# Things you've said or done to disruptive people at movie theatres **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 14, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935 "2005-02-14T00:07:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/21 "2005-02-14T15:47:33Z")
The only time I ever did so: I was at the **LOTR:The Return of the King**. I adore these movies. I adore Viggo. So some guy is talking, talking, talking behind me, not even about the movie, but anything but. I am fairly mild-mannered these days but I can have a temper worthy of a redhead. I put up with it for some time, and then he started talking during one of the quiet scenes, and I turned around and hissed: “I have been waiting a WHOLE YEAR to watch this movie and not to hear YOU talk. Would you kindly SHUT THE HELL UP?” Suddenly everybody around me was telling him to be quiet. I thought I had embarrased the hell out of my SO who is normally a very quiet, serious person, but even he told me he was grateful, although he laughed at seeing my temper whip out again. The guy was quiet except for one snort when Frodo got stabbed by Shelob, and he left early. Nobody messes with my watching of Viggo. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/22 "2005-02-14T16:28:48Z")
I’ve only had the occasion to use this strategy once, but I was once at a movie a few rows in front of some 16 or 17 year old girls who were blathering on loudly with some really stupid observations about the movie. After a short while, I got up and sat down right next to them. I thought I might have to escalate my violation of their personal comfort zone, but sitting next to them was enough to shut them up. I’m looking forward to testing it out again, preferrably after having had a big Mexican dinner and a healthy glass of milk. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/23 "2005-02-14T17:08:36Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > I’m looking forward to testing it out again, preferrably after having had a big Mexican dinner and a healthy glass of milk. Well, I know I’m not going to the movies at **Hentor** ’s invitation. Just in case he’s “prepared.” ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/24 "2005-02-14T17:24:02Z")
> [@Vision of Love](#): > > Once, my dad got really annoyed at these teenagers who sat behind him because they were talking throughout the whole movie about things that weren’t even related to the film. When it was time to stand up and leave, my dad spat into the hair of the girl that sat behind him. She had her back turned to him so she didn’t notice. Just in case you were confused about your parental role models here, I’d say your dad is a passive aggressive asshole who chose to behave like a child instead of actually confronting a problem. If he acts like this in other aspects of life, don’t be like him. > [@adhemar](#): > > Well technically, when she got down and yelled and spit in my face, I hit her. And yes I am ashamed of myself. I also think there is a big difference between laughing and talking through a movie like Batman is quite different than talking through a movie like “Ray”. No there isn’t. There is absolutely no difference whatsoever. People pay money and go to a movie to hear IT not someone else’s comments, no matter how funny they think they may be. Doesn’t matter if the movie is _Schindler’s List_ or _See Spot Run II_. If you can’t keep your mouth shut during a movie, wait till it hits DVD. You should be ashamed at yourself for talking during the movie and then acting like a criminal. You’re guilty of assault. That you’d even admit to this behavior astounds me. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/25 "2005-02-14T17:26:08Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > Well, I know I’m not going to the movies at **Hentor** ’s invitation. Just in case he’s “prepared.” Well, I realize that there just might be some collateral damage, but sometimes in order to save the village you have to burn it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/26 "2005-02-14T18:31:30Z")
There were some really, really obnoxious people in the theater when we saw **Pirates of the Carribean**. I think they snuck beer in, and they were talking loud, dropping cans, and being generally irritating. They guy right in front of me hollered a “shut up” at them, and one guy came charging up the stairs, looking for the person who said it. He looked ready to fight, so no one moved. He went away. Not long after, someone went out and got some managers and ushers, and the people were removed. The audience applauded. I was thinking about this the other day, and I wondered what I’d do if I were in the same situation again. The best option I could come up with is flashing my badge and telling them to sit their asses back down. In the dark of a movie theater, they wouldn’t see that it says “Assistant County Attorney” instead of “Police Officer”… ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/27 "2005-02-14T18:39:58Z")
> [@Max Torque](#): > > The best option I could come up with is flashing my badge and telling them to sit their asses back down. In the dark of a movie theater, they wouldn’t see that it says “Assistant County Attorney” instead of “Police Officer”… The temptation really is great. I usually don’t carry my OPM badge around with me when I’m not working, and I’d get in serious trouble (that is, fired) if it were found out I used it in such a way, but I’ve definitely been in situations where I’ve wanted to do the exact same thing. Mine look more like FBI from a distance. Really fun when I do cold-call interviews at residences. “Mom the FBI’s at the door! And they say Mr. Smith next door is getting arrested!” Kids, gotta love how they piece 2 and 2 together into 5. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/28 "2005-02-14T18:46:38Z")
