Poll: Applauding In The Cinema

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Sometimes when I go to the cinema with a few friends, the audience will begin to clap at the end of a movie.

If my friends try to join in, I warn them; "You clap, and I'll disown you."

It's just... weird. A few people might clap to show their approval for the movie, but the majority will just clap because they don't want to feel left out.

I'm quite happy to be in the sane minority of people who aren't compelled to clap along with complete strangers.

Mind you, this is Britain I'm talking about. We're kind of quiet and reserved in Britain. I hear Americans are a lot quicker to interact with strangers though... any truth to this?

Depends on where in the country you are. Down south, conversations with random strangers in the grocery store are not uncommon.

 

[Chased]

I've only encountered applause at the end of a film on opening night, I'll join in if I liked it.

 

[StrixMaxima]

I think it is obnoxious and pretentious. You are clapping to yourself and to the rest of the audience, no matter the rationale you weave around it (exception would be a premiere with the actors/staff, this is perfectly fine).

It doesn't bother me, though. People are entitled to their crazy perks, as I am entitled to consider them inane.

However, try clapping during a movie and you'll get to know my choice of footwear.

 

[Brandon237]

At the end of a movie, sure. In the middle, let there be blood! The blood of clappers!

 

[Takolin]

This. If I wanted to sit quietly and watch a movie in peace, I'd wait for the DVD. My sound system is better than most of the local theaters anyway. One of the biggest points in going to see a movie in theaters is that you're seeing it with a crowd, and you kind of feed off of each others emotions. There's nothing worse than seeing a great movie with a dead crowd; it happened when I went to see the last Harry Potter movie. Not nearly enough cheering and clapping for my taste.

When I go to the cinema I usually got the nice big screen and the better sound than what I have at home and I hate it when people are (obnoxiously) loud. Any good movie should drag you through the movie with the story and soundtrack and nothing more annoying than people clapping/cheering when it's not only inappropriate but also kills whatever effect the movie had on your state of mind.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

This. If I wanted to sit quietly and watch a movie in peace, I'd wait for the DVD. My sound system is better than most of the local theaters anyway. One of the biggest points in going to see a movie in theaters is that you're seeing it with a crowd, and you kind of feed off of each others emotions. There's nothing worse than seeing a great movie with a dead crowd; it happened when I went to see the last Harry Potter movie. Not nearly enough cheering and clapping for my taste.

When I go to the cinema I usually got the nice big screen and the better sound than what I have at home and I hate it when people are (obnoxiously) loud. Any good movie should drag you through the movie with the story and soundtrack and nothing more annoying than people clapping/cheering when it's not only inappropriate but also kills whatever effect the movie had on your state of mind.

So you're telling me you've never laughed harder at a comedy because there were other people laughing with you? Humans are social creatures, and we pick up more on each others' emotions than a lot of us would like to admit.

 

[Jim Grim]

Wait, people applaud at the cinema? Why? Who are they showing their appreciation to? I've never encountered this before.

 

[FalloutJack]

It depends on the whole nature of the film and what happened in it, but I say overall it's okay, really. If you enjoyed it, then by all means say so. Personally, I've even caught myself doing a slow-clap of approval during good moments.