Poll: Applauding In The Cinema

[Images]

A friend of mine often voices his huge annoyance and bewilderment at people who applaud during or at the end of a movie's showing. His point? That the creators of the project are not present to receive the show of approval and that it is therefore moot. I regularly respond that it is the emotion that counts and that to express that emotion at the conclusion of films that truly amazed one is not silly at all.

What do you think? Is post flick clapping admirable or foolhardy?

 

[L3m0n_L1m3]

I don't mind if it's at the end, since it shows that the audience liked the movie.

However, in the middle of the movie, it is distracting and obnoxious.

 

[SwimmingRock]

What do you think? Is post flick clapping admirable or foolhardy?

Foolhardy sounds too judgemental for my tastes. If people want to clap, that's their business. I would, however, describe it as utterly fucking mind-boggling. I don't get what they're clapping for. Nobody who made the movie is there. I see no point.

EDIT: In some cases, I would mind. When I saw Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring in a theater, nobody clapped and thank Jeebus. I just sat there and enjoyed the music with the ending credits. I would have gotten seriously angry if somebody had ruined the ending to such a depressing and zen movie with their noise.

 

[No_Remainders]

It's stupid. It's pointless clapping at a movie.

 

[mental_looney]

I've only seen it happen once and that was at snakes on a plane when it was most of my semi drunk uni class we cheered at most of it but tbh it's kinda pointless as the people who made the film will never see it and it's incredibly cheesy.

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

I think it's rather pointless, like applauding a pilot when a plane lands (supposedly because nothing bad happened). I seriously expect people who do this to also applaud the chefs in restaurants or the bus driver when they get to their destination.

 

[naam]

It happened in my last movie when something happened (twice), it was annoying and I felt it indicated particularly stupid or drunk people (monkey talk! clap clap).

 

[KeyMaster45]

I think it's an important part of the experience of going to the movies. Thought provoking movies cause the audience to sit in reflection for a moment or two as the credits roll, really good films get applause despite the knowledge no one involved knows you're applauding, films that are just "meh" end with an immediate shuffling of people trying to leave, and in one case a film was so bad (In the Name of the King, case you were wondering) in the final moments of the movie where it was supposed to be driving home the emotion someone stormed out of the theater with a loud "THIS MOVIE SUCKED!!" and everyone proceeded to burst into laughter.

It's all audience reaction, and frankly it's what keeps me going back to the theater.

 

[sanomaton]

I have only once applauded after the movie we were watching ended. But there was a good reason to that, the creators of the movie and some of the actors were there as it was the pre-premiere for the movie (anyone heard of the movie "Napapiirin Sankarit"?). And it was a good movie, too.

Otherwise though, no... It seems silly to applaud to "no one." I don't go to movies that much, anyway, I guess I would just find it silly if someone did that. *shrug*

 

[Blow_Pop]

i have to agree with your friend. Unless the director or someone who helped create the film is present, i don't see the point of applauding. Nor do I see the point of people who have to make unnecessary noise while the film is going on. babies crying, mobiles going off, talking.....all completely unnecessary.

 

[DanielBrown]

It's kind of like applauding to a brick wall. Seems very pointless and annoying to me.

 

[mellemhund]

So all who are against fail completely to realize what the clapping is for!

It's a social experience for those people present! It reinforces the feelings that the crowd has had. And thus should not be compared to the clapping that is directed at performers.

I usually don't clap and I hate when people do it during the movie (ie. at some perceived badass remark ), but I know what it does for all the people participating!

 

[Henkie36]

Depends on the cinema: when you're at the premiere of a movie in, say... Cannes, then it's part of the job. In a movie theater with a few friends and popcorn, then you look stupid.

 

[Dalek Caan]

I don't mind if it's at the end, since it shows that the audience liked the movie.

However, in the middle of the movie, it is distracting and obnoxious.

Who in their right mind claps during the middle of a movie Might as well sigh your own death sentence. Anyway it's OK if it's done once I leave the vicinity.

 

[FamoFunk]

Never in my life have I seem someone clap in the Cinema.

I'd find it really annoying and weird tbh, especially during the film.

 

[ace_of_something]

At the end i don't really mind, though i agree with your friend it is rather pointless. When they do it in the middle it's irritating.
One I'll always remember is in Lord of the Rings the Two Towers there is a part where Legolas quickly mounts his steed. Everyone cheered.
He doesn't really do anything cool or amazing. He does shortly thereafter but right there he got on his horse.

 

[Nickolai77]

I've been temped to clap at the end of a really good movie. Personally i don't clap because the people in the credits arn't actually there so what's the point? I wouldn't hold it against anyone if they did clap at the end of a film, but i've never seen that happen before.

 

[Link_to_Future]

I have sarcastically slow-clapped during an overly sappy romcom when the two inevitable lovers finally get back together after the obligatory fight/misunderstanding. I don't usually do this unless I'm one of the only ones in the theater though. ^_^

As for at the end of the movie...eh...

I don't really see anything wrong with it I guess. It's just kinda...pointless. I mean, the movie isn't getting any gratification from the clapping. They've already gotten what they wanted: your admission fee.

So, I guess I'm thoroughly in the "meh" category on this one. Nothing wrong with it, but it's really not serving any purpose either.

 

[razer17]

A friend of mine often voices his huge annoyance and bewilderment at people who applaud during or at the end of a movie's showing. His point? That the creators of the project are not present to receive the show of approval and that it is therefore moot.

Surely that's like saying that you shouldn't laugh during a film if it's funny, because the creators aren't there...