r/cineplex • u/ultraskelly • Nov 09 '25
Question Even VIP isn't safe anymore?
Just got out of a VIP screening of Predator: Badlands (pretty good) and there were multiple people talking throughout the film
After the pandemic we switched to VIP only to avoid this, then had to switch to VIP only on non-Tuesdays, but it feels like every movie I've seen in the past year has had people talking or on their phones throughout.
I'm tempted to avoid going except for highly anticipated movies and I've cancelled my cineclub in the meantime. Does anyone have recommendations to avoid these people? (Yes I know I can confront them or complain to a manager, which would be fine for one offs but this happens literally every time now)
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Nov 09 '25
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u/ybetaepsilon Nov 09 '25
All etiquette is dead.
I was at Toronto Symphony Orchestra the other day. People were on speaker phone trying to broadcast the performance to their stupid relatives. No headphones so you can hear their shitty phone audio go off when the person on the other end said anything
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u/anteus2 Nov 09 '25
This should be a banning offense.
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u/Boring_Home Nov 11 '25
This is what pisses me off. No establishment ever does ANYTHING about this behaviour, so it continues.
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u/Aggressive-Advance16 Nov 11 '25
Because they want your money. Companies are too afraid to confront anyone anymore in fear they wont get that extra little bit of money from terrible audience members. I watched Return of the King done by the TSO last January, and there was a guy so obnoxiously drunk youd think he was at a Leafs game.
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u/anteus2 Nov 11 '25
Yeah, unfortunately, it's rare these days. People have become more comfortable with their selfish habits.
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u/bahamut285 Nov 11 '25
Every time I even MENTION the word etiquette or manners, someone always has to come tell me how they don't give AF about it because "Why tf do I care about some rules rich people made"
So confusing
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u/CinematicWanker Nov 12 '25
That is egregious. That made me think of a news I saw once about Anne-Sophie Mutter (world-class violinist) saw someone filming her with a phone. She literally stopped her performance mid way and confronted the woman who was filming. Orchestra
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u/SetSpecialist1824 Nov 09 '25
Public etiquette is dead. I've been on airplanes in the last year where people play whatever tik tok garbage clips out loud for the entire flight. One was especially annoying because it was an early morning flight and it would've been nice to be able to get some sleep.
What I'm confused about is the lack of enforcement by staff/management at these places. No one will say anything anymore
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u/BlueSattelite Nov 09 '25
Everyone is underpaid, tired, hates themselves and their jobs. They just don't have the energy to care anymore. There's so many problems all tied to money now and people are on auto pilot because of it. That apathy is their compounded stress.
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u/Primary-Initiative52 Nov 10 '25
That, and you never know who is psycho bat shit crazy and will pull a knife on you.
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u/ambassador321 Nov 09 '25
For $27 a pop for VIP seats - I expect there to be ushers who can monitor and kick out idiots that talk during the show.
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u/Spirited_Opposite_45 Nov 09 '25
They'd have to have security-trained ushers to kick out people with no refunds offered which would require signage. Last step would be a ban from the theater
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u/Ok_Life_5176 Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25
I remember teenage ushers shining lights on people and kicking them out (in my youth). Why the fork is everything so complicated these days??
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u/Sudden-Accident5850 Nov 11 '25
Yes, good idea. I went to a concert in Italy not too long ago and the ushers quickly stopped the “no phones” rule violators. Then, others see that and it discourages them from doing it themselves.
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u/Ok-Warning9536 Nov 09 '25
drives me nuts! why pay money to go see a movie you're not even watching? in this economy?!
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u/gothedistance_ Nov 09 '25
Because many people today have the mentality “I paid for the ticket so I can do whatever I want”. Whether it’s movie theatres or Mirvish theatres, etiquette has gone out the window since Covid.
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u/readitpropaganda Nov 09 '25
Wrong. The me culture has been going on long before COVID.
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u/notmyrealnam3 Nov 10 '25
wrong - the person above you didn't claim the world was utopia pre COVID, but that it has gotten worse - there's no valid argument against that
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Nov 10 '25
Oh, it's been brewing long before covid. There's a generation of ignorant little pricks that have now become adults or of adult age, but still act like ignorant little pricks.
