Why do people bring toddlers to PG-13 movies?

[TxJasmine]

Yesterday morning, my DH, 2 kids (9 and 10), and I went to the first showing of Harry Potter. The theater was less than half full We're all big HP fans and have been looking forward to the movie. The movie is rated PG-13 and it is a dark and scary movie. During one of the scary parts a very young child in the back of the theater started crying and screaming. It went on for quite a while and the parents didn't seem to be doing anything about it. Finally DH yelled at them to leave. I don't agree with what DH did, but it worked and they left. They did come back later and at another scary part the kid started crying again, but this time they left the theater fairly quickly.

I just don't understand what motivates people to take a very young child to a movie like that. Anyone who has read the book KNOWS that the movie will be scary. It's rated PG-13!!! It just amazes me how rude and inconsiderate some people can be. Now I know why we watch most movies on DVD!!!

 

[minkydog]

They do it because it's cheaper than a babysitter. My sister took her 4yo son to GOF, too, even after my mother offered to keep him AND I told her about the PG-13 rating AND her DH told her he didn't think he ought to go She "didn't want to leave him out." Served her right--she ended up walking the halls with him when he melted down. Idiot.

 

[mickeyboat]

You are right, it's unbelievable that someone would bring a toddler to Harry Potter.

Emily is 5 and she is often gets uspet at the movies, too. She does not like the very loud, intense scenes, even if they are happy ones. She begged to leave during Shrek II and during Polar Express. We are having her watch more movies at home so she can get used to the intensity, and then we will try her at the movies again.

Denae

 

[leighe]

When my sister and I went to see the new Harry Potter movie there was a couple in front of us that had their 2 year old and 4 year old. They were terrified and/or talked all through the movie. The people sitting in front of them turned around a few times and politely asked that they be quiet and the mom kept saying, "What is your problem? This is a kids movie." I personally don't think it was an appropriate movie for a 4 and 2 year old. To top it off the dad actually answered and had a conversation on his cell phone twice!

 

[ziggystardust]

I went to a movie in a few yrs ago, it was rated R - and a midnight showing. Next to me sits a couple with an infant. Couldn't have been more than 6 months old. The kicker is the baby was fine it was the people in front of us that were having an arguement during the movie.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I would never take our DD (2) to a movie theatre. No matter what the show is. She just isn't mature enough to sit through a two hour movie.

I'm taking her to see Sesame Street Live next month and I'm nervous about that.

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

omg!!!!!!!!!!! i have KNOW CLUE why people do this....its the most annoying thing! I was seeing a movie w/ my friends and it was just the three of us in the movie theater until a couple walked in...and behind them was a 3yo toddling along. The movie had some scenes that had to do w/ the birds and the bees...the whole time the kid was yelling MOMMY WHATS THAT!!!!!!!?!?!??! and its not even like she or the guy cared..they just sat there letting him scream...ARGGGG!!! my friend wanted to knock some sence into the couple! It was rude and the kid didnt like the movie...infact he got up an ran around! I will say that movies are rated PG-13 for a reason...and that is its not for young young kids! Some people have wonder kids who are just angels! i love them!

 

[tiggger1]

I have taken my 2 year old daughter to a few movies ( all kids ones) i have ,also taken my daughter to 2 wiggle concert, 1 seseme street live, 1 dora the expoler. she loved them and while she might not have been perfect she is learning and she behaves better than some of the 7 years olds I have seen out in the same places. they have to learn sometime!

 

[MoniqueU]

My kids werent scared by stuff like that so they were taken by their dad. The were never scared by the rides at Disney either. To each his own.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Unless the movie is geared toward a toddler, I don't think toddlers belong in movie theaters. Flame away if you must.

They just don't have the attention span for more "invovled" movies - ie, Harry Potter.

Or Wedding Crashers. Yes, rated R...my friend and I were treated to a toddler running around the row behind us HITTing our heads and pulling on our ponytails. FINALLY, about many...uh...naked female torso scenes...the parents got up and left the theater with the wee one.


if it was a kids movie, I could care less...but when this movie is geared toward young adults/adults...toddlers shouldn't be brought IMO.

 

[lulugirl]

Unless the movie is geared toward a toddler, I don't think toddlers belong in movie theaters. Flame away if you must.

They just don't have the attention span for more "invovled" movies - ie, Harry Potter.

