The movie industry is trying to adapt to new technology as you know. We can watch almost anything, anywhere except for first run movies in our homes and on the go on our devices. It’s even changing to the point where we will probably be able to rent first run movies at home soon at a premium. This should give us the opportunity to pause the show to go to the bathroom (although there’s an app for that*), get snacks and just not go through the hassle of traveling to watch a film with friends and family.
There are a lot of inconveniences to watching movies away from home, not least of which (to some people) is the fact that we’re expected to turn off our phones for two hours. In a new interview with Variety, AMC head Adam Aron said that they’re looking into ways to allow texting during movies. AMC is now the world’s largest theater chain after their acquisition of Carmike Cinemas last month, so this is significant.
Would appealing to millennials involve allowing texting or cellphone use
Yes. When you tell a 22-year-old to turn off the phone, don’t ruin the movie, they hear please cut off your left arm above the elbow. You can’t tell a 22-year-old to turn off their cellphone. That’s not how they live their life.At the same time, though, we’re going to have to figure out a way to do it that doesn’t disturb today’s audiences. There’s a reason there are ads up there saying turn off your phone, because today’s moviegoer doesn’t want somebody sitting next to them texting or having their phone on.
Would you have a certain section for texting?
That’s one possibility. What may be more likely is we take specific auditoriums and make them more texting friendly.
Variety also asked Aron about The Screening Room, which would allow consumers to rent first run films at home. (Creator Sean Parker has been trying to make deals with theater chains for a cut of the profits.) He wouldn’t comment, simply saying that he prefers “To keep our counsel private right now.”
As far as checking phones and texting during movies, I was watching American Hustle when the news came through that Philip Seymour Hoffman had died. Bedhead had been trying to contact me. I know an extra two hours doesn’t make that much of a difference but I felt like I missed this sad news. So now I check my phone a few times during a movie. I’m careful to sit away from people if possible, I have the sound turned off and in the winter I’ll only check it under a poncho or oversized sweater to block the light from my phone. In the summer I just bring a light jacket or poke my head under my shirt.
This is a good idea to allow texting I think, as long as it’s disclosed to everyone and moviegoers have a choice whether to attend texting-allowed movies or sit in that section. Maybe they can provide little blocking devices that you put in your lap where you can only see the light from your phone at certain angles. This doesn’t seem that hard to implement. Also, theaters should specify that all sounds must be turned off. No one wants to hear that tap-tap.
Update: AMC has issued a statement saying that they have “Heard loud and clear that this is a concept our audience does not want” and that they will not be implementing this idea. I have also heard from you that it is very rude of me to check my phone, even under a sweater, while in a movie. I will stop doing this and have taken your feedback to heart.
NO TEXTING AT AMC. Won't happen. You spoke. We listened. Quickly, that idea has been sent to the cutting room floor. pic.twitter.com/JR0fo5megR
— AMC Theatres (@AMCTheatres) April 15, 2016
*Thanks CL for the tip!
Photos credit: WENN.com
Considering the cost of going to a movie these days( ticket, popcorn etc) why take the chance of missing a important part of the movie because you are texting someone? I can just see some fool texting and not turning off the sound on the phone. Yet theatre owners wonder why people love Netflix and their home theatre setups. Bad idea
Yeah this sounds like a really bad idea. Is my generation going to be an assh-le & leave their sound on? *Tap tap tap* Yes, they will. I think this might backfire on AMC because I can see that a lot of people might complain about it. What’s next letting them answer their phone in the middle of the movie?
This is ridiculous. It’s bad enough I’ve got a father behind me giving his eight year old kid a blow by blow of every move in the movie and the guy in front of me is six foot six with a monster sized head blocking my view. The light from these devices is distracting and annoying. I think I’ll stay home.
I just read the update and that’s good that AMC is not moving forward with this but I don’t think this changes much.. People are already texting and even talking on their phones during the movies. The attendants won’t kick them out. People who actually go to the movies to enjoy a film won’t text regardless if it was ok to or not. If you have an Alamo in your area, go there to see your films. Like @GIGI said below they have strict cellphones policies. They also serve you at your seat. This is where I go to watch my comic book movie films. Plus I love being around all the fanboys and girls.
LADIES. Gather ’round Kitten because she has a long-ass story to tell you…
So the BF and I went to see Mad Max in the theater a while back. The theater was half-empty so we got decent seats in the middle section with my BF on an end seat and me next to him. Tons of empty seats everywhere towards the front and sides of the theater, and plenty of open aisle seats, one right in front on my BF.
Between myself and another moviegoer is one empty seat upon which rests my purse. Sure enough, right as the movie is starting a woman walks in and wants the seat my purse is occupying. Totally fair because even a Michael Kors bag isn’t important enough to take up one seat. Sure, there are a million empty seats she could have chosen including the one in front of my BF but she wants the one next to me. Ok. So she sits down and 15 minutes into the movie her phone starts going off. She picks up her phone and starts TALKING on it as she’s getting up to leave the theater. So my BF and I have to get up, thus blocking the people behind us so she can leave and go talk on her phone. Ok. Annoying but it happens.
