what's cinema ettiquette like where you are?
Posted by catchyaontheflip@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 98 comments
I've just got back from seeing Michael and had my cinema experience significantly impaired by a group of about 3 people sat somewhere on my right who were talking, loudly eating, recording themselves (with flash) and I think at one point having a Facetime call during the film. I of course did the very British thing of doing nothing more than glaring in their direction, even though I really wanted to say 'shush!'
I'm in SE London and have seen this on several cinema trips recently. there's always a few people who act like it's their living room and seem to have no regard for other people's enjoyment of a film. I don't know if I'm just old-fashioned/uptight but I always thought the cinema is somewhere you go for quiet, and that it's rude to share more than an occasional whisper with whoever you're with (and that phones should be switched off unless you're expecting an urgent call).
is this a universal experience across the UK now, or is there somewhere I can go to enjoy a movie in peace?
Margotkittie@reddit
Strangely, the better behaved audiences have been at children's films, Faraway tree & Wicked being two examples. Little kiddies are still caught up in the magic. The worst was going to see The Holdovers at a small independent. I did crack after about 30 mins of this young woman not letting the film interfere with her social life and told her to shut up. She actually had the self awareness of a gnat when she started arguing with me, calling me rude. Then everyone else turned on her. It was a beautiful moment, brought a tear to the eye.
I'm always very conscious though that it's not many years ago in the Vue near me that a woman did the same and the lad went & bought bleach to throw in her face. You definitely have to pick your moments.
Travels_Belly@reddit
Sorry to be pedantic but Wicked isn't a kids film.
Margotkittie@reddit
Tell that to the huge number of children who attended the same showing as me. I don't think they got the memo.
Travels_Belly@reddit
It's irrelevant how many children are there. It's not made for kids but it's suitable for them to watch. It's based on the theatre show, Wicked.
Mundane-Topic-8214@reddit
Independent art cinemas tend to be better in my experience.
BigFloofRabbit@reddit
100%
All the cinema chavs I've encountered were at Cineworld
bluejeansseltzer@reddit
Odeon for me
TelephoneOrnery1394@reddit
Dark room adult cinemas as well, SILENCE.
Travels_Belly@reddit
Better but not exempt. Ive experienced it.
No_Salary5918@reddit
im a university student and the number of people talking at full volume in lectures is astonishing
insertitherenow@reddit
People just don’t behave anymore so I’ve stopped going.
Simple_Joys@reddit
I'm based in York and have noticed a real decline in cinema ettiquette over the last few years. I think post-pandemic in particular (just anecdotally).
I don't want to sound very old and be all kids these days. But I really do think smartphone dependence is a big factor. People just don't want to turn them off, and once they're on people can't help but look at them. The whole culture of sitting in front of the TV and only half-paying attention to the show while you mindlessly scroll at the same time is starting to creep its way into cinemas too.
I was at the theatre the other week and a group of women sat behind me were constantly whispering too each other there too, so it's not even just the cinema where standards are slipping. Very annoyingly, one of them had a phone switched on to vibrate rather than it being turned off (or even just on a proper silent setting), and the sound of it physically vibrating multiple times throughout the show was extremely irritating.
esper_wing@reddit
Which cinemas in York do you go to? I tend to stick to the Picturehouse and the Everyman as the prices seem to put off unsupervised kids messing around (midweek/daytime showings also tend to be quieter in general if you can fit those around your work schedule). You do still hear the odd ringtone or someone talking over the film, but at least there's nobody shouting or chucking food at each other.
Concert etiquette is the thing I've noticed the most in the last few years. So many people shouting over the music and ignoring the band on stage. With how expensive gigs are now, I don't understand why you'd pay upwards of £50 just to treat it like background noise to your conversation.
Simple_Joys@reddit
Yeah, behaviour tends to be worse in the Vue in Clifton Moor, but it isn’t just exclusively in there.
Certain-Pass-6551@reddit
Our local Odeon Luxe is great, people actually watch the film, 99% people get to their seats on time, absolutely spotless too. Probably been 25 times over the last 3 or 4 years and haven't once had a problem. I always go for evening showings (8pm onwards) to avoid any kids/teenagers.
RuachReader@reddit
I go multiple times a week and never experience anything like this. I’m in the midlands
Meta-Fox@reddit
I've been known before now to simply call out shitty behaviour and it usually works. The reason why pricks like this get away with it is because they've never been confronted before. Try it, it's liberating.
