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Original poster

Being quiet at cinema - not a thing any more?

29 replies

newmum1976 · 29/12/2022 17:45

Just back from cinema and had the misfortune to sit next to a family of 6 kids. Mum and grandma sat on the row behind and talked through the whole film whilst on their phone. The kids were wild and throwing good. I complained as well as some other families and we got our money back. Something similar happened last time we went too but with a bunch of teenagers. Is this the norm now?

OP posts:
Dartmoorcheffy · 29/12/2022 17:46

Urghh, ignorant rude behaviour.

BecauseICan22 · 29/12/2022 17:47

Precisely why I just don't anymore which is sad because I love the cinema experience.

I've got my own 'cinema' at home now and make a night of it that way.

People are very entitled now and there's no respect for others. Shitty mum and her shitty kids. Glad you at least for a refund!

harrassedmumto3 · 29/12/2022 17:48

I wish such people would stay at home, rather than inflict their scumbag behaviour on the rest of us.

BarrelOfOtters · 29/12/2022 17:56

It’s awful, the sweet wrapper rustling as well. And the chatting. Then again went to see the woman king in Leicester Square and the Audience participation really added to it….

AnonWeeMouse · 29/12/2022 17:58

It is why I dont go anymore.

Back when I were a kid, I'd go to the local 1 screen cinema with my dad. They still had intermission back then and a little seat by the door for the usher.
If anyone messed about or played up, the parents would rollock them and if the parents didn't, the staff would boot them out... At least once they paused the film and physically removed someone before continuing.

First changes I noticed were multiscreen cinemas taking over.
Then the ushers stopped sitting in on the films.
Then intermissions stopped.
Then people chatting.
And phones becoming more prevalent.

I went to the movies October time, totally different now. Families endlessly wittering, kids wandering about, people on the phone, one person had a book and a little book light and read whilst their kid watched the film.

It seems its gone from a rare special night out type of occasion to people seeing it as an extension of their living rooms and not giving a shiny one about people around them.
__

IrishJ · 29/12/2022 17:59

Had this when I last went. Teens came in half way through and proceeded to rustle and chat the rest of the movie

Beyond annoying

Mushroo · 29/12/2022 17:59

This is a real hatred of mine! I have a cinema pass and from going extensively this year my findings have been that generally older women are the worst offenders by far. Loud conversations about which movie insert actor has been in right in the middle of the film.

Teenagers are also annoying but I’ve found you can avoid them by going on a Monday evening.

I went to see Matilda today and the families were fine, apart from one family who brought a baby!! The grandparents also came…. It was unbelievable. They get popping out everytime it cried which was so distracting.

We seem to have lost the ability to sit quietly! You see it on threads about the royal family and how amazing it is the kids can sit through a carol concert. It’s not hard to be quiet!!

Dragonskin · 29/12/2022 18:20

Sadly a LOT of people are inconsiderate arseholes these days, and are happily raising the next generation of inconsiderate arseholes.

EmmaAgain22 · 29/12/2022 18:24

Sadly I think so

I told someone off for getting her laptop out and typing. It was packed so we couldn't move and she was right next to me.

on the way out, her partner said to her "how could you have done that, .i'm so embarrassed" and she said "I was bored".

I do go occasionally. Couldn't hear a pin drop during Prima Facie, but during a ballet I heard a fair bit of chatting and the ushers had to shut them up.

Lifesyoungdream · 29/12/2022 18:27

This is why I like going to the independent cinemas rather than the large cinema chains.
If I do go to the larger cinemas I tend to go during the day when it’s quite.

Original poster
newmum1976 · 29/12/2022 18:29

I felt sorry for the staff. They tried to get them to leave, but they refused and it got very heated. We were offered a refund instead.

OP posts:
EmmaAgain22 · 29/12/2022 18:30

Lifesyoungdream · 29/12/2022 18:27

This is why I like going to the independent cinemas rather than the large cinema chains.
If I do go to the larger cinemas I tend to go during the day when it’s quite.

Tried watching ballet at nearest independent

seats were awful, sound kept failing, and a few people still chatted and rustled sweet papers etc.

1990s · 29/12/2022 18:30

If we all call them out on this, every time, maybe their behaviour will change…. I hope!

I always say something. Start with a polite “please could you be quiet”, then move to a more stern version, I’ve never had to get to standing up and making a scene or getting a cinema employee, but I would.

Im not letting some selfish people ruin it for me.

Hopeyoursproutsarealreadyon · 29/12/2022 18:31

I took 8 of my dc and we all sat like decent considerate human beings. The family of 2 dps and their 3 dc however.. Who the fuck takes a newborn to the cinema? The dm stood up 2 rows in front of us shushing it the entirety of Doolittle...
I got my money back no problem. The colleague on the phone was boggled how they got in.

purplecorkheart · 29/12/2022 18:31

This is why I only go to early morning screenings on a Sunday. Last few times there has only been three or four people there.

EmmaAgain22 · 29/12/2022 18:31

1990s I actually start with "is there any danger of you shutting up?"

seems like a waste of time trying the "please".

1990s · 29/12/2022 18:33

EmmaAgain22 · 29/12/2022 18:31

1990s I actually start with "is there any danger of you shutting up?"

seems like a waste of time trying the "please".

That’s fair Grin

FLOWER1982 · 29/12/2022 18:36

We had this one time. Kids in front kept talking an and distracting from the film. My husband had a word as it was making us really peed off. It turned out the parent was sitting behind us! Never said a bloody word to them to be quiet. Some people have no consideration.

Oher · 29/12/2022 18:39

Not normal

Sounds like the cinema is in v chavvy area

southlondoner02 · 29/12/2022 18:40

Had this recently- kids sitting near the front and their parents sat at the back and ignored their noise. It got quite heated - a few people got up and had a real go at the kids and they did go quiet for awhile

IET · 29/12/2022 18:40

That's so rude and this isn't the first time I've read about this sort of behaviour on Mumsnet!

We went today and it was fine. Also went last week and again just normal noise levels. I would be so annoyed if people ruined the film by talking and they really shouldn't have their phones out.

Original poster
newmum1976 · 29/12/2022 18:42

FLOWER1982 · 29/12/2022 18:36

We had this one time. Kids in front kept talking an and distracting from the film. My husband had a word as it was making us really peed off. It turned out the parent was sitting behind us! Never said a bloody word to them to be quiet. Some people have no consideration.

The mum and grandmother today had purposely sat the row behind their children, as we booked last minute and the only seats free were next to their children. One of them was 18 months at most and the mum refused to have him on her knee!!

OP posts:
Cakemonger · 29/12/2022 18:43

I don’t go anymore for this reason - it’s just stressful

Original poster
newmum1976 · 29/12/2022 18:45

Oher · 29/12/2022 18:39

Not normal

Sounds like the cinema is in v chavvy area

South East London- so very diverse. That’s a good point actually- maybe we’ll try a different cinema next time.

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whatsdiswhatsdat · 29/12/2022 18:47

Our little town has a tiny two screen cinema and I thank the gods for it. People are respectful when they go to a movie there and volunteers work hard to run and maintain it. The community loves it and looks after it. I would never travel further afield to go to some soulless multiplex.

There was also a little 3 screen cinema in my old neighbourhood growing up that has since been turned to flats. A real shame. Time was when there was a small cinema in every community. Now mostly replaced by massive Odeons and Cineworlds.