So she comes back and sits down again. 10 minutes later her phone goes off. Same thing. She needs to get up and take the call. She gets up, leaves, and comes back. Keep in mind: this is about 35-40 minutes into the movie at this point and she’s probably seen about 15 minutes of it, if that.
So now THIRD TIME her phone goes off, she is texting and then has to get up to leave the theater. AGAIN!
So finally she comes back and I just refuse to stand up. I’m not letting her get back into her seat and I get up and whisper in her ear “I’m not letting you sit there because I’m NOT standing up again, disrupting the whole theater and ruining the movie. You are seriously one of the most disrespectful human beings I have ever encountered” and her response was “Sorry, I’m a doctor on call”.
I said “I don’t give two sh*ts. You can take THE FREE AISLE SEAT THAT IS RIGHT THERE so that you can get up when you have to without disrupting everyone else!”
So she finally sat in the seat in front of my BF. But who the hell does that? If you’re “on-call” maybe that’s NOT the best time to go to the movies, you know? Holy sh*t if you’re dying to see a movie, just RENT one. Ugh. Aren’t doctors supposed to be smart? Then again, they are also notoriously self-absorbed so meh.
Thank you in advance to anyone who actually might read this BTW…It’s a bit of a rant/novel, a “rovel” if you will.
Kitten- she probably was lying about being a doctor on call. Just thought that was the one thing that would get you off her back… Real doctors know how to be available without disrupting everybody around them.
Meow, you little vixen. That’s bold of you. I probably would have just given a loud long sigh or said WTF out loud so she could hear me.
And what’s with her sitting right next to you guys though there were plenty of other seats? For a minute there Kitten I thought the story was heading in a different direction if you know what I mean. LOL….
My husband refuses to go to the movies if he is on call. He even hates to go to dinner or do activities with the kids since he might have to take several phone calls. It’s common courtesy, plus why would you pay ten bucks for a movie you hardly get to watch? I also had a similar incident where a guy sat in the seat next to me when I went to see a horror movie with my friends, even though there were plenty of empty seats. He also asked me if he could have some of my candy and kept getting really close to me during intense/scary parts of the movie. It was one of the weirdest experiences I have ever had.
I have little kids that have to go to playcare during movies – that’s easily another $50 on top of tickets and food. Luckily we have a really nice AMC theater where you can get special reserved seats (huge leather recliners), food, and drinks, and you have to be 21 to get in. I’m sure they won’t make the grownup theaters texting friendly.
Exactly! I’m taking my kids to see The Jungle Book this afternoon and bought the tickets on Fandango. It’s already cost me over $90 for the tickets, I’ll be buying popcorn and drinks there as well. I’m not spending that much only to spend my time texting during the movie.
$90 for tickets?! How many kids are you taking?
I’m taking my oldest two. I am looking forward to it. I do look at my texts a few times but I don’t answer.
I’m so lucky to live in a small town where tickets are only $6 for children and $8 for adults
We have a smaller, older theater very close to our house and it only costs $24 for me to take my daughter to the movies and get two snack packs. My mom won’t go to that theater because she says she prefers the big theaters, comfortable lounge seats and larger concession stand, but I don’t think my five year old cares about all that. She doesn’t want to see the Jungle Book, though, she said it looks too scary. Bummer because I kind of wanted to see it!
I hate when people go on their phone in the movie theater and laugh really loud, which is why I stopped going to the movies.
As far as those who have mentioned going on their phones while driving, that honestly terrifies me.
I don’t get why people do that, you are driving you should only be focusing on the road, if you don’t want to stop texting or making phone calls, then pull over or don’t get in your car and risk your life and everyone else’s. Now if you dont care about your life, at least be considerate to everyone else.
I understand road rage now, because whenever I see people on their phones and driving I want to beat the sh-t out of them. Especially because the light changed and people who do care and know what driving is for have somewhere to be. So stop wasting their time, that’s one of the worst thinks you can do is waste someone’s time. And you don’t even know what’s going on in the other car that you’re holding up what if the need to go to the emergency room or something.
Stop being inconsiderate, careless, and reckless.
No texting. If you can’t bear to be away from your phone don’t go. You paid to see the film or play. You paid for the experience. This is not an issue of helping the consumer. It’s about profits for the movie chain. It’s a movie theater not a bar or restaurant.
People with their phones out and on during a film make me want to throw things at them. People rows behind can see it. It is distracting and annoying and really rude. I will be telling the manager of our local AMC that if I have to put up with all the 22 year olds playing with their phones, they will be losing me as a customer – and I see movies there almost weekly.
Seriously, I’m right there with you. I was at the movies recently and the person two rows in front of me kept checking their phone, and each time they took it out the light flashed right in my face. If I’m going to the movies and spending a small fortune, I want to have a decent experience and not get blinded because people are way too attached to their Twitter feed, or whatnot.
Yes, if AMC is going to make theaters text friendly then I want a theater equipped to drop a bag of spiders on the assclown in front of me who keeps checking to see if his bae hit him back.
