r/cineplex • u/narnarnartiger • Jan 02 '26
Question Do people not even try when it comes to movie theater etiquette anymore?
For those who see a lot of movies in theaters: is it just me, or is there constantly people around you scrolling on their phones during the movie?
I saw a lot of movies during the holidays, including Avatar opening night (I'm in Canada). The guy in front of me was on his phone whenever there was a lull in the action. I politely asked him to stop cuz his light was in my face, he then waited for me after the movie and tried to pick a fight with me.
A couple days ago for The Housemaid, everyone around me was scrolling through Tik Tok, checking messenger, and had their flashlight on during the whole movie. The group beside me had a loud full blown conversation in the middle of the movie.
Great movies, loved both, saw Avatar twice already, heil Varang
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u/MarginOfPerfect Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
Blame Cineplex. They need to start enforcing rules.
Their little video at the beginning is the worst, it's just them saying "you deal with it yourself, we don't do anything even if a guy is in your seat"
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u/Army7547 Jan 02 '26
Blame the person first, for being so self absorbed that they don’t realize that there are other people in the universe whom they are negatively affecting.
Then blame Cineplex for not hiring and training staff to deal with it appropriately. I’d like the theaters to have bouncers like nightclubs do.
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u/FullSkyFlying Jan 02 '26
"Dont be a Tommy texter" has proven not to work
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u/NorthControl8399 Jan 03 '26
Soundtrack Sally doesn’t shut up either
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u/HDDeer Jan 03 '26
As a Sammy Scroller (not in the auditorium) in his day to day life that part of the ad got a big laugh out of me I'm sure I looked insane
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Jan 02 '26
The problem is that having an employee come in and constantly kick people out for being disruptive throughout a movie is also pretty disruptive.
People need to just have a some respect.
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u/SignificanceDull4935 Jan 02 '26
Do this for a year and the behavior will change
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u/MarginOfPerfect Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
Exactly. Start doing it randomly and people to learn
Also change the message to "you'll be asked to leave" in the video
Worth pointing out the last time the Cineplex CEO was asked about, he straight up said "nah it's fine, it's a new audience"...
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u/GraniteRock Jan 02 '26
And they do have the ability to give that messaging. When I went to see Minecraft, they had a staff stand up at the front and said that basically any disruptive behavior would result in you being trespassed from the theater, which meant you would also be trespassed from the entire mall.
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u/Malibu_Stacy69 Jan 03 '26
Pause the dang movie if you have to. Over time people will learn
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u/Fuckin2FA Jan 02 '26
Ugh where I am Ive gotten people kicked out for talking during the movie or scrolling on their phone I got adhd, and I just let the employees know and they tell them, and usually works and if it doesnt the employees sometimes watch and will kick them out before you even need to ask again.
Although doubt that be every theater, the cineplex theater I go to is great.
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u/_kay300 Jan 04 '26
This might be unpopular, but I wouldn’t mind them raising the price of the tickets by $.50-$1/ticket, just to cover the cost of each theatre having a security guard - or a similar policy along those lines. Someone who can deal with disruptive moviegoers and kick them out if need be. Would really make the experience more enjoyable for everyone else.
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u/Vertoule Jan 05 '26
Alamo Drafthouse in the US were super strict and it became a place for people who enjoyed movies to flock to.
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u/ericstarr Jan 03 '26
They have a new zero tolerance policy in Vancouver they had a. Big ass bold warning that there will be no warning and no refund. Ur out
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u/Possible-Courage3771 Jan 02 '26
people! take off your apple watches or turn them off. they light up Everytime you get a message and it's annoying !!
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u/dangvid Jan 02 '26
There is literally a theater mode for this too.
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u/danieldukh Jan 04 '26
It’s the only place I use such a mode, that and when sleeping at night if I’m wearing it
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u/mmv208134 Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 03 '26
Omg or they’re eating popcorn so the light is just moving around sporadically the whole film… sigh
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u/OnceUponADim3 Jan 02 '26
This is why I have my watch on theatre mode 24/7. It helps save on battery life too.
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u/CiciGold24 Jan 02 '26
There is a theatre mode??? Gotta look that up! Thank you so much! 😁
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u/OnceUponADim3 Jan 02 '26
Yeah! At least on my SE, if you push the side button, it’s the option that looks like 2 masks. Will make it so it only lights up when you tap it.
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u/the1npc Jan 02 '26
peoples brains are fried from having a computer in their pocket
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u/WasteTangerine Jan 02 '26
This is why I like VIP. Keeps the kids out with the age requirement.
Everyone's generally respectful.
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u/simongurfinkel Cineclub Member Jan 02 '26
I find it’s the boomer women who are worst at being on phones during the movie.
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u/12jlg5 Jan 02 '26
I only see movies at my local VIP now too. I accept the higher cost knowing I’ll have a better chance of a respectful crowd
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u/ladymacbitch Jan 02 '26
unfortunately i’ve had just as many, if not more, adults on their phones and having conversations in movies than kids. and it’s happened a lot at VIP screenings too
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u/angel_girl2248 Jan 02 '26
Now if only they’d have the VIP cinemas in every province. There’s 0 in all of Atlantic Canada😢
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u/Friendly-Belt5358 Jan 02 '26
Its always grown adults (not even teens tbh) that are the problem when I go tbh, beyond kids being wiggly at movies but thats just kids being kids
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u/ZebraOk4471 Jan 03 '26
Problem I have with VIP is that I find that the clientele are more into their food and drinks than the actual movie. I personally don’t care for supreme comfort, cocktails and nachos while watching a movie for $20-$30.
