People who come in late to the theatre
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
February 25, 2008 9:23pm CST
It is my birthday today, and for Christmas my younger son sent us coupons, including free movies on our birthdays, so we went to see "Vantage Point" real exciting, good plot, good acting, etc. Well we got there early and my husband decided to take seats in the middle near the back. Had some popcorn and soda pop, then waited until the previews were done, and the advertising was done. There were a few other couples, but not much. The movie started, and it was so full of excitement, and everything went fine, until a family of a couple of teenage boys and their mother came in late, and went for the seat a few rows in front of them and you know what happen?
Their heads blocked part of the scene and that made me rather annoyed. It was not near the beginning, but about ten to fifteen minutes before the middle. Now has this happened to you when you go to a theater on a special occasion and then someone or some people walk in late, and instead of taking the side seats, walk in front of you and spoil part of the show?
12 people like this
29 responses
@AmbiePam (93933)
• United States
26 Feb 08
Oh I know! It is so annoying! And with the theater having so much room, it is even more exasperating when they block your view. I don't know what happened to common courtesy, because I really don't think it is too much ask. Thanks for the review of the movie also because my birthday is Saturday and I wanted to go see it, but I didn't know if it was any good. : )
3 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Feb 08
I think that if you are late that you go for an aisle seat or at least, bend down a little so they can still see the scene. It is easy to do.
2 people like this
@queenofarms (1659)
• United States
26 Feb 08
Yes, it has happened to me..Its very annoying..Something else that bothers me is when people bring their babies...The theatre is no place for a baby...Don't get me wrong I love babies...Or someone that talks through the whole movie...
3 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Feb 08
When our boys were babies, we did not go to the movies or any theater unless it was something for babies and toddlers. For one thing I could never concentrate on the movies. Wait a few years until they are old enough. Besides why take them to a movie that is for adults and worry that they do not absorb the s*x and violence by osmosis?
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
29 Jul 08
I used to get nightmares just staring at this elf doll I had so I can tell that there are certain films that children should not go to. I mean even if they do not remember supposedly until they are three, we do not know what goes into their little minds and we should not unduly frighten them. Those first couple of years of their lives should be filled with love and not terror.
@AmbiePam (93933)
• United States
26 Feb 08
I agree. I mean somewhere there has to be a friend, a family member, or a church person who would watch the baby. And if not, wait for it to come on DVD. The problem is when people bring babies and the babies cry, the people usually wait a long time before getting up and taking them out! I know parents probably want to hang me for saying that, but hey, we pay for the movie too.
I'm not ashamed to say I actually told someone to shut up in a movie. My friend was so mad at me, but they were so loud! Three teenage guys came in late, and they talked so loud I finally turned around and said, "Shut up!" Funny enough, a person in front of me said "Amen!" LOL, and the guys shut up. I was 16 at the time and probably wouldn't do it now, but I'm glad I had the guts to do it then.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
3 Jul 08
I remember the old Mad cartoon where these women with the large behive hair do got in front and they were contrasting it with the olden days where the patron said, "please remove your hat," and then we would say, "please shave your head," but getting back to this. Why do not the tall people sit behind us, instead of in front?
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
26 Feb 08
I LONG ago stopped sitting in the middle because I'm so short I can't see over tops of people's heads.
The roomie is blind - well very limited vision, so she likes to sit in the middle, near the front. So, with her we sit in the middle where there are NO seats infront of us.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
3 Jul 08
We were just behind the middle and if it were not for that tall people that came in later, we could have seen all of the show with no shadowed heads in front of us. We are not that tall, my husband is five feet seven and I am five feet almost four inches, so we do not have tall necks that can expand up to the ceiling.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Feb 08
I am rather on the short side and it hurts straining your neck when youj sit in the front row.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
26 Feb 08
I agree, but the roomie needs it.
There's one theater we really like. It was converted from old style seating to stadium seating and the best seats in the house are actually about the middle of the theater, and on the level. The closest seats are down in a pit.
We saw Da Vinci Code there and because they had a sound problem during the show we got 3 free tickets so we went back and saw Xmen III the next week.
