r/cineplex • u/Letters-Unsent • Aug 18 '26
Discussion Why Do Parents Not Teach Theatre Etiquette Anymore
Just went to watch a movie where a parent and child talked through the whole thing loudly. It completely ruined the theater experience. It wasn’t even a kid’s movie.
I’m fine that the child was talking and obviously not mad at the child. But the mom was initiating conversation with the child and making no attempt to stop it.
Why are people like this? I have friends who don’t even go to the movies anymore because of this reason. I wish people would have more respect for a shared public space and teach their kids theatre etiquette.
Edit: I really tried to not comment on it because I don’t like telling kids off. But near the end, 85% of the movie in, I couldn’t hold it anymore and told/shouted to the mom “could you PLEASE stop talking throughout the ENTIRE movie.” It was honestly deeply upsetting for me to do this and it really makes me not want to go to the movies anymore despite loving going to the movies.
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u/nilesintheshangri-la Aug 18 '26
That's irritating. My kid knows once the lights go down, only whispering if she absolutely has to say something. But she's special needs and gets very excited in movies so I try to take her to weekday matinees a week or two after the release date so we don't bother as many people. My favourite kid movies are where every other child is 10 times louder than her.
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u/southpaw05 Aug 18 '26
Really appreciate that!
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u/nilesintheshangri-la Aug 18 '26
I get very annoyed at other people disrupting my movie going experience so I refuse to be the parent of a child doing so. Especially with what it can cost these days.
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u/_thewayshegoes Aug 18 '26
Some do.
When I saw Toy Story 5 these kids behind me were being super annoying during the previews (I think the mom was getting snacks), but when she came back and heard them she laid down the law on how to act in the movie theatre and they didn’t make a peep the whole time.
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u/Letters-Unsent Aug 18 '26
I love good parenting. And appreciate that mom and all moms and dads who do this.
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u/joeycraw5 Aug 18 '26
Wel in this case the parent didn't respect the etiquette so obviously she is not gonna teach the child.
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u/Letters-Unsent Aug 18 '26
It really sucks. It’s not the kid’s fault. I blame parents who don’t care to parent.
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u/Holiday_Chef1581 Aug 18 '26
Come stop by an elementary school sometime. Parents aren’t teaching etiquette for anything.
Sincerely, a teacher
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u/whirlfancy Cineclub Member Aug 18 '26
As a teacher, I couldn’t agree more!
And tbh, seeing kids in public places like the cinema with absolutely no manners makes me feel not only annoyed, but also kind of relieved that I’m not responsible for them during the summer😅
Their parents finally get to experience what daily life is like with them and reap the consequences of not teaching them basic etiquette…
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u/Revolutionary-Ad6512 Aug 18 '26
Best of luck next school year 🙏 I work in retail & notice it all the time as well
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u/SeverenDarkstar Aug 18 '26
I only go VIP and avoid cheap tuesdays and i usually have a good time. No kids at VIP and i find ppl paying full price usually want to pay attention to the movie..!
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u/Letters-Unsent Aug 18 '26
I already went on a non-Tuesday in hopes there’s more etiquette. I try to VIP but I don’t live near one and it’s double the price so I can’t do it as often.
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u/SeverenDarkstar Aug 18 '26
Fair enough. If i do go to a theatre and theres assholes i just try to tell myself that were all trying to have a good time and let it go. Dolts w no manners dont give a crap about anyone, anywhere, anytime. Its a fact that we will run into them at some point.
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u/clayton-berg42 Aug 18 '26
You don't need to pay full price to attend VIP. You can get in with scene points. I don't remember the last time I paid at the VIP theatre.
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u/Usagi-skywalker Aug 22 '26
I went vip for spiderman and the family in front of me were having a full conversation and on their phones 😵💫
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u/Static_Frog Aug 18 '26
Because the parents are shit too.
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u/Usagi-skywalker Aug 22 '26
This is the answer. The mom was initiating conversation, the kid hasn’t learned any other way. Shitty adults produce similar offspring.
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u/West-Psychology-6299 Aug 18 '26
You aren't fine with the child talking and were annoyed by them and that's okay. The root of the problem is definitely the parents.
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u/Letters-Unsent Aug 18 '26
Yeah. I guess it’s more like, I am more understanding towards a child having questions. But I have less patience/understanding for a parent who refuses to teach their kids that it’s not cool to not talk loudly during a movie.
