Movies and Clapping

[klown]

So I don't like people, and I tend to go to the early showings of movies so I am alone or basically alone in theaters, so I didn't really see this as a trend until now.

So I did the midnight realize of Wreck it Ralph, and being around all those people made me start to question something.

So during several different moments in the movie, certain cameos appear, and the theater clapped and cheered. Why is that? At what point does it make sense to cheer and clap over the movie dialogue and sounds so we can't hear the next stuff happening?

 

[Instant K4rma]

If ever I applaud a film, it's at the conclusion. To clap and cheer in the middle of the movie seems rude and disruptive. If you dig the movie, and feel the need to clap and cheer, save it for when the credits roll. It's a movie, not a football game.

 

[Dr.Susse]

I've only ever seen an applause in one film and it was the Simpsons movie.
It was really surreal; Like I where just clapping because everyone else was.

I'm a sheep!

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

It's because seeing a movie in a theater is a social experience. Audience involvement is an important thing, and if you don't believe me, go watch a comedy in a theater some time, and then watch it alone. Even a mediocre comedy is going to seem pretty funny in a large group, while it might fall flat alone. Even a great comedy will be funnier with a group than alone.

 

[Nouw]

It's because seeing a movie in a theater is a social experience. Audience involvement is an important thing, and if you don't believe me, go watch a comedy in a theater some time, and then watch it alone. Even a mediocre comedy is going to seem pretty funny in a large group, while it might fall flat alone. Even a great comedy will be funnier with a group than alone.

I do agree that watching a film in a theatre is a social experience but personally, clapping is taking it too far. It's one of the most disruptive things you can do, especially if it's during the film. Even if I'm watching a film for laughs, it bugs me when the audience claps at something. I don't mind when the audience laughs, at the right moments anyway, because that's a human reaction; you can't really help laughing.

That's just how I see it anyway. Clapping is one of those heinous cinema-etiquette sins for me.

EDIT:

Spoiler: I remember a time the audience clapped at a particular scene that felt straight-up disgusting. Hunger Games spoilers

A guy pinned as antagonist is killed and the audience claps. That was when I knew the message of the Hunger Games -if it had one at all- was completely lost on the people that clapped.

 

[klown]

It's because seeing a movie in a theater is a social experience. Audience involvement is an important thing, and if you don't believe me, go watch a comedy in a theater some time, and then watch it alone. Even a mediocre comedy is going to seem pretty funny in a large group, while it might fall flat alone. Even a great comedy will be funnier with a group than alone.

I actually find watching comedies completely alone, I tend to be less judgemental of them and will sit back and enjoy the jokes more. I disagree that seeing a movie in a theater is a social experience. The Audience plays no role in my view of any movie, only in how much I grow to hate other people. Outside of certain scary movies, I've never judged something about a movie better or worse because of how others make noise. A cheesy line or poor scripting will still be cheesy and poor.

I don't know, it seems silly and borderline disruptive to cheer and clap during a movie.

 

[madwarper]

I disagree that seeing a movie in a theater is a social experience. The Audience plays no role in my view of any movie,

So, you've never seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show in a theater?

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

I don't have a problem with people cheering or clapping in a theater. It actually, for me anyways, makes the movie a lot more fun to watch. I like seeing people's reaction to various things, good or bad.

 

[SlaveNumber23]

There is little that irritates me more than people clapping and making noise etc in a cinema, makes me want to murder everyone. I hate people.

 

[Dangit2019]

People clapped in Avengers after the Thor/Loki "fight". It didn't take away from the movie at all, and everyone stopped fast enough so that the action wasn't interrupted. The only other time I've seen people clapping at a movie was at the end of the Dark Knight, and it deserved it.

It's because seeing a movie in a theater is a social experience. Audience involvement is an important thing, and if you don't believe me, go watch a comedy in a theater some time, and then watch it alone. Even a mediocre comedy is going to seem pretty funny in a large group, while it might fall flat alone. Even a great comedy will be funnier with a group than alone.

I'll have to semi-disagree on some of those things; while the audience participation can be utilized to a movie's advantage, it definitely isn't absolutely neccesary. For example Rocky Horror benefits from audience participation, Citizen Kane doesn't.

The sense of comic quality with and without a larger group is a matter of personal taste really. I laugh at things much more when I'm sitting alone at home because what I find funny is sometimes different from what my friends think is funny.

 

[Marter]

"So I don't like people" seems to be a pretty good indication that no matter what they did, it would've upset you.

If they, y'know, showed that they were enjoying it, that's wrong because reasons. Heaven forbid people be happy at a movie theater.

If they don't, and remained completely still and quiet and emotionless, you'd be on here wondering why they wouldn't show some enjoyment of the entertainment in front of them.

 

[Guffe]

I don't really like it.
At the end for example in the Avengers this happened so that wasn't bad but I hate it when people do it in the middle of a movie. Luckely people in Finland don't do it too often.

 

[RufusMcLaser]

I've only seen it happen on the rarest of occasions; either at the end of a really good film, or at a moment of pure awesomeness the likes of which you'll talk about for years. Two examples of the latter are Data saying "Saddle up. Lock and load." during Star Trek Insurrection and the PUNY GOD scene in Avengers. Moments like that are few and far between, and I think the expression of spontaneous, shared joy is acceptable.

I don't think it's okay to applaud everything that makes you smile. Applause outside of the credits rolling must be reserved for true Moments Of Awesome.

Aside: I'm not saying Insurrection was a good movie, or even that Data's line was really in keeping with his character, but everyone liked it.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Huh? That never happen to me whenever I go to the cinema but in saying so I never been to a midnight release.

 

[Esotera]

I have genuinely never seen this happen before - is it just an American thing? I think I'd hate it - the creators of the movie aren't there so it's fairly pointless.

 

[Casual Shinji]

There will usually be some sort of joint reaction when watching a movie with an audience; laughter, 'oooohs' and 'aaahs'.

But actual clapping/applauding is just silly. You're not watching a play or a stand-up comedy, you're watching a movie being projected on a screen - Who are you applauding, the guy who runs the projector?

 

[flarty]

Only ever been in a cinema twice when someone clapped at the credits, the midnight screening of Prometheus, and the dark knight rises, both clapped on their own about 3 times then silence, god they must of felt stupid.

 

[Starik20X6]

The only times I've been in a cinema and people have clapped was at the end. Occasionally you'll get a whoop or a cheer but generally people around here are pretty considerate at the movies.

Captcha: "As you wish". Hello Captcha, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

 

[Arakasi]

I have never, ever seen anyone clap for a movie in a theatre.
If I ever did though it would annoy the hell out of me.

 

[F'Angus]

I've clapped at a film...but it was an all night showing of the 3 Lord of the Rings films last year. So it was mainly LotR fans.