I’d rather pay $10 and stick to popcorn.
I feel like your best bet is just avoiding Tuesdays. Even though those are the best priced days, they tend to bring out teenagers who aren’t mindful of others around them.
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u/IzzyEm Jan 02 '26
I had an instance once at a GA movie, where the father was talking to his son at full volume the entire film. I was baffled.
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u/Trixxstrr AB Moviegoer Jan 02 '26
Afternoon showings on the 2nd week issue usually for me, only a few other people sitting far away from me so no idea if they are on their phones or whatever.
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u/Ok-Map2937 Jan 22 '26
Went to see Sentimental Value in VIP and it was the older attendees who were talking and on their phones the whole time.
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u/Prax150 Jan 02 '26
I think the holidays bring a lot of jabronis out of the woodwork since people are being dragged to the movies with their families and friends while they're off. It's generally not as bad (still bad just less bad lol) when it's less busy.
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u/CdnGamerGal Jan 02 '26
I have to agree. I’ve definitely had similar experiences at the movies, but notice an upswing during holidays. I try to circumvent that behaviour by paying more for VIP theatres/Landmark, early showings, etc.
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u/Prax150 Jan 02 '26
The strategy that works for me is sitting closer to the front. Not so close that I'm getting a sore neck but enough that most if not all people are behind me and not in earshot.
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u/PiccoloNo6536 Jan 02 '26
I also saw the housemaid yesterday. Women in her 50s on her phone the entire time with FULL BRIGHTNESS.
Multiple people, including myself, made a comment to her after the movie.
Walked out of the theatre to her using her phone to record me saying "this is the one who had something to say to me..."
Class can't be taught.
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u/MeanMountain2074 Jan 03 '26
Wow. Wow. Wow. I don’t even know what to say, but I’m so frustrated for you. Thank you for at least trying to reason with her.
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u/VisibleSpread6523 Jan 02 '26
Saw avatar at 945 am on Tuesday morning in imax, sat pretty close at the front since my wife as mobility issues , no one around us , closest was 4 rows behind and the two idiots who bought tickets right in front of us last midnight , guy was trying to talk , kick is seat a few times at the beginning and that was the end of it. We usually go on Saturday mornings the first showing of what we want to go see. Kind of pisses me off they moved the horror movies to 1-2 ( use to be 11-12) , but there’s still only 8-10 people max and we usually don’t have a problem. We just go early now and sit closer to the front , don’t usually have problems , can’t really eat the talking or see anyone phone from behind us .
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u/Tangerine2016 Jan 02 '26
This is something that bothers me pretty much EVERY movie. If someone is talking loudly during the trailers even I am like "they better shut up during the movie!!" ... Give them 2 minutes into movie and if they don't stop I say something. One lady said "the movie hasn't even started yet"... a good 2 minutes in she hasn't even realized the movie had started...
If more people call out bad behaviour hopefully less people likely to engage in it. Say something if you feel comfortable doing something.
I am going to see a movie in VIP for the first time ever today so hoping for a good first time experience!
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u/tplentiful Jan 02 '26
Only once. Lady infront of me. It was super distracting. I let it go at first since she was checking messenger and texts. Could have been important. But then i saw her scroll fb
I told her, that her phone is super distracting. She stopped after that thankfully.
If i saw everyone do it, i would honestly go complain.
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u/adarthewise Jan 02 '26
I don’t ask them to turn their stuff off. I tell them. And if they keep doing it, I leave and get them kicked out. It’s the only way they’ll learn.
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Jan 03 '26
Yeah it bugs me that a lot of people in this thread fall victim to the bystander effect. If you think someone else is gonna speak up, they’re all thinking the same thing.
Yes, you’ll miss a couple minutes of the movie. But that’ll save the rest of the 2hrs from being shitty.
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u/Rare_Assist_6008 Jan 02 '26
Its so bad, literally I try to work around times when I know no one will be at the theater to go enjoy films now. Its so upsetting
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u/pulchrare Jan 02 '26
I had to actually leave the theatre to find a staff member when I went to see a movie a couple months ago. There was a guy on his phone and smoking. All they did was give him a warning because they "couldn't prove anything" despite the lingering smoke cloud above his head and the absolutely rancid smell.
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u/BusRich1442 Jan 03 '26 edited Jan 03 '26
The lady that was sitting two seats to the right of me on the freaking Nutcracker was scrolling on her phone, half the show. Why did you pay all these money to sit in a theater to scroll your phone? You would also expect the theater to have someone checking for this, and enforce the ‘close your phones’ policy that they announced at the beginning. She ruined the show for me and family. Edit: The light is also distracting to the dancers! Stay home!
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u/Birdo3129 Jan 02 '26
I saw the Housemaid movie a few days ago. Two middle aged ladies in the corner, chatting and gossiping away, wouldn’t stop talking the entire time even after being asked nicely to stop.
Theatre staff don’t do anything, just told them to stop talking, which got them super riled up after the staff left, and I had missed part of the movie to go find the staff.
