Etiquette and Courtesy Cups: A Guide to Movie Theater Manners

Our writer’s at Fanboyz.net want to bring you more than just news and reviews. We have a passion for film and because of this we will be bringing you original articles for your reading pleasure. The movie going experience can be a form of entertainment all of it’s own. So today we bring you Jordan Tunney’s perspective on movie theater etiquette.

By: Jordan Tunney

For many people, going to the movies can be more of a hassle then a rewarding event. Seeing a movie at a theater has its benefits and drawbacks, and unfortunately most patrons do not realize they are hindering the enjoyment of everyone around them. Here are just a few of the problems that can happen during a movie, and what can be done about it.

Cell Phones

When the lights dim and the curtains pull back, I always reach in my pocket and mute the cell phone. For me, it’s more for selfish reasons then courtesy. Once, in Ocean’s Twelve, a woman talked on her phone for about two minutes. Intermittent with the movie, her voice went from quiet to loud and obnoxious. Eventually, a large man sitting in the row behind her and a few seats down, threw a bag of popcorn at her and told her to “Shut the &*$% up!” It was the best part of Ocean’s Twelve.

I tell this story because it conveys the reason I turn my phone off. I don’t want to be “That Guy.” He’s the one who becomes the center of hatred for the entire theater. And nothing is more hazardous to your health then sitting in the middle of a mob. Except for watching a movie with Andy Garcia in it. Yes, I am afraid of people being angry and that’s why I turn my cell phone off.

Texting is just as big of a problem. While many feel it’s safe to text during a movie, it can often be as distracting as someone talking. If it isn’t the clicking sound that gets me, it’s usually the bright screen. I know most of these phone screens can be dimmed down, but a lot of people still think they are not bothering anyone. Would you sit behind someone that had a Coleman lantern aimed directly through their head right at yours, giving their upper body a glowing almost radioactive aura? So if you’re going to text, dim that screen and hold your cell phone close to you. It won’t bite (but it will probably give you brain cancer).
So what can you do to prevent this cell phone calamity? First, just put it on vibrate. Nothing could ruin a movie such as W. like someone’s T.I. ringtone (well except for historical fact). But if someone in your movie is chatting or texting, just leave the theater and ask an employee to look into it. It might make you miss a minute of the movie, but you’ll enjoy the movie more.