Friday night my wife and I decided to go see the new movie Leatherheads. It was a fun, enjoyable movie, but since this isn’t CS I won’t give a review here.
When we went to buy our tickets, we found that one of the showings was designated as “21+”. No babies, children or teenagers allowed. They said that this was something new they were trying out, and would be having one 21+ screening each Friday night.
What a great idea. We actually were able to enjoy the show with no noisy kids and no chatting on cell phones. I hope more theaters adopt something like this.
Missed the edit window. I forgot to mention that we ordered the tickets online, then when we printed them out at the kiosk in the lobby we each got a voucher for free popcorn.
I don’t know if that was part of the 21+ deal, or some other promotion, but I wasn’t complaining one bit.
I usually go to the less expensive matinee showing, but for something like that I’d surely pay full price!!!
A multiplex theater here in my town, on Friday nights, is not allowing minors unless accompanied by a legal adult, for any movie, not just R-rated. Too many parents were using the place as a drop off for their kids. Some teens are protesting the rule, saying they are being discriminated against. But it’s interesting that some of the defenders are those individuals just turned eighteen, who now aren’t being lumped in with younger kids. It seems to be working well.
My husband says this is a common practice in Germany.
I’d love it if my local theater would have a 21+ night. The last time we went to a movie on Friday night, it sucked. Loud teenagers, cellphones ringing, cellphones illuminated as kids sent text messages (seemingly endlessly).
I usually stick to a weekend matinee just to avoid the above-mentioned.
As I’ve typed this, I realize I am now starting to sound like a grouchy old woman…at 31! Get off my lawn, you young punk!
I must have the best luck ever. The last movie I saw in the theatre was “I am Legend” on a Friday night at 7:30 PM and it was pretty crowded but I had none of the disruptions that everyone always brings up in these threads, nor have I at the dozens of other shows I’ve attended over the past few years.
One of our local theaters began doing an 18+ rule for all showings beginning after 11:00 PM a few months ago. I’m unsure if they are still continuing with the rule, but it did work quite well for the theater. Unfortunately, the local Wal-Mart was overrun with more teenagers than normal…
One big difference is that in Germany all movie ratings contain an explicit age (0, 6, 12, 16 or 18) and the only exception to this is that since 2003 children who are at least six years old are allowed to see movies that are rated “12” if they are accompanied by a parent.
We have a place like that in Chicago - the Vic Theater, which is known for serving beer and showing double features. They don’t show the latest movies though - they’re more likely to do something like a screening of Hedwig and Rocky Horror.
I can see having one 21+ show, but having the whole theater be 18+, as **Baker **mentioned seems like a terrible idea. When I was a teenager (many years ago!), the movies were one of few places we could go on a weekend night. At 16 or 17, I certainly wasn’t going to have my Mommy come with me - especially if I was on a date! There is already precious little for teens to do in smaller towns and if the alternative is for them to wander the streets all night, that’s not very positive.
I and many other teens knew how to behave in a movie theater. I’m not in favour of marginalizing all teens because of the actions of a few.
Our theater has for a while had a policy of “no children under 6 at all in R-rated movies on Friday or Saturday after 6 PM.” In other words, grownups are paying a premium to see a movie on these nights, so get a damn sitter. As a parent of a one-year-old, I approve of this.
This idea may work for a large complex as I’m sure they had another print of leatherheads starting a similar time that they allowed everyone into but at a little 5-plex, well, the idea doesn’t really work out that great.
The Muvico Palace in Boca Raton, FL has a “premiere” level; it costs about $13/ticket, but it’s got amenities to go along with the price. Bigger seats, guaranteed “center view” at each seat, balcony level above the “cheap seats” (you can’t hear them unless the entire crowd roars with laughter), free popcorn, and availability of alcoholic beverages while you watch your movie. I’ve been there a few times with Acid Lamp when watching “stupid” movies (Jackass 2, Snakes on a Plane, etc.) without having to be surrounded by teens who’ll spend the whole time texting each other and throwing popcorn/candy at everyone. I don’t know if there are actual age restrictions or not for that theater, but it is nice that I’ve never encountered problems while seated in the Premier level. Their restaurant’s pretty decent, too; excellent service and good but “trendy” food.
Cool! That means they probably have a similiar set-up at the Gateway.
Incidentally, Brewvies on 2nd W and about 6th S is all 21 and over, because it’s a pub, too. They only have 2 screens, and they tend to play movies that are about to be released on DVD, but it’s a pretty awesome place.
