The only reason to see a movie in the cinema is for the big screen and the sound.
And that won't last much longer.

Big-ass flat screens are getting cheaper all the time and so do surround-sound sets.
At home you can pick who you watch with, what you eat and enjoy sitting on your own sofa.

The last couple of times I went to a cinema there where allways a few annoying people. Usually the type that thinks they're so fecking funny they have to share their gift with everyone.

I can hardly see the appeal anymore to be honest and therefore rarely go. It's a shame really.

Head phone plugs at each seat, for the option to rent a noise canceling set or bring your own. Outside food is allowed but all wrappers and bags must be removed before entering. Ticket sales end when the movie starts. Cell phone reception blocking nodes. The James Joseph Cialella Jr School of Movie Usher Training -or- type 1 revised Screamers. Take should just about do it.

When I saw Valkyrie, there was a homeless guy sitting a few rows in front of me. He actually started smoking in the middle of the movie. Thankfully, the ushers escorted him out. But that didn't stop him from coming back a few minutes later.

That had to be my most annoying moviegoing experience.

I must be the luckiest moviegoer in the world because I have never had a horrible experience and I've seen hundreds if not thousands of movies in theaters. I can't help but wonder if all of these horrible experiences people talk about aren't exaggerated. In fact, I'm pretty sure they are since the most common complaint I read and hear about are people "on their cell phones." Well, flipping open your cell in a theater does not mean you're on the phone and I've had instances of friends attending a movie with me complaining about just that. People tend to have a very loose definition when they're looking for something to complain about. I'm not saying these things don't happen, but I think it's impossible for it to happen as often as people claim. I think "horrible" experiences are simply a better excuse than admitting that it's more out of laziness which I think is the case. People are used to sitting on their couches doing nothing and don't like getting up.

I guess I am quite tolerant of the errant noises, but a kid screaming at a particular ear-splitting frequency is enough to make me want to scream right back in the sniveling kids face.

I had one experience while watching Chronicles of Narnia. Two girls behind me that wouldnt stop talking through the whole movie. When I "Shh'd" them, they got an attitude like "how dare I tell them anything" and got worse. I eventually had to turn around and in my regular tone of voice told them both to shut the hell up or get the fuck out. Even got a little applause from the people around me.

Tolerance is commendable, but sometimes a situation just calls for blunt force trauma.

I find the worst audiences are at midnight premieres. My last midnight was The Dark Knight, and that went shockingly well, even though the first few minutes had some talkers. My worst experiences are defined by running commentary by some kid in the back left corner. It marred I am Legend (which the third act did enough to destroy) and demolished Spiderman 3. Perhaps this running commentary only comes about during bad movies…

honestly I would rather see movied n my HDTV at home with surround sound, if only movies were released on blu ray/dvd the same day as theaters.

@GregM: Yes! I forgot to mention candy wrappers and the inability of most people to operate them. Good call!

The day I can round up 5000 dollars for the ultimate home entertainment center, I will do so. But right now I'm a poor young man suckling at the teet. I must say I am along with mark as one of the lucky few who does not experience a regular disturbance at the movies. Except this one time when I saw Matrix Revolutions, not only did that movie let me down but this woman in front of me gave the worst commentary on the film as loud as possible. Now I'm from wisconsin, you wouldn't believe the morons that exist here. So if one stumbles into the theatre it could become your worst nightmare.

MARK
I believe these stories more than I believe your claim that you've never had a bad movie going experience. I would have to say that probably 25% of the movies that I've attended in the last few years have been ruined by inconsideret patrons or poor presentation. For example: Wall-E (house lights remained on for 45 min. even after I brought it to the manager's attention), The Dark Knight (inappropriately aged children asked quetions at full volume and received answers from their parents ), Iron Man (nerd commenatry), (Leaving Las Vegas (an older couple complained out loud about the language & content but sat through the entire film). The WORST experience I ever had occured when a couple arrived late for the show and decided to sit next to me in a nearly full theatre. They talked out loud for about 10 minutes commenting on what occured onscreen. The man then produced a joint and "covertly" shared it with his date. He then reached into his jacket and noisily removed a paper bag which contained a bottle of wine and 2 glasses (yes GLASSES). I told the couple to "Give me a break" which spawned them to hit me with a curse filled rant which I summise here as "Who am I to tell them what to do". I understand this sounds outrageous but it's entirely true. I wish it wasn't. I used to go to the theatre at least once per week. I now attend less than 10 movies per year. I do have a significant home theatre set-up but for me the main deterent to visting a the cineplex is the patrons.

The best experience I ever had was watching The Godfather at Cinerama. No one was there. Phenomenal. If I could see every movie like that I'd probably burn out a lot less quickly.

its hard to go to a movie these days…its too blame expensive!