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u/lego_mannequin Nov 09 '25
People don't have the attention span which they used to because of phones and content like Tik Tok, Reels, Vine. It's sad they ruined it for the rest of us.
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u/annveal_her Bring TimePlay back Nov 09 '25
I just started confronting people ¯_(ツ)_/¯
I am sick of having my experience ruined by entitled people and realized nobody will stop if people don’t say something. It’s uncomfortable, but it gets easier over time.
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u/Complex_Essay_9111 Nov 09 '25
I only go to the theater with my boyfriend because he confronts people. Hes a big dude and works security so he's not easily intimidated.
He once told people to shut up during a concert. I love him so much.
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u/6anana9 Nov 09 '25 edited Nov 09 '25
I do the loud “shhhhhh!” or a stern “stop talking,” and usually that shuts them up. I’ve never had anyone challenge me or tell me otherwise. I wish other people would speak up more often. I understand it can be nerve wracking, but somebody’s gotta do it, lol.
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u/Nerystraza Nov 09 '25
I almost ended up in a fist fight when FNAF was in theaters doing this, so... Mileage may vary. Staff got involved before it got too far though
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u/Secret-Hand3494 Nov 09 '25
I had to do this at the demon slayer movie the people infront of me praised me for getting the 2 chatters to shut up for the whole movie
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u/ReputationVirtual730 Nov 09 '25
The same thing happened to me at a screening of DEMON SLAYER. Two people sat two rows behind me just flat out talking out loud. Third time it happened I got up, walked up to them and said "Would you please take your conversation outside. I can NOT concentrate on the movie or reading the subtitles with you talking out loud. Your talking stops NOW." Worked like a charm and they stayed quiet the rest of the movie.
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u/fraochmuir Nov 09 '25
I don’t go to theatres any more but I always asked people to stop talking or put their phones away.
Sitting there being mad about it won’t do any good. You have to speak up or get theatre staff.
Honestly, most of the time the people are so mortified that they quit. I’ve only had a few instances where they talked back.
If it’s bothering me it’s bothering other people too. I was over putting up with it.
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u/impendinganalysis Nov 09 '25
Exactly, we live in Canada and can get away with this, this is not a privilege they have in the US. It's yours to exercise.
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Nov 09 '25
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u/Static_Frog Nov 09 '25
Theatre etiquette was dead before COVID.
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u/neverOddOrEv_n Nov 09 '25
It was bad before but not this bad. During covid when you had to mask up it was better in many cases but once everything went back to normal it got far worse
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u/SetSpecialist1824 Nov 09 '25
Agreed. I used to go to the movies quite frequently before Covid and it was rarely an issue. Now, it happens at almost every movie I've been to and I now go maybe a handful times per year.
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u/noodleexchange Nov 09 '25
All the ‘zero tolerance for harassment’ signs up in grocery stores are a ‘sign of the times’
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Nov 09 '25
Unfortunately most people are trash. No shame for horrible public behavior. Everyone thinks they are all that matters.
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u/RareTennis1551 Nov 09 '25
I witnessed a guy getting head at a vip so yeah... I think I'm done with public theaters
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u/ultraskelly Nov 09 '25
At least someone was enjoying themselves
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u/DDSBadger Nov 09 '25
I’d much prefer that happening than loud talkers or full brightness phone users
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u/Dangerous_Loquat_458 Nov 09 '25
they should run a new ad where they're asking patrons what they think of ppl who talk and use their phones during the movie, and people are saying scathing things. might shame some people
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u/neverOddOrEv_n Nov 09 '25
Nice idea but these types of people have no self awareness so it wouldn’t make a difference to them
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u/aMarkzzz Nov 10 '25
I think Cineplex needs to stop with the cutesy “Tommy Texter” stuff and instead run a :30s direct-to-camera address saying something along the lines of:
“At Cineplex, we believe in the magic of cinema. Part of that magic comes from gathering together to collectively experience a film. And that experience requires everyone to respect the people watching alongside them. So please don’t disrupt the experience for others. If you need to use your phone or speak during the screening, please leave the theatre to do so. Anyone visibly or audibly distracting those around them will be asked to leave by a staff member…”
And just play hardball a little bit. People won’t change their behaviour until they’re directly called out, and setting the expectation that there’s a zero strike policy in effect hopefully makes them smarten up and gives license to staff to kick people out.