Or Wedding Crashers. Yes, rated R...my friend and I were treated to a toddler running around the row behind us HITTing our heads and pulling on our ponytails. FINALLY, about many...uh...naked female torso scenes...the parents got up and left the theater with the wee one.


if it was a kids movie, I could care less...but when this movie is geared toward young adults/adults...toddlers shouldn't be brought IMO.

What she said.....

 

[NMAmy]

I have taken my 2 year old daughter to a few movies ( all kids ones) i have ,also taken my daughter to 2 wiggle concert, 1 seseme street live, 1 dora the expoler. she loved them and while she might not have been perfect she is learning and she behaves better than some of the 7 years olds I have seen out in the same places. they have to learn sometime!

But see, there's a difference between taking a toddler to see say...Chicken Little and taking one to see Harry Potter GOF. GoF is just too long and too intense for a little one.

I took dd to see kids cartoon type movies when she was 2--I agree with you that they need to learn correct movie-going behavior and we left if she got noisey or bored. But that's very different than a PG13 movie.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Unless the movie is geared toward a toddler, I don't think toddlers belong in movie theaters. Flame away if you must.

No flames from me -- ITA.

Even if it is a kids movie -- if your child doesn't want to be there or is bothering others, leave. We took the boys to see Chicken Little the other day -- and we made sure that we were close to the exit aisle in case DS2 (who's 7 months old) got fussy. Fortunately, he was good the whole movie (he slept through much of it), but the little girl sitting behind us who kept telling her mom and dad that she wanted to go was a different story.

 

[anewvance]

We went to see Rent last night and a woman had her 3 year old son there. He spent the whole movie jumping up and down, UMMMMMing over his popcorn and trying to get his mom's attention. I guess you have to figure lack of childcare but still... the language and subject of the movie, NOT for 3 year olds!

 

[Karel]

Yesterday morning, my DH, 2 kids (9 and 10), and I went to the first showing of Harry Potter. The theater was less than half full We're all big HP fans and have been looking forward to the movie. The movie is rated PG-13 and it is a dark and scary movie. During one of the scary parts a very young child in the back of the theater started crying and screaming.
I just don't understand what motivates people to take a very young child to a movie like that. Anyone who has read the book KNOWS that the movie will be scary. It's rated PG-13!!! It just amazes me how rude and inconsiderate some people can be. Now I know why we watch most movies on DVD!!!

To play devil's advocate, people without children or with older teens may wonder why you bring your 9 and 10 year old. THey are not 13.

How do you decide what the appropriate age is?

 

[skiwee1]

When War of the Worlds came out DH and I went to the midnight show. Some moron brought their one year old, appeared to be anyway, and he cried for what seemed like forever. Well at least til I went out and got a manager and had them both ejected!

 

[lulugirl]

To play devil's advocate, people without children or with older teens may wonder why you bring your 9 and 10 year old. THey are not 13.

How do you decide what the appropriate age is?

I thought PG-13 meant you have to be 13 to see the movie alone, under 13 you need an adult w/ you?
I see a big difference between taking a 10 year old to a PG-13 movie and taking a toddler.
Just seems like common sense to me.....

 

[jenm2878]

Appropriate age is when they can sit still, quietly. When they are old enough to understand that it is not okay to run, yell, or even talk loudly. My parents didn't take us to the movies until we were old enough to sit still and quiet through the whole thing. Then again, my parents never tolerated yelling and running anywhere in public.

 

[Annette_VA]

I thought PG-13 meant you have to be 13 to see the movie alone, under 13 you need an adult w/ you?
I see a big difference between taking a 10 year old to a PG-13 movie and taking a toddler.
Just seems like common sense to me.....

PG-13 is a "suggestion" - they don't have to provide proof of age or anything. You only have to provide ID for R & NC-17

http://www.mpaa.org/movieratings/

 

[Karel]

Appropriate age is when they can sit still, quietly. When they are old enough to understand that it is not okay to run, yell, or even talk loudly. My parents didn't take us to the movies until we were old enough to sit still and quiet through the whole thing. Then again, my parents never tolerated yelling and running anywhere in public.

My husband and I had to tell two older boys (they looked like 9 or 10) to be quiet at the Star Wars movie last spring.

I was fuming because I was really excited to see it, left my own kids home (it was date night) so I could enjoy it and had to put up with the bozos behind me.

I also think that sitting still and being quiet are not the only standards for going to a movie. I've always been pretty strict about 13 rule - as in don't ask me to see it if you're not 13.

Even some of the PG 13 movies really push the limit - that Anchorman movie - yikes! It was hard to let my 14 year old see that.