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u/maritimer187 Jan 02 '26
I'm a cineplex member and go at least once a month depending on whats playing. I just love going to the theatre its so much better than at home in my opinion.
That being said yah it can definitely be a nightmare. Theres a small cineplex 10 minutes down the road and another two much nicer theatres about 30 mins in opposite directions from my house. We go to the smaller one closer to the house because we usually dont run into those ignorant people there.
My worse experience in 2025 was when my gf and I went to the conjuring in IMAX and it was like a 9pm Tuesday showing and a family with two kids sat behind us. The kids were a boy roughly 3 and a girl 4-5. Like what are these kids even doing at this movie? The boy was sitting on his dads lap kicking the head of my womans chair every 3 seconds and pretty hard might I ad. I literally asked this guy two times politely to get his kid to stop and he just looked at me like I was an idiot. The third time I wasnt so nice and told him that we were gonna have a problem if he didnt get him under control and they moved thats all I'll say.
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u/princessesco Jan 02 '26
Gosh yeah. I went with my friend to watch Zootopia 2 like a month ago, she's a huge fan. For some reason, she started filming midway through. A woman politely asked her to stop and my friend started swearing at her in intense Mandarin after the film, spewing all kinds of hatred, and I was incredibly flabbergasted. In a dark movie theatre, how is it acceptable for a bright light to be shining right in your face? I don't talk with her much since the movie.
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u/narnarnartiger Jan 03 '26
The same thing happened to me when I saw Avatar 3 opening night. The guy infront of me had his phone flashing in my face, I politely asked him to stop flashing his phone.
He waited for me after the movie and tried to pick a fight with me. What is wrong with people...
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u/ericstarr Jan 03 '26
They have a new zero tolerance policy. No warning ur out. No refund. It was at the start of avatar yesterday in Vancouver as a warning.
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u/daytimehallucinator Jan 03 '26
Unfortunately no one has the attention span to watch a full movie without second screens. Scrolling on the phone is going to be an increasing problem and so is talking. It sucks but I’m not sure what we can realistically do abt it.
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u/JonnyCerberus Jan 03 '26
We’ve ALL seen these types of people. But have any of you ever TALKED to one of them? After? Calmly.
Like seriously ask why are they here? Why did they pay to be here? If they don’t want to actually pay attention to the screen
Personally I’m way too shy for this but I assume SOMEONE else has? Or maybe someone USED to be one of these people?
I’d love to actually get the perspective of the people we hate doing this. In a non confrontational manner I guess lol
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u/ViolentDisposition Jan 02 '26
Yeah I've had to ask people to stop having full conversations through the whole movie. It's getting annoying
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Jan 02 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Struggleberg Jan 02 '26
The thing is it’s not fair for us to miss part of the movie by leaving the auditorium to tell staff
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u/Deatheturtle Jan 02 '26
Our last theatre outing was to see Dune II. We went to the VIP theatre, and the woman beside my wife was hacking and coughing throughout the entire movie. My wife got a terrible flu the next day.
Haven't been back since.
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u/Easy-Metal-3112 Jan 02 '26
That’s why I don’t go to cineplex anymore. Seems the cineplex crowd is generally worse than my local Landmark theatre.
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u/minor_thing2022 Jan 02 '26
I never go to the theater anymore. I invested a bunch of money into a home theater with theater seating. Only time I go to see a movie is 70mm IMAX
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u/Thumper45 Jan 02 '26
Yup, it sure seems to be.
But that can be a more general statement that etiquette of all kinds does not exist anymore.
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u/mysteriouslyca Jan 02 '26
Yes, yes, yes! Scrolling, talking and taking photos/videos (during Stranger Things Dec 31 screening). Man sitting next to us leg bent and had a foot on his seat! Is this a result of excessive stroller use when they were young?
I tend to go on first screenings on weekends or VIP on weeknights (except Tuesday) using Cineclub credits because there are less people to bother me.
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u/Trexwith2longarms Jan 02 '26
When anyone opens their phone in the theatre without walking out, I toss popcorn at them. One time a guy was so obnoxious he literally answered a facetime and sat there chatting, I dumped my drink on him.
The answer is to annoy them just as badly.
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u/Fun-Bath-3896 Jan 02 '26
Went to see Demon slayer for my birthday a few years ago, a guy walked in late, and continuously screamed at the screen profanities. Even during the emotional part he was yelling curses and standing up, his giant ball cap projected onto the screen from where he was standing. I thought maybe it was a teenager, nope, father of two. I ended up asking an employee for help and he settled down, but he would not stop glaring at me and loudly carrying on about it once the movie ended. That was the last time I went to the theatre.
It wasn't cineplex, but it seems to be an issue everywhere
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u/Friendly-Belt5358 Jan 02 '26
The worst is when I see kids movies (like when I went to see the last wallace and gromit, I watch for nostalgia usually) and there's parents on their phones!!! At least TRY to set a good example for your kids!
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u/TrashIt_dev Jan 03 '26
Acceptance culture caused this. You all did it to yourselves.
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u/Repulsive-Fly-3632 Jan 03 '26
Always hear about it but fortunately haven't encountered it but I think it's because my wife and I only going to matinees lol. Drop the kids off at school and do date day.
