# Is looking at your phone in the movie theater during the previews a faux pas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 13, 2019, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358 "2019-11-13T05:01:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/21 "2019-11-13T15:00:01Z")
> [@DerNils](#): > > As Long as they are not touting flashlights, that is way less disturbing. It is dark, due to the Arrangement of seats they will rarely move right in front of me (and only briefly) and their Sound is generally drowned out by the theatre Sound. > > A phone screen on the other hand is a constant point of light right out of the area I am focused on. I have the same Problem with unfortunately positioned/lighted emergency Exit markers, but those cannot be helped. Actually, the late arrivers are typically using the smartphone flash or the phone screen as a flashlight. So, yes, the late arrivers are disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/22 "2019-11-13T15:06:32Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I take out my phone in a theater, sometimes during the trailers, to double-check that it’s set to vibrate mode and won’t make noise during the movie. It only takes a few seconds. > > Gorilla? And that is very much appreciated, however why could that not be done before you walk in? (not picking on you specifically). Why can’t people get their snacks, shut off their phones, get settled in their seat, use the bathroom \*before \* the lights go down? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/23 "2019-11-13T15:19:43Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I take out my phone in a theater, sometimes during the trailers, to double-check that it’s set to vibrate mode and won’t make noise during the movie. It only takes a few seconds. > > Gorilla? Maybe a small rhesus monkey. I don’t need to turn on the screen to check that mine is off. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/24 "2019-11-13T15:26:17Z")
I’m of the opinion that once the lights go down your phone should be away until the lights come back on or you leave the theater. During the previews is obviously less egregious than during the feature, but still not welcome. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/25 "2019-11-13T15:32:48Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Ten minutes into the trailers (that many people \*are \*interested in watching)and you’re first walking in, taking off your coat and arguing with the kids? And then you take out your phone to check if you should sit through the credits? :dubious: You sir(or madam) are the poster child of rude movie goers. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Ladies and gentlemen, modern America! “I do what I want, and fuck the rest of you.” > > In a perfect world, you’d get a 44 oz soda to the back of your head acting like that. Alas, those of us offended by you are too polite to dole out justice. But we notice. It’s the previews. They’re commercials. I don’t want to watch them. So since I have a reserved seat, I see no need to arrive in time to watch them. The instant the actual movie I paid to see starts, I shut up, mute my phone & put it away. I don’t know if you guys are going to reserved seating theaters, but I’m hardly alone in this behavior - I see tons of people showing up 10-15 minutes after the scheduled start time, and on their phones during the previews. And no one else in these theaters seems to give a shit, IME. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/26 "2019-11-13T15:34:20Z")
I like movies, so I like to see the trailers to see if any look like they’re worth seeing. (Although it is a little annoying when I see the same trailer four or five times before the movie is actually released.) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/27 "2019-11-13T15:55:45Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I don’t know if you guys are going to reserved seating theaters, but I’m hardly alone in this behavior … Can’t speak for theaters in other parts of the U.S., but around here reserved-seating theaters just kind of took over all of a sudden in 2016-17. The style and layout of the theater seating also changed. Yes, we did get the individual reclining seats with individual cupholders and more space between patrons. But we also got something close to stadium seating in all these newly-renovated theaters. Not as steep as IMAX stadium seating, but much steeper than the old 1940-70s style cinemas. The upshot is that it’s much easier to conceal smartphone use from other patrons. Really, the only I can pick out someone using a smartphone during the feature is if they are seated to my immediate right or left, or maybe two seats over if they are not being careful where they point their phone. But being able to pick out smartphoneone from several rows away? No longer possible in our renovated theaters. I can’t even see smartphone use one row in front of me because of how much lower they are and how the recliner blocks off my view. Now, if I am walking into these theaters in the dark, I can see some lit-up faces (by smartphones) coming from in front of the crowd. But not once I’m settled in to my seat. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/28 "2019-11-13T16:14:47Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Ten minutes into the trailers (that many people \*are \*interested in watching)and you’re first walking in, taking off your coat and arguing with the kids? And then you take out your phone to check if you should sit through the credits? :dubious: You sir(or madam) are the poster child of rude movie goers. Now this I don’t understand, you don’t like people taking their phones out during the credits, the time which the lights are already back on and half the theater has already gotten up and left? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/29 "2019-11-13T16:18:34Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > And no one else in these theaters seems to give a shit, IME. I assure you, WE DO! But what can we do, except silently grumble? Yelling to you and calling you the name you deserve in the middle of the show is another disruption that annoys even more people. And I’m not wasting an overpriced pop “accidentally” dumping it on you. By us doing nothing, unfortunately, your kind “wins”. And the theater experience gets a little poorer. You bring everyone down to your level. Maybe y’all should respect the other people that inhabit “your” world. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/30 "2019-11-13T16:21:11Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Now this I don’t understand, you don’t like people taking their phones out during the credits, the time which the lights are already back on and half the theater has already gotten up and left? What the hell is so urgent that you absolutely HAVE to call someone before getting out into the lobby? If you need to yap during the credits, then do so after you leave. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/31 "2019-11-13T16:23:02Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And I’m not wasting an overpriced pop “accidentally” dumping it on you. Some places give free refills. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/32 "2019-11-13T16:27:26Z")