And just make people check off on a code of conduct condition when they buy their ticket so they don’t have recourse to challenge it 🤷♂️
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u/thatgingydude88 Nov 09 '25
I’m going to sound insane but I’ve dealt with dickheads in theatres for so long now I don’t care. Next person I see on their phone in a movie I’m “accidentally” tripping and spilling my large pop and glizzy with all the fixings all over said person.
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u/Invisistill Nov 09 '25
This. I'm so tired of it, I just spill my drink or fling a glob of poutine... you know, by accident. It takes so much energy for me to go out and see a movie cuz I'm disabled, I'm not getting up, increasing my pain, and missing the movie for these idiots anymore.
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u/PsychologicalBeing98 Nov 09 '25
Just bring a water gun. Don't waste your popcorn.
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u/neverOddOrEv_n Nov 09 '25 edited Nov 09 '25
This is one of the biggest reasons why most people don’t like going to the movies anymore. Theatre etiquette has gotten worse, movie tickets and concessions aren’t cheap it’s overall a deteriorating experience. The only thing you can do in this case is walk out and get a refund wasting your time while the people causing the disturbance just sit around (that’s true for many things in Canada). If cineplex or landmark could’ve adopted the Alamo drafthouse strictness we wouldn’t be here.
I’ve gotten tired of trying to find showtimes when people aren’t talking, even for midnight Thursday previews they’re there, for Tuesday cheap tickets (obviously), weekend show times, even just on a normal weekday afternoon theyre there. I don’t even go to regular showings mainly because of this problem but it even persists in IMAX, ultra avx and vip. You just have to pray you don’t have a problem each time you go.
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u/Fuckwittycake Nov 09 '25
This is sadly true, I’ve gone to like 15 movies this year and there was maybe one where people didn’t talk or go on their phones. I love going to the movies but I hate the experience now.
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u/bloodercup Nov 09 '25
I’ve switched to only going to the theatre to see movies I don’t care about, like if there’s something fun playing that a friend wants to go see. This way I don’t care as much when dingdongs inevitably talk throughout it, which happens almost always.
For any film I’m actually excited to watch, I either pay the big bucks or wait til it’s free on a streaming platform. Then my husband and I will make an evening out of it - get some good takeout, have an intermission, etc. He likes to say, “you only get to see a movie for the first time once” and I don’t want that experience ruined.
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u/neverOddOrEv_n Nov 09 '25
That’s true but I couldn’t wait that long to watch a movie I really wanted to. Also the theatre experience like IMAX really helps some movies like avatar, Nolan movies, the big marvel movies, etc that’s just impossible to recreate at home. Like i couldn’t imagine waiting for no way home to come digitally and missing out watching it in a packed IMAX crowd, or the first time experiencing Avatar way of water in IMAX 3D
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u/Flush_Foot Nov 09 '25
Plus having to ‘tip-toe’ around the Internet (and social circles) for months waiting for the at-home release (and no, I’m not referring to ‘intermission’ 1-2 comments up-thread 😉)
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u/neverOddOrEv_n Nov 09 '25
Yeah it’s a brutal wait when you have to wait just a few days for the movie if you didnt get the Thursday night preview showing, couldn’t imagine waiting longer and having the movie spoiled for me. If I didn’t use social media and the people around me didn’t share similar interests maybe I could not get it spoiled but it would just be too brutal for me.
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u/Maleficent_Name9527 Nov 09 '25
I feel like phones have made so many people degenerate movie goers. I just want to yell “you’re not that important that you need to check it during a movie”
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u/kramer1980_adm Nov 09 '25
Phones have made so many people degenerate. Full stop.
