Inconsiderate Cinema Latecomers

[Tootsurly]

AIBU to think that people who arrive after the film has started shouldn't shine their bloody phones about all over the place distracting everyone during an often crucial part, and then faff about further checking messages before turning it off?

And before anyone says, "Well how are they supposed to find their seat?", my answer would be the way we always used to find it before everyone had a smart phone; by using the light from the screen, or by sitting at the end of a row if possible.*

If you absolutely have to use the torch, keep it to the bare minimum, shine it away from people, and don't keep flashing it around for ages.

For context, I'm talking about screenings of fairly serious films at an independent cinema, not a kids' film on a Saturday morning or a blockbuster at the Odeon on a Friday night.

*At the BFI: "If you arrive late, the duty manager may require you to take an alternative, easily accessible seat to avoid disrupting the rest of the audience."

Interested to know what other people think.

Not bothered. Happens very early on in film. Fleeting. Done.

They shouldn't be allowed in once the film has started. The cinema could switch their tickets for a different screening if it doesn't want to send them away.

It's not always particularly fleeting, as I was describing.

I find it just as annoying people having to walk out during the film and they had their phone ringing and not even switching it off for over a minute whilst they decide who goes out.

How late are they coming on for it to be at a critical moment?

I suspect what you and I regard as fleeting… is very different.

YANBU. If I ran a cinema, I would have zero tolerance policies for arriving late, use of phones, talking, kicking people’s seats, and maybe certain foods (I need to refine that one as I am a firm believer in the joy of popcorn and maltesers at the cinema, but I do also admire the BFI’s policy of simply ‘no food, no drinks’.)

Something significant can happen at the very beginning of the film.

Some people can't help being late might be a genuine accident or travel hold up.

Indeed, but that's not what my OP is about.

I understand it can be difficult to time arriving in order to skip the half hour of adverts and trailers at bigger films but I agree with you. The first 20 minutes or so of the last Avatar film we watched at the iMax (so assigned seating) were non stop standing up and then having to arrange yourself in your seat again with the coat underneath having fallen to the floor etc. It really ruined the beginning of the film for us.

I'm more bothered by the people who constantly check their phones in the cinema. Latecomers are quickly in. The phone checkers tend to do it throughout the film.

Are you a very regular cinema goer @Tootsurly ? I go every now and then and honestly… this happens on first few Mins and then… forgotten.

I'm with the zero tolerance PP. At my cinema there would be a strict no entrance policy once the film had started, regardless of reason why. Similarly, anyone going out to use the loo would not be allowed back in. Only pre-approved non-smelling, silent snacks would be permitted. Mobile phones would have to be left in lockers before entering. Anyone who doesn't like it can go to the Odeon.

If you go to the cinema there will be other people there. Often other people are annoying. Don't go if you don't want to risk it.

I was at the cinema yesterday and I had to use my phone to see our row / seat number. We weren’t late though, trailers were on but not the actual film. I was surprised by how dark it was for trailers?!

my cinema pet peeve is people who get up to go out during the film. I hate moving once the actual film has started.

Yes, very. And - without wishing to sound pretentious, but probably failing - I tend to watch films with more complex plots.

This made me smile

I like the sound of your local cinema!

During the previous film I went to two women between them were in and out about nine times. It was ridiculous. If you do have some medical need to use the loo more frequently, at least sit near the door, not in the middle of a row near the front.

That's probably about 5% of those who are late.

A bit like the Covid press conferences that never started on time. The only time Mr Johnson ever came on time was in the bedroom.

The endless adverts so start of the film is not advertised start time probably does not help.

How many times I wonder have you told that joke since 2021?!

Lol. Yeah. There isn't really an answer OP. It's the cinema. Shit happens.

If you get there before the film starts then knock yourself out in terms of using your phone.

The ones I really can't understand are those who go out to buy food or drink during the film.

To be fair, after the ads and the trailers a films starts at least 20 to 30 mins after the advertised start time, so you have to be a bit of an idiot or massively disorganised to roll up even 10 minutes after the film has started. It it very irritating when people rock up at that time asking you to move so they can get their seat