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.

Even worse is at the theatre. Tickets are really expensive and people know the start time. I think that if you miss it, you shouldn’t be allowed in until the interval.

Like in Jaws.

Presumably didn't seem respectful enough...

It’s strange people manage to turn up so late when there’s at least 20 mins of boring ads and trailers after the start time.

Many theatres do have this policy. A friend of mine works in box office and the abuse they sometimes get when they enforce it beggars belief, especially considering it's plastered all over the booking websites/the tickets themselves/if you phone or go in to book they tell you face to face what the policy is...

I agree. But it's still the lack of consideration that annoys me more than the lateness itself.

I think a big change is that more cinemas used to have ushers to show people to their seats - this is why people now have to use their phone torches instead and it is more faffy.

I can tolerate mild disruption in the first ten minutes but not people chatting during the film.

That's why people turn up late. The actual start time isn't advertised so people are guessing and trying to time their arrival for when the film actually starts, after the ads.

Annoying but their loss if they have missed lots of the film.

We do this too but I’ve found 20 mins is the sweet spot. Most cinemas do 10 mins ads and 10 mins trailers.

I was watching a film that was about 90 minutes long. People were coming in 30 minutes into the film. With the adverts that's almost an hour late

That's no excuse. Cinema listings say when the programme starts and when the film starts.

I learned a long time ago that if you want to watch a film in peace, watching with multiple other members of the public is less conducive than buying a big telly shutting yourself in the living room and turning the light off.

Yea this is my pet hate and it’s getting worse. People are so addicted to their phones they can’t even stay off them for the duration of a film. It’s not even like it’s for an important message or something, they usually just scroll Instagram or Facebook. I’ve been so tempted to ask people to leave if they are that desperate to look at their phone!

Pity, isn't it? There is still something special about going out to the cinema. I only go to the BFI now, where they're like the Stasi about food, drink or noise, or my local indie, which is similarly on the ball about noise but do allow food. Touch wood I've never experienced any antisocial food in there; people tend to stick to popcorn and sweets, as is correct.

Cineworld only lists when the programme starts.

If people are that determined to only get there just in time for the film they could try calling in advance to find out the exact schedule.
Or just put up with a few ads or trailers.

I will die on the hill of cinema etiquette.

I don't think so, ours doesn't.

I did get caught out recently when the published time was the start of the film, and I'd missed the previews, at a small cinema when I was away on holiday, but the one I usually use publishes only the start time for the programme.

See my previous post.

What’s the etiquette with regard to snacks and going to the toilet during the film?

Snacks: I can't stand when people bring in hot food like nachos that you can all smell. People who wait til a quiet bit before fumbling to open their crisps/sweets need a word with themselves. Shaking and rattling your popcorn box should result in immediate eviction IMO.
But eating per se is fine; I love popcorn in the cinema, I just wait for a loud bit if I'm going to have to rustle the bag or crunch loudly.
Loos: If you have to go you have to go. Just be quiet about it and, if you know or suspect you'll be going more than once, try to sit on the aisle and/or near the back.

adverts have been paid for by someone, sorry you cannot just remove them

Then they slide in discreetly with minimal disturbance

The problem is that you never know when the actual film is going to start. Will there be 15 mins of adverts, trailers & general crap before it? Or 25? Or even 40? So you try to time your arrival to avoid the crap but see that start of the film. 95% of the time, you get it right. But a small delay in your journey can mean missing the start.