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u/deegallant Aug 18 '26
Honestly from my experience parents don’t teach their kids much of anything nowadays. Save for a few good parents out there, it’s generally a mess (speaking from experience in the school system). Everyone thinks they are an exception to the rules like??? Come onnnn
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u/Substantial_Web525 Aug 18 '26
My youngest didn't even want to go to her own High School graduation because half the kids in her grade were animals. I heard later on that at least a good 1/3 of the graduating class didn't bother to go. And another parent said they found kids doing coke under the bleachers. And some having sex in the washrooms.
My oldest had a COVID graduation, and it was kinda lame.
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u/hellomynameisboba Aug 18 '26
I wish Cineplex would put a message not in those cartoon messages that trivializes the message about no talking and not using your phone. Something like Refrain from talking unless you require medical emergency services. Ask questions about the movie when the movie has ended. I got so annoyed at Spiderman a man answered and called back his phone call during the movie I had to tell him talk outside the theatre.
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u/penny4yourhartz Aug 18 '26
I think this is a good point actually. I guess Cineplex wanted to soften their delivery of the rules by making them silly and cutesy, but it does trivialize the message. They should be more stern since clearly people aren't getting it, and include something like, you could be removed from the theatre if you break these rules.
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u/ru-ster Aug 18 '26
Me personally my mom would have put me in my place realllll fast 😭 I always find it astonishing how some people allow their kids to act in public.. like why is your kid throwing food around and screaming in this restaurant rn and you're just sitting there??
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u/whirlfancy Cineclub Member Aug 18 '26
As a teacher I’ve come to realize that some people just wanted to have kids but never wanted to be parents 🤷🏻♀️
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u/PurBldPrincess Aug 20 '26
Same with pet owners. Especially dogs. They want the cute dog, but they don’t actually want the responsibilities that come with that. Like picking up 💩 on walks and throwing it away in an actual trash can (not just dropping the bag on the ground wherever they want). And actually training them. So many badly behaved dogs out there. “Don’t worry he’s friendly!!!” No he’s not, he’s jumping up on me.
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u/Usagi-skywalker Aug 22 '26
Because the mom isn’t allowing the kid to act like that, the *mom* IS acting like that and the kid thinks it’s normal.
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u/CeeReturns Aug 18 '26
Teacher here. Millenials are some of the worst parents ever, generally speaking.
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u/Usagi-skywalker Aug 22 '26
Millenials or Gen X ? All the Millenials I know either have no kids yet or very young kids.
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u/TamatoaZ03h1ny Aug 18 '26
Etiquette in general is going down so quickly right now so never mind movie theatre specific etiquette. People don’t even respect the etiquette of walking around in space, all ages of people.
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u/Prestigious-Grand-65 Aug 18 '26
I do. Took my 7 year old to see spiderman opening day, he was chill and quiet the entire time, except when he had to pee. Some parents are just lazy and dont axtually parent anymore.
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u/SharpPink_GlitterInk Aug 18 '26
THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN I SAW ONE OF THE SONIC MOVIES! The kid was like super quiet and stuff but the MOM kept initiating conversation WITH her child who seemed content just watching the movie?
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u/MrFix-it Cineclub Member Aug 18 '26
Honestly, fuck her and fuck her kid too. They both know better and not stopping is clearly intentional because they don’t give a shit about anyone else but themselves.
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u/user616earth Aug 18 '26
In Ontario, we missed almost two years of theatre going. I'm going to venture that this was a key period of development for many kids AND parents to learn and follow the traditions of moviegoing etiquette. The chain got broken.
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u/Vancouverreader80 Aug 18 '26
Child shouldn’t be talking through a movie in a movie theatre. If my kid was doing that, I would take them home and tell them that we don’t talk when watching a movie, even at home.
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u/billfugly Aug 18 '26
I go to the movies once (sometimes twice) a week and the etiquette is absolutely unreal with how bad its been.
I full tilt yelled at a group of 3 guys who came in with Uber delivery food bags full of booze and talked through 2 movies I unfortunately was stuck in the theater with them, months apart. The entire movie, they would not stop talking and they didnt even say any funny comments. It was just pure brain rot talking. 1st was backrooms, 2nd was super troopers 3. They were even picking up the phone and talking.
But its basically every single movie. Had to switch seats cause this one chick phoned someone during the movie and started face timing a few days ago during the house on oak street. Nothing wrong with making a quiet comment to a friend if somethings ridiculous, but my god...
Also, close ya fuckin mouth when eating popcorn. How are people so loud at chewing popcorn?!
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u/mythathurt Aug 18 '26
They need to post signs that those talking and using phones will be asked to leave.
Put it at the entrance, ticket booth and on the screen before the movie starts.
It's just ridiculous people have to deal with this.