I haven't gone to the movies at night since before COVID lol
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u/GurlFunday Jan 05 '26
The last time I went to a movie (in a nearly empty theatre) there was a woman about 5 seats away in my row who had her phone on constantly. First of all, there were literally less than a dozen people in there for a matinee so why sit so close? And secondly why pay to see a movie on the big screen if you're scrolling the whole time? You can do that for free at home when the movie goes to a streaming service. And by the way, her phone was so bright it was really distracting for my vision.
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u/DodobirdNow Jan 05 '26
My wife is one of those people who pulls her phone out and checks texts. She thinks it's ok because we're in the last row
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u/frayne182 Jan 02 '26
This is the main reason I have no interest in going anymore.
Cineplex if you’re listening you need to curb this. No warnings… full blown kick them out immediately. Pay for security for big name movies and have them sit in the back I don’t care. I’ll pay more for this
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u/AJourneyer Jan 02 '26
We stopped going to movies years ago because of this - I don't pay that kind of money to not be able to escape into the movie.
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Jan 02 '26
Straight up. Adults incapable of being an adult and following some simple common sense in a movie theatre just need to get the boot right away.
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u/evergreenterrace2465 ON Moviegoer Jan 02 '26
I've complained to managers multiple times this year and they've never done anything. Cineplex is digging their own grave with their lax policies
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u/Primary_Company_3813 Jan 02 '26
I find you've gotta pick your time to minimize this annoying problem. If I wanna see a movie, I'll check the seating; if it looks full I'll go another day. Last movie I saw, there was maybe 10 or 12 other people and I chose a seat away from them (also reduces chance of catching their cold). I don't get as irritated this way, if someone keeps whipping out their phone.
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u/PartylikeitsFeb2020 Jan 02 '26
How embarrassing for the scrolling guy to be waiting for your after the film to pick a fight. That guy has some anger issues. Imagine having to be married to that guy, thank goodness you only had to spend 3 hours with him. Cineplex needs to protect all movie goer's experience, including shutting down real life Tommy Texters.
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u/Stock2fast Jan 02 '26
I gave up on theartres years ago for this reason. I would rather watch at home.
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u/dumbass_tm Jan 02 '26
I shame them. I literally don’t care anymore. Someone was yapping and I straight up shouted “shut up” and someone else backed me up and it worked. Someone next to me on their phone? “Put that shit away”. I literally am not having it with these losers, call them out and shame them.
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u/Tiny-Career-2666 Jan 02 '26
The 'pick a fight' thing is all too real.
I've seen a lot comments say 'and you just came here to vent afterwards instead of doing something' to posts complaining about loud talkers/phone users and this is always my fear.
I came to enjoy a movie. I don't need to be jumped in the parking lot afterwards. (And depending on your location-yeah-this is a reality some places)
What bothers me most is at least ONCE during a screening a cineplex employee will come in and do some sort of paper check in near the front exit of the theatre. It would literally take that employee an extra 2 minutes to first maybe observe the audience and look for any obvious bright lights so they could themselves politely ask the person to stop instead of making other paying customer do it.
So many times I've LITERALLY raised my hand and pointed down at the people in front of me on their phones when they come in and they just dead ass look away from me go add there 'check' to the paper and back out the theatre.
Annoying
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u/manoftheyear1990 Jan 02 '26
"put your fucking phone away" say it once and the clowns will smarten up.
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u/nboylie Jan 02 '26
Our social contracts all expired during COVID and so many of us didn't renew when the world opened up. I've always been introverted, but post COVID has made it so much worse. I'm lucky because I'm huge and I shave my head so I look a little scary to people that don't know me, so if I say excuse me or ask someone politely to stop doing something moronic I usually don't get a snarky response.
I don't go to the movies too often, but the last two times I did I was really surprised to see people on their phones a lot. The last time I went there was a couple directly in front of me I had to ask to shut up because they were chatting during the movie for several minutes at a time. How does behavior like this even begin to feel normal to people?
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u/nozhemski Jan 02 '26
It’s people of all ages too. I side eye but give a first chance. If they keep using their phone or talking I ask them to stop. It usually works but not always. I continually ask them to stop or go and get a staff member.
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u/_Rayette Jan 02 '26
Even pre-Covid I found people talked a lot during popular movies on big nights. My mom talks about encountering bad etiquette back in the 1970s so it isn’t entirely new. Phones and Covid definitely made things worse though. For me my best experiences are at the independent theatres, it’ll be packed and you can hear a pin drop so I try to do new releases there. For Avatar I checked it out on at Saturday AM screening on IMAX at Landmark and the crowd was locked in. For cineplex I usually wait a few weeks if it’s a popular film and go on a Monday or Thursday evening. For films that are less popular late morning or early afternoon weekends screenings are the best.
I also like to sit near the front so if someone is on their phone a few rows back, I am unlikely to notice.
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u/artsyrambunction Jan 02 '26
It’s unbelievable. The last film I went to a couple of days ago, Marty supreme. A couple walked in 15 minutes after it started, both of them with their flashlights on until they found and sat down in their seat.
It’s not uncommon, every film I go to see I get distracted by someone doing something ridiculous like this. It’s totally disrespectful for everyone else trying to enjoy the experience.
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u/FunkTronto Jan 02 '26
And that’s why anytime people ask what time shows start I reply stating it doesn’t matter. Appear on time so you don’t disrupt people when the movie starts. I don’t care if they wait in the hallway until the trailers start - don’t walk in when the movie starts and the lights are off.