CumGuzlinGutterSluts@reddit
"Yo can you shut the fuck up" is one of the most freeing phrases.
Especially when you have a bunch of other people that have your back, like the whole cinema.
Last time i went to the movies It was for Smile I think and a bunch if kids snuck in and were just beeing pieces of shit. My friends and I just started throwing candy at them and saying "Whoa why do you guys smell like alcohol?" Loudly. Shut them right the fuck up, we got 2 free tickets because they finally got kicked out though so that was sweet.
wildflower12345678@reddit
i would have changed it from alcohol to BO.
CumGuzlinGutterSluts@reddit
That won't scare them enough. Bo is social, alcohol is criminal at their level
Icantdoitidk@reddit
Eh? You can literally get a pint at the pictures mate.
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
They're in the US thou and "kids" would definitely be under 21 I assume and I'm not sure they sell alcohol in cinemas there (thou they might) 🤷🏻♀️
Feisty_Park1424@reddit
Spot the septic hahaha
eggs_and_ham_i_am@reddit
You throwing "candy" at them was also a wank move.
So now some poorly paid employee has to clean up your mess because you were to pussy to just tell the kids to shut up and ship out.
Acrobatic-Ad1579@reddit
“Candy”
KeremyJyles@reddit
Can't people like you just go away forever
CumGuzlinGutterSluts@reddit
Every piece was a sacrifice worth giving
Meta-Fox@reddit
Oh definitely. Some people just have never been challenged before and so assume they can act like cunts and get away with it. It takes the rest of us to stand up and tell them to fuck off before they get the picture.
CumGuzlinGutterSluts@reddit
Im lucky im 6ft 1~2. Ive had dudes back down once I stand up and they weren't expecting a chick to be a head taller than them. Kids are easier, minds still pliable, its a community service yaknow? It takes a village.
Meta-Fox@reddit
More power to you, keep up the good fight! I'm 6ft myself and pretty big myself (even if most of it is fat, ha ha). I like to think myself as a friendly big guy, but I can make myself look scary if I need to.
And these days I absolutely will if the situation calls for it.
CumGuzlinGutterSluts@reddit
Nobody likes a girl looking down on them and I definitly do it on purpose lol
catchyaontheflip@reddit (OP)
I have been a confronter in the past, but as a woman who was there alone, I didn’t feel brave enough to risk kicking off an argument with a group of people :(
Leoni_@reddit
Oh, you know meta-fox? Oh, would you believe what they’re known for… yeah really! Nahhh, not lying bro, *genuinely*. They tell people off in the cinema and then jack off over how just, like, *freeing* it is
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question
LewisF_@reddit
So true, I’m quite shy and socially anxious but telling some rude guy to get off his phone during a climactic and emotional moment during Tokyo Story (after I’d bitten my tongue for the previous 90 minutes) was so liberating. Sucks to see people reducing works of art to fucking background noise as they doomscroll
Meta-Fox@reddit
I used to be quite socially anxious but not so much anymore. The thing that made me flip was when watching a special screening of a film with my boyfriend only to have 2 scrotes chat for over 20 minutes a few seats away from us.
Ended up telling them to shut the fuck up or piss off. They pissed off. Felt quite good about that one not gonna lie.
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
Shit! I just got back from seeing Northern Ballet at THE THEATRE tonight. I went to see their new Ballet on tour Gentleman Jack. I go to see a fair bit of dance and every time without fail I'm pissed off by people, rustling sweets, eating crisps, cans of drink being opened. I'm experiencing this whilst paying £60 a ticket, hell knows what cinemas are like.
And I ~~might~~ will sound rude, but can't people eat before or after?? Is it that hard to keep ur mouths shut and not chewing or talking, for a couple of hours😭 and it's not even 2 hours, there's an interval in the middle. A bottle of water is one thing but opening cans of coke or beer, and constantly digging around in packets is rude and disrespectful to others who've paid money and most of all the dancers and orchestra.
I don't see why cinema should be that much different and at the very least in a cinema stfu and keep quiet 😏
Anyway please leave your downvotes below, I'm sure I'll get them for saying people can't even stop eating for a couple of hours 🙃
rkr87@reddit
This is the reason I don't go to the cinema at all, I don't understand how anyone enjoys it - I'd much rather watch a film at home, it's far more enjoyable - moreso since I installed a projector.
