People who go to the cinema and sit on their phones for the whole film, why?

lotsofpatience · 25/08/2025 23:17

Bad manners.

NuffSaidSam · 25/08/2025 23:20

Complete inability to focus.

SriouslyWhutNow · 25/08/2025 23:21

Recording for piracy sites? Can't think of another reason why anyone would pull their phone out during a film and it's the main reason you're not supposed to have them out in the cinema so if the shoe fits...

landlordhell · 25/08/2025 23:22

Have never seen this. I only go to a small independent cinema though.

MissBattleaxe · 25/08/2025 23:23

It makes me seethe. If you can't get through a film without your phone, bloody watch at home.

Thingyfanding · 25/08/2025 23:23

I’ve noticed it during children’s films when the parent is obviously not interested, so they have their screens on really bright so they can scroll - it’s very distracting. Incredibly rude imo.

StillCreatingAName · 25/08/2025 23:26

Deserve to be dating those that sit on phones in restaurants when they’re with another person. I have no tolerance for them at the theatre either- especially during the interval, instead of chatting to another human being, perhaps discussing the first half of the production, they’re usually just having a scroll in their seat, nothing urgent, just getting a hit. A nation of screen addicts 😞

MiloMinderbinder925 · 25/08/2025 23:51

Some people live their lives through social media and have to include it in their experience. Someone I know went to a gig and wrote about it all the way through instead of enjoying it.

Denim4ever · 25/08/2025 23:53

I've never seen anyone do this after the ads end

bruffin · 26/08/2025 00:16

StillCreatingAName · 25/08/2025 23:26

Deserve to be dating those that sit on phones in restaurants when they’re with another person. I have no tolerance for them at the theatre either- especially during the interval, instead of chatting to another human being, perhaps discussing the first half of the production, they’re usually just having a scroll in their seat, nothing urgent, just getting a hit. A nation of screen addicts 😞

You seem to be making a lot of assumptions about strangers. If i go on my phone at half time at the theatre, i am usually looking up more information about the play.the cast etc I go to the theatre a lot, twice this week, really cant see a problem with googling the play/theatre/characters etc at half time.

Netcurtainnelly · 26/08/2025 00:37

Cinemas should ban them for some stupid people.

Magpie50 · 26/08/2025 01:27

I did this recently. It was an animated film and I went on IMDB because I wanted to know who was doing the voices.
That's probably the only reason I'd do it though, to look up something film related.

Planesmistakenforstars · 26/08/2025 01:31

There's a small group of cinemas in the US (Alamo Draft House) who have a strict no phone use policy during films, and remove people who use them. And because everyone knows about it, it doesn't attract knob heads in general, because the kind of knob head who uses a phone at the cinema, is also the knob head who talks in the film, doesn't take their crying baby out etc so it's a nicer experience all round.

imisscashmere · 26/08/2025 01:36

It’s because people are addicted to their phones.

Willowkins · 26/08/2025 01:38

I saw this on Friday afternoon (Thursday Murder Club). I thought maybe he wasn't enjoying the film but couldn't leave because he was with people. Anyway, someone from further along the row came and stood over him and told him to turn his phone off in no uncertain terms and that was that.

JMSA · 26/08/2025 03:09

I don’t understand it. Addiction to a whole new level.

landlordhell · 26/08/2025 06:59

Magpie50 · 26/08/2025 01:27

I did this recently. It was an animated film and I went on IMDB because I wanted to know who was doing the voices.
That's probably the only reason I'd do it though, to look up something film related.

Why couldn’t you wait for the credits?

landlordhell · 26/08/2025 07:00

Netcurtainnelly · 26/08/2025 00:37

Cinemas should ban them for some stupid people.

They are banned! Every cinema I’ve been to has a reminder at the start that phones need to be on silent and away.

Blueuggboots · 26/08/2025 07:02

Magpie50 · 26/08/2025 01:27

I did this recently. It was an animated film and I went on IMDB because I wanted to know who was doing the voices.
That's probably the only reason I'd do it though, to look up something film related.

Can you not wait until the film finishes???

it drives me CRAZY.

i use my phone a lot but if I’ve spent all that money to watch a film in a dark room, then my phone stays in my bag. I tell people to put them away because I find the bright light really distracting. But I also tell people to shut up when they talk through a film.

Luddite26 · 26/08/2025 07:03

Denim4ever · 25/08/2025 23:53

I've never seen anyone do this after the ads end

This. I haven't either.

Luluissleeping · 26/08/2025 07:12

Probably the same wankers that sit on machines at the gym, scrolling through their phones and hardly using the machine they're on.

landlordhell · 26/08/2025 07:14

Luluissleeping · 26/08/2025 07:12

Probably the same wankers that sit on machines at the gym, scrolling through their phones and hardly using the machine they're on.

Yes this!!!!! This summer holiday, it’s the wanker’s kids sitting on machines while scrolling .Don’t take your kids to the gym!!!

Jotunn9 · 26/08/2025 07:18

Always on silent but I do read on my phone at the cinema.

I dont like cinemas. Or films (as a rule). But often friends/dp has wanted me to go with them as they want to see something. I didnt realise it would bother anyone else.

KillerMounjaro · 26/08/2025 07:20

StillCreatingAName · 25/08/2025 23:26

Deserve to be dating those that sit on phones in restaurants when they’re with another person. I have no tolerance for them at the theatre either- especially during the interval, instead of chatting to another human being, perhaps discussing the first half of the production, they’re usually just having a scroll in their seat, nothing urgent, just getting a hit. A nation of screen addicts 😞

I totally get the rage about this during the performance and I have told people to put their phone away numerous times at the cinema and theatre.

I really don’t understand why you have no tolerance “especially during the interval” though. How could it be worse to do it in the interval?

For a start, some people often go to the cinema or theatre on their own, so are they just supposed to hope random strangers want to talk to them and otherwise just stare straight ahead and wait for it to start again?

AgnesX · 26/08/2025 07:21

Magpie50 · 26/08/2025 01:27

I did this recently. It was an animated film and I went on IMDB because I wanted to know who was doing the voices.
That's probably the only reason I'd do it though, to look up something film related.

Why didn't you do it before hand or after wards. Really selfish when other people are around you.