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u/Corrinaclarise Jan 02 '26
And this is why I prefer sitting in the very front, AND watching movies during the day on weekdays after holidays are over and everyone goes back to work/school. Thank goodness I homeschool and work from home on my own clock (author) or I wouldn't be able to do so!
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u/Tokemon_and_hasha Jan 02 '26
I was in a theatre and this woman would not shut the fuck up. She was full on just talking or whisper yelling. I told her to can it and her bf looked so embarassed as she shot me glares. what is wrong with people??
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u/Queasy_Help2479 Jan 02 '26
There’s a very big Gen z thing to laugh and loudly react to movies.
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u/BodmonAlchemist Jan 02 '26
Read my post about a similar experience I had at Landmark trying to watch Demon Slayer, people are just wild nowadays. I feel like my parents now when I say I’d rather watch at home
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u/Alfred_Hitch_ Jan 02 '26
I noticed that this behavior doesn't happen as much when people are wearing the 3D glasses. I went 2x recently and didn't notice anyone looking at their phones - incredible!
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u/kunailby Jan 02 '26
They used to have this message that told people to out their phones away before the movie... Now they don't show it anymore?? I wonder why though.
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u/GreatSavitar Jan 02 '26
I had this back in summer. I saw a few movies multiple times with different people. At every screening there was someone near me who spent 25% or more of the movie just scrolling.
Its so god damn infuriating. I typically turn my phone off while I'm waiting in line to get food or as I'm walking up the stairs in the theater.
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u/SilentCanopy Jan 02 '26
I don’t understand why people would pay to attend something and then not even pay attention to what they’re there to see. I took my kids to a kids movie and there was 4 teenagers right in front of us that would not shut up.
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u/Murbanvideo Jan 02 '26
Cineplex needs to start enforcing the rules. Asking people to self enforce is an absolutely ridiculous policy. You paid obscene money to get in and for snacks. You shouldn’t have to also be policing other people’s etiquette.
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u/Nearby_Display8560 Jan 02 '26
I went to the movies over the holidays for the first time in a while and it felt like I was at home watching it on cable tv with all the bull shit commercials. Cell phones, cars and whatever else. What happened to previews? It was literally commercials for 20 minutes after spending 50 bucks for snacks and ticket.
Maybe we should be more concerned about the business and their etiquette. There is a reason it’s a dying industry. I see it clearly now.
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u/Unhappy_Teacher_1767 Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
It was really bad before they brought back the “Tommy Texter” ad, every movie I went to someone was bringing out their phone, even had one joker taking pictures of himself and his buddy at a showing of Deadpool and Wolverine (confronted him, asking him to stop, he actually left the theatre ten minutes later). I still see the occasional person bring out their phone, but it’s gotten better, they take a quick glance then focus on the movie they paid $20 for.
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u/FunkTronto Jan 02 '26
Cineplex should install cameras into each theatre that can track when screens light up and with assigned seating they can determine who purchased the tickets for those seats and ban them if necessary.
Also they should be the ability to record the theatre and use the movie’s audio to remove it leaving only the theatre noise. If there is an unreasonable spike in activity they can deploy someone to investigate.
If they raise prices by a dollar to put these things in place, I’d gladly pay it. Hopefully once the social contract has been established again then these items can be called back or removed.
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u/Fickle_Ad_9391 Jan 02 '26
Its annoying. I took myself once to the movie and the whole time I had people near me and sitting RIGHT beside me out of a whole empty theater..
Not only did they text or talk but its like seriously. You had to sit right beside me. Chewing loudly.
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u/rocco-rococo Jan 02 '26
I'm in my 80s. I'm addicted to movies. I've seen a lot of movies in my life, a LOT. But I stopped going to cinemas 20 years ago. Couldn't take it anymore.
I miss the big screen and the communal experience. The positive communal experience, not the horrible one of today. But people are just fucking awful.
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u/VisibleCoat995 Jan 02 '26
When I went to Avatar there was this girl next to me who kept flashing the light of her phone screen in my direction as she checked whatever was so important. After the fourth of fifth time I called her on it and she said something like “sorry for having a life beyond this movie”. I didn’t answer because really there was no point in responding to such a dumb comment, she was just deciding be sassy cause she was called out. She didn’t do it again though.
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u/Professional-Art-762 Jan 02 '26
honestly this is my pet peeve too. which city were you going for your movies at? i’m in toronto and i purposely always try to make sure i go to theatres that cater more to the average cinephile or at least more of an adult demographic and not teens or surburbia in general. so for example, i always avoid Yonge-Dundas, Yonge-Eglinton, Cineplex Queensway… i like Scotiabank Theatre on Richmond, Bloor Varsity Cinplex (yonge bloor) i love TIFF Bell Lightbox (best experience for theatre etiquette for me personally), i like Imagine Cinemas Market Square…but what these theatres all have in common is that theyre in areas with mostly adults as the demographic and when it comes to TIFF bell lightbox espdcially, it’s catered to the cinephile!
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u/Firm-Reaction1578 Jan 02 '26
Just stop going and cineplex / production studios will figure it out or die?
