes, but I think like anything with kids that young, at least one of you has got to be prepared to go if they started messing around/disrupting.

She's been to the kiddie showing at the cinema, and was fine, but they only showed 30 min ones x 2 that time and it was all age appropriate, and the sound's lower than a normal film.

I think they were completely ridiculous to think a toddler would watch a 3 hour live action film without it disrupting anyone else, maybe if someone said something they'd have probably left, but while no one said anything they must have thought they were getting away with it. It's selfish to inflict that on other people though, it's not like it's cheap to go to the cinema anymore!!

Inastatus · 14/07/2023 20:51

@Issuefroth there are hardly any staff around though. A couple serving food in the downstairs main reception bit and one scanning tickets also downstairs a fair way from the screen we were in. Huge cinema with about 10 screens - no ushers.

OP posts:
Senorfrijoles · 14/07/2023 20:52

BubziOwl · 14/07/2023 20:29

I should hope they're not doing baby viewings of mission impossible!

My local cinema had a baby cinema screening of mission impossible.

KPops22 · 14/07/2023 20:53

I have complained before. Was watching The Da Vinci Code and a toddler with those squeaky trainers and lights was running up and down the aisle.

Thisismeyeah · 14/07/2023 22:47

You should have complained, if they had not removed them then you may have received a refund or credit for your ticket. Too late complaining about it now.

Onelifeonly · 14/07/2023 22:51

I think 2 year kids are too young to go the cinema personally, though I could just about understand it for a U film aimed at young children. I didn't take mine till they were around 4. YADNBU.

JeandeServiette · 14/07/2023 22:57

Inastatus · 14/07/2023 20:47

@cadburyegg - exactly! I was talking to DS about it afterwards and he asked what we used to do when him and his sister were little. I said if we had no childcare (usual scenario), we just waited for it come out on DVD!

Yes, me too.

Which is why it pisses me off when younger parents don't pay the favour on.

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