This will be an interesting experiment in whether (or how) texting steers patron to or from movies. Like, if I can only see Pitch Perfect 3 in a text-friendly theater, do I suck it up or wait for Netflix?
Really. If you can’t turn off your phone for two hours, you need help. Ridiculous.
Totally!! Really bad idea. I don’t think PSH dying is reason to allow it either.
Yes. I feel the same about people who check their phones while driving. What the eff is so effing important that you’d jeopardize your and other lives on the road? Throw it in the back seat if it’s too much of a temptation.
We, meaning movie theaters, should not be catering to the phone-addicted. Communications technology has evolved yet the basic moviegoing experience hasn’t changed, nor should it.
THIS.
Unless you’re a doctor and you are on call for an emergency, no way.
You can turn it to the vibrate setting and leave the area if there’s a call. There is no reason it has to be checked manually during a movie.
And if you are a doctor on call WHY THE HELL ARE YOU AT THE CINEMA?!??!?!
LOL..See my story up-thread. +1,000,000,000 Lex.
it really is incredibly rude. there isn’t much that shocks me any more but I am a little shocked that apparently not everyone feels like people using their phones in movie theaters is super inconsiderate. I mean texting-friendly theaters! the modern world is getting ridiculous.
At the Star Wars movie before Christmas, people were pelting a couple of teenage girls with popcorn because they were constantly on their phones. If AMC does this and has “texting theaters” then they better darn well do a better job of enforcing the no phones policy in the non texting theaters.
That’s awesome. I recently was driving behind a guy on a major highway (in slow rush hour traffic) whose head was down toward his lap as he drove for long stretches. I finally just laid on my horn, which I never do. It was so awful. But he picked his head up and was clearly shamed because i never saw him look down again for the rest of the commute until we got to our exits.
Absolutely! I am the person in the cinema that tells people to put their phones away and stop talking. I don’t care if I am talking to a group of kids or adults of either gender. The light of a telephone screen is a big distraction.
No kidding. I really don’t care if you’re watching the movie or not, it’s the light from the phone that is incredibly intrusive and irritating. “Allowing” texting isn’t going to help put butts in seats.
AMC should not be doing this, but I think we’re watching the death throes of the movie theater as we know it. Sticky seats, overpriced terrible snacks and inconvenience just aren’t going to cut it in today’s world. Oh wait, I have a brilliant idea! Let’s add another level of annoyance to the movie experience! That’ll bring em in.
Seriously. It’s absolutely insane that some people cannot turn off their phone for two hours. Why even go to the cinema if you’re going to check out your phone? Unbelievable.
Same. I think it’s awful. I went to see Batfleck vs Superchin the other day and I, the proverbial 22 year old, put her phone on silent and airplane mode and hid it all the way in the bottom of her bag so there wasn’t the slightest chance of disturbing anyone, but the jackass in front of me, who was maybe 30 or so, couldn’t turn the damn thing off, didn’t even try to hide it. And the brightness was on full, I’m pretty sure, it was blinding. I lasted about 15 minutes before I leaned forward and asked him to cut it out.
Ugh, people need to put away their damn phones at the theater, it’s so inconsiderate.
AMC needs to seriously needs to not do this.
Agreed. A phone is a huge visual distraction. Why do we have the lights out in a theater? To focus on the film. If you can’t do that, either leave your seat or don’t go out to movies. People are so self centered, it makes me sick.
NO NO NO. Irritating when that light shines in the dark when you are watching a film. I have gone to the cinema and heard people having a full on conversation wtf. If I weren’t afraid of getting stabbed I’d get up and tell them off. I just get really low in my seat and SSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH as loud as I can.
If you can’t stand 2h without checking your phone (which can be understandable if you have a sick family member: when both my parents were hospitalized for cancer at the same time I was paranoid about checking my phone; or for a work deadline) DON’T GO TO THE MOVIES.
What next? People having phone calls during movies?
Oh, that happens now.
My question is why does AMC need to give people permission; they do it regardless. And I’m not going to sit here and type a lie that I have never text in a theater before because I have. I just try my best not to and it’s not something I often do as a frequent movie goer. Though I always sit at the very back of the theater where I can look down on everybody and not have to worry too much about the movie goer who gets up every twenty minutes to go to the bathroom or the concession stand. The worst is when they have to walk directly passed you and you have to twist your legs so they can get by.
I think the saving grace at one of the theaters I attend is that that the cell service is very bad to no service at all once you enter the auditorium. Most people have to leave the theater to text or call.
And it’s not just 22 year olds. People of all ages do it.
I had the same question — since when does anyone need or seek permission to use their phones in theaters? Lol.
It’s not just Millennials addicted to their phones.
I hate the idea, but it was inevitable.
So instead of teaching young people that there is a time and place for using your phone, and to be respectful of those around them, they’re just going to give in and allow it because it’s easier? Lame, AMC.