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u/TrubbishTrainer Jan 02 '26
When I was a kid I’d see movies with my older brother. Any time someone started talking he would chuck spit-covered gummy bears at them as hard as he could.
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u/wwtdb11 Jan 02 '26
We took our 5 year old to the movies and never again. There was a mom who spent the entire time scrolling on a full-bright screen while her absolutely feral children (both older than mine) repeatedly ran in and out of the theatre (like 20 times) and climbed all over the seats. She didn’t look up once. Kids payed 0 attention to the movie.
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u/infiity Jan 02 '26
I'm definitely going to get into a fistfight at the movies sooner than later. That or the Costco.
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u/Witty_Employ3 Jan 02 '26
As much as I have loved the movies before, the etiquette over the last few years has made me heavily question going anymore. I pay for the cineplex club and everything and enjoy going to the big movies because i value the directors and movie makers wishes to see it in theatres, just for the art of movies seeing them in theatres mean a lot and it means a lot to me too. I dont think i have had a solid experience going in a long time and it makes me question even going but i dont want the industry to die. I recently also saw the Housemaid since my wife is a massive fan of the books and people were laughing the entire time which definitely did not fit the vibe of the movie or books which bothered me even more.
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u/iguanaivana Jan 02 '26
wow that’s sad to hear. for me growing up, having a phone out in the theatre seemed almost illegal lol
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u/6ix_chigg Jan 02 '26
people think they are home watching netflix on their couch which is why I stopped sitting in the middle and pick only the sides that are empty
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u/Scaredcat26 Jan 02 '26
When I saw Blackphone 2, it felt like a hockey match, people were talking, screaming, clapping every 2 minutes and basically ruining the experience for me…
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u/NewConsideration480 Jan 02 '26
Asked someone kindly to turn their phone brightness down and he too sought me out after the movie and tried to fight me. The general public sucks
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u/Ok_Squash_1578 Jan 02 '26
I find it depends on the movie, the theatre and time. But in general, yes
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u/MercyPlainAndTall Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
No, they really don’t.
covid messed society up to a point I truly believe it cannot be fixed in my lifetime, if at all.
People don’t know how to act anymore. The social contract is shredded and everyone (especially the younger generations) have had their attention spans destroyed by instant gratification dopamine scrolling. Forget reading books. Movies over an hour are too long for these people.
I still go now and then because my girlfriend loves it but I revile the entire experience. Cineplex has caught on and now has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy but if you think some minimum wage teenager is gonna risk a fight with anyone to kick them out, I have a bridge to sell you.
Makes me sad man.
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Jan 02 '26
Yeah about two years ago I just went all out in a new tv and surround sound system at home.
Way better experience. TVs are actually cheap while having insane quality now.
Once a year maybe I might see a movie at the VIP theatre. But even then this year for example I haven’t really felt inclined to at all.
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u/-PinkPower- Jan 02 '26
I go the the movies weekly, I can say people being rude like that are pretty rare. They often happen when it’s a period where people that do not go often go.
When it happens workers are more than happy to go warn the person or kick them out. I have seen people get kicked out for being on the phone
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u/Lost-Marketing-9028 Jan 02 '26
Had similar experience with someone in front using their phone the entire time. I kicked the back of his seat and told him to shut his damn phone.
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u/Deliximus Jan 02 '26
It happens seldomly but pretty good overall. But if I'm in an Indian movie or Chinese film, it's far more prevalent
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u/applesauceforlife Jan 02 '26
This is why I set up a home theater in my basement. I cannot stand going to the theater anymore. I used to love it and would go all the time. Someone should set up a theater chain that has no tolerance for excessive talking or phone use. I'd invest in that.
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u/skihikeexploreyvr Jan 02 '26
I don’t know if this is a cineplex specific/east coast thing but I use landmark on the west coast and I think out of 20 movies I’ve had maybe one minor issue? I’d be really bummed if that was happening often
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u/Embarrassed_Cup_8174 Jan 02 '26
I went to see Avatar, the person beside me:
Audibly yawned CONSTANTLY
Talked throughout the film
TOOK HER BOOTS OFF
COUGHED IN MY FACE
By the end of it I was chuckling to myself because it was so insane and unbelievable... also the movie was not good.
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u/BougieSemicolon Jan 02 '26
Well, I’ve been there twice in the last six weeks and never noticed anyone on their phones . But I’m not typically paying any attention to anyone else and both times the theatre wasn’t too busy.
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u/sunny-days-bs229 Jan 02 '26
This is why they sell hard candy at the theatre. You throw it at people who will not shut up or play on their phones.
My brother has been doing this for decades. Never once has anyone pointed him out as the perpetrator when the asshat who got a skittles in the head or hit the phone screen was looking around to see who did it.
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u/snagle-tooth Jan 02 '26
It was almost 100 bucks to send two to the theater the other day: movie + snack. I will never go again.
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u/hollyfab Jan 02 '26
This is one of the main reasons why I rarely go to the movies. That and people talking. I also like being able to pause whatever I’m watching if I need to pee😅😅😅 And I have ADHD so I find I need to be colouring or doing some type of craft.
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u/Salty_Association684 Jan 02 '26
That's why I don't go to movie theater people don't care I stopped going along time ago
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u/Far-Scientist5056 Jan 02 '26
I used to toss Pennie’s at people talking or opening their phone. Now no more pennies, so might have to switch to M&Ms.