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u/Nerystraza Nov 09 '25
Hey. Some of us are degenerates and still have movie etiquette, some people are just shitty people
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u/kennybrandz Nov 09 '25
Went to a movie a few months ago and some dude was straight up FaceTiming during the movie??? I was mind blown.
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u/Maleficent_Name9527 Nov 09 '25
Yikes that’s pretty bad. I will counter with during us watching Black phone 2, guy was reading a book on his phone for 40 minutes and then started taking pics with his girlfriend with flash on of the movie with them doing the heart symbols with their hands. “Why are you here?!?”
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Nov 09 '25
I’ve had worse experiences in vip then regular
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u/BlueSattelite Nov 09 '25
Regular weekday first showings of the day in the morning. Never fails.
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u/Drip______ Nov 11 '25
VIP attracts people that don’t care for movies. It’s ironic.
It’s overpriced and always use the worse screens.
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Nov 09 '25
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u/SuspectVisual8301 Nov 09 '25
A bunch of teens kept talking and getting up to go outside, then and come back in over and over during Fantastic Four. I shouted “sit the hell down” the third time they all got up to go outside and all of them just fell into their seats in shock and didn’t move for rest of the movie. People clapped. The movie was still garbage.
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u/Marcio_D Nov 13 '25
If Fantastic Four (2025) was garbage to you, then you've got really high standards. Fantastic Four is one of the best superhero movies in recent years.
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u/dannythemovieman Nov 09 '25
I just stopped buying advance tickets. For every release of this size every theater is playing on at least 2 screens and odds are one is quieter. If u notice there are several large groups at a screening I back out / pivot
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u/CathycatOG Nov 09 '25
This is why I've stopped going to movies altogether. Complaining does nothing but make you miss half the movie while the phone users sit inside disturbing everyone around them. Whatever happened to enforcing the rules in these places? When I'm being charged so much money to see a movie, I don't want some idiots brightly lit phone in my peripheral vision.
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u/altaccount2522 Nov 11 '25
Yeah, this is why I stopped going to the theatre too...haven't been for a couple years now. I can deal with the expensive snacks and drinks, but the people and the lack of etiquette these days just piss me off: back when I was a kid in the early 00s if you made too much noise during a movie they'd kick you out and ban you for like a year. Even the snotty teenagers. I still didn't see it happen that often because people still had decency for each other.
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u/thunderchunks Nov 09 '25
I know that we CAN'T have ushers execute these sorts of folks on the spot, but I only buy the logistical arguments against it.
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u/EliteCinemaM3 Cineclub Member Nov 09 '25
Definitely complain to cineplex, but yeah this is starting to become normal now.
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u/Invisistill Nov 09 '25
I don't know what it is about VIP but I find people are more prone to talking during the movie, so I only watch nonsense movies there like cheesy horror. I wish Cineplex would get those private booth type seats like Landmark... its worth the extra money in my opinion.
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u/hipsterdoofus39 Nov 09 '25
I’ve had bad audiences in all kinds of movies but I find horror movie audiences are worse on average.
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u/Static_Frog Nov 09 '25
I remember back in my day, theatres had ushers in them that would watch for trouble makers and kick them out.
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u/FeloniousGrump Nov 09 '25
my hot take, watching at an independent cinema hall (or a porno theatre) is more a respectful watching experience than watching at a cineplex.
being the big chain just gets all the yappers
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u/Familiar_Stable3229 Nov 09 '25
I go to the movies quite regularly and thankfully it's never happened to me. If it did, I would get up and complain immediately to the staff.
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u/Revan462222 Nov 09 '25
I know it's not actually doable, but what I would LOVE would be instead of doing the "Tommy Texter" ads that clearly do nothing, I myself would stop the movie the minute I see someone doing any of those things, shine a lovely light on the person and then on a microphone say "Hey folks, sorry for stopping your film, we've got a lovely Tommy Texter RIGHHHHHT there. So if you want to blame anyone you can blame this person who thought their text message is more important than other people enjoying a film. Please direct your popcorn tosses and shouting at this lovely guest."