I haven't been to the cinema since seeing LOTR. I refuse to go because the experience is poor. You have to pay to park the car, worry that's its not being jacked or vandalised, you cant drink, the back of your chair gets kicked, you usually don't get the seat you want, coughing, sneezing, talking, mobiles, late arrivals, rustling, glitches with sound or projection system, and they charge you more the cost of a DVD to experience this. I wait six months now, buy the ex-rental DVD and watch it at home on my Projector and 7.1 system, drink, eat, pause at my leisure, all in the best seat in the house. The need to see a movie before or at the same time as every one else is long gone.

I was at a screening of HOTEL FOR DOGS last Saturday, and ten minutes into the movie, right after Don Cheadle makes his first appearance, I guy stood up near the front of the audience – an audience full of children, mind you – and screamed obsenities and racial slurs at the top of his lungs.

Thankfully, the publicist had security get the guy out immediately, but what was so shocking to me, wasn't the guy per se, but the PARENTS. While their kids actually had the good sense to boo the guy (it was kind of cute), many of the parents yelled obscenities and threats right back at him as he was leaving the theater, egging him on even more. It was totally surreal and more than a bit distasteful on all fronts.

Listen, I can't imagine ever NOT going to the theater and seeing a film. I don't care what kind of movie it is (big or small, epic or indie), the theatrical experience is why it is I do what I do, but the simple fact is going to these screenings are becoming something of a chore, and every time a cell phone lights up with a text message and the person starts typing away I've never wanted to smack a person more in my entire life – and I'm not violent in the slightest!

I still consider goiing to the movie theatre the best way to watch a movie. To avoid such thing's as mentioned above I wait till the movie is at the end of it's run before being pulled from the big screen.(Usually judge this by ticket sale's) And go during the day a work/school day, first screening of the day. Since doing this my movie going experience has been quite pleasent.

Does have it's drawback's sometime's the movie get's pulled before I get a chance to see it making me have to travel to see it on the big screen or not at all. Being in your kind of work guess you don't have the luxury to wait and see it.

Back here movies premier on thursdays so I go to the theather with stadium arranged seating and sit at the last row under the projector and since it's my day off it's usually empty, unless it's a blockbusters and since it's only filled with superfans of that particular blockbuster everyone stays quiet, nothing can be done with theather blunders tough.

The only movie I've watched in an empty theatre is Enchanted which is lucky coz man, I love that movie.

And speaking on the quality of enjoyment in theatres, I haven't had many bad experiences either. Sometimes, like when watching Juno, it's a tad embarassing when I'm the only person in the theatre who laughs. But then I realise that it should be every other person in the theatre with a stick up their bum who are embarassed for not catching the joke. That's right.

And living in NZ, some movies I would love to see in theatres don't even make it to our shores. Not even for the fancy little theatres that show indie films. That's my main problem.

I now have a tendency to wait for the DVD to watch it on the 50" plasma; the days of rushing out to see films on opening weekend were over in my mid-20s. I still do go to the theater, and I agree it is a crapshoot. A date and I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at a late show, and the audience was fine. Other movies are marred by the new fad of texting during the movie without covering the screen, random conversations, film-school wannabes announcing how things should been shot, the always popular "Hey, that guy was in ****", and snoring/wheezing/coughing. And when I saw Batman Begins, there was a "gentleman" chomping on popcorn from before the pre-film advertising to forty minutes into the film! I think he had a couple of big buckets.

I'm sure my friends and I were annoying in theaters back when we were teens, so I guess part of it is payback.

I actually have no problem with snacks, but crying children, texting and talking are my pet peeves.

I think the worst was when we went to see Benjamin Button and this couple had their very small child in its stroller. As soon as the movie started, the kid started fussing. The whole theatre was shushing them (there were only about 20 people there), but they didn't leave. I swear, I was about ready to ask for a refund. I did avert a crisis in Yes Man by mentioning the movie theatre shooting loudly enough that the trio of noisy teenage boys behind me shut up right away, though.

When we saw The Dark Knight in IMAX, the picture was grainy, the screen wasn't even all that big, and there were flies crawling on the projector. We had been all excited that an IMAX theatre opened closer to home, but have since told all our friends to avoid that place, it was awful. Plus, we had to listen to a pitch from the theatre owner before the movie about their upcoming IMAX movies and their adult lounge and stuff. So while annoying patrons are the worst, they're not the only thing that can make seeing a movie in theatres unbearable…

I've had an experience where during a comedy a person sitting next to me was laughing extra loud, gasping during dramatic moments, etc. It was like they were a shill by the studio trying to get the audience to follow along. Weird.

