Grrrrr!!! Movie Theatre VENT!!!!!

[Jennasis]

Ok I have had it! I live in a relatively quiet area in NC. It's the kind of area where you can go to the local theatre (which is brand new) on opening night of a much anticpated film like Harry Potter or Star Wars and easily get tickets half an hour before show time and the theatre will be about 3/4 full.

So Dh and I go to a MONDAY afternoon matinee of HArry Potter yesterday. It was 1:30pm. When we got into the theatre there were 6 other people in the place (3 couples) spread out. We chose seats towards the back, leaving several rows between us an the nearest couple. Just as the movie starts, an old couple comes in and sits...DIRECTLY BEHIND US! THE THEATRE IS FRRIGGIN EMPTY (except for the other 8 of us)!! Immediately my blood pressure starts to rise. They then proceed to start kicking the back of my seat. DH ask if I want to move. Heck no. I'm comfortable. I was there first. THEN I smell it...the old lady had MARINATED herself in perfume and had chosen that exact moment to lean forward and ask me "HAs the movie just started?"

I whipped around and said "YEs, and since you have chosen to sit right behind me in this obviously empty theatre, I will thank you in advance to quit kicking my chair."

Her husband kicked my chair instead. And cleared his throat loudly during the film. I could've moved....but to heck with him.

Unfortunately this happens EVERY TIME we go to this theatre. DH and I are off every Monday and usually go to Monday matinees. It never fails that we end up in an empty theatre and someone sits directly behind or in front of us or right next to us! The theatre is empty...GO AWAY!

 

[laurajetter]

ugh, so annoying!

 

[Chicago526]

I have started to see a lot fewer films in the theaters because of stuff like this. The worst was when I went to see The Two Towers and the police almost had to be called due to the imaturity of several ADULT couples. And to make matters worse, the theatre refused to throw them out because they didn't witness it! We complained after the movie and they did give us free passes, but the whole movie was ruined. I've had a lot of other problems too. I did see Harry Potter on Sunday night, and didn't have any problems though. But "good" experiances at the movies are the exception these days, not the norm.

DH and I are going to save up for a home entertainment system (big screen tv, sound system, the works) so we don't have to go to the movies anymore, it's gotten THAT bad.

 

[CheshireVal]

In situations like this, I just move.

Beats the heck out of sitting there annoyed for 2 1/2 hours, and the inconvenience is minimal.

 

[PixieDust32]

Ok I have had it! I live in a relatively quiet area in NC. It's the kind of area where you can go to the local theatre (which is brand new) on opening night of a much anticpated film like Harry Potter or Star Wars and easily get tickets half an hour before show time and the theatre will be about 3/4 full.

So Dh and I go to a MONDAY afternoon matinee of HArry Potter yesterday. It was 1:30pm. When we got into the theatre there were 6 other people in the place (3 couples) spread out. We chose seats towards the back, leaving several rows between us an the nearest couple. Just as the movie starts, an old couple comes in and sits...DIRECTLY BEHIND US! THE THEATRE IS FRRIGGIN EMPTY (except for the other 8 of us)!! Immediately my blood pressure starts to rise. They then proceed to start kicking the back of my seat. DH ask if I want to move. Heck no. I'm comfortable. I was there first. THEN I smell it...the old lady had MARINATED herself in perfume and had chosen that exact moment to lean forward and ask me "HAs the movie just started?"

I whipped around and said "YEs, and since you have chosen to sit right behind me in this obviously empty theatre, I will thank you in advance to quit kicking my chair."

Her husband kicked my chair instead. And cleared his throat loudly during the film. I could've moved....but to heck with him.

Unfortunately this happens EVERY TIME we go to this theatre. DH and I are off every Monday and usually go to Monday matinees. It never fails that we end up in an empty theatre and someone sits directly behind or in front of us or right next to us! The theatre is empty...GO AWAY!

