I went to AMC one time and these kids were being a pain in the ass before my movie. They calmed down and the film got going. Then they started up again. I got up, walked down to them, and pulled the ultimate bluff. "Hey, I work at this theater, and I'm trying to enjoy my time off. It would be best if quit this crap right now".
When I worked at the discount house and we had "Dark Knight", the assistant manager was a lazy gal, younger than me (seniority sucks). One night it was just us watching the place. She didn't have the balls to deal with these siblings (no parents with them. a couple were older. 13-15?) making a ruckuss. She asked me to deal with it when we got complaints about them switching seats and talking. I went in and said firmly "We've received numerous complaints about all of you. Now you stay in one seat and shut up or when I come back, I'm throwing you out. Am I clear?" and they agreed. 5 minutes later I got another complaint. I went back in and said to the group "Get up. Come with me". One started to follow. I walked back and said "No, ALL OF YOU. Get your stuff. Follow me". I got them in the lobby and said "I warned you about your behavior. Now you can leave. There's the door". They started yelling and complaining. I said "This is not up for debate. You were a nuisance. You were warned. Get out or we call the cops". One of the girls said "Well we need to pee first". I said "You have 2 minutes. Hurry up". The girls of the group went in the bathroom. They started getting louder and 2 minutes went by. I looked at the manager lady and said "I'm knocking on the door. Do you have a problem with that? She said "No get them out". I knocked on the door and said "Come on get out!" producing a "What the fuck?!" from the bathroom. They came out and I said "I am done with all of you. Leave in 30 seconds or the cops are coming". They said "It's cold out". "Not my problem". "What about our money back?" "You forfeited it" "What?" (lol. my fav part) "You don't get it back when I have to throw you out!" I started pulling out my cell to call the cops. The lead girl went "You calling the cops?! Who the fuck do you think you are?!" and she walked toward me with a fist. I showed her the screen with 911 punched in and ready to call. She stopped walking. I simply pointed toward me and the door and said "Pick a direction. In one button, cops come. She said "Fuck you!" and they left.
I have many stories I know of. I always tell people to put the phone away etc... but I have to go clean my house for guests tonight. "Ghostbuters" Blu-ray and hot dogs!
phil
· 5 months ago
Great article. This is actually the first time I have to give props to FSR, mainly Kevin Carr about this problem. You hit it right on the head. Now be thankfull you don't live in a hispanic community because if you went to the theaters I go to, you would never hear the end of it, with these "tough" thug kids who think it's funny to yell something aloud when the lights go down.
Quenfis
· 5 months ago
I agree with Phil. The neighborhood I end up at for movie viewing can be a mixed bag, and in that bag tends to be the tweens or thuggies that don't give a shit if you say something to them. In fact, some of them are just waiting for you to say something so they can stare you down when you leave the theater. I'll definitely stand up to someone who is being a complete DB during the movie, but my Wife is the best. She can handle anyone in that theater, even the retard who brought their child to The Hangover (you must have been in my theater on that one Kevin, cause it was ridiculous to see).
I had to say something to the guy in front of me during The Watchmen, who thought it would be good to text during the first 10-15 minutes of the movie, along with a group of Tweens who snuck into the movie and went into the back row (where they always go) and began to play grab ass with each other.
Unfortunately, it is at the point where my Wife is already dreading going into a movie theater, because there is always one guy/gal in that theater who is going to annoy us during the movie. And they always seem to sit behind or directly in front of us, even in an empty theater. That's our luck.
PHiL
· 5 months ago
Don't forget the dreaded snack wrapper! Everytime I sit in the theater, even when I think it's safe during the matinee, I get some person whose reaching into that bag of skittles or M&M's and the sound is unbearable! Can't they pour it into their lap or something? That plastic wrapper is the worst.
Kevin_Carr
· 5 months ago
I actually read a study in a science magazine that proved that a crinkling candy wrapper makes noise at the same volume no matter how quiet you try to be. (In other words, even if they try to be quiet by crinking the wrapper, it doesn't help.)
Thunderfunk
· 5 months ago
Just one of the many reasons that I rarely go to the theater anymore. I've got a big screen TV & surround sound and movies hit DVD 3-4 months after the initial run, so why put up with it? Granted, if this was my only reason, I'd deal with it, but it's not, so I don't.