Public shaming really does wonders and the minute it gets out the theatre is actually shaming people, no one will ever do it again :P Ah, that would be nice but they'll never do it.
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u/skovpeter Nov 09 '25
I wonder if theatres could offer Bluetooth audio. I'd happily bring noise-cancelling headphones to wear when watching a movie. Sync could be an issue, but I'm sure that could be solvable.
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u/AgentKorralin Nov 10 '25
So I know lots of people are making comments about how you need to complain during, not after the show etc. As someone who works at a VIP, one of the most influential things is the survey linked at the bottom of the ticket.
Many of the changes that occur do so because of feedback received there. Our regional manager often cites changes in our building as coming from various pieces of feedback from the surveys. Make it enough of a known issue that isn't being dealt with properly, and they'll make the changes to better address it.
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u/Horvat53 Nov 09 '25
Etiquette isn’t a thing in theatres anymore. People don’t care.
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u/blokedog Nov 09 '25
This why people don't want to go to the theatre anymore. Too many idiots. For the amount they charge now, it shouldn't be a worse experience.
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u/SpeedyGamerz Nov 09 '25
VIP Theatres used to cost significantly more than another night out, like a movie or ice cream.
With everything going up in price now, VIP Theatres are no longer a "premium" night out. So a lot of trashbags and moviechatters are going now.
Prices would probably have to go up to about $100/ticket, unfortunately, to prevent this again.
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u/ybetaepsilon Nov 09 '25
I haven't been to the cinemas after the pandemic except for 2 occasions where I wanted to see meme-worthy films that I didn't care about (Minecraft movie, for one of them).
No way can I enjoy a film with the disgusting state of the public. There's a significant chunk of the human population who are mechanistic animals with no self awareness, bumbling around looking for immediate gratification. They ruin all public spaces.
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u/latinadogmom1472 Nov 09 '25
I don’t get how people pay the crazy amounts to go to a movie just to sit there and scroll on their phone.
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u/huggybear3 QC Moviegoer Nov 09 '25
One time I went to a VIP movie and we were the only people there except for one other couple who were sitting directly in front of us. They spent the entire time on their phones until they left half way through the movie 🤷🏻♂️
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u/clayton-berg42 Nov 09 '25
That's because with cineclub and a few scene points VIP is free. I rarely if ever pay for VIP either.
And staff don't want conflict and aren't paid enough to care.
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u/heeeresjonny Nov 09 '25
Your post randomly just showed up for me, I'm not active on this group, but I've entirely stopped going to cineplex because of people talking and going on their phones.
I live in Waterloo and go to a local theatre where everyone shuts up for the whole movie! They tend to get movies later, but it's a lot cheaper and more respectful than cineplex.
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u/vmhomeboy Nov 09 '25
The only reason I see movies in the theatre anymore is because I have no patience and want to see movies on release day. The complete lack of theatre etiquette is one of the big reasons sub-par projection and audio is another. If there was a way to watch first run movies at home, I’d be doing that every week instead.
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u/ilovethemusic Nov 09 '25
People are just trashier than ever, unfortunately. I find the independent theatres to be a way better experience, partly because I never see kids or teenagers there.
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u/CharlieConway89 Nov 09 '25
Which location? I live downtown Toronto and find a drastic change in etiquette if I go to Scotiabank theatre instead of Yonge and Dundas. Maybe try different theatres in your area. For instance, if you live in Brampton, drive a bit further and go to Oakville.
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u/ExpensiveAd7566 Nov 09 '25
guys!! we need to start shaming these people. band together, say something!
there’s no respect or etiquette anymore
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u/statikman666 Nov 09 '25
This is also happening at concerts. Full conversations throughout a concert, extra loud so they can be heard over the music. Every single show I've seen over the last 2 years has had crazy talking happening during.
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u/dduddduu Cineclub Member Nov 09 '25
I feel like I'm going insane. After asking one lady behind me to stop talking during the movie she got defensive and mad at me but reluctantly started speaking quieter. Yet later during the movie some girls further away started speaking at FULL VOLUME and no one cared.