And it’s definitely not just 22-year-olds, people of all ages are glued to their devices. Personally if I paid for a theater ticket I want to put everything away and really enjoy the experience.
I agree and would add that some people, usually but not always young, don’t know how to share space with other people. They bring their own music to restaurants that already have music, so you can hear both, and even to the ER – long story. They just carry on long, deadly boring conversations when sitting right beside you, etc.. There’s no consideration for other people’s needs, or the fact that other people have paid for their part of the space as well and your distractions are lessening their enjoyment.
Truth.
Going to the movies is an experience for me. And I don’t want it interrupted by texting, talking or loud chewing. This is why I pretty much have stopped going to the theaters and just wait until the movie shows up OnDemand.
I’d actually like to take it a step further and have text/phone-free restaurants! It saddens me when everyone is sitting there with their phones perched on the table waiting for something more interesting to happen in the outside-online world. And those who somehow have more pressing Tweets to attend to than the person sitting right across from them. Dear everyone: You ain’t that special!
–TheRealPinky
LA is the absolute worst for out of control cell usage in public places. Whole tables of people texting and chatting but never interacting. It is noticeable if you have been away for a time and go back. Rude.
Who precisely is supposed to teach them? The older generations who are also glued to their phones?
Oh, wait, this is a people problem and not a millennial problem. I forgot, we’re supposed to take the blame for annoying tech behavior, never mind all the older people I see doing exactly the same thing. Being inconsiderate is not limited to the young.
This so much. It’s not just millenials. We get blamed but I see plenty of older people doing it too.
Really?? Do people ACTUALLY have to turn their phones off in a movie theatre? And/or is frowned upon for not turning it off?
Generally speaking most people I know don’t get reception in movie theatres here in Aus. But even so we usually just put on silent because courtesy? No one wants to be interrupted by a ring tone mid dramatic scene. I always see numerous people texting during a movie and I have also done so when important and it cant wait ( or maybe if the movie is a bit boring too)
…frowned upon for not turning it off?
Yes. By anyone with manners and civility.
Actually silent is fine, but anyone who takes their phone out (so the light shows) and texts or takes a call? Disgustingly rude.
I don’t think you have to turn it completely off, but it should be on silent and you shouldn’t look at it unless you have to. The light from the screen is annoying and distracting.
“…unless you have too”
This goes back to my post below. You don’t “have to”. 99.99999999% of people don’t have too. They say that because they are addicted (which makes the phone checking kind of pathetic) and/or rude.
Totally agree. People think they are so important. By “you have to” I mean your wife is going into labor any moment, you have a sick child at home, you’re a doctor on call…you probably wouldn’t be at the movies in these cases, but let’s say somebody MADE you go…
If someone has forced you to go somewhere against your will the only thing you should use for phone for is to call the POLICE.
I turn my off but get up and check it a few times. I have had it on silent but I had a good reason but still got up to actually answer.
Yeah I shut my phone the hell off. Although if I had young kids and they were with a sitter or whatever, I’d probably keep it on silent just in case.
I usually go to the movies when my kid is in school. He has severe allergies and they call me if there’s a problem, so I keep mine on silent and do the occasional quick peek while it’s still in my purse thing.
Whether you turn off your phone or not silence it so others can’t hear and yes, people frown upon it, I’m frowning upon it. You never know how bright the light from your phone is until it suddenly comes on in a darkened theater.
I like it nice and quiet so I can watch the film. However, considering the state of the nation and all of the shootings that have occurred in theaters, I’d like to have my phone nearby. Not as a chat session, an emergency type situation.
yay! ugh. more chance of spoilerage with all the texting and tweeting!
some of my friends are impulse tweeters and texters. they will see something and live comment on it. at least when they watch a movie in a signal-blocked cinema, they have to wait until the end of the show, and by then some of the luster would have worn off.
but now we have all these possibliities of live tweeting things? NOOOOOOO!!
Theaters should do what they can to stay relevant. Serving wine and gourmet food rather than junk would be a start, but even then teens will always be their main demographic. For teens, theaters are public meeting places, like malls. Who GAF about yet another Marvel franchise when they’re at the theater to find dates? Let them text.
@Bettyrose, who wrote: “Theaters should do what they can to stay relevant. Serving wine and gourmet food rather than junk would be a start, but even then teens will always be their main demographic.”
The Head of our department and his wife took me to a new theater near their house for my birthday, which has wide recliner seats (actual recliners, not just theater seats that lean back) in stadium style seating. The theater serves restaurant style meals and bring you a glass of wine (in actual wine glasses, not plastic cups ) or a mug of beer with your meal. You arrive 40-minutes early and place your meal order. A server brings out your food on a tray (with actual plates and silverware) and you pull a small portable table top built into the side of the recliner and the tray is placed on it. It was quite the movie experience! My boss said they’ve been spoiled for any other movie theater now. 🙂
There weren’t many teens in the theater, not because they weren’t welcome and would have to show I.D. (actually, everyone has to show their I.D.s to their server), but because most teens won’t spend the money for fine dining (the meals cost $15.00 to $65.00 dollars and the wine / beer prices were not cheap).