2 people like this
@polofield32 (346)
• Philippines
26 Feb 08
This happened to me several times already. Some people can be very insensitive. Most of the time I just keep mum about it but my girlfriend wouldn't really let it pass without saying anything. It's irritating when these people would just walk in front of you and spoil everything. It's even more irritating when they come in groups and take time before they take their seats.
3 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Feb 08
I do not like it one bit. We hardly go to the movies, and it also happens in the live theatre too, and for one outing a year, you would think people would be more considerate.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Feb 08
I do not move as I want to see all of the movie. But next time we will sit at the aisles. Then if they come in late, we do not have to have thier heads in front of us.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
26 Feb 08
I hate that and it always seems to happen to me, and it's always the people in the row right in front of you, can't be anywhere else can it? NO, it has to be right in front of you. No matter where you sit, I think there should be strict ruling that once the film or play starts that's it no entry. It spoils it for everyone else who have bothered to turn up at the right time. It's just selfish. And don't you always get someone who's tall sitting in front of you, or someone using their damn mobile sitting near you! AAAAah you can see why I don't go to the cinema or theatre much!
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
9 May 08
I always have tall people sit in front of you and you cannot move out of your seat, because there are people behind you who would be inconvenienced.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
26 Feb 08
yes it has happened but like you they have the right to sit in whatever seats they want to, they are not assigned to anyone. I don't like not seeing and it has happened to me before, but there is not much I really can do about it. Except get up and move if there are other seats available, but I have never done that.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
9 May 08
I do think people should be considerate. If we came in late, we bent down so the people behind us could see the show, or more than likely we took the seat near the aisles. Then when the show is over, we can let others pass or during intermission. No one has the right to inconvenience another person. If you are gong to be late, come for the next show or go another night when you are off. Do not make people think your head is part of the scene.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
9 May 08
The trouble was that we hardly go to movies. It was a special treat because it was my birthday. I mean I was so upset, and it was a good movie. I might buy it on DVD, but I would rather get it because it was a good movie, not because I missed out on a very essential part. It was the type of movie you had to keep your eyes on in case you missed something.
@kaylp06 (12)
• United States
27 Feb 08
You know this happens almost everytime I go to the movies! I swear even if there's only 10-15 people in the theatre its like I'm a calling and they must sit right in front of me. I've gotten to the point that if they are very rude while doing this I say something.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
3 Jul 08
It was a week night, and we had people behind us, and we all got in our seats before the movie started. All went well, and then almost half way through the movie this woman and her sons comes in, and they were not that small. When the movie was over, I looked behind and saw that there were lots of empty seats behind us and they were not all right behind us, so they could have sat there and not only that, there were empty seats on the side.
@rainbow2007star (920)
•
28 Feb 08
It is an unpleasant situation I know it well. It looks like all th epeople at the cinema must and should wait for them till they get relaxed in their seats.I dislike even more people thet talk during the movie is shown.They make noice adn you cann't watch the movie in peace
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
3 Jul 08
I think they should close the doors to the theater when the main attraction starts and not let people wander in. It is all right for someone to go and get some snacks or to go to the washroom, but should we who got there in time, wait until the later comers come in? It is not about talkers, it is about people coming in late and not just when the movie has started, but when the movie is half way over.
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
27 Feb 08
Sorry your movie got interrupted by rude people. Some people don't seem to think about anyone but themselves. I very seldom even go to the theater to watch a movie. Can't afford it for one! I much prefer being comfortable in my own home watching a movie. Maybe that's because I am very seldom home!
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
3 Jul 08
We usually watch the movies at home, because we got a large Tv screen and we also cannot go to the Theater and part of the reason is that these people who come in late, who are taller than us, and insist in sitting in front of us or walking in front of us so that we miss part of the show. So it was supposed to be a treat for us. Now had I always been accomodated with, I would not have minded, but it seemed that everytime we went to see a movie, someone who was taller went to sit in front of us, and the only way, when I was young to prevent it, was to sit in the side seats, and strain my neck or in the very front and practically only see the floor of the set.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
29 Feb 08
Oh to be able to go to the movies again! It has been about 10 years since I last went! I don't like it when people come in late either, but have found that in Australia, they have a policy that once the movie starts, there is no entry.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
3 Jul 08
They should have it here in Canada. After all, going to the movies is not cheap. The only reason we did was because we got free birthday tickets, so for us it was a treat and I did not like anyone spoiling it. I intend to get the movie in DVds and see that little part I missed.