> [@Max Torque](#): > > There were some really, really obnoxious people in the theater when we saw **Pirates of the Carribean**. I think they snuck beer in, and they were talking loud, dropping cans, and being generally irritating. They guy right in front of me hollered a “shut up” at them, and one guy came charging up the stairs, looking for the person who said it. He looked ready to fight, so no one moved. Oooh, I definitely wish I’d been there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/29 "2005-02-14T19:37:47Z")
> [@Max Torque](#): > > I was thinking about this the other day, and I wondered what I’d do if I were in the same situation again. The best option I could come up with is flashing my badge and telling them to sit their asses back down. In the dark of a movie theater, they wouldn’t see that it says “Assistant County Attorney” instead of “Police Officer”… A weird hijack, but I knowa handful of people who work(ed) as ADAs in Lubbock. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/30 "2005-02-14T20:00:06Z")
> [@Vision of Love](#): > > Once, my dad got really annoyed at these teenagers who sat behind him because they were talking throughout the whole movie about things that weren’t even related to the film. When it was time to stand up and leave, my dad spat into the hair of the girl that sat behind him. She had her back turned to him so she didn’t notice. Wow…what a big man your dad is. :rolleyes: I’m curious > [@Askia](#): > > In college my friends and I routinely rolled in twelve deep to the town’s small theater, took over four rows in the middle of the theater and talked, smoked weed, drank beer and ate sandwiches we’ve snuck in. If cell phones were as common back then as they are now, we’d have ordered in pizza. If we bothered anybody, they never said, “Boo,” to us. Then again, we were a dozen black males averaging 200 pounds, each under the age of twenty four. People might have been a little reluctant to confront us. Y’know, I hate to think I did this stuff only because I’m black. Wait…a black man who drinks, smokes weed AND is loud and obnoxious in a movie theater? I can’t believe that’s a true story! adhemar - You’re obviously proud enough of what you did to share it with us. I’m curious what you would have done if Askia and his hommies got in your face instead of some middle-aged housewife. I haven’t experienced anythig beyond the simple “shushing” which seemed to do the trick. I did see an old woman go to town on some other lady with her cane because she took her seat. That was pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/31 "2005-02-14T20:40:18Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > Ok well I have to say this is the opposite of what you are looking for, but I went with a friend to see the first Batman movie and we had a fantastic time, we thought it was lots of fun and we laughed and admittedly made comments all through the movie like “Holy Batcave! Batman!” and “Zap!” “Pow!” etc. A woman came up got down in my face and spittle flying, told me that we were the rudest people she had ever met in her life and her 10 year lod child was better than behaved than we were, so I whacked her in the face. She went marching out of there and I told my friends “We have to leave now! I am about to be arrested.” They thought this was the funniest thing in the world. We left out the side door. Unfortunately, this is Cafe Society, so I can’t tell you what I think of you, **adhemar** , but your actions were reprehensible. I hope we never meet in real life. The worst of these situations I ever encountered was a concert last year, not a movie. There were two girls in front of me that stood up as soon as the headliner band came in, and didn’t sit back down. I put up with it for two songs, and then politely asked them to sit so that we could all see. They sat down, but got up before the next song was even over. I finally told them that I paid good money for my seat so that I could _sit_ in it, and if they wanted to stand, they should head for the front or side and not block our view. They said they paid good money for their seats, too, and they could do whatever they damned well pleased. There were about ten of us that never got a view of the stage that night, just so that those two idiots could stand up and wiggle instead of sitting down and wiggling. And no, by the way, we weren’t on the main floor, this wasn’t a mosh pit or a dance floor, and it wasn’t a dance band. They were the only ones standing in our whole section. We might as well have been sitting in the lobby or listening to the show on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Vision\_of\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Vision\_of\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vision_of_Love)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/32 "2005-02-14T20:52:53Z")
Just wanted to comment as two people have commented on my dad’s behaviour. It was a long time ago, _and_ I have never condoned it, not even to him. When he first told me about this, I was extremely embarrassed even though I wasn’t in the theatre, and some time had already passed since the incident happened. The 😛 in my OP was for how I’d act much differently in the same situation. Hey, I’m the type who wouldn’t make a peep if someone repeatedly kicks the back of my seat. Just wanted to clear that up. ---
**Author:** ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/33 "2005-02-14T21:26:14Z")
I bought [these](http://www.glarkware.com/securestore/c181844p16288268.2.html) and they help tremendously. But really all you need is the line on the back: “Remember this isn’t a video and this isn’t your living room!” I’ve used it before without the card and it’s funny enough that most people just sit in their bewilderment. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/34 "2005-02-14T21:33:57Z")
