The last time I go to the movies (at that theater)

[Sansha]

Tonight I went to a movie by myself. It happened to be Titanic 3D on the night of April 14th 2012.
When I got to my seat (tickets are assigned seating), I found a large gentleman and his girlfriend sitting next to me. I shrugged, sat down and started the movie.

I can honestly say that these two motherfuckers ruined my experience.

The fat bastard wouldn't stop fidgeting and shifting (his mass caused my seat to move too), and checking his phone for the time - clearly bored, clearly dragged along by his dopey girlfriend - who also wouldn't shut the hell up, constantly leaning over and whispering to him.

Admittedly I did nothing about it. I could have politely or aggressively shushed them myself, but would that have done anything? He chuckled at inappropriate parts of the movie so obviously would have laughed at me, too. I glared at him occasionally and I looked back, so he knew I was pissed off. Should I have gone and got an usher? No, because that would have disturbed everybody else in the theater. Move? No - assigned seating, and the theater was full.

But why should I have to have done anything about it? Why is this still socially acceptable? This isn't a debated thing - EVERYBODY hates people who're disruptive and selfish in movies, so why does it keep happening? It irritates me that grown adults can be this inconsiderate.

This was supposed to be important to me but all the while I couldn't help but sit in silent aggravation at this selfish jerk every time he opened his cheeseburger hole or shifted again. Granted there were crucial times when he was still and quiet, which I appreciate, but overall he made a disruptive prick out of himself for most of the film, and even three hours after coming home it's still upsetting me.

The teenagers on my other side and in front of me sat in silence and consideration the whole movie, while this grown man acted like a bored, spoiled fucking child.
I went to another movie last week and, while it was a children's movie full of children, the people behind me wouldn't shut up either.

So why go to the theater if you're inevitably going to get assholes like this? I just won't bother anymore.

UPDATE APRIL 15:
After ranting about this incident to a friend, she recommended me another theater and we went and watched it tonight there. This place has:
1. An enormous self-serve concession room with all kinds of drinks, candy, snacks and booze.
2. A VIP section up the back of the room separate from the packed seating with pairs of leather electric recliners with a table, and sitting up there allows you to order pizza, nachos, burgers and drinks to be brought to you during the film.
3. Ushers poke their heads in to ensure people are not being disruptive, and those who are don't get second warnings.
So my problem is I went to the wrong theater. Luxury entertainment here I come.

 

[Zeckt]

I see no point to ever go to a theater again seeing as how netflix is so much better anyways

 

[Sansha]

So, you're complaining that some fucker was being noisy in a movie and decided not to tell him to shut the fuck up because you thought you shouldn't have to? Granted you shouldn't have to, that still doesn't mean you can't tell him to shut the fuck up.

I honestly didn't want to elevate the situation because this guy looked like he'd either at best ignore me, or at worst get defensive.

 

[krazykidd]

Well although i understand your frustration , you have the right to tell the man he was being disruptive . No ,actually , it is your DUTY , to tell him he is being disruptive . Simply glaring at him doesn't express your feelings in a clear enough manner . One cannot assume another person understands what he/she is thinking at any given moment without expressing yourself . I say duty , because i am a firm believer in the fact that , if something is wrong , the person in question MUST do something. If a person does nothing , then that person SHOULD NOT complain after the fact . Why ? Because they did nothing to try and remedy the situation . The man in question was in the wrong in this situation , but you were basically condoning this action by keeping silent and enduring it without trying to do anything .

WAIT ... You went to the movies alone ? Really people do that?

 

[Scarim Coral]

Shame you had an unpleasent experience. Most of the time whenever I go to the cinema everyone inside behave accordingly.
Sure there had been two times when some loudmouths was inside (a group of chavs enter during the film Doom and a couple chatter at the start of Hot Fuzz) however I was lucky enough to be in a room with a tought sounded guys who think the same way I did but did something about it (mainly tell the loudmouths to STFU which the couple stay quiet and the Chavs leave the room).
The worse time I ever had was simple there were two prick who fling popcorn at us (me, my bro and our friend) when we went to watch The Matrix Revolution.
Honestly if some guys had th courage well pissed enought to stand up and shout at the loudmouth to shut up why couldn't you?

 

[Sansha]

Well although i understand your frustration , you have the right to tell the man he was being disruptive . No ,actually , it is your DUTY , to tell him he is being disruptive . Simply glaring at him doesn't express your feelings in a clear enough manner . One cannot assume another person understands what he/she is thinking at any given moment without expressing yourself . I say duty , because i am a firm believer in the fact that , if something is wrong , the person in question MUST do something. If a person does nothing , then that person SHOULD NOT complain after the fact . Why ? Because they did nothing to try and remedy the situation . The man in question was in the wrong in this situation , but you were basically condoning this action by keeping silent and enduring it without trying to do anything .

WAIT ... You went to the movies alone ? Really people do that?

See, this guy has it right.

I'd have to agree, actually, I should have said something, at least a "I'd appreciate it if you sat still." - the whispering I didn't mind so much but the constant shifting was disturbing my seat too.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I have to agree with the general movement here that the OP should have done more even if, yes, you really shouldn't have had to. Chances are, if you were annoyed by it, you weren't the only one and would have made the experience better not just for yourself but for others in the theatre as well. If speaking to the guy directly didn't seem like a good idea for whatever reason you could have stepped out and quickly spoken to an usher (or, even better, a manager).

