Wal Mart, $10.

Sorry to hear the theater let that go on. I actually work for Regal right now, and at least at my theater we don't tolerate assholes. I've kicked out people before, and it's actually kinda fun. Big power rush :thumbsup:

Teenagers are usually the biggest problems, with college age people coming in second. My advice: first ask them politely, but sternly, to quiet down. If they persist, then go find an employee and voice your complaint. They should send someone in to tell the person to be quiet, and if not, demand your money back/passes. Since theaters don't make much money off of ticket sales, they are usually pretty willing to give out passes to make you happy. As long as there is a legitimate problem.

I used to work in the movie theater here in town and while the preferred method of dealing with disturbances is for you to come get a manager (we know it doesn't always happen, unfortunately) all of the staff would have approved wildly (but subtly) of this method. Usually the people who talk in movies are the people who are rude or inconsiderate to the staff when they purchase their tickets or concessions. :/

Yeah, I really can't say anything to that one..

No, I'll just have to save it for when the kid misbehaves.

*ItWasMe hands maudlinae a bag of rubber bands* If the door doesn't smack them on the way out, use these.

I still love MSD's idea of slingshotting popcorn kernels. Rubber bands are easy to find, to figure out what you were hit with. Popcorn kernels aren't, since they're probably eating popcorn.

A cattle prod is actually my first choice, but a bit difficult to hide without a trenchcoat.

I have an awesome mental picture of you in a trench coat with an electric goad hiding under, then sitting behind an asshole and zapping/stabbing him every time he is a jerk. Then when they turn around you do that whistling, eyes to the celling, innocent look thingy.

When I first starting dating my now wife, within a couple months we were in a theater and the first previews were running, her phone rings softly..OP!! she forgot to turn off her phone, woops...but then she answered it and began to talk.. my eyes bulged in shock, we received looks for those around us and I asked her quickly "what are you doing!"...she ended the conversation quickly and turned her phone to silent. I asked her later why she would answer her phone, and her answer "it was only previews" lol...so innocent, but that has now stopped as I explained how that was very rude. There is always something rude in a theater, always different when it's your lady!

My wife has the good fortune of being able to hyper focus, so any disturbances or rudeness in the theater go largely unnoticed by her, while I on the other hand seem to notice everything, and get distracted easily, so when a bright shiny phone is turned on to text 5+ times through the course of the movie, I do get agitated, but I live with it and adjust my sitting to block the light.

I kid with my wife all the time that we are going to use our formal room one day, get a nice 1080p projector, nice surround, some comfy seats and wait for the Blu-Ray to come out so we can watch movies in peace. Plus... 2 tickets + popcorn and a drink costs more then a Blu-Ray movie, so when we are done, we can sell the disc if it was so-so and have enjoyed a nice, uninterrupted high quality movie with popcorn and soda, for ~$10. ROI is a long long long time, but the peace and quiet is priceless.

Unfortunately, movie talkers are one of my big erks.

With talkers, I won't hesitate to turn around and sternly tell them to shut up.

Once with an ex girlfriend, she asked a group of teenagers behind us to please be quiet. Upon exiting the movie, we noticed that one of them had spit on the back of her shirt.

I ran through the lobby out to the parking lot before they left, and pulled the driver out the driver's side window. I'd rather not discuss the details from there as I'm not proud of it, but its the only legal trouble I've ever been in, and I'm very glad to have known several of the officers who arrived on the scene.

Bear Club! I just gained so much respect for you. I hate little fuckers who think they can do shit like that and get away with it. Pardon my harsh language but they just get my blood boiling.

I will now buy a bag of gummi bears for every movie theater I visit! Awesome suggestion!!

I have to say that I am thankful this was bumped or I would have missed this little gem that had me nearly falling out of my chair. Climactic scene with full-audience participation.

I have to say that for the most part I have been pretty lucky where I live as far as rudeness in theaters. I think the most trouble is a kid kicking the back of the seat which they generally stop when asked. I haven't had any real trouble with anyone talking or disrupting the film. I think that often they don't realize they are disruptive until you say something to them.

The question was about nuisance, not rudeness. They are different from each other.

As far as the nuisance part is concerned I had been on both sides. We during college use to go to theatres and create hell a lot of chorus, whistles and even dance during songs. We do that for the whole song if we liked the song, if it is a folk song with good music etc (in my country each movie on average has 5 songs). Also my friends pass comments for which even audience laugh. There were one instance when the theatre people walked in and asked us to be quiet. We became quiet.

As a citizen now when I watch movies with family, the same thing bothers me some times(Karma :) ). How ever I tolerate as much possible. After few instances I speak up very polite. But I dont know I never complain to the management.

Regarding rudeness, I am an animal. Theatre or where ever, I size up the people, the area, people with me, etc and act appropriately. The other day I scared the hell out of a guy trying to attract (disturbing) a malabar squirrel in zoo to take pictures.

Gawd, but this was a fun (and sometimes informative!) thread. Along MSD's popcorn kernel/slingshot idea... if I could alter the straw of a can of air so that either a popcorn kernel or a spitwad would fit snugly in one end, I'll bet that would make a great shooter. My can is kind of noisy, though.

I dont go very often anymore and when I do I dont go on any premiere weekends. If it is disruptive though I will complain to the manager after the flick and either be refunded or get free passees for next time.

For people who want something a bit better than the average theater experience, these have been highly recommended by various people

Montgomery Cinema & Drafthouse Movies, Music, Fun, Beer, Wine, Mixed Drinks, Comedy, Live Entertainment, Family Friendly
Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse Movies, Music, Fun, Beer, Wine, Mixed Drinks, Comedy, Live Entertainment, Family Friendly

and a separate chain

Alamo Drafthouse :: Main Page

the fact that there is an entire website devoted to explaining how to behave in a theater is, I think, a sad commentary on our society.

And yet we sat quietly during the midnight screenings of Rocky Horror.

If it were 10 years ago, I would be so tempted to repeat what you did.

I hope that your friend doesn't put his bare feet on the theater floor :shakehead:.