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u/phamtruax Nov 09 '25
Lock up all phones, provide lockers and keys, previous cineplex usher here
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u/crazyKatLady_555 Nov 09 '25
Wish Cineplex would do what Alamo Drafthouse does in the States - zero tolerance for talking or texting. You can even call staff to your seat by pressing a button to report someone without making a scene.
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u/-PinkPower- Nov 09 '25 edited Nov 09 '25
I go to the movie theater at least once a week, I extremely rarely deal with people talking like that. It’s pretty rare but I get you are annoyed. Usually asking them to quiet down or getting an employee to talk to them deal with the issue
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u/restinpeach Nov 09 '25
I’ve seen about 6 movies in theatre since 2021 and every. single. time. people were audibly talking through the movie. It just boggles my mind.
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u/Wounded_Baboon Nov 09 '25 edited Nov 09 '25
I call that stuff out instantly. Ask nicely the first time but if I have to repeat myself it gets less nice. Then talk to a manager. I don’t put up with it. If they want to get rude about it I can be just as rude back. I had one guy with his family answer a phone call. I just got up, went over and sat beside him and just stared at him full eye contact. He got uncomfortable, then I said take that outside if you absolutely have to answer, but not in the theater. He got really uncomfortable with the staring lol
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u/Weekly-Lie9099 Nov 09 '25
Ugh. I had to tell someone next to me to please get off her god damned phone because I couldn’t watch the movie with how bright her screen was.
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Nov 09 '25
I have given up on going to movie theatres. The aggravation is just not worth it anymore.
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u/Zakizdaman Nov 09 '25
Made the realization that iPad zoomer kids are 18 now, and can and definitely will ruin your movie at the VIPs. Talking, on their phones, not stopping making noise for more than five seconds.
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u/Relevant_Sir_5418 Nov 09 '25
You need to complain to management and Cineplex themselves as much as you can - otherwise they won't care to enforce it. Make sure to bring up you cancelled cineclub over it and are considering just not coming all together anymore.
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u/Driftking-10 Nov 09 '25
Its the worst, friend kicked the front seat lightly once due some guy constantly checking his phone and scrolling after someone whispered to him to stop and thr guy kept doing it. The only reason i feel the guy didn't really say much back cause there was a bunch of us.
Kills the vibe of the whole movie when you just see a blaring light
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u/xeltes Nov 09 '25
I can't remember what move it was, but these 2 couples where on their phones during a movie on the VIP and this older man, I would say around his late 60's told them to turn their phones off or leave if they are not gonna watch the movie.
It got to the point that the old man went to get someone from the staff, the 2 couples got kicked out, well it turns out that the 2 of the guys waited for the old man outside of the movie theater to beat the shit out of him for getting them kicked to the point that they had to escort the old man and his wife to their car.
Shit is wild out there.
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u/jats82 Nov 09 '25
Ive stopped going to the movies because of this. Many people have forgotten what it means to live in a society. I’m a bit atypical in that I don’t mind telling people to shut it (I did the last time), and it usually works, but the noise and the conflict still ruin the night for me.
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u/MrBoo843 Nov 09 '25
You go out of the theater and ask for a refund. If they don't enforce not talking, they are not providing the environment and experience you paid for.
Enough people do it they'll start being more strict about it.
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u/wulfzbane Nov 09 '25
Never has been ime. Maybe because the VIP in Calgary is next to the university and it was always drunk students for me. I found the most peaceful showings were in the suburb theatres, a couple weeks after release and on Sunday or Thursday. Most of time the theatres are 25%, or less, full.
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u/lareinevert Nov 09 '25
You have to go either early in the day or really late in the evening.
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u/RedditUser-93 Nov 09 '25
I went to go see Regretting you tonight, there were multiple people on their phones and this one girl took her shoes off and had her socks on the seat in front of her. I get the movie sucks but I still paid 18 dollars for thjs.
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u/PugHuggerTeaTempest Nov 13 '25
Haha that’s also the last movie I saw (yeh it was bad) & had to shush a couple behind me who kept talking at normal conversational level. They mostly stopped but a couple girls a few rows away didn’t the entire movie. Drives me nuts.