I love those theaters with the nice recliners – there’s a couple that I can go to, and I always opt for those over another, even if it’s more expensive. We don’t have any with the food though – that might be nice, but at the same time I just know I’d get stuck near a loud eater and would be grossed out.
@Lucy2 …
The recliners were pretty wide because each arm had ample drink holders to make sure your wine glass or beer mug was secure so you’re really not right next to each other. Picture a narrow ‘end table’ between each of the recliners. And, of course, there’s the state of the art surround sound as well. 🙂
Our theater serves alcohol and “real” food! It’s the only one I know of that does and I know people all over this metro and city area. It was pretty fun the two times I’ve gone. But I generally hate movie theaters- movies are too long for me and I hate going in when it’s light out and leaving when it’s dark out, etc and I’m a huge avoider of crowds, so we don’t go to the movies.
Cinemark does that and I love it! It’s only for Reserve seating though but my experience was so amazing I’m actually willing to spend a little extra.
@The Eternal Side-Eye …
The theater I was treated to may well have been a Cinemark theater, because they had to make reservations.
@Bettyrose – Your statement that “teens will always be their main demographic” was contradicted recently when I got an e-mail from one of the media blogs that the group that spends the most time in movie theaters is aged 50+. I’m guessing that people of that age aren’t as familiar with using cellphones and tablets to watch movies on so they go the traditional route of viewing films in theaters.
iheartjacksparrow:
It wouldn’t be the first time I was wrong, but I feel like movie theaters are way more of a staple of the adolescent existence. Retired people, by virtue of age and funds, have way more options. When I was in high school, we hit the movies every weekend, and we’d picked which theater (rather than which movie) based on the likelihood of running into a particular crush.
i think it doesn’t say anything good about our society that we’ve come to the point of assuming we can’t put a bloody phone down for a couple hours. what’s the point of going to a movie if you’re not going to watch the whole thing?!
It’s the freaking light that distracts the most because ‘Hello!’ the audience is in a suitably dark environment to watch a movie. Perhaps it wouldn’t have mattered much before the majority of movie theaters went to ‘stadium style’ seating, but now the light from a cell phone held by someone 6-rows in front of you can distract. It’s just rude … not only to people in the audience trying to relax and watch a film, but to the people ‘with’ the cell phone culprit as well. People who want to text should just sit out in the lobby with a beer (my AMC has a bar) and text to their heart’s content. If people are texting they’re not paying the least bit of attention to the movie any way, so why spoil it for the people who ‘are’ watching the movie?
Actually, it is really distracting in theaters without stadium style seating too.
SERIOUSLY. The phone is just a device that on every level is distracting. The light bugs me, the tapping grates and the whoosh sound back and forth. Annoying as hell.
Exactly, I stopped going for a while because I couldn’t stand when people texted in the theatre. I get distracted when people are twitching, slurping & having fits in their seats kicking another seat.
The only thing this is going to accomplish is me never going to another AMC theater.
Horrible idea. I never understand the need to always be connected. Years ago, before cell phones, I rode public transit to and from work, nearly an hour each way, and actually enjoyed that time when nobody could bother me. I could read uninterrupted, talk to other passengers, and even nap. I also didn’t have to listen to everyone else’s cell phone chats. If you can’t turn off your phone for a couple of hours and sit back and enjoy a movie, then perhaps the phone is not the real problem.
In times of anxiety the movie theater has been my happy place to get away from it all for two hours. Sad that people are so addicted to their phones that they can’t allow themselves even a small escape. And it’s not necessarily millennials. I know plenty of people on their 40s and older who are just as bad and who can’t seem to even have a full conversation without checking their phones.
Psychologists will have a field day diagnosing the OCD and paranoid behaviors having a cell phone seems to induce in some people.
No no no no no. No.
We recently got an Alamo Drafthouse which has very strict phone/talking policies and it is heaven!
I am not able to completely disconnect for various reasons, so I put my phone on silent and then my Fitbit notifies me of calls so I can step out in case of an emergency. With so many devices like Ringly l, Fitbit or Apple Watch that can notify you silently, your phone does not need to be on or out during a film.
So long as those devices aren’t lighting up. Attended a ballet last year when a guy further down the row was wearing an Apple Watch and it kept lighting up as he was getting messages. He took it off when half the row behind us loudly whispered “TURN THE WATCH OFF” all at once
Oh, yes! I always wear long sleeves in the theatre because they’re always cold – my fitbit just vibrates when a call comes in – I think Ringly’s products vibrate and maybe have tiny lights? I wonder if you can program the apple watch to not light up?
You can.
I love the Alamo. I saw my first movie there recently and it was wonderful having food and beer delivered to our table.
If AMC allows texting, I won’t be seeing any movie there that’s likely to attract teens. A bad, bad idea to make that ok during the movie and disturbing others who’ve paid good money to be there.
I won’t see a movie at another theatre now that we have an Alamo. It’s divine.