There are definitely people who do things that ruin the theatre going experience for others but they aren't going to learn unless they are told otherwise. It might take them getting kicked out of the theatre but, quite frankly, that might be the only way to make it clear to them that their behaviour isn't appropriate.

 

[Wintermoot]

which is why most people pirate or buy the DVD.
look next time ask them to shut up or get a usher.

 

[MetalDooley]

Tonight I went to a movie by myself. It happened to be Titanic 3D on the night of April 14th 2012.

You deserve everything that happened for paying to see that godawful piece of shit...


I kid,I kid(kinda)

Seriously you should have said something.There's always people who'll be inconsiderate to the people around them but if it's never pointed out then they won't stop

 

[krazykidd]

Tonight I went to a movie by myself. It happened to be Titanic 3D on the night of April 14th 2012.

You deserve everything that happened for paying to see that godawful piece of shit...


I kid,I kid(kinda)

Seriously you should have said something.There's always people who'll be inconsiderate to the people around them but if it's never pointed out then they won't stop

lol i wanted to say this , but i didn't dare to. Also , spoiler about the new titanic movie

Spoiler

the titanic still sinks in 3d

 

[Lugbzurg]

You paid for your ticket. You payed to enjoy a film. You have every right to tell the person they need to be quiet, so everyone else can enjoy the film that they paid good money to watch.

This is also the first time I've ever heard of a movie theater that had assigned seats. That's just a formula for disaster, as you have experienced. Maybe, you should look for one of those normal theaters that let you sit where you want.

 

[DustyDrB]

The last movie I saw in theaters was True Grit. Before that: Inception.

I think TV has surpassed film. But I also just prefer longer narratives (yeah, a TV episode is shorter. But most shows I watch have storylines that span several seasons). The episodic format lets me get more invested in characters.

And yes, people have no clue how to act in theaters. That was become a rampant problem before I stopped going altogether. And though I usually did tell the people to shut the hell up, there are just too many distractions (mainly from the bright lights and clickety-clacks from several phones).

 

[isometry]

Yeah I hate it when people can't sit quietly. Usually it seems like they want attention, clearing their throat, tapping with hands and feet, stretching their arms to violate the personal space of people sitting next to them, making audible comments.

It also sucks when people go to an event while having nose/throat problems, no one wants to hear sniveling, coughing, sneezing, etc, to say nothing of the germ hazard that's worse for people's health than second hand smoke would be.

 

[lacktheknack]

Come to Canada. I've never had excessively distracting people sit near me (besides a couple of kids, but they hushed up when their parents told them to). Also, assigned seating? They do that in movie theaters? Wat?

I don't go to movies often because I don't have a ton of money, but when I do, I never have problems with the people around me.

 

[Elate]

You paid for your ticket. You payed to enjoy a film. You have every right to tell the person they need to be quiet, so everyone else can enjoy the film that they paid good money to watch.

This is also the first time I've ever heard of a movie theater that had assigned seats. That's just a formula for disaster, as you have experienced. Maybe, you should look for one of those normal theaters that let you sit where you want.

Actually I've been to a few like that. In fact MOST I know do, just the smaller ones don't bother enforcing it. The big ones in the city tend to, since y'know, there are a lot of people.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

Well although i understand your frustration , you have the right to tell the man he was being disruptive . No ,actually , it is your DUTY , to tell him he is being disruptive . Simply glaring at him doesn't express your feelings in a clear enough manner . One cannot assume another person understands what he/she is thinking at any given moment without expressing yourself . I say duty , because i am a firm believer in the fact that , if something is wrong , the person in question MUST do something. If a person does nothing , then that person SHOULD NOT complain after the fact . Why ? Because they did nothing to try and remedy the situation . The man in question was in the wrong in this situation , but you were basically condoning this action by keeping silent and enduring it without trying to do anything .

WAIT ... You went to the movies alone ? Really people do that?

What he should have done was not go to that shitty movie in the first place.

Also just cause one bad couple ruined your experience should not make you decide to never go to a movie again, it's the ridiculous costs of going to a movie that should.

 

[Goofguy]

So, you're complaining that some fucker was being noisy in a movie and decided not to tell him to shut the fuck up because you thought you shouldn't have to? Granted you shouldn't have to, that still doesn't mean you can't tell him to shut the fuck up.

I honestly didn't want to elevate the situation because this guy looked like he'd either at best ignore me, or at worst get defensive.

You know what they say about making assumptions. Really, if this guy ticked you off, you should have said something. No, you don't have to go all ballistic, just ask him politely. If he ignores you or gets defensive then hey, at least you gave it a shot.

It sounds like you were a victim of assigned seating, which is brutal.

I actually enjoy the movie going experience. However, I don't go alone because it's more fun to go with friends. And, I usually sneak in a mickey of rye to mix with one of the large concession stand cokes.

 

[Zenron]

I've never really had this problem, maybe it's just a difference in culture or something. Nobody generally ever talks or is annoying during a movie. If they are, they generally just get kicked out.

Good thing is that one of the phone networks over here, Orange, offer 2 for 1 cinema tickets on wednesdays, so I go every week and it only costs £2.50 each in total. Pretty good deal to me.