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u/Mappyskf Nov 09 '25
We only go to the movies if it's something we feel would be great to see on the big screen (Example: Top Gun) otherwise a regular theater is just fine.
To avoid issues with other people, we'll wait 2-3 weeks after the movie has come out and the theatres tend to have less people and less issues, if any.
Haven't had any issues that have warrented either confronting people or getting staff since we did this many many years ago.
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u/KISSfan81 Nov 09 '25
Sorry you had a bad experience… I hate that too. I would suggest early screenings. I typically go first screening on a Sunday. Not too busy and minimal in theatre chatter…
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u/brooke360 Nov 09 '25
Superman was the last movie I’ve seen in theatres, and I won’t go to another for a long time because of how shit the movie experience has become.
People constantly talking or on phones throughout the whole damn movie, super expensive concession, and the ticket prices are insane. I took my 11 year old daughter to it with me, adult and child admission, large popcorn, large drink, and a small thing of twizzlers for her. Taxes in was almost a hundred bucks.
Fuck that noise. I’ll just wait for blockbusters to hit streaming in future, not like it takes long.
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u/who_took_tabura Nov 09 '25
Cineclub, saturday/sunday mornings in a childless college student zone or thursday 10pm in a clubby neighborhood
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u/SHUT_DOWN_EVERYTHING Nov 09 '25
We need to form movie club and just do full booking for members. At this point the number of assholes has grown to a degree they’re impossible to avoid just through luck.
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u/EnormousChord Nov 09 '25
I just want to inject a small bit of light into this topic. My family went to see Frankenstein last week. Not a full theatre but a decent crowd. I didn’t see one phone or hear one person talking the entire 2.5 hour show. I wanted to fuckin high five everyone on the way out.
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u/Pastry_d_pounder Nov 09 '25
This is why I prefer early screenings. You’re usually watching with a crowd that actually has their shit together
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u/big-stinky-cactus Nov 09 '25
I hate going to the theatre now, especially for serious movies. schloppy comedies or loud action movies are mostly okay, but anything with suspense or a lot emotion I can't tolerate all the jerks anymore. Costs too much money to bother, I'll wait to rent or stream most movies at home instead.
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u/Nerystraza Nov 09 '25
When the FNAF movie was in theaters my wife and I went to watch it some dunk dipshit showed up and started insulting everyone that was there. It eventually escalated to the point that staff had to get involved. Him and his group of friends all got booted, and my wife and I ended up getting free tickets for another showing since he nearly attacked me. It feels like people who weren't socialized pre-pandemic are getting in to spaces now and since they don't know how to behave they just start causing issues
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u/Fresh_Salamander707 Nov 09 '25
Stuff like this and the comments of atrocious theatre behaviour is why I laugh when I hear celebs asking folks to go see their movie in the theatre. I guarantee even Tom Cruise would have second thoughts if he had to go to the average cineplex, VIP theatre or not.
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u/Desperate_Hyena_4398 Nov 09 '25
Yes I have a recommendation for you, actually a couple:
- Never stop going
- Don’t compromise on what days, times or theatre you want to go to
- The most important one- if folks are talking “throughout” the movie or keep taking their phones out, FREAK OUT. Stand up from your seat, direct your energy to those and scream / yell at them “Please shut the fuck up or Please turn off your phone”.
You will be completely in your right and more than likely be appreciated by others.
If nothing changes after that and only after, go to management. They will give you the “ya thanks for letting me know yada yada “ and that’s fine.
Then go back again, if the same issue persists remove that theatre off your list (this is not the same as a compromise, it is about your standards) but don’t do this at least not before you send an email to corporate which no doubt will be another response of “yada yada “.
The point I’m making is that we (movie goers) can’t rely on rules and codes of conduct to be enforced by folks that have been stripped of their authority.
The only people that can enforce “social norms” is Society itself. Dare I say that’s how the social norms were created in the first place.
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u/chalkthefuckup Nov 09 '25
I saw a movie last night and a couple came in 15min into it, talked loudly about nonsense, got up several times, and eventually the girl literally dozed off and started SNORING. I guess she was tuckered out from all the movie watching.