@GiGI We have one here to in NY that I go to. Though I have another favorite theater, The Alamo is fun. I like that they deliver the drinks and food to your seat, though it can be a little distracting at times.
If this goes through I won’t go to AMC again. Granted, they’re usually the dirtiest chain.
Absolutely ridiculous to “need” to look at your phone during a move. Get over your important life for two hours.
I have always checked my phone and texted during movies if the need arose. I think most people do. This new “ruling” will make zero difference in my life.
“If the need arose”?
Unless you are a transplant surgeon I highly doubt the need truly arose. That’s a lie people tell themselves to excuse their addiction to technology and try not to seem rude.
Sometimes I get bored and like to check comments on my favorite celebrity gossip blogs.
I assume you’re joking but either way it proves my point. People don’t “need” too. They say that because they are addicted (which makes the phone checking kind of pathetic) and/or rude.
That’s so rude. So you don’t care that you are lessening the experience for everyone around you, and they are thinking that you have no manners or consideration for other people? If you’re bored, leave. Let the people who want to enjoy the movie enjoy it without being annoyed by you. If the need arose, please. I was bored for two seconds and can’t be alone with my thoughts because I don’t have any.
Please avoid the theaters I frequent. Thank you.
Speak for yourself. I NEVER check my phone during a movie. It is so incredibly rude to sit there and check your phone and shine a light and distract everyone and hurt their eyes.
If you’re bored during a movie, do what I do: I daydream, or rewrite the boring scene in my mind to make it more interesting.
Sometimes the movie is not that good. I paid $12 so I’ll do as I please.
If it isn’t good then LEAVE! If $12 is important to you, it’s also important to others. Do you not realise that someone using a blaring blue toned light in a dark room is at least annoying and at worst actually physically painful for those with sensitive eyes.
No one has ever noticed. They’re usually watching the movie or checking their phones.
I think people can put it away for two hours. Bad idea AMC. Somehow society managed to get through a movie without texting before there was texting, I think we can manage.
To be fair-this was just the ceo shooting from the hip that they would consider the idea. Not that they are actually doing it. There was sooooo much backlash on AMC’s Facebook page yesterday that they were backpedaling like crazy.
Why should everyone else’s movie experience be ruined because a few idiots can’t put their phone away for 2 hours? Just stay at home and pirate or watch Netflix if you want to do that.
I’m really glad they’ve already faced backlash on it. It’s such a mornic idea though I know it’s the cheapest/easiest (hey guess what iseas ceo’s love the most!). You enhance the movi experience not detract from it.
F**k NO.
Millennials need to grow the f**k up and start to realize that the world does not revolve around them and their phone. If texting is that crucial to your life, stay home and wait for the movie to come out on dvd or streaming-you are not entitled to ruin everyone else’s experience because you don’t know how sit still for two hours without texting your bestie to tell them you’re really feeling the outfit you picked out to wear that night.
If AMC is actually going to be foolish enough to enact this, they need make sure they’ve clearly noted which screens or theaters are “texting friendly” so people who are capable of putting their phones away for the duration of the movie aren’t punished.
Isn’t this just pandering to these idiots sense of entitlement?
This is one of the myriad of reasons I don’t go to the movies anymore. I can’t stand the rudeness of the general public. Talking, texting, bringing children to movies they have no business at, kicking seats, leaving trash all over the place…give me Netflix and Amazon Instant or a movie taken out of my library. I can watch it at home. While drinking.
Well, I am a doctor, and I do have young kids whom I leave at home with babysitters, so having my phone on during a movie is a real boon for me.
That being said, I am very aware about how I use my phone in a movie- it’s on vibrate, face down under my thigh, and I only text back if it’s the hospital or the babysitter. I also make sure to turn the brightness all the way down. And if it’s something more involved than a text or two, I step out and take care of it.
What happened to just common sense manners and politeness? The other day I was in a waiting room where there was a sign ‘no cell phone use.’ But I was the only person in the waiting room! So I took a quick call from a pharmacy. A woman who worked there shot me a dirty look when she walked by. I was being very quiet. And there’s no way anyone in their offices could’ve heard me. And if someone else had walked in, my plan was to walk out. Because my whole thing is that what I do shouldn’t impinge on your rights to a quiet waiting room or dark movie, but there are certain common sense things that seem silly to have regulations about. Having your phone on silent during a movie? Yes! Turning it all the way off? Why? as long as you’re aware of how your use may be affecting the people around you, or not, and respond with respect.
I think there are certain rules of politeness we should all just be automatically following within the realm of this new world with our gadgets. Then movies wouldn’t need to make silly rules and waiting rooms wouldn’t need to post silly signs. I’m probably being naive.
The problem is that most cell phone addicts don’t use common sense or good manners. And their sense of self importance is such that they think they “need” to respond to a text when it could actually wait.
You sound fine, but there are way too many me me me me people who are too self involved to think of anyone else. That’s why the Do Not ……. signs are needed.
You do sound fine and you’re actually using your phone for a possible emergency. If people actually did try to hide their use more it wouldn’t be such a problem.