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
Yes I don't go to the cinema either, the last time I went was to see Salt in 2010 but I stopped going then mainly because it has always been far too loud for me. A home projector is so much more enjoyable for me too
obbitz@reddit
The last time I went to the cinema was Matrix 3. My mate got a hot dog, the cinema was quite full but we managed to shuffle to a couple of seats in the middle. As we were sat down he nudged me and said my sausage is missing, we looked around and found it had fallen out of the bun a lodged in the hoodie of the guy in front. It had left a trail of ketchup and mustard down the back of his head. We obviously couldn’t ask for our sausage back, so we left and I haven’t been back yo a cinema since.
TelephoneOrnery1394@reddit
Go to more expensive cinemas that teens cant afford
catchyaontheflip@reddit (OP)
these people were adults
moanybastard@reddit
If only it was just the teens. I would (perhaps!) be more understanding of teens being little scrotes, but recent it seems to be middle aged people too!
Travels_Belly@reddit
Thia why i absolutely refuse to go to the cinema now. If they're going to charge me crazy high prices they can police their venue.
They used to do this when i was young but haven't for a long time. If you're not going to bother telling people to be quiet or turn off their phone then I'm not going to pay your stupid money. That's not how it works.
Last time i went in the uk was avengers end game and haven't been since. I've been plenty of times in Thailand, no issues. Never.
Mortiis07@reddit
What cinema are you going to? It costs like £10 a ticket here, a bit less if you sit closer
Blind_Warthog@reddit
That’s a lot for some people dickhead.
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Mortiis07@reddit
Lol ok calm down, why so mad?
missuseme@reddit
Last two times I went to the cinema I was under the impression it was mostly empty, until the lights came on at the end and almost all the seats were full. Everyone was perfectly behaved.
TapWaterDev@reddit
We're still civilised up north
Blind_Warthog@reddit
If only that was true. Maybe I’m not far enough north?
Obvious-Water569@reddit
I go to the cinema quite a lot and I can confirm this behaviour is far more common than it used to be.
I don't think people know how to behave in public anymore.
ApeWrinkles95@reddit
Similar to your experience and seems to be Gen Z lot with their social development impaired by the pandemic
CanisAlopex@reddit
The whole generation thing is a bit useless because the ranges of age is so big. Oldest Gen Z will be turning 30 soon who were well into adulthood by the time of the pandemic.
thelivsterette1@reddit
More Gen Alpha
The youngest Gen Zers would have known how to behave around the pandemic as they would have been about 8
The oldest ones would have been adults
My brother is just on the cusp (born the year before the Gen Z age range) and he's 30 this year and would have been 24 when COVID hit
LyricalWizardry@reddit
The youngest Gen Z would have been about 10 when the lockdowns started, 6 years ago.
thelivsterette1@reddit
Google says Gen Z is 1997 (my bro is 1996) to 2012, so some would have been 8
CuteMaterial@reddit
And social media
mamafish21@reddit
You mean the younger ones. I was 19-21 when the whole covid thing happened. My wee child was 1. I haven't been to the cinema in 10 years.
CanisAlopex@reddit
I went to the cinema a couple to weeks ago and this two women firstly choose to sit directly next to me and my date in a mostly empty cinema, (the rest of the row was empty, as was the one in front) and then proceeded to talk and scroll through their phones (full brightness of course) throughout the entire film. Whatever happened to change cinema etiquette? Paid a fair amount to watch that film as well.
pseudonomdeplume@reddit
Went to see the last Alien film and about ten minutes into it, some arsehole comes in, turns the torch on his phone on and proceeds to find his seat by going the long way around - ie in front of the screen with his torch.
I shouted down and asked him to turn it off and he told me to shut up - I spent the rest of the film fuming at him.
Ok-Explanation1990@reddit
As a older guy, I'm trying to recall what made me behave myself so well in a cinema and other public spaces as a teenager. Apart from consideration for others (which, tbh, I somewhat lacked as a teenager), it was an underlying fear of someone calling out my behaviour and embarrassing me in front of everyone.
ScallyGirl@reddit
I took our son to see the new Mario film yesterday. Apart from two younger teenagers lads being a little chatty, the adults were the worst.
