Movie Going Experiences

[Shannon L.]

 

AMC has a kid's pack for $6.50 (it might have gone up a little).  It's a perfect size popcorn and soda (smaller than the regular smalls) and a fruit snack.

Do you need to buy it for an actual kid, like children's meals in restaurants?

 

Nope.  It's the only snack I've purchased for years now.  I've even been able to buy the kid's pack in other theater chains, too. 

[Ceindreadh]

I usually go to the cinema on my own, and if i'm getting popcorn I always ask for the smallest size.

Invariably, the person behind the cash desk will show me the next size up and suggest that I buy it for only about a euro more.

I know they're probably trained to do that, and it's not their fault, but I have to resist the urge to tell them that if I wanted a medium bag, I would have bloody asked for one. 

(I'm an accountant and I've seen supplier invoices for what's sold at concessions and it is such a massive mark-up, it's ridiculous)

[Kel Varnsen]

(I'm an accountant and I've seen supplier invoices for what's sold at concessions and it is such a massive mark-up, it's ridiculous)

That's what i don't get I understand that concessions are the main source of revenue, but at the same time the mark-up on popcorn is insane, especially when you consider that it is not like theatre employees are making huge money, most are probably making minimum wage.

[ChelseaNH]

There's a lot more to overhead than just employees.

[methodwriter85]

No, what's insane is the mark-up on drinks. The theaters around me all charge around 4 to 5 dollars for a drink. I used to work in a dining hall and I know how damn cheap every drink is. Literally, one bag of syrup makes like hundreds of drinks.

Edited August 27, 2015 by methodwriter85

[turbogirlnyc]

I saw the last Harry Potter movie in Times Square. The couple in front of us was busy eating a large pizza. Yes, they bought it at the concession stand but come on. It was noisy, smelly and completely turned me off to ever visiting that theatre again.

[magicdog]

My niece and I went to the movies about 3 weeks ago and were surprised that they asked to search her bag (I wasn't carrying one).  It wasn't until we got home we heard on the news that this was going to be a policy with Regal.  Personally I think it's stupid.  A better security measure would be to take down the "gun free zone" signs if it's a insane gunman they're worried about.

 

If I had been carrying my purse, I would have asked about their warrant to look inside.  Yeah,  I can be a pill sometimes, but I refuse to get in the habit of having my bags searched wherever I go - especially a movie theatre.  It's bad enough to deal with that sort of thing at the airport.  They're not cops and it's not really about security anyway.  I rarely go to the movies as it is, and this is just another reason not to bother.

[Rick Kitchen]

Private businesses don't need a warrant.  If you don't comply with their policies, you can't get in, it's their right.

[JBC344]

With the searched bags issue.  Unfortunately we will never really be able to gather the necessary information as to how much searching bags actually deters trouble.  I mean no one is going to admit that they actually brought a weapon to a theater but then turned around when they saw the bag check.

 

The older I get the more I guess I don't mind those sort of safety pre-cautions if done correctly and respectfully.  It also makes me think of the movie "Unbreakable" when Bruce Willis' character has a vision of a guy carrying a gun into the stadium where he works.  So he tells his security guards to start patting everyone who comes in down, and then we the audience see said gunman in line at the stadium and we see him slowly jump out of line when he sees the security check. 

[Ohwell]

I don't mind them searching my bag for non-existent weapons.  I just worry that they'll take my candy away that I bought from Rite Aid.

[xaxat]

With the searched bags issue.  Unfortunately we will never really be able to gather the necessary information as to how much searching bags actually deters trouble.  I mean no one is going to admit that they actually brought a weapon to a theater but then turned around when they saw the bag check.

 

The important statistic is that it is extraordinarily unlikely you will be the victim of a mass shooting while watching a movie. I think these actions fall under the label of "security theater", in which organizations enact policies to make it look like they are doing something even though it probably has no effect.

