What is movie etiquette?
Movie etiquette is a set of societal norms that are followed when you see a film in the theater. It’s a basic list of things you should do to ensure that every movie-goer has a positive experience: Clean up your trash, stay silent during the movie, and turn your phone on silent. Throughout many of our lives, these rules were more or less followed.
How is movie etiquette being broken?
As of recently– and as some say, after Covid, these rules seem to have gone out the window. The first notable trend that came from movie theaters that broke etiquette was from “Minions Rise of Gru” In 2022. People showed up to the “Minions” movie wearing suits, and during the movie they’d be generally loud and disrespectful– going as far to throw bananas during showtime, and cheering loudly throughout the movie and disrupting others’ experiences, which eventually led some cinemas to ban teenagers from wearing suits during the showing.
The next notable trend was from the “Eras Tour” movie in 2023. Taylor Swift released a concert film for her fans, and instead of treating it like a movie– her fans treated it as, well, a concert. Cinemas had to ban singing and dancing as it was disrupting the theatre rooms next to them, and bothering people who were just trying to watch. This was also a problem with the “Wicked” film, where moviegoers were repeatedly encouraged to NOT sing along during showtimes, but unfortunately– they did anyway.
The most recent example of movie etiquette being dead is “The Minecraft Movie.” Showings of this movie are chaotic– I witnessed it myself. Whenever an iconic line was said, the theatre would break out into screaming and clapping. While it creates a fun environment, it’s also important to remember that some people might just want to watch the movie. I didn’t personally witness it– but there have been cinemas reporting that teenagers are trashing movie rooms during showtimes, throwing popcorn, and generally causing mayhem. As a result, some theaters are requiring teenagers to show up with an adult if they’re seeing “The Minecraft Movie.” In some circumstances, local authorities are even being called. UK chain Cineworld said on Instagram– “clapping, cheering, and shouting ‘I AM STEVE’ is absolutely encouraged… Don’t go full Creeper. No throwing, no mess, and no filming the screen!”
Why is this a problem?
I think a majority of this issue stems from Covid. While a lot of older Gen Z people were able to live through their teenage years and go to the movies regularly, a lot of younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha people weren’t able to have these experiences. As a result, they might be used to watching movies at home as opposed to seeing them on the big screen. They might treat movie theatres as if they were in their own home, being as loud and messy as they’d like.
What’s the solution?
Implementing proper warning signs and upping security in movie theaters could help. Make it clear before the movie–don’t shout, make a mess, or jump around. And if someone does this, then they should be properly handled with a warning and then an escort out of the theater.
How can I keep movie etiquette alive?
Make sure that when you’re in a movie theater, you’re aware that you’re not the only person paying to see the movie! While cheering halfway through might be fun for you, someone with sensory issues who has just as much right to be there as you would disagree. Keep clapping to a minimum, be mindful of getting up/down when the movie is playing, and be respectful of the employees there!