One father sat the front was flicking through instagram through most of the film, the mum in front of us started her Ocado shop.
The younger generations will never respect cinema etiquette when they are not being shown it by their parents.
WrongExplanation1065@reddit
Did you go tell a member of staff then? They would tell them to leave.
Super-Surround-4347@reddit
I seem to encounter these people everywhere I go.
Selfish parking, selfish driving, playing music out loud/ taking calls on loudspeaker on public transport.
I think since COVID everyone has become way more engrossed in their own world and don't understand or care about the impact of their actions.
Equally, I'm becoming more and more of a grumpy old git so it could well be this too.
WealthMain2987@reddit
Our thinking is similar
FreezerCop@reddit
Went on Monday, the bloke in the seats in front of us and his kids left this when they exited, 2 meal deals worth of rubbish and a big empty crisp bag. Bin at the end of the row and another just outside the door.
He wasn't in a rush as he was sitting in the foyer when we were leaving. I was banned from talking to him about it by my wife.
buttnuggetmaster@reddit
I only ever go cinema if it's an everyman (mainly i just like the leg room and better food options) and haven't ever run into this.
I figure the people willing to pay the little bit extra for a better experience, are unlikely to act like cunts and ruin it for themselves.
Harry__Gateau@reddit
Nobody talks, or laughs. Everybody stays until the very end of the end credits.
WIZZZARDOFFREESTYLE@reddit
PPL WANKING
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question
e-pancake@reddit
I haven’t had any issues but I often go in the middle of the day so it’s often less packed
FunnyVehicle7664@reddit
I went a few months ago with a mate who insisted we leave a seat between us. Later on someone behind asked if he could not sit with his phone glaring. He was sitting texting me because we couldn't talk due to the space between us. .
I'd have thought that went against etiquette. Good for her speaking up.
Alternatively if something bothers you just tut loudly.
Commercial-Hat-5993@reddit
Last 10 or so times I've been to the cinema there's been less than 20 people in the screening, last one I was the only one in there
lildogeggs@reddit
SW London, 75% of the time I go I have to tell someone to be quiet, ruins it a bit. Recently I decided I can’t be bothered with it so I only go mid week or times that aren’t busy. Friday/sat/sun you get people there on dates or for something to do, not to watch the film…
BmuthafuckinMagic@reddit
I haven't been to the cinema since 2018 (just one visit to see one in IMAX) and not regretted it at all.
I still watch the films and enjoy them, just don't have any of the interruptions.
Going to the cinema for me is an outdated concept with people's self control lacking and also the fact that cinema staff don't take any action for interruptions, but take all your money.
Which_Performance_72@reddit
There's a chain cinema and an amazing independent cinema both near me.
It's almost dead silent, it's much cheaper and everyone is a lot nicer
I avoid the chain one like a plague but when I do go it's so noisy, people talk, go on their phones etc
odkfn@reddit
I’ve done mma / BJJ for years but I’m pretty non confrontational, probably because I’m a slightly bigger guy.
One time some teenagers in front of us spoke at full volume for ages and I didn’t say anything, then my wife (who I’ve never seen do anything like this), said “excuse me, can you shut the fuck up?” And they actually did haha. I was glad she had the balls to say something because I didn’t!
TomatoChomper7@reddit
Mostly it’s not too bad, I prefer to go on weeknights. I’ve been to see maybe 70 films over the last year, and of that, there have only been about three or four that were really egregious. Absolute stereotypes talking and messing about on their phones.
Ok_Victory_2977@reddit
70? 👀 Christ I didn't even know they showed that many in a year 😭 (I'm not a cinema goer at all so am clueless about how frequently films are released)
thelivsterette1@reddit
I think post COVID it's got worse in theatres and cinemas because idiots don't know how to behave (and based on articles I've seen discussing police presence and usher's being scared of harassment etc) anymore
But once I had some douchebag teenagers literally climbing all over the back of the seats, throwing empty plastic bottles etc.
Got so bad somsone got an usher, police stopped the screening, the teens got probably a caution and we got free vouchers (but I didn't end up going back)
MrMonkeyman79@reddit
Honestly, its been many years since ive experienced real issues with the rest of the audience.
I think it helps that where I am there's an upmarket cinema and a cheap one. So those wanting to scroll or chat go to the cheaper one while the upmarket one us full of people who actually want to watch the film.
