To have found this a bit excessive at the cinema?

[mrsmilesmatheson]

We went to the cinema last night to see Wicked. Obviously lots of teens/tweens there.

We sat on the end of a row as I knew I may need to pop for a wee at some point and I would rather not disturb others.

There was a family of 9 in our row who made a big fuss on arrival and arrived in 3 separate groups, faffing around, shoving past, making a lot of noise etc.

The young teenager/maybe 10 year old with them climbed over us (and back again) 8 separate times to go out during the film. She stood on my handbag, elbowed me in the face and knocked over our popcorn in her impatience to get out each time. The adults with her did nothing. I asked her to wait while we made space and she just sighed, rolled her eyes and shoved past.

Surely at that age, it's not unreasonable to expect a child to sit through most of a film without all this fuss!? She was not being accompanied by an adult on these trips so clearly mature enough in some ways!

There were plenty of spare seats in other rows. I realise now we probably should have just moved, but really why should we have to... I'd never have allowed my child to disturb people to this extent. I'd have moved her to another row or stopped her doing it.

Behaviour in cinemas these days is often appalling, particularly when it comes to phone usage. I mainly go during the day on a weekday if possible, especially if it's a film likely to appeal to teens.

How/why on earth didn't you move?

How/why on earth didn't you nip outside and tell a member of staff?

I've already mentioned this in the OP. Maybe you missed that?

Honestly, I think we were just shocked and kept thinking, 'surely this is the last time?'

I wish we'd just moved, yes. Doesn't make her behavior ok though Or in any way our fault.

All the staff were teenagers/young, probably on minimum wage. Her parents/grandparents should have stepped in IMHO.

Reasons why I don't go to the cinema much and probably won't go again soon.

Probably going out to check her phone. If I were with her I would have been knocking it on the head after the second go. Spoilt little madam with the rolling eyes and shoving past 😡

I think you're correct!

There was me feeling slightly guilty that she may have a UTI or bladder issue, but yes maybe just messing about or phone checking.

No I didn't miss it, I'm just really puzzled?

Regardless of the wages people choose to earn, staff are more than willing to tell people to pipe down if they're spoiling enjoyment.

No-one's saying it's your fault, but a simple move to another seat would be the normal thing to do for most people.

Wicked is a long film so especially if they’ve had a drink etc I’d expect needing the toilet once/twice but 8 times and knocking things over to rush out isn’t okay

I'm starting to feel the same about most public places! 🤣

General manners and courtesy seems to be disappearing.

Some families just don't go out much so have no idea how to behave in the real world

Nice of you to call the OP and her family scum

So following your logic, gig venues, concert halls, nightclubs and theatres ought to go too, since those of us who enjoy them are also people (and therefore 'germ ridden scum')? 🤣

what did the parents say when you told them? Also what does minimum wage have to do with it?!

Other people are the reason I haven't been to the cinema for 15+ years. There doesn't seem to be any manners or consideration for anyone else anymore.

In this scenario I would have popped out to complain to a member of staff or moved.

I bought a projector after being too annoyed at cinema goers. It's great!

Hopefully having read my reply, you're less puzzled now that I've repeated the same explanation twice.

Hindsight is such a wonderful thing, isn't it.

DH and I went to the movies in Antigua with a friend who lives there. It was a double feature, the first film being a martial arts movie entitled 'Dual of the Masters' which turned out to be about a murder in medieval China dubbed into dubious English. One of the translations was 'I just want to be a good cop' from the hero which I thought was pretty good for someone from the 14th century or so. It quickly became an audience participation event with people yelling helpful hints to the hero 'Don't trust her, she's a bitch', 'behind you, look behind yoooooou' while someone with an air horn and another person with a cow bell let everyone know when they particularly approved of a scene. The gentleman two seats up from me was having an enthusiastic conversation with someone six rows in front. When the hero finally got his man the second feature started - which turned out to be a really bad porno. A man got up and left loudly declaiming the morals and values of people who wanted to watch that kind of thing. We decided we agreed with him and left too.

I don't think I've ever really got over that cinema visit. I kind of enjoyed it TBH.

Sadly, I'd have had to climb over several other people to speak to the parents. That would have been incredibly rude and disruptive so I didn't.

I'm pretty sure they could see what was happening with their own eyes and chose to do/say nothing.

That sounds like quite the experience 🤣

It's on streaming platforms in a few weeks, I haven't bothered to see it in the cinema to avoid this (and because it's a lot cheaper)

Good for you, sounds like you'll enjoy it from home.

We were given our tickets and it was a trip out with my adult DD home for xmas. Not really my kind of film to be honest, but nice to spend time with her.

I will only go to the cinema at approx 2pm on a Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday to maximise the avoidance of idiots.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Let's hope they don't read this! You'll be scuppered.

Can I ask (for future planning...) why those specific days/times?

Well evenings and weekends are obviously out.
Wednesdays are sports afternoon at the uni/college, aka no lectures. So risk of loads of uni students.
friday feels too close to the weekend and may be risky.

an early afternoon showing will clash with the school run whereas an 11am showing may have mothers and toddlers while an older child is at school
of course the risk is still present that you could have a mother and toddler with no older school aged child but this is my best solution.

i saw Wicked at 2pm on a Tuesday and there were about six of us in the cinema, first week after release.

I wouldn't go to the cinema for free unless it was a) a time and date that was sure to be quiet and b) a film not likely to appeal to phone addicted teens with no attention span.