@Aingealicia (1905)
• United States
27 Feb 08
I always try to show up early for the theater for that very same reason. It does ruin a show.
Ainge
Happy Birthday by the way.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
3 Jul 08
When I was young, my father used to take us to the movies and he always came in when the movie had started, so I really hated it and I could never understand why some people came in late and I wondered how those two boys would feel when they got older and reflected that their mother (it was in the evening and even with getting off at six, they could have got a hamburger or something) decided that they could not see the first half of the movie. And to think they did not take a side seats but sat in the middle in front of us.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Feb 08
Going to the bathroom is different and usually I go BEFore I go into the theater or if it is one of those double features and I go during the break.
1 person likes this
@zeloguy (4911)
• United States
4 Mar 08
If I have to pay $9 for a ticket $20 for concessions they should not let anyone in after the movie has started and there is a theatre near me that is more expensive than the others that does just that.
You can come in when they are rolling the introductory stuff and maybe even through the previews but once the movie has started... sorry no entry.
I think it should actually be that way... if you don't get there in time wait for the next show!
Thanks
Zelo
1 person likes this
@zeloguy (4911)
• United States
2 Jul 08
That would bug the heck out of me and I am not one to just let someone interfere without saying anything which just creates.... more of a disruption. If an accidental cell phone call goes off or a baby starts crying (uuugghhh in an R rated movie noless) and the mother takes it out promtly then I don't have a problem with it.
Speaking of R-Rated movies my wife and I try to see them on purpose so we don't have to put up with the teens in the theatres!
Thanks
Zelo
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
3 Jul 08
I hate cell phones ringing. Have they not heard of the silent mode? I have a cell phone and if I am somewhere where there is people, I turn it off unless I am camping out in the middle of no where.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
21 Apr 08
That is how I feel. I did not like it when my dad would take us to the movies and it was after the beginning credits were rolling. I decided when I grew up I would get to the movie before it started and leave when the last credit was finished. I was glad when they showed the old movies on TCM so I could catch up on what I missed.
1 person likes this
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
26 Feb 08
No I have never had a problem like this. Any theatre I've ever been in had the seating positioned so this doesn't happen. Glad you enjoyed the movie and Happy Birthday!!! I'm late with that but I do always wish you well.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Feb 08
Thank you. I liked the old theaters with the balconies on the top, made you feel you were going out somewhere special, but here in our neighborhood the seats are only one step above or below the next row.
1 person likes this
@jesus777 (662)
• Bermuda
19 Jun 08
yes it is annoying people should be show respect i think there should be a law against that people sitting in front of people at a movie theater it make me wanna too slap them or something i ama nice person but dont get on my nerves i will show the other side of me so it is best too stay on my good side rather then my bad there is nothing much that can be done about this but there should be something but people should just show compassion for others in these situations!!!!!
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
3 Jul 08
When we came in late, when I was a youngster, we had to sit at the side seats. Now they were very uncomfortable and we could not see much of the movie without straining our necks, but my father insisted. It was not polite to walk in front of other people. We could not get there before the movie started because the movie theater was not in our neighborhood and we had to take the bus.
But I guess the ones that come in late, do not have good manners and do not care for the ones behind them.
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
26 Feb 08
Happy birthday!
Yes, I've had people ocme in late and make a commotion as they settle in their seats. Grrrr when some tall person sits in front of me. Either I move or just angle my neck.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
26 Feb 08
The very tall people should sit near the back and let us short ones sit near the middle or the firnt.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
4 Jul 08
It does get annoying. It would not have been that bad if it were a crowded theater and that was the only seats left, but the theater was almost empty being in the middle of the week and there were no reserved seats. And of course, they were taller than us.