Rules of the Rude

Today’s blog is nothing new for those of us who love to go to the movies.  I hope that you don’t find yourself in any of the following, for true movie lovers are more likely to ‘go to the movies’ than just ‘go to a movie.”  We love to attend movie showings and do not go just to ‘hang out’ or have ‘something to do.’

Good movie etiquette is like driving.  92% of people feel they are better drivers than everyone else.  So why all the bad drivers out there?  And so with movie going, if most people feel that others have poor movie etiquette, why do we still have this with bad manners in attendance?  Rhetorical, yes, but annoying none-the-less.

Last weekend, I was able to get “Red Tails” into my timetable, and with the audience I happened to see it with, I just thought today I would do my weekly blog as a therapy letter.  I am not the only one to expound, as there are dozens of these complains online & visualized on YouTube,  and the like.  This is the ‘tip of the iceberg,’ and so much more could be added to this tongue-in-cheek motivational handout for the ‘others.’  I am sure those of you who are reading this will agree.

 Bad Manners Movie Protocol:

1. Be late.  You’re silhouette across a movie trailer or 

opening it what everyone else who was on time came to see.

2. Make sure the movie theatre employees restart the movie if

they have already begun to ‘roll film.’ 

They obviously have not checked the newspaper or online for the 

show times, and you know those are always the ‘gospel truth.’

3. When heading to the snack bar, just pick any old item off the

top of your head that you’d like. 

If you’re wanting it, they must be serving it. 

Movie theaters are just another form of restaurant or fast-food establishment.

4. The lobby is in no way the place to foreshadow attendance of a movie.

So,make sure you only leave one or no seat between you and the

next person in the row (especially if you don’t know them). 

After all, those who come [later than you] are more likely to 

show up in pairs, and subsequently be separated and 

make even more of a disturbance.

5.  Since you’re probably late already, you’ve missed all the 

requests to silence cellphones and pages.  Good for you! 

Those PSA’s are for everyone else but you, anyway.

6. Sound travels & that’s a good thing! 

Now everyone else waiting for the picture to start or during can hear

what you have to say about the movie. 

They obviously don’t have anything critical thinking skills themselves, nor

are they here just because they need something to do,

so make sure you talk about it loudly to your neighbor,

so others can understand what’s happening.

7.  Remember to snap open those soda cans as loud as possible. 

You want people to know you do not understand that movie 

theatres make their revenue from the snack counter and 

that you are delighted to announce you’ve 

brought your own (especially when you leave the remains in 

the theatre for the employees to pick-up - this is what they live for).

8.  Always stand-up immediately after the movie is over by 

taking time to put on your coats, talk about the movie, or 

hey!, even watch the credits. 

As in motivation #1, the people behind you love seeing your silhouette

against the screen.  They don’t need to see the names of 

all those whose hard work and talent went into the making of the movie.

9. Just remember these are the folks out there who

are NOT following these rules.

10. Keep up the good work!

Please feel free to add your theatre-going pet peeves in the comments!