Shouting, cheering and clapping at Minecraft movie

[netherite]

I'm actually on the fence about how I feel so rather than aibu I guess I'm just wondering what others think/thought.

Took DS (6) to the Minecraft movie tonight - this isn't a question about taste or quality of the film! Obviously Minecraft is enjoyed by a wide range of ages, and in particular there were large groups of teenage boys there, I'd say between 13 and 17 at a guess. They were generally polite in any contact (Ie; saying excuse me to get past etc) but when the film started, every time there were particular references there would be loud cheering, shouting, clapping and repeating the line - to the point of not being able to hear the film. I had briefly seen reference to this online and a friend who took their child to a different cinema also experienced it previously. I guess it probably happened about 15 times throughout the movie.

Now on the one hand, it was a bit of fun, they've paid their money too and it was an experience - I guess similar in vein to Rocky Horror audience.

On the other, there were lots of children around my D's age and some (D's included) were quite startled, upset and didn't understand why people were doing this - some left early, some were tearful and for D's it definitely spoilt his evening a bit.

I don't really know what a solution would be to make it so both groups enjoy it, but I think ultimately I'm a bit annoyed. Have others experienced this and what did you think? (For the poll purposes - iabu would be it's fine people are just having fun, ianbu would be that it's a bit annoying and antisocial

So some cinemas have had to call the police just like some had to with the Minion film, is that what cinemas should be expecting to do? Is this part of a cinema experience that will keep people coming to the cinema.

Would the teens follow the etiquette if cinemas have certain showings where this behaviour is acceptable and so not go to the ones where they are expected to follow normal cinema etiquette

This, except that 'disrupted' is too strong a word

It’s alright for teenage girls to sing and cheer at the Taylor Swift movies, it’s alright for women to whoop and clap in Bridget Jones movies but it’s not alright for teenage boys to laugh and cheer at a movie aimed at them, bringing them together to have fun.
Some comments on this thread are awful, and I wonder what the parents of these 6 year old boys hope they’ll be doing in 8 or 10 years’ time.

Just seen that the films has made back 100% of the £130m costs of production in it’s opening weekend… this is largely unprecedented in post-covid times. So, frankly, I think the cinemas and production companies are going to lap this up. It’s clearly the way forward for this type of film - cinemas will simply have to adapt by adding the disclaimer that audience participation is anticipated and to have specific ‘family friendly’ showings signposted on their booking sites. And people taking under 12s to a PG (which as PP states above are for 12yos and over, unless accompanied by a parent/guardian who takes them at their own discretion) will just have to be wise to the fact that it may be a lively screening.

Our local cinema had to throw out some older teens/ young adults at a showing because they were being over rowdy .

@AthWat cinemas have changed massively in recent years.
Posh fancy sofa seats.
Food/drinks that can be bought to your seats. Special showings of unusual films.
Dress up events. Sing a long events.
It's absolutely fantastic these days.
It really is about a good time out and being "part" of something.
These changes have really helped some cinemas.

Special showings and events are fine. Everyone going knows what to expect.

What's not OK is one group of people ruining an experience for another groupl, because they want to do things their way and their way impacts on others.

@AthWat I think with this Minecraft film most people were expecting it.

PG films are not for 12s and over, that is a 12 film. And if an 12A film under 12s can go but accompanied by an adult. All children can go to a PG film but the rating is based on your average 8yo.

One thing that has interested me that some posters have said their 14yos are going and it is the first time they are going to the cinema without an adult. I think that is quite old for that to be the first time without an adult

@crumblingschools not all teens get their ideas from social media.
Some actually do just talk to each other in the normal way and have shared interests.
Don't blame social media for this.

@Needmorelego why were they expecting it? As others have said, special showings are fine but that is down to the cinema putting on special showings. This behaviour by teens seems to be outside cinemas control

@Needmorelego but that was why teens behaved like they did in the Minion movie, it was purely from social media

Theatre has too - I’m an avid theatre fan but recently went to an immersive theatrical event with a 3 course meal and drinks served in between acts. Lots of people were dressed up in period costumes and there was one bit where the whole audience was encouraged to stand up and join in (DH watched in bemusement whilst necking some beer). It was a fab night out and just as enjoyable as Johnny Lee Miller in The Mirror or a Globe Shakespeare production (which, if people remember their GCSE history and lit classes, would have been rife with heckling and other less than savoury audience participation back in Tudor times).

Theatre/cinema is an organic experience. And it needs to adapt if it’s to survive. If your very young kids can’t cope with the more rowdier showings, you take them to a family friendly matinee or wait for it to come out on sky in 6 weeks…

@CautiousLurker01 but that was marketed like that. That is the difference. This film wasn’t marketed like that.

But an audience that is 90% teens/YP should have their Friday night experience ruined by the presence of a tiny number of under 10s who’ve been brought along by unwitting parents? Kids who are usually in bed by 8pm?

@CautiousLurker01 some posters on here have said their teens wouldn’t like that behaviour either. And if police are having to be called on occasion this is more than clapping and cheering at certain lines and is being fuelled by something.

I recall going to a cabaret type place once. Tables and chairs, drinks and snacks . I was 19 and thought it wonderful. Nothing like that around here sadly. Wildwood tried to open one in town but there were objections which was odd because the pubs up the way operated noisily until the small hours.

Actually, I think you’ll find that the production company is marketing it this way, as their PR strategy is to hook in to the older demographic who were playing this game 10 years ago. They rely on SM influencers and SM influence to promote the movie like this as a core part of their media strategy - to pretend this is not the case is naive and disingenuous, and reflective of parents who fail to understand modern youth culture.

The issue is that the cinemas may have behind the curve in anticipating the enthusiasm with which the bulk of their paying audience members (90% older teens and 20 somethings) have embraced that strategy.

@crumblingschools most Minecraft fans (the ones who have been fans for years) were expecting this.
Yes there would have be talk on social media through fan groups etc but I doubt it was a social media "campaign" to "disrupt" the film.
It was just fans who had communicated with each other in the fan communities.

According to the news and SM, there have been no reports of police being called in the UK. That is urban myth.

There have been a few teens asked to leave screening for being disruptive: and it was ever thus - I remember kids being removed from kicking seats in front of them, for flicking popcorn in other audience members hair etc. It is not new or specific to this film.

@CautiousLurker01 so if posters are saying it is nothing to do with social media, they are wrong

Yes, pretty much, because if something like this is going to happen, nobody should be unwitting. The cinema should tell them on point of ticket purchase. If the cinema has not publicised that this showing welcomes this behaviour, they should stop it. If they tell everyone coming it will happen and people still go, then it's on them.

They probably need to provide two sittings of the film, one for teen clappers and another for those who enjoy the film in quiet

I wonder how many adults will go home, fire up their computer and start to play Minecraft again.

Me I still miss Lemmings and Tetris

I remember a group of teens being asked to leave a film at a cinema I was at once because they were being noisy and messing around.
That was in about 1998 - way before social media "campaigns" and all that.
(I think it was Good Will Hunting and they were a bit bored).