[JBC344]

But why is a "mass shooting" the only standard?  Maybe I don't want someone sitting next to me who is carrying a gun, knife or other weapon.  We talk all the time about how unpleasant people are getting in movie theaters that sometimes you are worried about telling someone to be quiet out of fear they might have a few screws loose and take out a knife and stab you.

[harrie]

The important statistic is that it is extraordinarily unlikely you will be the victim of a mass shooting while watching a movie. I think these actions fall under the label of "security theater", in which organizations enact policies to make it look like they are doing something even though it probably has no effect.

 

I wonder too if it's something their insurance carrier has mentioned or requested.  I used to work for a company that owned a shopping center, and our insurance company always had a list of things, some kind of strange or superfluous, that they wanted us to do to 1) minimize our exposure to lawsuits; or 2) at least look like we were trying to do so.  

[BookWoman56]

We talk all the time about how unpleasant people are getting in movie theaters that sometimes you are worried about telling someone to be quiet out of fear they might have a few screws loose and take out a knife and stab you.

One of the reasons I generally go to Alamo Drafthouse is that I know I will never have to be the person asking/telling another moviegoer to be quiet or quit texting. In addition to serving drinks and generally decent food, they have zero tolerance for that nonsense. They will warn the person on the first offense, and after that, they will escort the person out. Because their policy is widely known here in San Antonio, and I assume at their other locations as well, I have never had a bad experience at one of them because there are no babies/young children who might be fussy, nobody giving nonstop commentary during the movie, and nobody texting. Obviously, some nutjob could still come in with a hidden gun, but that's a risk no matter where you are.

[Crs97]

Cinemark started selling refill buckets for popcorn and drinks. We buy them in January, and you can refill them for $3.50 each all year. The drink is huge and the popcorn is bigger than a medium so they're easy to split. In the summer when they run $1 movies for the kids, they get a workout!

[magicdog]

Private businesses don't need a warrant.

 

 

The minimum wage earner who isn't used to being questioned may not know that.  If I get thrown out - then I won't bother going to them again.  No love lost there.

 

I think these actions fall under the label of "security theater", in which organizations enact policies to make it look like they are doing something even though it probably has no effect.

 

Exactly!  That's just what this whole thing is.  If I really wanted to shoot up a theatre, I could carry a concealed weapon in all sorts of places on my person.  If I was carrying a purse (too obvious) that was searched, I could have as many as 3 different weapons that can get through.  That's not including other weapons like knives or a blackjack or a slapper.  Bad guys don't typically follow the rules - hence the referral.

[JBC344]

But isn't that also part of what "security" is though?  Making people feel safe in their surroundings.  I mean if your making the point that security checks don't do anything unless they are full body scans like the airport, which aren't going to happen anytime soon, wouldn't the step below that to make people at least feel safe?

 

For example, I go to the movies often and 95% of the time at one specific theater near me.  It is a well known shopping center and national movie chain.  I have never had an issue going there the last ten years, and have never felt unsafe for one second there.  Now if you asked me if that theater has ever had any issues I truthfully can't say "no" because I'm not privy to any issues that weren't made public.  I have no idea how many times their security team has stopped someone from doing something dangerous, whether they are carrying a weapon or not.  Maybe that security team has only had to keep the drunks and reckless teenagers out of the establishment, if they are doing that it is enough for me.

[magicdog]

But isn't that also part of what "security" is though?  Making people feel safe in their surroundings.  I mean if your making the point that security checks don't do anything unless they are full body scans like the airport, which aren't going to happen anytime soon, wouldn't the step below that to make people at least feel safe?

 

That's the point - I don't feel any safer.  If anything it gives a false sense of security.  True, I tend to feel somewhat secure because I live in what is considered a nice neighborhood, etc. but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be aware of our surroundings because something can come out of nowhere and your security ends up shattered because, "it couldn't happen here".

 

What happens at the airport doesn't make me feel any safer either  - mostly because IMO the TSA is window dressing.  My mother - who was a double amputee and confined to a wheelchair and recovering from a stroke was ALWAYS singled out for "closer inspection".  Never mind the real threats to security, my 70 year old infirmed mother was the apparent terrorist.  If you've ever noticed on flights in which some issue does occur (usually by some angry drunk) it's the other passengers who take care of business (often using a belt or duct tape to confine them until they land). 