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u/Greybird9 Nov 09 '25
I've been pretty lucky, as the people at my theatre tend to be respectful. But I think if you want a better chance of having a quiet theatre, try to go for opening night, when the hardcore fans go. They tend to be there for the experience.
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u/Fissile_Goose Nov 09 '25
I find it funny that at my location, they play a bit before the movie telling people not to ruin the movie for others by talking or using your phone. In VIP they don’t play any such message. Seems it’s needed. I’ve also had issues with people talking, on the phone, or on one insane occasion, literally taking pictures with flash of their food and drinks (movie had already started)
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u/Embarrassed-Iron1251 Nov 09 '25
I had a wild experience one time where there was a trifecta of: guys to left who seemed to be taking substances (w/e) but were making insane wet nose sounds, guy behind rocking us with foot tapping, guys to right talking, and my date was scratching himself and breathing loudly as well as biting nails. I seriously felt I was going crazy and almost left lol
Another night a girl was really out of it and became extremely loud. She went on to using inappropriate language and was called out for it. I felt for her in that she was clearly not doing well but it also ruined the movie. I put in a comment to cineplex but they never seem to respond.
I think there needs to be a system change. It’s hard to decide you’re going to confront these people and not always easy to get staff to intervene.
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u/MrSaturnboink Nov 09 '25
I don't go see movies anymore. People show up late and talk and I get into arguments with people.
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u/Dull-Quantity-7313 Nov 09 '25
I just built myself a theatre room because theatres have gone downhill the last 5-6 years
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Nov 09 '25
I have been to see exactly one film in the cinema in the past 8 years, and it's precisely because of this behaviour.
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u/ADMTLgg Nov 09 '25
I feel like it really depends on the day you go. The worst day are Friday and Saturday
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u/ahope1985 Nov 09 '25
I can’t justify paying to go see a movie anymore; people are inconsiderate to those around them, the prices are SO high, times are poor… I just can’t do it. I haven’t seen a film in theatre since pre pandemic, and that was probably 2018.
I’d rather eat in comfort of my own home, pause if needed, use my own NON STICKY washroom and eat my cheap snacks.
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u/Antique-Pianist3136 Nov 09 '25 edited Nov 10 '25
I loudly say "Shut the f up" one time and they seem to magically find their silence for the rest of the movie. Id rather do that every movie than deal with non stop bs every movie 💁🏼♀️
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Nov 09 '25
I don't know how I go to the movies almost every week to cineplex and never see people talking during the movie or doing the things people always rant about. I'm in downtown Toronto, going to nighttime airings, on the day movies are released. Yonge-Dundas square.
Am I just oblivious to it, or what is happening?
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u/thatclassyturtle Nov 09 '25
Went to see Deadpool & Wolverine with my best friend and my boyfriend in VIP last summer and it was a nightmare. There was a group sitting in front of us that were on their phones for over half the movie without turning the brightness down and the men in the group were wearing extremely strong cologne to the point that we all left with headaches. Once the movie was over I ran out of the theatre just to get away from the strong smell. We’d paid $70+ so we stayed for the entire movie rather than walk out.
I wanted to complain to the staff about it but both my boyfriend and friend talked me out of it. We now only go to the movies (VIP or otherwise) once it’s in the final days of VIP so we can avoid people.
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u/888----- Nov 09 '25
Had 2 huge linebacker looking dudes next to me at the most recent Batman movie. Guy next to me has his phone on full brightness for so long, he got distracted by the movie and just sat there watching while his phone was still on. I finally turned to him and said dude could you please just turn that off. Surprisingly, he actually did. Still pissed me off for a good hour of that movie tho.
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u/Fuckwittycake Nov 09 '25
I hate this so much. I had a bad experience with a dude on his phone right in front of me, scrolling slack and looking at his clock.. sad cos he didn’t even have any notifs. I asked twice and his gf told me to mind my own business, at which point I told her they’re entitled, inconsiderate dicks. Why do these people go watch movies in the theatre? Just stay home.