Kangaroo Be Stoned
· 5 months ago
I don't say anything to assholes who talk because I don't want to interrupt the film even more than it already has been. I've come close but if I ever do it my comment will probably be laced with profanity and that will cause more harm than good.
Why?
· 5 months ago
Nice of the first commenter to blame an entire community because of some punk kids.
Brian Rodden
· 5 months ago
Exactly JLTucker! I actually yelled, "shut that baby up" when I went to see Return of the King. It's over 2 and a half hours. How can a baby sit through that? Also something great happened after I said that...everyone in my vicinity chimed in! It was glorious.
Kangaroo Be Stoned
· 5 months ago
Hardly glorious. It interrupts the film even more.
Nick DeNife
· 5 months ago
I think the advent of home entertainment kind of triggered this flood of rudeness in theaters - people talk, text, surfand generally be idiots during movies at home and figure it's okay to do it in theaters. I'm not making ecuses, however - nothing pisses me off more than paying ten or more bucks of my hard-earned money to enjoy a movie and in the middle of it hear not only a cell phone ring, but some selfish imbecile ANSWER it and have a conversation like he's in a coffee shop. One time during a movie this dink's cell phone went off three times and I finally stood up and yelled (and I can yell LOUD), "Turn that fucking thing OFF!!!" This was greeted by a wave of cheers and applause, and the guy got up and left.
I don't like doing that and certainly don't like being forced to do it, but... man, you gotta draw the line somewhere.
Ryan O'Brien
· 5 months ago
I have no qualms doing it. Here's some of my many stories.
I worked at a movie theater from last summer to this. It was a 2 screen discount house. If I peeked my head in, even during trailers and saw a cell phone, I walked right over and said "You need to put that away right now or you'll be asked to leave. Thank you".
When I saw "Defiance" with my dad a few guys came in during the opening credits. They were like "Oh man! We're late! It started already! What the hell!?" and sat behind us. I turned around and said "Will you be quiet, its the credits, you didn't miss anything". Then they kept talking in a normal voice, ignoring people shsshing them. I didn't even turn around and said "Why don't you just shut the hell up?!" which got some minor claps from the audience. The guy said "Excuse me?! How dare you talk to me that way! Say that to my face!". I turned to my father and I said loudly enough for everyone to hear "You're right. He's not the person to talk to. I should get a manager. They'll get thrown out and we'll have peace." That brought a few "Woohs" and chuckles from everybody else. The guy said "Fuck you!" and was silent for the rest of the show.
When I worked for the discount house the owner also ran a first run theater in a neighboring town and my friends and I could see movies for free. We went to see "Inkheart" for something to do. We went to the last show of the day and had the whole movie to ourselves! Then these like 15-16 year olds went bouncing around and started screwing about in our movie. So I turned around and yelled at them "Go screw around somewhere else!". 40 minutes later, anticipating the concession stand closing I went to refill the popcorn. They were still going in and out of movies. I walked up to them and said "I know the owner. I work for him, and he's upstairs. You obviously don't have tickets to something, so leave now, or I will go get him." One of the girls said "You don't know the owner!" I said "That was a bad theory to test and started walking toward the counter and someone I knew. They ran like hell.
I had somebody in a "Wolverine" showing pull out a lighter. The theater staff said unless he lit something up or they witnessed it, they couldn't do anything.
When I went to to "Star Wars III" the 2nd time, a mom brought her kids. The film had died down a bit in audience. When kids started getting murdered by Anakin she grabbed them and they left. My friend Sara & I were like "Could have told you that!"
When I went to "The Patriot" years ago the guy in front of me answered his cell and was like "Yeah man. I'm at a movie. Huh? The Patriot. You know Mel Gibson and the Civil War (yes he said CIVIL War)". I leaned in, and mind you I was 12 years old, and said "Put the damn phone away"
Atomic Popcorn
· 5 months ago
Kevin, while I do agree with almost everything you said, not everyone sees that. Unless the movie is terrible and really boring, my eyes are always on the screen. The only time I have issues is with talking, that throws my attention span for a whirl. As for the screenings I attend, no cell phones or bluetooths allowed. Period. When I saw the hang over, they escorted 3 folks out of the theater as soon as it started because they didn't turn off their phones. To me that is bad crowd control on the folks putting on the screening. EVERY screening I go to has an announcement that you are NOT allowed to have your cell phone or even bring it out of your pocket, if you do, you get thrown out and can't come back in. While I keep mine, on, its in my pocket and on vibrate. Now, on to your point about no one doing anything, I agree with you 100%. If someone has an issue with someone, deal with it, don't complain after the fact, do something right away. Reason 1 as why I enjoy my screenings with around 20 folks in them. The crowded theater is why some folks take up pirating movies etc, the theater experience is a disrespectful one all around. Now as a father, I would love to knock out the morons who brought their toddlers to the screenings. I have seen this also and have said something to each person each time. While it never goes over well, I just hope it won't happen again. IN the long run its a respect issue. great article brother!