Worst ive had is the light of a phone screen switch on for a few seconds two or three times in a film. Something I could do without, but in the scheme of things a short and minor distraction.
maybenomaybe@reddit
I saw Obsession the other night and this guy in front of me pulled out his phone in the middle of the film. I immediately told him to put it away and he apologized, but then was looking at it again but dimmed.
If you can't put your phone away for 2 fucking hours stay the fuck home you fucking cretin.
moanybastard@reddit
Absolutely shocking and it's why I no longer go.
The COST is not the issue. The behaviour of others is.
CurrencyIll9145@reddit
i saw michael recently too. mix of age groups. my friend and i (late 20s) were sandwiched between two groups of teenagers (maybe 13-16 years old?). they were good as gold after the adverts. the problem was one set of kids' parents sat directly behind them, who'd clearly had too much to drink and kept 'whispering' during quieter moments
Practical-Travel8575@reddit
Yeah Michael was the most interrupted film I saw this year. The first 30 minutes still had people standing swapping seats. At one point I counted upwards of 10 people stood up maybe 20 minutes after the film started LOL
CuteMaterial@reddit
I saw Michael a couple of weeks ago in Purley (Croydon) and had some teen girls next to me start recording when the film began. I asked them please to not do that, just watch and enjoy but they ignored me. (They also brought in McDonald's and unwrapped about five burgers during the film). Towards the end of the film, I was so angry that I couldn't wait for it to end. I complained to an attendant afterwards who apologised and gave me some free tickets to another film. I used one to see Project Hail Mary in central London and the audience there were silent
UrMomDotCom666@reddit
i know there's a stereotype of younger people behaving badly at the cinema, but in my experience it's been with the older generation. i've only ever seen them on their phones, not teens or 20s. only a few weeks ago an older couple put their bags and coats on my seat and when i asked them to move it, they made a huge fuss to the point i had to bring an employee. another time, someone behind me rested their heavy boots on top of my head. not chair, but my actual head. i looked behind me expecting someone young but it was a guy in his 60s probably. he did eventually move them after he realised but it was pretty rude nonetheless.
YorkshireMary@reddit
Im retired and can go in the afternoon. Almost nobody else around.
PKblaze@reddit
The last few films have been alright.
Someone tried to talk and got told off by another cinema goer and then they left.
The other day some kids were fucking around and threw something into the screen but otherwise everyone in the room was alright. Kids were a little chatty but that's expected when they're like 7
MiserablePool1725@reddit
Stopped going to Cineworld or Vue ages ago. Try an independent cinema or Showcase lux or maybe an Everyman- too much food eating here too so only been twice.
Bretthart82@reddit
Not worth getting stabbed over a movie. Sorry the little shits ruined your experience.
aaron2933@reddit
Had a similar experience when I went to see the Michael Jackson too
Just tapped the person next to me on the shoulder and said they're talking really loud and they and their group shut up after that
MezzStipe@reddit
Unfortunately, it's the same elsewhere (least as far as the UK obviously) as I've experienced it in cinemas, bars, coffee shops…
29407258729587348957@reddit
25 years ago it was shit, so I stopped going. Between peasants on their phones (totally unpoliced by ushers or whatever), terrible audio/video syncing and stupid prices (around London) it's not worth it. I've been been big on the whole "wow..the experience....of watching it on the big screen....with good sound". Nah mate, sat in front of a laptop with decent headphones is more than good enough. Plus unless you follow whats on and where, travel around etc you can only watch whatever shit has just been released. For me it's exactly like why gaming arcades died out - you have a better experience at home/a mates.
I was briefly hopeful that something like cinemas would show up - a sort of Netflix where people who wanted a big screen and maybe a communal element of like-minded people could watch something old or new, and where you got to shut up and watch it or be kicked out. But I guess there's just no demand or it would cost too much to have mostly empty rooms.
Majick_L@reddit
Went to see it recently aswell and there was 1 group of kids who were a bit boisterous and shrieking “owww” and “hee hee” and laughing etc…surprisingly a couple in front of me actually snapped at them and made them shut up so it got nipped in the bud!
The_Pink_Hardcase@reddit
I stopped going a few years ago as it's intolerable.(Scotland) People are dicks these days. I built a home cinema system and enjoy better sound at home without the annoyances.
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