Its not the common courtesy people it’s the ones who don’t care about anyone but themselves.
You probably shouldn’t read the story I posted up-thread…..
Sorry, but even for hospital or emergency you should just step out. It’s annoying and rude to everyone else.
Maybe wittle wee wee millennials need to bring their binkie and their blankie, too?
This is why I go to the VIP theaters every chance I get. At $25 a ticket you don’t have to have those rules because we’re there to see the movie not to text people who aren’t there about bull sh-t and if you are texting it’s because you’re responding to your baby sitter or it’s your job if you’re on call (doctor/lawyer/wonderwoman) and there’s a damn good reason. There’s also wine there so if I’m drinking well, chances are my malbec haze will obscure the texting from my vision. 🙂
No AMC within a 100 miles of me. If there were, I’d boycott it and tell them why.
I went to a movie the other night with a friend and he was texting throughout the whole movie, taking pictures of the cinema screen and posting quotes of the film on fb. He has watched like 3 minutes in total and i wanted to smash the phone.
definetely not for me.
Wow. I get annoyed if the person I”m with tries to tell me something, I can’t imagine being there with that guy!
Yeah I was not impressed myself.
What kind of moron takes a picture of a cinema screen? Thanks for your contribution of another blurry jagged movie image sir, if not for you a single image of this movie wouldn’t exist online.
Seriously? Wow, that’s so inconsiderate! If he didn’t want to see the movie, he should have said no to your invitation instead of ruining it for you.
At 20 bucks a ticket, plus that much more for drinks and snacks, I expect to watch without smartphones glowing like mutant fireflies.
I don’t think you get a pass for babysitter texts either. Fifteen years ago you had to just sit and hope things were handled until you left the theatre and checked in by pay phone. So no pass from me on this. And for doctors – try leaving and texting from the lobby.
Whatever happened to the idea of telling the babysitter etc. where you are in the theater (pick an easy to get to seat) so they could call the theater in an emergency and the usher would fetch you? That’s how it was done in ancient times.
Uh, why go to the movies if all you’re going to do is text? I think this is a mistake because it is the older demographic that is still going to the movies. I used to love going to the movies. Now, not so much. Yes, it can be annoying when a child makes noise or kicks your seat but I find the parents and adults are the worst to deal with. Constant talking, constant kicking, constant getting up, loud eaters, texting (not limited to millenials). I don’t understand the newborns that are showing up at movies. And I’m talking loud, kill your adult ears, never mind a newborns movies! Really? You’re telling me you couldn’t find a babysitter or wait for it to come out on DVD? Has happened at the first Marvels Avengers movie, Godzilla (latest one) and Star Wars the Force Awakens (the 2nd time I saw it). I wanted to see Harry Potter’s final movie so bad but guess what! My son was a newborn and I wasn’t going to bring him to the movie with me! WTH? I waited until it came out On Demand. Sheesh, is it so hard to be a thoughtful human being?
Went to see the last Mockingjay movie with my sister and niece. I’ve read the books but they have not. My niece is reading them now after the movies. A group of adults sat behind us and proceeded to say what was going to happen before it happened. And to give away the ending. And then the loudmouth proceeds to say “Oh and I don’t remember anything from reading the book! I totally forgot!” So not only is she ruining the movie for those around her but she’s a liar too! LOL!
Saw the Force Awakens the first time and I had a huge guy in his early 20’s sit next to me (the movie already started when he and his friends came in) smelling of sweat and beer and french fries and constantly texting on his phone. Had a father and daughter sitting behind me. The daughter sometimes kicked my husband’s chair but her father constantly kicked mine. I just don’t understand. And nowadays you can’t ask anyone nicely to stop anything for fear they’ll beat you up or pull out a gun. It’s just not fun anymore.
I’m fortunate that I have a home theater while many do not. But even so, I’d rather wait until it comes out On Demand or Bluray. Much too stressful.
ITA with everything you said.
NO. I’m old, I’m cranky, I’m light-sensitive. Get those damn kids off my lawn, get these GD snakes off this plane, and keep your phones away. Whippersnappers.
Get off our lawn!! 😡😡😡😡
LMAO, these mother muffin snakes on this mother muffin plane!
This will be the end of my theater going if all theaters adopt this. I’m hearing impaired, i already have difficulty hearing a movie (the assisted technology of headphones/glasses have not been any help) . Since my ears are not great it seems my sense of sight has grown stronger, any glimpse of light, even in my extreme peripheral vision distracts me. It immediately takes me out of the movie and ruins it. So I’ll guess I’ll be getting on the in-home screening band wagon.
Being 22 my friends and I actually put our phones away and watch the movie. As opposed to my 20yr old friends who openly text and snapchat throughout movies. The two year gap may seem small but there are huge differences between the two age groups wedged in there
I’ve seen middle-aged men texting and checking email through movies. I really think it is a phone-addiction thing, not an age thing.
I agree lilacflowers. I always have a problem with the adults (not teens or kids) whether it’s texting, talking loudly, kicking my seat, bringing infants to movies, etc. It just boggles my mind. Where were all these rude people raised?
