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

[Ahsoka2002]

I'm genuinely curious

It really bothers people and it’s so obvious. I don’t know how you could think it wouldn’t.

Everyone is in a dark room to better see the film they’ve paid for straight ahead. But then you’ve got some inconsiderate person suddenly putting on the bright light of their phone to the side of you.

Even many seats or rows away it’s really annoying and distracting.

Please do not do this.

But why not wait until the end. Why does it have to be right then? My DP sometimes will pull out his phone mid conversation to show me a picture or check a fact and it drives me mad, it's not that important, just tell me the story.

I don't understand why people get up and get a coffee and drinks in the middle of a film or theatre not in the intermission or a concert. I'm there to watch not to drink. Happens all the time

Agree. I’d be really worried about myself if I had so little self control or internal locus of control that I couldn’t see the effect this would have on others enjoyment.

Why would you go to a cinema and pay if you don't want to see a film.

Of course it does. All we can see in the corner of our eye is your screen glowing. It's incredibly distracting.

Your DP can go on their own. They won't melt. I go alone every week.

Its really distracting and can be seen all over the theatre

The cinema is so expensive now. I cannot understand why you would pay so much if you're not going to sit and watch the film.

I had to politely tell the twenty something next to me to get off her phone in a theatre 🙄🙄

How can you not realise a light in a dark room bothers others? It's really distracting. Just say no to the cinema and meet them afterwards if you don't like cinema or films. It's perfectly possible to sit in a room watching a film on your own. Tell your friends/ boyfriend to stop being babies and go on their own.

The bright screen is sooo distracting! I'll call out " please switch off your phone" as soon as I see one. Drives me mad!

I was so bored during Cats I tried to get my then 7 year old to come to the toilet with me so I could get a drink and give my eyes and ears a rest. Unfortunately he was mesmerised and not only did I have to watch the whole thing but I had to endure a rendition of ' jellicle cats' all the way home

It does bother other people. The light from your phone screen is visible to those around you.

I'm incredulous that anyone can be that self centred.

Another thing that's irritating. 12a ratings when people bring babies and toddlers in. It's ridiculous. The amount of crying and talking children in the cinema is just ridiculous. How do people think they can get a 4 year old to sit through 2 1/2 hours of Jurassic Park without talking? There should be an 8 strict minimum on 12a's I think.

Because you absolutely need to know in that moment, no matter how annoying it is for everyone behind you.

Like PP said, it’s bad manners

They’re probably been dragged along by someone else to a film they’re not interested in. I’ve done this, only if it’s almost empty and I’ve been able to sit at the back with no one near us though.

This. People’s attention span has reached mere minutes now. I know mine has deteriorated.

ETA I would NEVER get my phone out on at the pictures though. I also put my Apple Watch on theatre mode just in case I get a notification.

I tend to only go to kids films these days but it’s irritating. Also chatting, getting up and down, popcorn munching, sweet paper rustling

Rather wait for Netflix

@BitOutOfPracticeHaving been a lecturer for several years now and observed the change as ultra short form content gets more and more popular, minutes might be an overstatement. It's genuinely concerning.

Is it heck 😂
I often take my grandchildren to the cinema. The films aren’t my cup of tea, it’s too loud for me so earbuds and Mumsnet on the phone helps me get through it.

How arrogant .

Tbis

I can feel it happening to me (I’m actively trying to resist and retrain it back) so goodness knows how children and younger people are coping.

It really is bad manners no matter what your excuse. It’s really rude.

Just do what I did when I used to take young kids to the pictures, have a snooze.

Can't you listen to a podcast or audiobook instead? It's the light from the phone screen that's distractin.