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

[Ahsoka2002]

I'm genuinely curious

Apologies, but I did this when I took my son and his friend to watch the Minecraft Movie. It saved my sanity.

No excuse.

People on this thread are really showing that it is all about them and no concept that their perceived right not to be bored doesn’t give them the right to do something that a. the cinema tells them not to do and b. will clearly affect the other people in the giant room with them.

Really bizarre.

Why are you apologising to for being a selfish dick in the cinema, we weren't there? But you were a selfish dick.

The worst i saw was a young couple with a baby at a 12a film, not a childrens film. They gave the baby their mobile to play with to entertain it. Light was flashing all over the cinema and baby was grizzly. Had to call the usher to do something about it.
I dont think its a boomer problem. I see all ages do it. I dont go to cinema anymore.

I very much doubt that’s what the majority of people are doing. You could always buy a programme, it helps supports the theatre financially too, you’ll have all the information you need in a programme including profiles of the hard working, talented performers and theatre production teams…as opposed to some ghastly AI driven content.

My main bug bear is people autonomously on their phones in such a social setting.

All parents know that bad kids movies are for getting a little snooze in, the better ones you stay awake for, so next time have a snooze not a scroll! 🤣

Honestly the eating annoys me more!

At the theatre last night and the noise of a couple next to me rummaging through bags, opening cans, rustling wrappers. Absolutely no need for it

It is rude and entitled. Some people are just addicted to their phones and can't stop looking at them. You go to the cinema to watch a film not your phone. If you are bored then leave, don't disrupt everyone else's viewing.

I have had to ask children next to me to stop playing games on their phone during a film.

I have had to get the usher to ask a family to stop talking, and to stop the child from watching Peppa Pig loudly on their phone during the film.

There is no justification at all for using your phone in the cinema while the film is on.

You are really odd, since when is half time at the theatre a social time, Do you expect people in your neighbouring seats to also be your entertainment.
it's a few minutes to go to the loo and grab a drink or icecream, the play i went to on thursday didnt have half time. How do you know we didnt buy a programme? What is the difference between looking up the info on your phone , where you find a bit more.

Please don't ever do that again! It's absolutely maddening and a total distraction.

I didnt realise it would bother anyone else As we say in Scotland - you ken noo. Basically - now you know to stop doing it.

Cinema is very expensive now - why the hell would you waste your money and your time doing this? (Taking kids is an exception- it’s just part of parenting.)
I just don't understand this! Do people have money to burn? Unless people are just doing the free tickets on meerkat movies and just sitting on their phone for the sake of it with someone else?

It's because phones are as addictive as heroin and most people no longer have the attention span to sit through a two hour film without scrolling.

What about those of us who go to t(e theatre alone? Are we allowed to share our thoughts over messaging, or have a look what friends are up to on social media, or do we have to sit/stand in silence looking into the middle distance?

I agree using screens during a film/theatre production is bad manners and annoying and an indication of screen addiction, but in the interval?

I raised three kids pre smart phones, and my god did I sit through tedious childrens movies (Cars movie springs to mind) and at times I felt like walking out and sitting in the lobby with a good book and coffee but as a parent its something you have to grin and bare.

Exactly. The other post was weird.

To single out "especially" at the interval at a time when that's not bothering anyone as being somehow more annoying than in the middle of a show 🙄

If I'm on my phone I'm either doing something useful so making use of 'down' time so I can then spend my limited free time talking with people i actually known and like, or something like duolingo so actively learning something . I can't see how an awkward conversation with a random stranger next to me is somehow morally superior or beneficial.

If I go with someone I know i would usually chat with them rather than going on my phone, but I tend to also lift share and go for dinner before hand, so if I do check my phone i dont think 2 mins of non-engagement when we've spent 5plus hours together is an issue!

Why do you need to order food and drink its only for a couple of hours.

After my last trip to the cinema I’ve been put off going ever again, especially with the cost of it. There were people who spent the entire time on their phones and loads of people talking at the top of their voices all the way through it - I mean they didn’t shut up for a second of the film. I actually went out and complained in the end, someone came in and told them to be quiet, they didn’t though, just carried on when the cinema worker left. I don’t know what happened in the film at all because I couldn’t concentrate on it because of the noise, so was a complete waste of money.

I have always gone to the cinema quite frequently, but I’ve noticed people getting more and more antisocial as time has passed. It seems to have changed after people were allowed to disrupt the Minecraft movie. I won’t be going again.

It’s not a social setting for people who have gone on their own. Nobody else wants to talk to us most times.

Maybe you’re not aware but it’s incredibly distracting for everyone else.

Also it's really sad if you go with your kids and are totally unengaged in THEIR experience. They want to share it with you, ask you what your favourite bit was. Actually be with them. Slightly different of you're chaperoning a bunch of mates but still the etiquette rules apply.

I've only ever been to the cinema (at least in the age of smartphones) at very quiet times where It's just been me and whoever I am with, not next to anybody else.

The last time I went (can't remember the film!) was about 3-4 years ago, the time before that was when 'the Hobbit' was airing (and I did watch that), it isn't something I do on the regular.
I do recall playing 'snake' all the way through The Matrix but again, I was in between friends on a quiet row.

You'd think so but I've got ADHD, a disability with the lack of focus, well on things not stimulating, yet I can managed to keep my phone in my bag from start to finish.

It's purely bad manners, I hate seeing someone's screen light up in the dark, now that distracts me!

I sat through such dire films when my kids were small in the pre-smartphone era; it's totally survivable! You daydream or nap or make mental to-do lists, mostly just let your mind wander. Everyone is so afraid of two minutes with their own thoughts nowadays or of the prospect of a bit of boredom. It's character-building!