 

Maybe I don't want someone sitting next to me who is carrying a gun, knife or other weapon.

 

 

That person could be a legit concealed weapons holder and could end up saving lives if you-know-what hits the fan.  That person isn't the threat.

Edited September 5, 2015 by magicdog

[Bastet]

If someone starts shooting up the movie theatre I'm in, the last thing I want is some vigilante to start spraying his bullets around too.

Edited September 5, 2015 by Bastet

[Kel Varnsen]

I wonder too if it's something their insurance carrier has mentioned or requested.  I used to work for a company that owned a shopping center, and our insurance company always had a list of things, some kind of strange or superfluous, that they wanted us to do to 1) minimize our exposure to lawsuits; or 2) at least look like we were trying to do so.  

I can buy that. In the event of some kind of violent event at a theatre, surely a lawsuit would follow. If the theatre could show they took reasonable steps to make sure this kind of thing didn't happen (even if it did anyways) I would have to think that would help them in a court room.

[galax-arena]

I saw Carol last night. A number of people began to titter during the love scene, it was weird. Reminded me of when my friend and I rented This Boy's Life because ~omg Leonardo DiCaprio~, and then we got a fit of the giggles during the sex scene. Except my friend and I were thirteen years old at the time, and the audience for this movie were all older people, with a good number of senior citizens. It was just kind of strange.

 

And then, during the beginning of the same scene, the guy next to me had to whip out his phone with its super-bright screen and only grudgingly tucked it away in his pocket when his wife (?) whispered to him that it was too bright. Apparently he didn't bother to silence the phone either because a minute later the phone started beeping loudly. And the guy had the temerity to look at me like he couldn't figure out why I was glaring at him. Sigh.

[Crim]

And then, during the beginning of the same scene, the guy next to me had to whip out his phone with its super-bright screen and only grudgingly tucked it away in his pocket when his wife (?) whispered to him that it was too bright. Apparently he didn't bother to silence the phone either because a minute later the phone started beeping loudly. And the guy had the temerity to look at me like he couldn't figure out why I was glaring at him. Sigh.

This was the woman next to me a few weeks ago. Bonus: she kept her phone out and messaged for four hours. I don't understand wtf she was doing in there. I get checking your phone, even talking if something comes up, but she obviously was one of those "can't stay away from phone unless sleeping" creepers. Stay. at. home!

[methodwriter85]

 

If someone starts shooting up the movie theatre I'm in, the last thing I want is some vigilante to start spraying his bullets around too.

 

The movie theater I work at just did a meeting where we had to watch a video about how to handle an active shooter event. Basically this video, but adjusted for a movie theater:

 

 

They didn't stimulate a shooter though, just showing how people should escape, hide, or fight. There was this rather funny shot of three employees hiding in the scullery kitchen, holding things to fight with.

[funkopop]

The movie theater I work at just did a meeting where we had to watch a video about how to handle an active shooter event. Basically this video, but adjusted for a movie theater:

 

 

They didn't stimulate a shooter though, just showing how people should escape, hide, or fight. There was this rather funny shot of three employees hiding in the scullery kitchen, holding things to fight with.

 

That video is making the rounds, at my church they showed us it during a meeting.

Edited November 24, 2015 by funkopop

[Hanahope]

I love the theaters with the big comfy seats, but it makes it difficult sometimes to get tickets for certain screenings, like times that are good for my kids.  I end up having to drive to the theater first thing in the morning to buy tickets, then have to drive back that afternoon for the show.  I bit of a pain, but with movie prices already expensive, I don't want to spend the extra "convenience" fee on line, especially when I can get even cheaper tickets from Costco (which have to be used in person).

[Shannon L.]

Edited because I didn't see the part about the convenience fee  until after I posted.

 

Like JBC344, I have an AMC Stubs card and like the benefits it comes with.