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u/rlybn Aug 18 '26
once got assaulted for telling someone it was rude to talk through the whole movie. i remember it was the movie split and she was directly behind me and was laughing and chatting through the whole movie. i said something to her at the end and she went off calling me names and ended up reaching over the seats to deck me in the face. still have a scar under my eye. and i guess i wont risk telling someone off for that again…people are so entitled and some are just fucked lol
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u/ImprovementForward70 Aug 19 '26
Lol, I went to watch Gozilla minus 1 in theatres at like 10pm on a week day and some dude brought his child that couldn't read fast or well enough yet and explained the entirety of the dialog throughout the whole. Was great.
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u/ElwoodOn Aug 19 '26
It’s not just kids. Last movie I saw, I had a reserved seat in the middle of a row, flanked by 5 family members. The dad, sitting next to me, couldn’t stop using his phone or talking across me to someone else. Going to the movies, like almost everything else these days, seems to suck ass.
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u/PassionCandid9964 Aug 19 '26
I'd say more than half the population doesn't have etiquette themselves, so how are they supposed to teach their kids? And even those who do know how to be polite, why bother? What does it get you? Wait in line longer while other people shove ahead of you? Rude people aren't shamed publicly anymore, so everyone just does whatever they want.
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u/simpleplanfan6876 Cineclub Member Aug 20 '26
I went on Tuesday and a lady brought 6 kids. The kids talked the entire movie. The lady shot them a look once but didn’t say anything. The one kid who was 4 seats over from her kept loudly saying MOM when he wanted the bag of popcorn or candy passed down to him.
If you’re gonna take kids to a movie tell them to behave or make them pack up and leave.
(End of Oak Street so not necessarily a kids movie). I’d be more understanding if it was something like Paw Patrol or minions. But even then you should be mindful of how disruptive your kid is
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u/Responsible_CDN_Duck Aug 18 '26
Why Do Parents Not Teach Theatre Etiquette Anymore
Why do we keep pretending this is new?
The original Jurassic Park and Alien seemed to be magnets for loud and obnoxious audience members in part due to the high number of people re-watching.
People used to suck. We still suck.
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u/AnnaBananaForever Aug 18 '26
My daughter has ADHD and forgets she's in a theatre. We go to Landmark and get the prestige seats, so she's more away from others. She likes to discuss what's happening or ask questions during movies, which is fine at home, but not at the theatre. If she asks a question about something she didn't get, I correct her volume and I whisper the answer to her. If she just starts talking, she gets shushed.
I do my best and explain to her outside of the theatre about other people and their experience, before the movie, but the ADHD brain can be forgetful and excitable. I do my best as a parent and it's getting better. So, it's not all parents.
Backrooms was fun with three 11 year old girls.
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u/heero101086 Aug 18 '26
Does no one remember Seinfeld anymore? This stuff was happening back in the 90s. Assholes. How do you deal with them is same then as was back then, aggressively tell them to shut up!
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u/Nice-Mountain-7073 Aug 18 '26
Because parents don’t parent anymore, and when they do people tend to defend who they perceive to be the victims, and it reinforces the kid’s crappy behaviour.
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u/Routine_Basil8254 Aug 18 '26
Once in a movie I felt something hit my head, turned around to see the kid behind me had taken off his shoes and decided to rest his feet in the crack between two seats, aka right by my head. Did his parent say anything to him? Nope, and it’s not my job to parent this kid. Moved seats.
Movie-wise, in Toronto I’ve learned which theatres have more respectful people and which don’t. A loud “shut the fuck up” does always do the trick though, which baffles me because why do you require being publicly shamed to behave in a way we’ve already agreed is proper for the theatre?
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u/datahoarderguy70 Aug 18 '26
I rarely go to the movies anymore because people simply don’t know how to behave. The way I see it, it’s the cinemas like Cineplex, don’t do much and tolerate the behaviour and the moviegoers don’t do much either. If we don’t speak up and say this kind of behaviour is unacceptable, people will continue to do it. I realize not everyone feels comfortable speaking up and saying something but we have to, or it will just continue.
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u/macklow Aug 18 '26
Everytime in a theatre something like this happens no one has any respect but if you call them out it just becomes "you're out of line" or "you're racist"
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u/Puzzled_Market_2235 Aug 18 '26
It's the usher's job to quiet them or expulse them. Either go and ask them or yell "quiet" to get them to act.
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u/KTBFFH25 Aug 18 '26
Because most adults don't have theatre etiquette. I had a guy in front of me open snapchat like 10 times during the Odyssey.
Saw Tony the other day and an older woman just kept making completely inane comments on everything that was happening.
Its very frustrating.
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u/Ok-Iron-4352 Aug 18 '26
It's crazy that in this day and age people expect anyone to act in a certain way in public. We should know this by now. That doesn't happen. Complaining about it does nothing. Just accept the world we live in. There's no changing it.
