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.

I go at least once a week, I always arrive two minutes before the film starts
which is 25 minutes after the advertised start time. If I ever was late I would use my torch to find my row. Having just fractured one bone I’m not risking tripping up.

This is the second thread today where I thought the working class ordinary people I mix with seem to have a much better idea of how to behave than those at supposedly more upmarket places. I don't recognise this behaviour from any blockbuster I've seen recently.

I agree with you OP. I tend to arrive before the ads, and I always arrive in time to see the trailers, I like them!

I've been in showings where several people left during the film (for loo/snacks, I suppose) and shone their phone torch all around the audience. Drives me nuts. We managed before mobile phones!

I was inclined to do that, but then a recent film I went to randomly started only about ten minutes after the advertised start time and I missed the first minute or so (and no, I didn't use my phone to find my seat).

What are on earth are you wittiling on about @Redfluffyblanket ?!

That's interesting. Perhaps I should start going to Cineworld instead.

This has happened to me twice, I have no idea why they missed all the trailers etc.

I've already invested in noise-cancelling headphones because of all the inconsiderate arseholes using their phones loudly on public transport. Do I now have to avoid cinemas as well?!

Yes go to Cineworld, the screens are so big the odd person arriving late really doesn’t detract from the film.

Was v annoying as I was there in plenty of time having a drink - which I could have taken in with me. And it wasn't a special showing or streaming where you might expect they'd dispense with trailors/adverts.

You're right that it's less distracting in a large screen.

How regularly do you go?

On public transport or to the cinema?

Cinema

Probably an average of between weekly and twice in three weeks.

So would be cutting your nose off to spite your face if you stopped going - as obviously very very central part of your life.

I am afraid you’re just going to have to endure it!

Well I thought YANBU until you started banging on about how serious and important the films you watch are. So now I think you’re pretentious and U.

Well you're entitled to your opinion.

Yep, you're probably right!

Whittling? The art or process of carving, shaping, or trimming a piece of wood by repeatedly shaving off small, thin slivers using a knife? No idea, what do you mean?

There have been two threads today where people are complaining about the behaviour of people at supposedly upmarket equivalents of the the places I go to regularly, and I don't recognise the poor behaviour at all.

The art or process of carving, shaping, or trimming a piece of wood by repeatedly shaving off small, thin slivers using a knife?

A perfect analogy for your post 😆

Mr Burnham has dealt with that one for you, ask him nicely maybe he'll solve all your problems.

No, this is the wrong way round. If you want to go to the cinema, exercise a bit of common sense and don’t shine bright lights/talk over the film/fidget/kick seats/get up and down like a yo-yo.
If you can’t understand that or think that for some reason your desire to look at Instagram or talk to your mate overrides other people’s right to enjoy the film peacefully, don’t go.

Is this really much different to somebody who leaves to go to the toilet and comes back to their seat?