This objection to people arriving after the scheduled start time is just ridiculous. It is completely the fault of the movie industry. Last night I arrived 5 minutes after the scheduled start time and still had to endure ten minutes of commercials followed by ten minutes of previews. A 7:05 movie actually started at 7:30. I will start arriving by the scheduled start time when the theater goes back to 2-3 brief previews max that start promptly at the scheduled start time. Until then I will continue to assume scheduled time + 20 minutes is when I need to be in the theater. Reasonable, not rude. ETA: Previews are not an opening act. They are commercials. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/33 "2019-11-13T16:34:49Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I assure you, WE DO! > > But what can we do, except silently grumble? Yelling to you and calling you the name you deserve in the middle of the show is another disruption that annoys even more people. And I’m not wasting an overpriced pop “accidentally” dumping it on you. > > By us doing nothing, unfortunately, your kind “wins”. And the theater experience gets a little poorer. You bring everyone down to your level. > > Maybe y’all should respect the other people that inhabit “your” world. What show? The commercials? Do you get pissed off when you’re watching TV and someone starts talking over the Cialis commercials too? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/34 "2019-11-13T16:43:47Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Now this I don’t understand, you don’t like people taking their phones out during the credits, the time which the lights are already back on and half the theater has already gotten up and left? Maybe I misunderstood. I thought he was saying he looked at his phone when he first arrived. If not, then no, not a problem (though I still don’t know why a person wouldn’t find out that information well before even going to the movie). > [@Marvin the Martian](#): > > ``` > This objection to people arriving after the scheduled start time is just ridiculous. It is completely the fault of the movie industry. Last night I arrived 5 minutes after the scheduled start time and still had to endure ten minutes of commercials followed by ten minutes of previews. A 7:05 movie actually started at 7:30. I will start arriving by the scheduled start time when the theater goes back to 2-3 brief previews max that start promptly at the scheduled start time. Until then I will continue to assume scheduled time + 20 minutes is when I need to be in the theater. > > ``` > > Reasonable, not rude. > > ETA: Previews are not an opening act. They are commercials. Most of the negative aspects of going to the movies originate with the industry; from filthy theaters to high priced tickets. That doesn’t excuse theater goers’ poor manners. And just because you don’t want to watch the trailers, some people do consider them sort of an “opening act” and would like to watch them, undisturbed, ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/35 "2019-11-13T16:46:38Z")
The fact that anyone who’s not profiting off of commercials gets angry that other people don’t dutifully sit quietly and watch commercials is baffling to me. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/36 "2019-11-13T16:47:53Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > What show? The commercials? Do you get pissed off when you’re watching TV and someone starts talking over the Cialis commercials too? Ooh what a putdown! Implying I need boner pills. I guess limp dick guys have no right to watch a movie in peace? Not manly enough to deserve respect? But you can just act like you’re in your living room and we can just suck it? What else can we expect? Farts? Loud crunching? Yelling at the characters in the movie? And I like trailers. So do a lot of people. YOU are the problem, not us. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/37 "2019-11-13T16:48:45Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > What show? The commercials? Do you get pissed off when you’re watching TV and someone starts talking over the Cialis commercials too? I get upset when the lights dim, the previews that help me decide what movies I would like to see in the future come on…and someone can’t tell the difference between a movie theater and a personal living room. When the lights dim, shut off the phone and shut off the yapping. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/38 "2019-11-13T16:50:32Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > The fact that anyone who’s not profiting off of commercials gets angry that other people don’t dutifully sit quietly and watch commercials is baffling to me. The fact that you don’t understand that some people don’t consider trailers “commercials” (in the usual sense) is baffling to me. I don’t think anyone is terribly bothered if people speak _quietly_ to their neighbor while the Chevy commercial is playing. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/39 "2019-11-13T16:51:32Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > The fact that anyone who’s not profiting off of commercials gets angry that other people don’t dutifully sit quietly and watch commercials is baffling to me. They are not, in the strictest sense, “commercials”. So get over it. Trailers are their own thing. People eagerly await them for major movies. They look for them on line. They discuss them. Do people eagerly await the newest Flo commercial? Search on line for Cialis commercials and discuss the deeper meanings therein? Debate whether Toyota Jan is related to Luke Skywalker? no. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358/40 "2019-11-13T16:51:50Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Maybe I misunderstood. I thought he was saying he looked at his phone when he first arrived. If not, then no, not a problem (though I still don’t know why a person wouldn’t find out that information well before even going to the movie). Yes, when I sit down in my seat during the previews is when I usually first think “Hmm, I wonder if there’s anything during/after the credits, let me check”, so I pull out my phone and do so. > [@](#): > > Most of the negative aspects of going to the movies originate with the industry; from filthy theaters to high priced tickets. That doesn’t excuse theater goers’ poor manners. And just because you don’t want to watch the trailers, some people do consider them sort of an “opening act” and would like to watch them, undisturbed, See my question above re: Cialis commercials. Look, I’m not saying I stand up and go on a Trump rant (pro or anti) during the previews. But to me, they aren’t part of what I’m going to the movies for. So I’d rather spend that 15-20 minutes doing something else, and I plan to arrive during them, and do my normal “getting ready to watch the movie” routine when I do arrive. Being distracted for a few seconds and missing a detail of the commercial about Liam Neeson’s plans to torture someone is utterly different than missing part of the actual movie you’re there to see. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-at-your-phone-in-the-movie-theater-during-the-previews-a-faux-pas/843358.md?page=3)