WOW! Well, people can sit anywhere they like, they pay for a ticket like everybody else.
It is rude and annoying when people kick the chairs, but if the theatre is almost empty and i want to enjoy the movie, i just get up and move to another chair, but i will let them know that they are annoying and rude.
Not comfortable at all.

Sorry about that.

 

[damo]

Sounds like my experience in Orlando. There were 4 people in the theatre. We were there first and a woman and her daughter came in and sat directly behind us. Then she got a phone call during the movie and proceded to talk on the phone...for a long time!!! We moved.

 

[VSL]

Well.. you could have moved. I know I would have been just as stubborn [and spoilt] about it though.

That's why I always sit at the back.

 

[tandrjohn]

I would have just gotten up and moved. My sanity is more important to me than trying to prove a point.

 

[luvflorida]

Ok I have had it! I live in a relatively quiet area in NC. It's the kind of area where you can go to the local theatre (which is brand new) on opening night of a much anticpated film like Harry Potter or Star Wars and easily get tickets half an hour before show time and the theatre will be about 3/4 full.

So Dh and I go to a MONDAY afternoon matinee of HArry Potter yesterday. It was 1:30pm. When we got into the theatre there were 6 other people in the place (3 couples) spread out. We chose seats towards the back, leaving several rows between us an the nearest couple. Just as the movie starts, an old couple comes in and sits...DIRECTLY BEHIND US! THE THEATRE IS FRRIGGIN EMPTY (except for the other 8 of us)!! Immediately my blood pressure starts to rise. They then proceed to start kicking the back of my seat. DH ask if I want to move. Heck no. I'm comfortable. I was there first. THEN I smell it...the old lady had MARINATED herself in perfume and had chosen that exact moment to lean forward and ask me "HAs the movie just started?"

I whipped around and said "YEs, and since you have chosen to sit right behind me in this obviously empty theatre, I will thank you in advance to quit kicking my chair."

Her husband kicked my chair instead. And cleared his throat loudly during the film. I could've moved....but to heck with him.

Unfortunately this happens EVERY TIME we go to this theatre. DH and I are off every Monday and usually go to Monday matinees. It never fails that we end up in an empty theatre and someone sits directly behind or in front of us or right next to us! The theatre is empty...GO AWAY!

This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine, too! Not too long ago, my daughter and I went to the movies and it looked like we were going to be the only ones in the theatre. Well, about three minutes before the movie starts two older women walked in and sat RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!!!!! We were the only four people in the entire theatre. I just don't get it!!

I made some remark about not being able to see and WE moved over. We were there first, we should not have had to give up our seats, the women should have had better sense, etc. etc. And this wasn't the first time this has happened to me in a theatre.

Just to warn you, I received several flames on that thread from people saying that I had no right to complain, people have the freedom to sit wherever they'd like, blah, blah, blah. I don't care what anyone says. I think it is RUDE!!!!

 

[mickeyfan2]

Yes it is very annoying, but I would have moved to not spoil my date with DH.

 

[eeyore kelly]

It is annoying. the couple was wrong. I would have moved

 

[inaminute]

I, too would have simply moved. The slight inconvenience of having to get comfortable again would have been worth saving my "date" with DH.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

It's amusing that some think that their movie ticket entitles them to determine where everyone else can sit in the theatre. Buy a movie ticket = ownership of the theatre -- at least for that showing of the movie.

I agree that seat-kicking, cell-phone yakking, chatting with your neighbor during the movie -- all these are rude behaviors.

It's also just plain rude to think your ticket entitles you to more than one seat in the theatre.

 

[Jennasis]

Well, every so often throughout the film (when the old guy would let out a huge rip roaring phlegm-clearing hack) DH and I would look at each other and just stifle the giggles. When the movie was over, DH asked me why we didn't move to whic I answered "Are you kidding? This will give us fodder to laugh over together for days!".