djjeffhall
· 5 months ago
Kevin - Thank you! People interrupting the film has been one of my pet peeves for years. I love seeing a film in a crowded theater. Knowing when people laugh and generally feeling the "vibe" of the room can certainly enhance a film.
Conversely, people talking, cell phone calls and all the rest are just f**king rude. I've got no problem telling someone to shut up. (If they don't respond to the first three times I politely shush them.) I think people need to be FAR more aware of their surroundings.
I know that on this website you are preaching to the converted, but nevertheless, thank you again for saying it.
mychaleg
· 5 months ago
SHUT UP YOU STUPID COMMENTERS, I'M TRYING TO WATCH THIS WEBSITE.
LowSlash
· 4 months ago
I love my friend Aleisha; every time this sort of shenanigans happens at the theatre, she's the first to say something.
tylerdurden1681
· 2 months ago
When telling them to shut the fuck up doesn't work I just get my money back, and if they pull crap later into the movie I follow them outside the theater and have a little chat. They usually are not very thrilled to be confronted once the movie is over and they are not protected by the theater staff inside the building. My wife made me laugh one time cause there were four high school kids front of us and it was the whole "Two guys wanting to date the two girls, talking and trying to be funny to impress them without much success" scenerio. Movie starts boy keeps trying to make lame jokes, my wife kicks the back of his seat really hard and says shut the fuck up. He turned around briefly to take a look at who did it and we locked eyes for a second. He gave me that "oh shit" look and turned around and shut up the rest of the movie. I was just waiting for him to say one thing to my wife so I could grab him and take him outside for a chat. Great stories from the rest of you and I agree with the article!
All Comments
When I worked at the discount house and we had "Dark Knight", the assistant manager was a lazy gal, younger than me (seniority sucks). One night it was just us watching the place. She didn't have the balls to deal with these siblings (no parents with them. a couple were older. 13-15?) making a ruckuss. She asked me to deal with it when we got complaints about them switching seats and talking. I went in and said firmly "We've received numerous complaints about all of you. Now you stay in one seat and shut up or when I come back, I'm throwing you out. Am I clear?" and they agreed. 5 minutes later I got another complaint. I went back in and said to the group "Get up. Come with me". One started to follow. I walked back and said "No, ALL OF YOU. Get your stuff. Follow me". I got them in the lobby and said "I warned you about your behavior. Now you can leave. There's the door". They started yelling and complaining. I said "This is not up for debate. You were a nuisance. You were warned. Get out or we call the cops". One of the girls said "Well we need to pee first". I said "You have 2 minutes. Hurry up". The girls of the group went in the bathroom. They started getting louder and 2 minutes went by. I looked at the manager lady and said "I'm knocking on the door. Do you have a problem with that? She said "No get them out". I knocked on the door and said "Come on get out!" producing a "What the fuck?!" from the bathroom. They came out and I said "I am done with all of you. Leave in 30 seconds or the cops are coming". They said
"It's cold out".
"Not my problem".
"What about our money back?"
"You forfeited it"
"What?" (lol. my fav part)
"You don't get it back when I have to throw you out!"
I started pulling out my cell to call the cops. The lead girl went "You calling the cops?! Who the fuck do you think you are?!" and she walked toward me with a fist. I showed her the screen with 911 punched in and ready to call. She stopped walking. I simply pointed toward me and the door and said "Pick a direction. In one button, cops come. She said "Fuck you!" and they left.
I have many stories I know of. I always tell people to put the phone away etc... but I have to go clean my house for guests tonight. "Ghostbuters" Blu-ray and hot dogs!
You hit it right on the head. Now be thankfull you don't live in a hispanic community because if you went to the theaters I go to, you would never hear the end of it, with these "tough" thug kids who think it's funny to yell something aloud when the lights go down.