Ridiculous. If you can’t bear to turn off your phone for two bloody hours, you have a problem. Any theater that allows texting is going to lose me as a customer.
If texting is allowed this is what we will have to put up with:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/movie-theater-kicks-customer-texting-195400
Best PSA for not texting at the movies!
Horrible idea. The light from a phone is distracting. Our theatre always has a thing before the moving telling people to turn their phones off. There’s something seriously wrong with you if you can’t turn off your phone for an hour and a half to watch a movie! Sheesh!
Update – It’s not happening. AMC just released a statement shutting the entire thing down because of all the feedback they received.
I can’t even understand how pleasing one small base of their customers while pissing off the majority was even a good idea to suggest.
Why did they ever think this was a good idea? All it did was bring them terrible publicity.
no thank you. I’ll continue to patronize chains like Alamo Drafthouse where texting, talking and any other kind of disruptions result in ejection from the auditorium. If I’m going to spend money to go to the theater, I want to watch the movie in peace, without interruption.
If you have to text during the movie, stay home.
Seriously, if you can’t go two hours without using your damn phone, then don’t go to see a movie!
I always love it when movie owners suggest ways of improving the movie experience that aren’t making it cheaper. Ooh nice effort, better luck next time. I don’t mind paying for specialty reserve seats, stadium seating, a private balcony and food brought directly to my table, but if I’m paying for general seating that price needs to go down more.
The light from an active phone is distracting as is the movement of the texting. May as well stay home. I certainly hope AMC posts in all ads and movie clocks which movies are texting allowed so I get the CHOICE of staying home.
The only reason to check your phone during a movie is maybe if your kids are with a baby-sitter and something happens. I could never turn off my phone anytime my son is out of my sight. You need to pick up the phone in that case, movie or not, too bad. I guess there are other types of emergencies too, but definitely not just to socialize.
In which case, you should immediately leave the screening room so that you have some privacy to resolve your child’s situation and you aren’t disrupting others. If people need to have their phones on vibrate or whatever during the film, they should sit on the aisle, near the exit so they can check and respond without bothering everyone else.
You’re going to spend all that money to go to the movies, just so you can be on your phone the whole time? I do see SOME people needing to stay connected because of their job, etc, but maybe there should be “special” showings for people who can’t be without their phones?
This is why I love the Alamo Drafthouse. It’s amazing how quiet and polite people can be when they are told straight out “STFU during the movie or we’ll throw your ass out without a refund.” It’s expensive as hell but it’s so worth it.
Yep! Alamo Drafthouse every time for me! About three weeks after a movie comes out they have buy one, get one free tickets if you sign up for their emails!
People are so selfish and disrespectful these days. Theaters everywhere ban texting but there is still always a theater full of people on their phones during the movie. It’s so distracting and plain out pisses me off. I even had a guy sitting next to me TALKING on his cell right in the middle of the movie. If whatever is on your phone is that damn important that you just have to be on it then at least have the courtesy to go out to the lobby. The day a theater makes texting officially okay is the day I quit paying to go their.
I fall into the millennial category and I check my phone often when I’m in public, but this was a terrible idea. It’s really rude to operate your phone while in a dark movie theatre. The light is very distracting to people who paid money to watch a movie, not your phone. I know people want to believe that millennials are the only ones doing this, but trust me they’re not. There are self-absorbed inconsiderate people in every age group.
If you can’t go without checking it for a couple of hours because you’re watching a movie in a theatre, you need to evaluate your priorities. If you’re on-call or waiting for some important news, put your phone on vibrate so that IF it goes off, you can leave the theatre and deal with it in the lobby. Or just don’t go to the movies if you know that’s likely to happen. It’s baffling that this needs to be explained. It’s common decency.
YOU LIKED MY TIP!! YOU REALLY LIKED IT!
Ahem. Um. Thank you for honoring me in this way.
My friends make fun of me for using the RunPee, but they’re always wanting to know when the next PeeTime is. So glad you’re enjoying it!
Eh, I find the sound of people eating and slurping their drinks a lot more gross and distracting tbh. If people are texting quietly, I dont mind.
Josephinos, that’s really sad. In my little city in Mexico, this cell phone plague is a daily occurrence when we go to the movies.
There is always someone in front of us taking out their phone and the screen distracting us and we’ve had the sad experience of people talking. Really, going to Cinepolis is not cheap, it is a right to go and enjoy and make your money and time worth it, not to have inconsiderate uneducated people texting away. Really, theaters should enforce the no cell phone use.
It makes me sad that the shared experience that used to be going to the movies is never going to be the same anymore. Be it entitled people who only consider their own needs, boring/loud/dumb movies where you feel like you didn’t miss anything if you text, cell phone addiction, terribly expensive food and other factors, I rarely go to the cinema anymore.
Just ask yourself, just a mere 30 years ago people went everywhere and *gasp* were unreachable by cell phone. Truly, the world won’t end if you turn off your phone for 2 hours.