Edited November 30, 2015 by Shannon L.

[JBC344]

I love the theaters with the big comfy seats, but it makes it difficult sometimes to get tickets for certain screenings, like times that are good for my kids.  I end up having to drive to the theater first thing in the morning to buy tickets, then have to drive back that afternoon for the show.  I bit of a pain, but with movie prices already expensive, I don't want to spend the extra "convenience" fee on line, especially when I can get even cheaper tickets from Costco (which have to be used in person).

Wow, how much is your convenience fee?  Is it more than the gas money you spend going back and forth to the theater?  My primary theater is AMC and I only buy online, but I have the AMC Stubs Card (discount card) and it waves the convenience fee.

[King of Birds]

Over Thanksgiving I asked some friends "so have you figured out when you're gonna see Star Wars?"  One friend said she's going to the 6am screening on the 18th (day it comes out) and then she'll go straight to work. Says this way "I'm not out with the uber-geeks the night before but no one will be able to spoil me at work or on the internet or in emails."

 

With some other friends (a couple w two kids) they are waiting til one of the kids returns from college exams, then going on the 23rd.

 

I'm not sure I can do that 6am screening, but it would be tough to hold off til the 23rd.  Maybe in-between, and avoid PTV and all movie and news sites? 

[JBC344]

Is there really a fear for people that once the movie premieres everyone will spoil it?  I can understand wanting to be a part of the conversation but I'm confused by the idea that the movie will be spoiled if you don't see it opening weekend.

 

I plan on seeing it as early as I can but if that isn't until the following week then so be it. 

[Trini]

People talk, man. I had to literally run away from a conversation my co-workers were having about Inception the week after opening weekend. I didn't want to know anything, because it was one of my most anticipated movies coming out that year. And it's new Star Wars, I can see it having some 'I am your father'-type twist.

[Lonesome Rhodes]

I dread waiting in line to see it on the 18th, only to have excited folks who may be leaving a previous showing excitedly talking about plot points ruin such for me.  

[Qoass]

I'm not that huge a Star Wars fan but I do remember Bryant Gumbel interviewing some little kids on The Today Show the day The Empire Strikes Back opened and one of them said, "I like how Darth Vader turned out to be Luke Skywalker's father..."

 

Oops.

[Hanahope]

Wow, how much is your convenience fee?  Is it more than the gas money you spend going back and forth to the theater?  My primary theater is AMC and I only buy online, but I have the AMC Stubs Card (discount card) and it waves the convenience fee.

 

The AMC near us is very close and the Regal isn't much further away.  But part of the deal is that I can buy discount tickets at Costco for $7.50 each, which saves additional money, but I can only redeem them in person.

[funkopop]

I dread waiting in line to see it on the 18th, only to have excited folks who may be leaving a previous showing excitedly talking about plot points ruin such for me.  

 

I just had an instance where some asshole purposely yelled out a spoiler for Mockingjay as he was walking out of the theater to people in line for tickets.

[JBC344]

I just had an instance where some asshole purposely yelled out a spoiler for Mockingjay as he was walking out of the theater to people in line for tickets.

Wow, that is really unfortunate.  What an idiot.

 

Hopefully if it is a good theater they will stager the showings so that people coming into the movie are not on the same floor as those coming in.  My AMC near me that I frequent has their set up that those that are coming out of the theatre don't interact with any coming into the theatre.  At most you would meet up outside the theater doors.  They also stagger the showings so that if your going into say an 9pm movie the showing that ends at 8:30/8:45 is on an entirely different floor.

[Joe]

I remember when one of the Harry Potter books was released, someone hung a large banner in a public place announcing who had died. So yes, some arsehole spoiling it is a risk. Me, I'm going to a noon session. There could be people on their second or third viewings by then. It's possible. So I'm thinking about headphones. I may not even plug them in to my iPod. Just the phones.