To the flamers...Yeah, everybody pays for their tickets and is entitled to sit wherever they choose. But common sense (which is seriously lacking these days) should tell most people that sitting behind or in front or next to someone in an empty theatre is probably not a great idea, especially if you like to put your feet up/talk on your cell phone/ etc. I shouldn't have to be bullied out of my seat by people with obnoxious habits. I wouldn't care if the old couple had sat behind me if they could've sat still and kept quiet. People have no manners. The 5 year old several rows up was very well behaved with his Mom. The old lady had a running commentary..."he's the bad guy...Hermione just sad xyz...that's not what happened in the book.." It was like I was watching the director's commentary on DVD.

I swear next time we go to the movies, I'm loading up on Burger King Onion rings (they make me very gassy) and I am going in with both barrels blazing! I will clear a path around myself if I have to....(of course, DH may not want to sit with me either!)

 

[bicker]

Unfortunately this happens EVERY TIME we go to this theatre.

Remarkable coincidence, or perhaps folks like that find you especially attractive?

 

[CheshireVal]

To the flamers...Yeah, everybody pays for their tickets and is entitled to sit wherever they choose. But common sense (which is seriously lacking these days) should tell most people that sitting behind or in front or next to someone in an empty theatre is probably not a great idea, especially if you like to put your feet up/talk on your cell phone/ etc. I shouldn't have to be bullied out of my seat by people with obnoxious habits. I wouldn't care if the old couple had sat behind me if they could've sat still and kept quiet. People have no manners. The 5 year old several rows up was very well behaved with his Mom.

Were there really any flamers in this thread?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Well, every so often throughout the film (when the old guy would let out a huge rip roaring phlegm-clearing hack) DH and I would look at each other and just stifle the giggles. When the movie was over, DH asked me why we didn't move to whic I answered "Are you kidding? This will give us fodder to laugh over together for days!".

So if this was such great fodder for laughter, why the vent?

To the flamers...Yeah, everybody pays for their tickets and is entitled to sit wherever they choose. But common sense (which is seriously lacking these days) should tell most people that sitting behind or in front or next to someone in an empty theatre is probably not a great idea, especially if you like to put your feet up/talk on your cell phone/ etc. I shouldn't have to be bullied out of my seat by people with obnoxious habits. I wouldn't care if the old couple had sat behind me if they could've sat still and kept quiet. People have no manners. The 5 year old several rows up was very well behaved with his Mom.

I hope that as you grow older you never develop any annoying/obnoxious habits or behaviors that drive other movie patrons to distraction.

 

[bicker]

But common sense (which is seriously lacking these days) should tell most people that sitting behind or in front or next to someone in an empty theatre is probably not a great idea...

Well, be careful: "common sense" is nothing more than a lazy code word for "what I think is correct". As you can see by this thread, reasonable people disagree with your approach to this situation, so the "sense" you outline, while definitely worthy of respect as your personal belief, is just that and not necessarily anything more.

From your description of the events, it sounds like you could have come off in the initial contact with the folks sitting behind you as rather brusque, abrasive, etc. It is possible that that demeanor brought about the further disrespect you received. That doesn't make what they did correct, but it may explain why it "always seems to happen to you".

I also would have moved.

 

[boomhauer]

If the theatre was empty, get up and move.

When someone kicks my seat a few times, I turn around and give them "the eye".

If they continue to do it, I turn around and ask them if they will please stop kicking my seat.

If that doesn't work, I jump up and spill my popcorn on them.

 

[luvflorida]

It's amusing that some think that their movie ticket entitles them to determine where everyone else can sit in the theatre. Buy a movie ticket = ownership of the theatre -- at least for that showing of the movie.

Again, I just don't understand why anyone would walk into a theatre that has two people in the entire theatre, (or a very small number of people), and CHOOSE to sit DIRECTLY in front of those people. Yes, they have every right to sit wherever they want to sit. But IMHO it is extremely rude and very inconsiderate. I get the feeling that they are doing it BECAUSE they know it is their right to sit wherever they want to sit, and they really don't care if they're blocking the view or being annoying.