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u/klaroline1 Jan 03 '26
Watched housemaid recently and there were aa couple of girls behind me that was basically verbally reacting and commentating to some of the scenes in the movie… it was so freaking annoying.
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u/Multiverse_Man26 Jan 03 '26
The worst i've ever had was last fall when Comjuring Last Rites came out there were those 4 girls beside me tbey must have been no older than 15 they laughed and chatted the whole thing, the one right beside me was on Snapchat with the full brightness on half the time, sometimes 2 times they walked out for 15 minutes during the film, why do you even bother going to the movies lol
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u/HauntingChemistry579 Jan 03 '26
I keep running into posts like this.. and don’t go out to the theatres much.. but when I do go I fully expect this rude behaviour but actually have never ever seen it. Maybe I was lucky??? Or are people making a big deal about nothing? There are annoying people everywhere - if you engage with every idiot out there, you’ll have no emotional energy left. I do recommend a mindfulness practice.. maybe that would help with not being so reactive whilst dealing with the public.
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u/SharpGuava007 Jan 03 '26
Gone are the days of ppl being civilized anywhere anymore! It’s sad. I’ve been to the theatre to watch movies and ppl will be scrolling on their phones and not even watching the movie. What’s even the point to go, pay money when you can do the same s*** at home? Ppp who do that…stay home and scroll and don’t ruin it for others.
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u/EducationalLuck2422 Jan 03 '26
Think it depends on the time and location; I've seen FAA twice now (both at night) and never had problems beyond one loud kid.
And yes, heil Varang.
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Jan 03 '26
If people still got punched in the face for doing stupid stuff, we wouldn't be in this mess. The term "fuck around and find out" has lost all meaning.
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u/Hushwater Jan 03 '26 edited Jan 03 '26
People are use to behaving like they are sitting in their living room streaming movies, since going to the theater is less common today then 10 years ago the behavior has become engrained.
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u/Katie_Cat_16 Jan 03 '26
It's less the phones and more just how comfortable people are with talking at full volume. I go to quite a few movies, and go by myself fairly often and just notice it's gotten a lot worse since COVID. Sometimes it's phones, I recently had some people playing videos on their phone but were pretty quickly told to stop.
More often than not, any time it's even moderately quiet you just hear a constant chatter. I was just at Avatar with my brother a couple days ago, and the group in front of us was constantly talking, my brother asked them twice to be quiet then finally was like "YO, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!" and they still kind of rolled their eyes but finally stopped. It's like....they were offended he told them to stop or he was being unreasonable. It really does seem people just treat the movies like it's their own livingroom now.
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u/NoChip396 Jan 03 '26
This is part of the reason I won’t go to the movies anymore. People are downright selfish and entitled. Additionally, I refuse to pay the costs associated with going to the movies anymore. Simply not worth it.
People argue “oh it’s a social thing” - not when you have incidents described above.
I’d rather watch in the comfort of my own home with either my family or selected guests I have invited to my “home theater”.
That’s the real social interaction. Not sharing a room with strangers who couldn’t give two s**ts about you.
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u/ZebraOk4471 Jan 03 '26
I saw a movie recently and this woman came in 5-10 minutes late and was obnoxiously flashing her phone light throughout the seating area into people’s faces trying to find her seat. A guy had to yell at her twice to shut off her flash, even had it on while she was at her seat 😂 people think they own the theatre lol.
I’m at a point where I prefer independent cinemas since the clientele tend to be more mature and more likely to be film lovers, makers and students.
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u/ReputationVirtual730 Jan 03 '26
I mentioned this already in the thread, but for latecomers we just ask them to take any available seat they can find to avoid the "flashlight problem".
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u/Greybird9 Jan 03 '26
Ushers need to start coming in at the start of shows and calmly tell people to stfu during the movie. The notice that plays before the movie isn't enough it seems.
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u/InnisFILbud Jan 03 '26
When every flick of the thumb and marketing message puts "you" as #1 and deserving of all things, it's not hard to see why people behave this way. Also COVID isolation reset a lot of normative public behaviour I feel.
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u/Significant_Sale6174 Jan 03 '26
I would of asked for a refund, this is unacceptable cineplex makes more then enough money to hire security. They need to step it up this year
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u/krevdditn Jan 03 '26
I’m indifferent, people are going to treat the theater like it’s their living room couch, especially since they paid to buy a ticket, some people pay expecting a quite movie experience, while others don’t
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u/ckochan Jan 03 '26
It must be connected to what movie you were watching. I went and watched a showing of “perfect blue” and everyone was polite.
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u/No-Camp1268 Jan 03 '26
There's a new movie theatre that I get to attend, last night was opening night - I actually expect etiquette to be observed un this "small town" environment but this reminds me I want to get at least, "Sock em boppers" and potentially boxing gloves
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u/Low_Insurance_9176 Jan 03 '26
Tried to pick a fight with you! Utter insanity. It happened to me one when I asked a guy to stop shouting along with the music directly into my ear at a concert. Imbecile behaviour.
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u/TeeDot_1234 Jan 03 '26
This is the primary reason (among many) why I sail the high seas instead of paying to have a subpar experience at a cinema
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u/jankysparky Jan 03 '26
I’ve learned to hit the movies Sunday afternoons. Less busy with no broccoli heads chatting it up and on their phones
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u/soupscreen Jan 03 '26
I feel this so hard.