[yourstruly]

 

My AMC near me that I frequent has their set up that those that are coming out of the theatre don't interact with any coming into the theatre.  At most you would meet up outside the theater doors.  They also stagger the showings so that if your going into say an 9pm movie the showing that ends at 8:30/8:45 is on an entirely different floor.

That's smart. I always thought that was done to prevent people from double dipping on one ticket.

[JBC344]

That's smart. I always thought that was done to prevent people from double dipping on one ticket.

Probably both.  At this particular theater they have the ticket checkers at the start of the escalators before going to your designated floor or right when you get off the escalators.  The area where you exit is also roped off from those entering. 

 

But with the examples above I guess if some idiot wants to ruin a movie for someone, they will find a way. 

[King of Birds]

I decided last night to join my friend at the Star Wars 6am screening. (She wanted company)  This will be a whole new experience, waking up at 5am to go see a movie.  BTW when I purchased online, there were 20 sold seats for the 6am show so far, so it's not too far fetched?

 

ETA: OR, people are just crazy.

Edited December 1, 2015 by King of Birds

[Bruinsfan]

At 10 I wasn't big enough to shut up the jackass who basically narrated The Empire Strikes Back just before it happened onscreen, but if someone pulls that walking out of the theater while I'm waiting to enter this month, at least I'll have an interesting "why I had to be bailed out of jail" story for Christmas parties.

[Shannon L.]

The only thing I'll say to a line of people when I come out from a movie (from a Marvel movie specifically) is "Stay till the end of the credits!"  :)  .  It never ceases to amaze me the people who leave when the credits start after how many Marvel movies have been made now?  They are almost always either important or cute or both.

 

I rarely have an issue with people talking during a movie or any other distraction.  The only thing that makes my movie going experience less than ideal is how cold it is in the theater.  It has to have something to do with the heat radiating from the screen because it's never that cold until after the movie starts--then it's like the AC kicks in.

[Crs97]

Qoass, I totally remember that interview. Bryant asked the kids about their favorite characters and one little boy said, "Darth Vader." Bryant was surprised and asked why, and he said, "Because he saves Luke in the end." Bryant's expression was priceless as he gently said to the boy, "Uh oh, I don't think we were supposed to say that."

I was surprised Bryant hadn't already seen the movie to know not to ask a follow up! I had hoped I would forget the spoiler, but my sister came in and said we were seeing the movie that afternoon. Now I find I actually like to know the ending ahead of time, especially in action movies. I have a very low tolerance for people being mean to other people and for scary stuff so I like knowing when to close my eyes or leave the theater for a concession or restroom run.

[yourstruly]

 

Now I find I actually like to know the ending ahead of time, especially in action movies. I have a very low tolerance for people being mean to other people and for scary stuff so I like knowing when to close my eyes or leave the theater for a concession or restroom run.

As with everything else in life nowadays, there's an app for that.

 

http://runpee.com/

[Shannon L.]

I use Run Pee all the time.  Whoever designed it is brilliant.

[proserpina65]

I just had an instance where some asshole purposely yelled out a spoiler for Mockingjay as he was walking out of the theater to people in line for tickets.

Once, when driving past a line of people waiting to see The Crying Game, I was seized by the urge to shout "she's a man!" out the window.  But I didn't, because that would've been a shitty thing to do.  I hate people who just have to spoil movies for others.

[proserpina65]

The only thing I'll say to a line of people when I come out from a movie (from a Marvel movie specifically) is "Stay till the end of the credits!"

 

I have done that for Jackie Chan movies, because you should always watch the credits of his films for the bloopers.  Like you, this is my only exception.

[Rick Kitchen]

I was in the theater today (seeing Creed) where the Star Wars movie is going to be shown locally, and they were already getting ready by setting up long, meandering lines at the concession stands.

[Joe]

So I went to the cinema today. The guy behind the counter gave me my favourite seat, even though I didn't ask for it. That's case of me going there too much. Four times in three weeks, and then a couple of weeks before that. Or it's a case of good service. I choose to call it good service.