Call it cheesy, but there's something about seeing a film in the theater. I can't put a finger on, and I agree completely with your points, but there's something special about the feeling of everyone around you enjoying the same thing and being in this big room with the singular purpose of watching this film. I don't know, it's hard to put into words.

I've been pretty lucky, especially at "The Dark Knight" midnight premiere. Deathly quiet. However, my two worst experiences were movies I loved anyway. At "Juno", there was this guy whose laugh was the most annoying thing in the world. I felt kinda bad because people were rolling their eyes at him, even though he can't control it. But it was still annoying. The worst though was "Cloverfield". There was this row of 7th graders (how do I know their age? You can tell with 7th graders) behind me and my friends and they would not shut up. They were the kind of people under the impression that their commentary was far more interesting than the film. I wanted to punch them in the face. Why come to an opening night of a film and pay 10 dollars just to talk? I don't get it.

Beyond that though, I'm lucky and glad for it. It's kind of weird, but I think "Milk" was my favorite movie-going experience of the year. It wasn't my favorite movie (it was in my top 10), but there were so many little things that I remember that made the film more of a memory for me than if I had watched it at home.
1)The floor was so slippery, there was zero friction.
2) Me and my completely tolerant friends were amused (and frankly thought it was cool) that there was a black guy in the theater, and I mean stereotypical black guy. Saggy jeans, do-rag, hoodie. And he went to see "Milk". Perfect don't judge a book moment.
3) Everybody in the theater looked squemishly at their friends when Franco and Penn first kissed. It was funny, because what did they think this movie was about?

I went to see Valkyrie at 10p.m. on Christmas day and walked into a theater full of talkers. It has become customary for me or my brother to shout "SHUT. UP." at the beginning of a film, which usually quiets people down, but some see it as a challenge and continue their $10 conversations; I don't know if I'm more interested in seeing the film, or just depressed that none of my conversations are worth that much money. Needless to say, people kept talking, and I was pissed. Then the baby joined in with some solid murmurs and cries of discontent at being taken to a strange dark room when it should be sleeping comfortably in a crib. After about 45 minutes I finally worked up the nerve, or the heartlessness to ask, "Can we take the baby out of the theater please?" I thought I was doing at least a few people a favor, but instead most people told ME to shut up! I guess I was the asshole there. My brother and I walked out and demanded a refund.

We tried again at the same time two nights later. Two rows behind us a group of three 40-50 year-olds were whispering loudly through the entire show. My brother kindly Shhhh'd them about an hour into the film; they kept going. During the end sequence, when you should be paying attention if you came to actually watch the movie, my brother gave them a much more harsh Shhhh, which they predictably ignored. As soon as the credits came up they began shouting at him, "If you want a quiet theater, next time rent the whole dang thing for yourself!" to which he replied, "I paid ten dollars! I shouldn't have to listen to you talk the whole time." They shouted that because they also paid ten dollars, that gave them the right to talk all they wanted. These people actually defended talking in the theater. It was appalling, and not the only shouting match we've been in in the last few months, the other involving a group of guys who thought Burn After Reading would be enhanced by bringing a six-pack of beer and having a burping contest during the film.

I also completely agree with the comment about loud candy. Someone needs to come up with a quiet bag, or at least tell anyone purchasing candy that they should just open the bag quickly instead of trying to do it discreetly, thus prolonging the whole thing and sharing every tiny crinkle of the damn bag with the rest of the people in the theater, though I do appreciate those folks' good intentions.

I remember I was seeing POTC 3, and some kids behind us were grinding sand with their shoes…the whole movie.
And yet I keep going back to the theaters.

Yeah, nothing gets me more pissed off then parents that take in their babies at incredibly late showings; and usually scary films which only makes it worse. I went to a midnight showing of "Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon." Not a scary movie of course, but yep, a parent brought in her baby and it was crying the whole time. The Mother did something which happens often, which really puzzles me: she knew that the crying was unbearable and left with the baby, but of course she came back when she thought that the Baby was over it's fit. Of course it'll start up again. Why anyone insists on bringing a baby in the first place, escapes me. Bringing it to the midnight showing on top of that is just bad parenting. Sure, I'm not a parent, but when I become one, I will never be that person.

Of course the loud talkers, drunks, 'thug's, are all bad as well. But since most of our theaters here are stadium seated, it helps with being able to see the screen without people's heads in the way. Plus, I'm not all that bothered by texting to be honest. Something about stadium seating where my attention is straight forward, while people texting would be below me, and not really bothersome.

Despite all the problems, I also have to say that going to a theater is the best experience. I'm also too broke to afford the horribly expensive HD and sound system crap, but even if I could afford it, there's still something great about the theater, especially when it goes completely right. Thankfully I haven't had a bad experience lately. The last bad one would be the second time I saw TDK, and two people were laughing way too much and way too long at how "F'ed Up Harvey Dent looked" when we first saw him as Two-Face. But again, that was the only gripe of this past year for me.