Recall my misadventures while viewing RotK! (Quoted from an older thread) > [@](#): > > Packed theather, right? > > I am of course sitting on the aisle seat next to two teenagers (boy and girl). Every few minutes he’d lean over and they’d make out. I don’t even think they knew who won at the end. When he put his jacket over his lap, I got uncomfortable. He at least made the cursory “cold in here” comment to her (for my benefit). C’mon, man. I know she’s jackin’ ya. > But I am not gonna get in the way of this guy’s freak. > > watsonwil, Esquire is NOT a cockblock! > > So, I didn’t pay attention. It’s not like I saw motion or heard slapping. It was a very respectful movie theater hand job. I’ve been there. I’ve done that. I’ve ruined nice pants. > > But I DID draw the line at him leaning up against me. > > I guess either he was done and relaxed or he needed to lean back further and let her have some mobility to work it, but the dude started leaning back toward my chair. At first, I was uncomfortable with the contact. I mean, I don’t care that she’s rubbing the guy, but I was kind creeped that a man was being sexually pleasured while I was touching him. Call me old fashioned. Call me a prude. > > But I don’t like to say anything to people next to me because there was still 2 hours to go and it would have made me uncomfortable. > > But there came a point where I just had to speak up. The guy slid down a little more and it wasn’t just his shoulder leaning up against me. His freaking HEAD was laying on my shoulder. > > I was practically having a three way with these people. WITHOUT THE COURTESY OF A REACH AROUND! > > A looked over at the guy and said, firmly but politely, “Could you not lean on me.” > > He was apolgetic and I really am not sure he knew he was doing it. When a man is getting his freak on, his mind is elsewhere. > > He leaned back her way and didn’t even look at me as we left the theater. > > I hope he at least “finished.” ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/35 "2005-02-14T21:59:37Z")
Wow, I’ve read so many complaints about teenagers and just young people in general. My absolute worst experiences are always with older people, both men and women. There have been about 8-10 times when I have been trying to watch a movie, and older or quite elderly people will be chatting about nothing or commenting about the movie–_loudly_. Sometimes I think it might be a hearing loss thing, but that can’t _always_ be the reason. I usually say something like “Will you please whisper?” or I will say “Shh” or somebody else will say something and spare me the trouble. The funny thing is, as someone else mentioned, the minute _I_ say shh or whatever, other people join in. It’s like we’re all suffering in silence, waiting for someone to have the guts to do something. If my husband is with me he cringes with embarrassment, but I am 50 years old myself and am not about to have an inconsiderate jerk spoil my theater-going experience. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/36 "2005-02-14T22:12:26Z")
> [@watsonwil](#): > > A weird hijack, but I knowa handful of people who work(ed) as ADAs in Lubbock. I might know them, too, since I did criminal defense in Lubbock for a while, but I’m working in another county now. In a city surrounded by fields that are brown, if you get my drift. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/37 "2005-02-15T00:28:25Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Wait…a black man who drinks, smokes weed AND is loud and obnoxious in a movie theater? I can’t believe that’s a true story! It’s true! I did it! Used to do it all the time! I’m way too old to pull off being that obnoxious in public now, but when I was in my teens and early twenties…? > [@](#): > > adhemar - You’re obviously proud enough of what you did to share it with us. I’m curious what you would have done if Askia and his hommies got in your face instead of some middle-aged housewife. HAH. Right. Heh. Heh heh. Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh HEH heh heh heh heh heh heh heh. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/38 "2005-02-15T01:58:39Z")
Actually, I try to remember this situation as often as possible not because I am proud of it but because I don’t ever want to repeat it. I don’t talk in movies at all now. I am sorry that you don’t want to meet me based on one stupid act, but you gotta do what you gotta do. ---
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/39 "2005-02-15T02:19:46Z")
Watching _Desperately Seeking Susan_, at a packed cinema many moons ago, I had to crack a girl in the back of the head with a Kool Mint for carrying on and on with loud laughter during non-funny moments in the film. She was about 8 rows away. Twas an exellent throw. ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935/40 "2005-02-15T05:48:07Z")
Way back when, I went to see _House_ (I know, I know, but I’m a horror junkie, and sometimes it doesn’t even matter if it’s **good** horror) and a couple of minutes into the movie, two late arrivals sit right behind me and my girlfriend. They start jabbering away, mostly about non-movie stuff. I turned to them and said “I paid to hear the movie, not you talking.” The guy of the couple said in a snotty tone “There’s plenty of other seats here.” I replied “Yeah? Go use 'em!” Shortly thereafter they got up and moved. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-said-or-done-to-disruptive-people-at-movie-theatres/289935.md?page=3)