[topanga]

I finally saw Star Wars yesterday, and I swear I was the only person in the packed theater who laughed at funny lines. Except for the 'Droid and Chewbacca. People laughed at the them. Was it that the lines weren't as funny to everyone else as they were to me, or was I in a theater full of repeat viewers who'd already heard the jokes 4 or 5 times? I was watching the movie with my husband and a group of kids (some were mine), and I understand that the kids wouldn't understand some of the funny lines. And my husband is his own type of strange, so I didn't expect him to laugh, either. But no one found Han Solo's lines funny except me? 

 

--I would have posted this in the Star Wars thread, but there are too many posts already. 

[BK1978]

I have a story for everyone.  A couple of years ago I went to see some Clive Owen movie (I cannot remember which one and I do not want to look it up).  Anyway this lady sits next to me and throughout the entire movie she gave a running commentary to the guy sitting next to her about what was going on in the movie.  Now had she be younger I would just pass it off as her trying to troll people but this lady had to be in her mid to late forties so I really could not understand why she was doing this. 

 

Finally I had had enough and I told her to shut up.  She looked at me with a stunned look on her face and she said, "Why are you being rude to me?  You are not supposed to tell a woman to shut up."  My reply was, "Normally I would never speak to a woman like that but for the last half hour you have been giving a running play-by-play of the movie.  I wasn't expecting to sit next to Howard Cosell.  I can't even follow this movie because you are talking too much and in your normal voice.  Lady I'm not being rude, you're the one being rude."

 

She looked at me incredulously and said, "This is a free country and I am allowed to talk.  If you don't like it then you can move your seat!"  Other people started telling her to be quiet as well and she said to the guy she was sitting with, "I guess some people don't respect women.  So I am going to be nice and not talk."

 

I honestly thought I was being Punked or in an episode of the Twilight Zone.  I have never come across someone like that in the movies before.

 

I also have a friend who loves to talk during the movie and he gets really offended when I ignore him.  I told him that unless it is an emergency, when we are at the movies I could care less what you have to say.

 

 

I usually go to the cinema on my own, and if i'm getting popcorn I always ask for the smallest size.

Invariably, the person behind the cash desk will show me the next size up and suggest that I buy it for only about a euro more.

I know they're probably trained to do that, and it's not their fault, but I have to resist the urge to tell them that if I wanted a medium bag, I would have bloody asked for one. 

(I'm an accountant and I've seen supplier invoices for what's sold at concessions and it is such a massive mark-up, it's ridiculous)

 

Yeah they are trained to do that.  I worked in a cinema,  I never worked behind the stand I was an usher, but they are told to do so.  From time to time a mystery shopper would come in and if the person behind the stand upsold they would get a fifty dollar bonus.  So there was incentive to upsell at lest for the company that I worked for.

 

One of the reasons I generally go to Alamo Drafthouse is that I know I will never have to be the person asking/telling another moviegoer to be quiet or quit texting. In addition to serving drinks and generally decent food, they have zero tolerance for that nonsense. They will warn the person on the first offense, and after that, they will escort the person out. Because their policy is widely known here in San Antonio, and I assume at their other locations as well, I have never had a bad experience at one of them because there are no babies/young children who might be fussy, nobody giving nonstop commentary during the movie, and nobody texting. Obviously, some nutjob could still come in with a hidden gun, but that's a risk no matter where you are.

 

I really wish there was an Alamo Drafthouse near me.  That place sounds like a movie theater nirvana.  I am so sick of going to a movie and seeing nothing but a sea of little white screens all over the place. 

 

Is there really a fear for people that once the movie premieres everyone will spoil it?  I can understand wanting to be a part of the conversation but I'm confused by the idea that the movie will be spoiled if you don't see it opening weekend.

 

I plan on seeing it as early as I can but if that isn't until the following week then so be it. 

 

I do not recall if I have ever been spoiled with a movie ending but the ending of the BBC show Ashes to Ashes was spoiled for me on the internet by a Brit who thought I would be funny to spoil it for us, and these where his words, Yanks.  I was none to happy about that.