Is Movie Theatre Etiquette Dead?

I’m an entertainment junkie – I love movies and I love TV, and I love going to see movies in the theatre.

But, I’m led to ask, is movie theatre etiquette dead? Or was there any ever to begin with?

Every time I go to the theatre I have issues on both ends of the spectrum – viewers and staff alike. From the crying babies, the cellphones, to the talking, the experience of going to the movies has become entirely unpleasant.

1) Crying babies. I know this is bound to happen in kid’s movies, not that I think it should – leave your kids at home if they can’t sit through a movie. Or try taking them to the “mommy and me” showtimes. But, what about when parents take kids to violent films? Last night I saw Safe House, a considerably violent shoot-em-up movie, and of course, a 2 year old had to be in the movie sitting on her mother’s lap. There was actually more than one toddler in the theatre, however, this one decided to giggle and cry profusely throughout the movie. A stern warning from a security member of the staff was all it took for the mother to get her baby to stop making noises. But really, why is the child there in the first place? Is proper parenting dead too?

2) Cellphones. Come on people. It costs a ridiculous amount of money to see a movie in a theatre these days, so why are you wasting your money by coming to a theatre just to sit there on your cellphone the whole time. I’ve seen people texting, playing games, and I’ve even had people  in the theatre who have had the nerve to answer their cellphone during the movie. Have somewhere better to be? Then be there. Not only is the noise obnoxious – the talking or ringing, but the light is SO distracting. There is a reason they turn the lights off during the movie. We don’t need glares of light coming from every which way in the theatre from cellphones. Even a split second to check the time on one is distracting. Turn them off or stay out.

3) The movie screens. It’s very rare I go to a movie without something being on the screen – whether it’s dirt or a scratch, either way it’s extremely distracting. When you’re paying a high rate for entertainment, you’re also paying for quality. With the increasing ease of watching movies at home, the movie theatre needs to be special. If this has happened to you, be sure to complain to management at the end of the film – you’ll definitely score some free tickets.

4) The sound. Sometimes the sound isn’t all that great in the theatre, usually because the *quiet* movies seem to be strategically placed next to the *loud* movies. So during a rom com you may hear the bangs from the theatre next door. Free tickets here too folks!

5) The staff. Some staff members at theatres are entirely unpleasant. The ages of staff seem to be going down – not that I’m an ageist, but it seems the respectful demeanor from staff is going down as well. During the credits, I’ve often experienced rude staff not waiting until the end of the credits to clean. So they jam through the aisles cleaning while I’m still watching – sometimes waiting for the final scene at the end of the credits. They talk loudly to each other while doing this too. Never mind the fact sometimes they turn the lights on during the credits, even when another scene is expected. I’ve gotten free tickets for both of these situations as well – though they often come in combos.

6). Talking. This has pretty much always been an issue since as far back as I can remember. I will never understand why people are paying 10+ dollars to see a movie only to add their own soundtrack to it. Once again, got somewhere better to be? Be there.

Now I’m stuck in a predicament, while I love going to the movies, is it worth it anymore? Even in the new UltraAVX theatres in Canada, where you’re able to book your seats in advance for a premium price, you’re still often stuck with rude people in the audience – who even when paying extra on top of the already ridiculous price to see a movie, still see the need to be on their cellphone or talk to each other. Until babies are screened before entering adult films, and people understand the definition of etiquette, is it really worth it to pay a premium price for a movie just to be annoyed the entire time? Maybe it is time management at movie theatres work towards making theatres a more comfortable place through preventative measures. Kick people out of the theatre if they’re making noise! Don’t let them in with babies! Do something! Anything! There must be a way to get the theatre back to what it should be.

Maybe theatres should take some advice from the Alamo Drafthouse theatre that plays this at the beginning of every film: click here to view the clip. (This clip is not censored – there is swearing). Enjoy!