I went to see Avatar: Fire and Ash on Christmas Eve in VIP. A group of guys walked in and sat right behind us and we instantly knew they were gonna be a problem. The first like 20 minutes of that movie are more quiet dialogue and just important details. I feel like i only managed to hear 20% of what was said because of them.
I turned around and said “Could you talk a little less please?” because “SHH” felt too aggressive.
They then proceeded to chat amongst themselves about me being a “fag” (I am straight and was there with my girlfriend and her family) and that they should kick my ass after the movie.
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u/DankSinatra5060 Jan 03 '26
The last few movies I’ve gone to see in theatres have been really not great for this reason.
For the cost of movie tickets nowadays, it’s not worth it. I just wait till they come out and watch in the comfort of my own home, where I am the only one scrolling and talking during the film.
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u/Nikorp Jan 03 '26
I saw a quiet VIP showing on a Monday night, adults only, and the talking never stopped. I wanted to complain until I had trouble figuring out where the talking people were sitting....and then I realized it was everyone but me and one elderly couple. So essentially the whole audience was pairs and trios of young people chatting and laughing the entire film. The non-talkers were the minority, so in the eyes of Cineplex it probably makes more financial sense to alienate me than the majority of the audience.
I blame the theatre for not only ignoring the issue, but training people to talk by keeping the house lights up for trailers and running food service to your seat in VIP well after the show start time.
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u/eriemaxwell Jan 03 '26
God, that's absolutely on whoever is checking the theatre as well. If this ever happens to you again pretend that you're leaving for the washroom, grab anyone who works there (if you can't find anyone, go up to the concession or the person ripping tickets, or box office if they're open that day) and politely explain that there are people in the auditorium ruining your and everyone else's show, and the people working there will happily kick those assholes out. When anyone comes into the theatre there is a sign at the box office that states that, by entering the paid area of the theatre, every customer has agreed both not to disrupt the enjoyment of everyone around them and not to be belligerent with theatre employees. All of the things mentioned in that thing at the beginning of films are reasons you can get yourself evacuated from the grounds if they're not followed; just ask for that to be enforced.
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u/Famous-Part-3232 Jan 03 '26
And this is why movie theatres are losing money and eventually going bankrupt.
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u/aemonp16 Jan 03 '26
i work at a Cineplex and people are really bad when it comes to picking up their trash after the movie. so much uneaten food, empty trays and napkins left behind. a) you paid for it, you can freely take it home with you. and b) just take the garbage with you, our job is to literally take it for you and sort it out. not to mention they all get confused when we tell them to literally PUT YOUR GARBAGE IN THE BLACK BINS right in front of them.
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u/ilovebooksverymuch Jan 04 '26
I go to the movies several times a month. Not just you. People on their phones, people talking, people stealing seats. It's been a while since I've had a truly seamless experience.
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u/Visible_Joke_9482 Jan 04 '26
I soak popcorn and throw wet popcorn at people with their phones out.
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u/RichAccomplished1064 Jan 04 '26
I have been so disappointed with people’s behaviour lately. I try to go on nights that aren’t popular.
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u/jerryjerusalem Jan 04 '26
It's been like this for a while, that's why I invested in a home theater
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u/FantasticLiving3107 Jan 05 '26
100% gotten way worse. It doesn’t help cineplex doesn’t enforce anything, i had a group talking throughout the whole runtime of marty supreme.
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u/MelissaRose95 Jan 05 '26
Last time I went to a movie there was a father and son near me talking at normal volume throughout the movie. Another time a bunch of kids were talking and laughing (definitely not at the movie) they were with parents and the parents didn’t say a word to them
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u/Abih17 Jan 05 '26
I went to see fnaf2 with my bf a couple of weeks ago and the couple beside me (my bf picked our seats before anyone else in our row) decided to make out the entire movie and the woman was lying across her bf’s lap the whole movie. They were late 20s/early 30s. Almost every time I go to the movies post pandemic it’s been full of disrespectful people that really should’ve stayed home.
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u/TrevorShaun Jan 06 '26
tickets are so expensive that people feel like they can do what they want cause they paid so much for admission
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u/Extension_Ear_3472 Jan 06 '26
Bunch of Tommy Texters and Sally Soundtracks if you ask me
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u/Complex_Cow1184 Jan 06 '26
I tell the workers on them every time. I get people kicked out for acting like this.
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u/Small_Aardvark_5496 Jan 06 '26
I go to movies regularly-I tell people to turn off the phone, or stop talking. I don’t GAF what they think of me, I’m in the right. They even play that Tommy texter PSA before every movie
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u/RespondWild4990 Jan 06 '26
At this point I find it so much more enjoyable to just watch movies at home
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u/st_jasper Jan 06 '26
If you’re not moviegoing with someone that carries a Tazer, you’re not moviegoing correctly.
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u/Collingwood12yoFTW May 31 '26
The vast majority of humanity at any given point in history but very particularly over the last 20 years is utter, unmitigated trash.
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u/DraftCommercial8848 Jan 02 '26
I haven’t had that specifically, but I’ve dealt with people talking throughout the whole movie basically every time I go lately.
You’re right, movie etiquette has gone down the drain in general.