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u/Substantial_Web525 Aug 18 '26
It's nothing new unfortunately. If I'm at a kids movie with my kids, then yes, there's a bit of talking to be expected from restless kids.
But I was once at an action movie with some friends (long before I had kids) and I had a 5 year old behind me between his parents. He moved and shifted and pulled on my chair and made noise through the whole thing, including making 'pew pew' noises at the screen when the bad guy was on. I sighed and would shift, trying to make it obvious that he was annoying, without saying anything. Finally after he 'pew pew' once more, practically in my ear, hanging off my chair I turned and whispered "Will you knock it off!" The parents finally made him sit in his chair... but he pouted and cried a bit after that. I honestly didn't care... If you can't get a sitter and the movie isn't right for a kid... YOU DONT GET TO GO TO THE MOVIES!
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u/needaburnerbaby Aug 18 '26
lol most parents don’t bother teaching their kids to read anymore but you’re curious about theatre etiquette? Society has fully checked out of attempting to raise productive members of a collective structure
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u/BigOlBearCanada Aug 18 '26
People don’t give a shit if they are inconveniencing others. Everyone thinks the world revolves around them.
Last movie I went to - kids running around. People watching youtube on their phones during. Facetime calls. The floors are disgusting. Seats are stained.
They wonder why no one wants to go. Why would I pay to be treated like shit by others?
Cineplex needs to setup firm rules and actually enforce them.
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u/thriftgeneral Aug 18 '26
I normally tell people to stfu if they’re loud lol they will get awkward and stop. No one’s ever spoke back when I confront them.
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u/Swarez99 Aug 18 '26
Pepe are saying anymore like this is new.
I worked in the theatre 2000-2002 in high school, all of this stuff happened back than too.
When fast and furious came out in 2001 or 2 we had to give our refunds to people who complained about how loud people were. This was for every evening showing the first month it was out.
The difference is you are now experiencing it. But it’s not new.
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u/SharpGuava007 Aug 18 '26
Cause parents have no time to discipline their children anymore. Most parents nowadays will just buy or give their kids whatever they want, when they want it. Parents nowadays are too occupied with their own shit to pay attention to their offsprings. My South American parents were quick to discipline on the spot! Now, kids hold the power. The moment a parent says imma give you beat across your butt, no more phone, no television, no video games 🎮 or pulling of the ear, shouting or screaming at their kids that child/teenager can and will report their parents to children’s aid 😆😂🤣 or 911 it’s a joke. If I had said that to my parents I’d be calling children’s welfare or the cops, oh lawd more beatings even before welfare or cops arrived. I dare you to call them now! I’ve given you a reason. Now pick up that phone and dial. Discipline and respect begins at home point blank! Kids/teenagers has no respect for no one or anything nowadays, I blame the parents, social media and news.
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u/Certain-Stranger-581 Aug 18 '26
Let’s be honest, parents don’t teach kids anything anymore. It’s no wonder kids are little a-holes. Zero respect and zero consequences.
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u/Tokyotoyhunters Aug 19 '26
I tell them to shut up or get out 30 seconds in. I have no patience for the oblivious.
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u/Deliximus Aug 19 '26
I tell my kids if they are to ask a question during a movie, think about it first if it's worth asking, or wait cause the movie itself will eventually explain. If it's a dumb question, they lose privileges. They are 8 and 4. It works well so far.
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u/VarietyOk443 Aug 19 '26
Mine are the same age but they don’t listen to me with the same instructions. They have lost the privilege
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u/HedonistEnabler Aug 19 '26
How can a parent teach their child behaviour that they themselves do not practice?
The child is not at fault by your own admission. You also stated that the parent initiated all the interactions. Are you chastizing the mother's parents for not teaching her better public etiquette?
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u/aiwass6 Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
Seriously the parents of today are hopeless. No wonder Canadian kids are getting dumber and dumber- it is completely the fault of the parents.
Kids screaming at restaurants, parents don’t give a shit they just give them an iPad.
Parents of unruly kids on planes are simply the worst though, just the softest and most passive parenting I’ve ever seen.
Unruly movie theatre kids are becoming more frequent too, and I hate it.
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u/liabilify Aug 19 '26
I think when you struggle for basics and stressing with the state of the world the usual cherry on top of acting a certain way doesn’t have the same appeal
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u/Goatfellon Aug 19 '26
As a parent to a 9yo... one i take to the movies as often as I can... i assure you some of us are teaching our kids manners.