I had to say something to the guy in front of me during The Watchmen, who thought it would be good to text during the first 10-15 minutes of the movie, along with a group of Tweens who snuck into the movie and went into the back row (where they always go) and began to play grab ass with each other.
Unfortunately, it is at the point where my Wife is already dreading going into a movie theater, because there is always one guy/gal in that theater who is going to annoy us during the movie. And they always seem to sit behind or directly in front of us, even in an empty theater. That's our luck.
I don't like doing that and certainly don't like being forced to do it, but... man, you gotta draw the line somewhere.
I worked at a movie theater from last summer to this. It was a 2 screen discount house. If I peeked my head in, even during trailers and saw a cell phone, I walked right over and said "You need to put that away right now or you'll be asked to leave. Thank you".
When I saw "Defiance" with my dad a few guys came in during the opening credits. They were like "Oh man! We're late! It started already! What the hell!?" and sat behind us. I turned around and said "Will you be quiet, its the credits, you didn't miss anything". Then they kept talking in a normal voice, ignoring people shsshing them. I didn't even turn around and said "Why don't you just shut the hell up?!" which got some minor claps from the audience. The guy said "Excuse me?! How dare you talk to me that way! Say that to my face!". I turned to my father and I said loudly enough for everyone to hear "You're right. He's not the person to talk to. I should get a manager. They'll get thrown out and we'll have peace." That brought a few "Woohs" and chuckles from everybody else. The guy said "Fuck you!" and was silent for the rest of the show.
When I worked for the discount house the owner also ran a first run theater in a neighboring town and my friends and I could see movies for free. We went to see "Inkheart" for something to do. We went to the last show of the day and had the whole movie to ourselves! Then these like 15-16 year olds went bouncing around and started screwing about in our movie. So I turned around and yelled at them "Go screw around somewhere else!". 40 minutes later, anticipating the concession stand closing I went to refill the popcorn. They were still going in and out of movies. I walked up to them and said "I know the owner. I work for him, and he's upstairs. You obviously don't have tickets to something, so leave now, or I will go get him." One of the girls said "You don't know the owner!" I said "That was a bad theory to test and started walking toward the counter and someone I knew. They ran like hell.
I had somebody in a "Wolverine" showing pull out a lighter. The theater staff said unless he lit something up or they witnessed it, they couldn't do anything.
When I went to to "Star Wars III" the 2nd time, a mom brought her kids. The film had died down a bit in audience. When kids started getting murdered by Anakin she grabbed them and they left. My friend Sara & I were like "Could have told you that!"
When I went to "The Patriot" years ago the guy in front of me answered his cell and was like "Yeah man. I'm at a movie. Huh? The Patriot. You know Mel Gibson and the Civil War (yes he said CIVIL War)". I leaned in, and mind you I was 12 years old, and said "Put the damn phone away"
To me that is bad crowd control on the folks putting on the screening.
EVERY screening I go to has an announcement that you are NOT allowed to have your cell phone or even bring it out of your pocket, if you do, you get thrown out and can't come back in. While I keep mine, on, its in my pocket and on vibrate.
Now, on to your point about no one doing anything, I agree with you 100%. If someone has an issue with someone, deal with it, don't complain after the fact, do something right away.
Reason 1 as why I enjoy my screenings with around 20 folks in them. The crowded theater is why some folks take up pirating movies etc, the theater experience is a disrespectful one all around.
Now as a father, I would love to knock out the morons who brought their toddlers to the screenings. I have seen this also and have said something to each person each time. While it never goes over well, I just hope it won't happen again. IN the long run its a respect issue.
great article brother!
Conversely, people talking, cell phone calls and all the rest are just f**king rude. I've got no problem telling someone to shut up. (If they don't respond to the first three times I politely shush them.) I think people need to be FAR more aware of their surroundings.
I know that on this website you are preaching to the converted, but nevertheless, thank you again for saying it.
My wife made me laugh one time cause there were four high school kids front of us and it was the whole "Two guys wanting to date the two girls, talking and trying to be funny to impress them without much success" scenerio. Movie starts boy keeps trying to make lame jokes, my wife kicks the back of his seat really hard and says shut the fuck up. He turned around briefly to take a look at who did it and we locked eyes for a second. He gave me that "oh shit" look and turned around and shut up the rest of the movie. I was just waiting for him to say one thing to my wife so I could grab him and take him outside for a chat.
Great stories from the rest of you and I agree with the article!