AMC is considering letting people text in movie theaters

[DrPizza]

I heard recently that the movie going population has shifted strongly towards teens. The rest of us are staying home more and more. I assume that teens are also the ones most likely to want to text during the movie.

When I was a kid, there was an usher who would throw out disruptive movie-goers. There were plenty of adults at the movies.

If they instituted a zero-tolerance policy, and removed people from the theater who were using cell phones, they could reverse this trend in ages of people who go to movies.

 

[kranky]

Last time we went to a movie that was popular among under-30's (Hunger Games something), it was a fiasco. Phones in use all over the place and people talking (and not in whispers). The people who do that don't seem to be annoyed by others doing it. I won't be surprised if theaters just let it go on if the majority of the audience doesn't care.

Perhaps fewer people care about having an immersive experience in a theater and just want to act like they are in their living room, only with a much bigger screen.

 

[jlee]

I tune those things out pretty quickly, so I can't say for sure but my guess is that they're sensitive to this issue and don't sell any dishes that would be particularly stinky. There will probably be some food smell but if they're upgrading the seating so radically, putting in a good ventilation and filtration system shouldn't be too much of a challenge.

Popcorn smell has never bothered me, but the constant background noise of crunchcrunchcrunchcrunch is incredibly annoying.

 

[poofyhairguy]

 

[slayer202]

people have zero manners

 

[BurnItDwn]

Meh, I like my home theater best. Its true that I only have 1080p, and I dont have Imax, but, my little 106 inch setup works for me and the woman.

 

[Jaepheth]

When I was a kid, there was an usher who would throw out disruptive movie-goers. There were plenty of adults at the movies.

If they instituted a zero-tolerance policy, and removed people from the theater who were using cell phones, they could reverse this trend in ages of people who go to movies.

That's why I almost exclusively go to Alamo Drafthouse these days.

They have a 1 warning before you get thrown out without refund policy. That and the higher prices tend to keep the terrible people away.

Plus they have a good beer selection and better food than Studio Movie Grill.

 

[Ns1]

if they do it I can tell you one movie chain I'm not going to.

the higher prices tend to keep the terrible people away.

sad but true.

 

[Jeffg010]

I'm glad I got choices other then just AMC.

If you never been to Cinemark XD your missing out.
http://www.cinemark.com/theatres.aspx?type=1

 

[Crusty]

<3 the Alamo Drafthouse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L3eeC2lJZs

 

[Jaskalas]

If they pull out their phone... I can pull out a flashlight? Same effect.

 

[JSt0rm]

bahahahhahahaha

sure let the 22 year olds text. That will only drive away the 30+ crowd. who needs them right? disposable income? pfft. who cares?

Statistics show young people make up the majority of repeat movie goers. I hate this but the world isnt about me anymore.

 

[OutHouse]

That's why I almost exclusively go to Alamo Drafthouse these days.

one of the vendors i deal with on a frequent basis, her husband owns one of those. she keeps inviting my dept down for a free night but none of have taken her up on it because its a hour plus drive for most of us just to get to it. looks like a cool place to see a movie.

 

[luv2liv]

dumb move.
reason why i dont go to movie theaters as often nowadays is because of disruptions. both teens and adults are guilty of cellphones.
bring the movies home already! i wouldnt mind paying $50 per movie on release day at home just to get away from annoying people.

 

[gorcorps]

We just got a Cinemark in the next town. I guess they serve food to you and have nice seats. Been meaning to check it out. But I can't imagine being with a bunch of people chomping away at food while I'm trying to watch a movie. Bad enough I can't stand the smell of popcorn breath and people eating it.

I don't see how any food they'd be consuming would be more noisy than popcorn already is, so if anything it'll be quieter.

 

[Xonim]

Meh, I like my home theater best. Its true that I only have 1080p, and I dont have Imax, but, my little 106 inch setup works for me and the woman.

I'm sitting on $150ish of theater gift cards from Christmas last year, and I haven't been to a movie since the newest Star Wars. Every time I think about going to see something, I always reason with myself: "eh, I could just watch XYZ that I still haven't seen, I won't have to leave my house, I can enjoy the movie without disruption, pause whenever I want, and not spent $5 for a bottle of water."

Besides, when you only sit 7' from the screen, 100" is big enough.

 

[poofyhairguy]

bring the movies home already! i wouldnt mind paying $50 per movie on release day at home just to get away from annoying people.

The Napster Knight proposed such an idea but Hollywood isn't having it:

http://www.wired.com/2016/03/hollywood-not-ok-watching-new-movies-home/

 

[kranky]

dumb move.
reason why i dont go to movie theaters as often nowadays is because of disruptions. both teens and adults are guilty of cellphones.
bring the movies home already! i wouldnt mind paying $50 per movie on release day at home just to get away from annoying people.

You'll have to pony up a bit more than that, but http://www.primacinema.com/what-is-prima-cinema/ has what you want. Only $35K for the system, plus $500 per 24-hour movie rental ($600 for 3D movies).

 

[Imp]

Gotta live-tweet the experience!!!!!!!!!!

 

[thesmokingman]

They're trying to give even more reasons to not go to the theater?

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I stopped going to the public theater ~12 years ago. I got tired of the fellow man nonsense. Built a home theater, learned to be patient and wound up with a viewing experience that just cannot be rivaled by the public cinema establishments.

And no threat of getting arrested for killing someone's unplanned pregnancy.

 

[SAWYER]

So pathetic people can not focus on a movie or TV show without being on a device

 

[nakedfrog]

I'd be fine with them selling "texting okay" and "no texting" tickets, say the 2PM in #4 is texting-allowed and the 2:45 in #5 is for people that have a place in civilized society.

 

[Ns1]

I'd be fine with them selling "texting okay" and "no texting" tickets, say the 2PM in #4 is texting-allowed and the 2:45 in #5 is for people that have a place in civilized society.

I could live with this.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I'd be fine with them selling "texting okay" and "no texting" tickets, say the 2PM in #4 is texting-allowed and the 2:45 in #5 is for people that have a place in civilized society.

That only works if they actually enforce the no-texting times. Which we know they probably won't, teenage ushers make terrible enforcers of society.

It would be better to rely on homemade blinders.