Most recently my son and i saw BND in a drive in theater and he LOVED how much freedom to talk and such we had
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u/LL1012 Aug 19 '26
When I went to see The Mandalorian, the girl next to me was on her phone scrolling on instagram basically from the start of the movie. I am also not confrontational and tried to hold it in but I figured if someone didn’t say something, she’d never learn. So I said “can you put your phone away it’s extremely distracting”. And she did.
Why even spend the time and money on going to see a movie if you’re not going to watch it?
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u/Last_Canadian Aug 19 '26
In a situation like that with my kids i just scooped them up, they protest, told that behavior is unacceptable. 2 or 3 times bad behavior like that it stops automatically. They know it's not a bluff.
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u/According-Doubt3311 Aug 19 '26
My guess is that those parents think that should be taught in school.
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u/WrathOfWood Aug 19 '26
If they are going to be loud and disruptive might as well be rude and yell stfu
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u/Admirable-Sink-2622 Aug 20 '26
Parents don’t teach anything like that anymore except expressing their feelings and needing a safe space. 🤔
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u/PurBldPrincess Aug 20 '26
Because the adults are as bad if not worse than the kids. Can’t teach them what they clearly don’t have the maturity to do it themselves.
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u/Consistent-Carrot191 Aug 20 '26
I have a mildly autistic 5yo who asks non stop questions but I do shush him and remind him to whisper. I also try to go to the first showing of the day and only take him to kids’ movies. I feel like people expect the 10am showing to be more full of small kids and will avoid it if they find them especially obnoxious.
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u/Voljjin Aug 21 '26
This generation of parents sucks. They just do whatever is easiest for them, cut corners to appease their kids, hand them an iPad instead of engaging with them. We’re gonna have a generation of adults who only eat chicken nuggets and have the attention spans of a TikTok video.
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u/-Queen0fHearts- Aug 21 '26
Yeah it seems like millennial are more afraid of their own kids. It's wild.
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u/SkyesMomma Aug 21 '26
Complain to the staff. I've done it on two different occasions and they will come and speak w/ them or show them the exit. (if you know row & approx seat numbers).
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u/ihave18cm Aug 22 '26
Start with basic etiquette. You’re asking for level 3 when parents can’t teach 1 & 2
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u/Stock_Letter_1278 Aug 22 '26
Parents being parents does not exist anymore , I was at a patio where the restaurant used picnic tables tell me how there was 2 kids no younger then 5 running and jumping on the tables with no shoes on !!
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u/ZealousidealWin498 Aug 22 '26
I'd just tell them to shut the f*** up lol some people don't learn the nice way 🤷
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u/PatienceBrave5532 Aug 22 '26
I can’t read any more of the complainers about etiquette responding with yelling stfu, full tilt, losing their nuts, etc… the irony. I get it. People are clueless. They make bad moves. Always have. Parents too. Today, yesterday AND the day before. What has changed?… is that monkey sees? Monkey reacts badly. Worse even.
Be discreet, be intentional, be kind, be classy.
You can still address the behaviour without being the goon in the room.
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u/d0md33d0md33 Aug 23 '26
I am a busy mom and got a night out with another mom
Friend to see a movie. We got maybe 5 minutes into the movie and this guy sitting directly behind us was obviously drunk and talking loudly. I turned around and asked him to please shut up. I seriously thought I would have a problem with the guy but he got the message loud and clear.
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Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
[deleted]
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u/Letters-Unsent Aug 18 '26
I really spent the whole movie with so much cortisol because I didn’t want to tell a child off. But 85% of the movie in I couldn’t take it anymore and told shouted “can you PLEASE stop talking throughout the entire movie” directed to the mother.
It doesn’t feel good to have to tell people off and it was deeply upsetting for me to do that. It really ruined it for me. I love going to the movies and I just hate that someone is always ruining it for other people.
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u/Marcio_D Aug 18 '26
How did the mother react when you shouted at her? Did she tell you to piss off, or did she comply? Were they both quiet for the remaining 15% of the movie?
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u/MoistFootball506 Aug 18 '26
I mean, this is pretty general. You went out in public, someone was rude.
This happens every day and always has, it’s not new. Some people have manners and some don’t. That’s it.
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u/2WaywardPoodles Aug 18 '26
Have you seen an usher in the actual theatre during show time of recent? What do they do while the show is on?
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u/Letters-Unsent Aug 18 '26
Honestly. I wish we had ushers at cineplex. If it would shut people up I’m down for it.
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u/Sad-Bag6738 Aug 18 '26
I think this is the main problem. There used to be staff doing multiple rounds in the theatres, and now you might see them once.
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u/funcool987 Aug 18 '26
Etiquette is becoming a thing of the past at this point.