I went to watch Hancock with my girl and 2 guys behind us kept putting their feet up on my girls seat and randomly kicking both our seats. I tolerated it for a bit but after a while I just stood up faced them and dared them to try it one more time. Needless to say we enjoyed the rest of the movie in peace :)

I went to see "Twilight" in its third week on a weekday night, and at first it seemed like I'd be the only person there. But then this couple came in and sat a few rows behind him (it was in one of the smaller theaters of the cineplex). At first they were talking, but after five or ten minutes they stopped. It was still really annoying, though, and I was contemplating telling them to be quiet.

But for the most part I find my cinema experiences quite painless. Living in Charlotte, I have a huge variety of movie theaters to choose from, and there's only two theaters I avoid. The rest are clean, attractive, and have good audiences.

Lol, but there was this one time when I went to see "Beowulf" in its sixth or seventh week, and I went with a few people from my English class (for an extra credit report), and we were THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE THEATER!! It was so great! I've never had more fun laughing and talking through a movie in my life! And "Beowulf" was the kind of movie that desperately needed a running audience commentary, because it was sort of lame.

Another story. I went to see "King Kong" a few years ago in theaters. In front of me sat this dad with his two young girls. And one girl was crying–but not in an annoying way. She was crying at the movie, poor thing! When Kong gets chloroformed and tied up, and then when he dies, the girl was just sobbing! She was heartbroken! It was so cute in a sad sort of way, and I just wanted to get up and give her a hug! :D

I rarely go to the theatre anymore. To a large extent, it's the expense. But also quite frankly, I've become addicted to the pause and replay buttons I have at my disposal at home, especially when I didn't quite catch what was being said. However, what I miss about "going to the movies" is the atmosphere of sitting in a darkened auditorium with a group of strangers, sharing the experience. I love the sound of the gasps and the laughs and the occasional sobs that show the genuine human connection we share with well done cinema. And nothing can beat the experience of hushed silence that comes over a group of strangers at the end of a riveting, thought provoking movie. I can overlook the slurping and munching to get that.

As a cinephile, I must say, there will always be films that simply must, and I mean "must", be experienced at a theater. I don't care how amazing your home-theater (complete with 60" flatscreen & Bose Surround Sound) is, nothing can top seeing Lord of the Rings on the GIANT Screen. Jurassic Park had to be experienced in the theater; same goes for Star Wars and Saving Private Ryan.

However, there a many movies that I prefer to watch on my nice Samsung 42" TV. Most of the Oscar hopefuls (with the exception of Wall-E & The Dark Knight) were enjoyed right from the privacy of my home theater. Gran Torino, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, all of these films are "small" enough that, even if given a choice, I would prefer to watch them from the comfort of my couch.

Have I had bad theater experiences? Yes. But, come to think of it, I've had plenty of bad "movie nights" at my house. There is always someone that gets bored and starts chatting with the person next to them and then starts asking stupid questions. Nothing, so far or in the foreseeable future, will replace the thrill and experience of the Movie Theater – may its gum-coated floors live on!!

Theaters are still a nice place to see movies..if you go on a weekday matinee so you can be spared the teen and drunken gang banger crowd that normally attends on evenings/weekends. I have a pretty nice home theater system with surround sound, and only a few films from certain filmmakers (ie..Pixar, Scorcese..) actually get me to make that pilgrimage to theaters. This past Summer, I only went to see IndyIV, Wall-E, TDK, and Iron-Man in theaters (Though i loved Wall-E so much and went back 3 more times to see it). Since then, I've only went back twice (For Slumdog Millionaire and Benjamin Button).

Movies must be seen in a theater, but like live theater, sometimes the unexpected happens. It helps to get to know your area theaters to learn the best days & times to avoid annoying customers. I had no problems Sunday at the 1:10 matinee of Gran Torino at the Clearview Mansfield 15 (misnamed since they now only have 14 screens). Digital projection, good sound, no annoying customers.

Back in the early 1990s, I lived in Brooklyn, NY and took a train out to some school? on Long Island to see The Abyss: Director's Cut only to have to listen to some jerk say, "that's new!" every time some added footage appeared onscreen. Argh!!!

However, around that same time period, some group was showing Godfather I & II on the Upper West Side. I believe the seating was folding chairs, and the screen was a pull down, but of sufficient size. The films were being shown in 35mm and I only came to see Part II. When I got there, an older gentleman who bought a ticket for the double feature gave me his ticket (shocking!) since he wasn't staying for the second film. The kindness of strangers (in New York, would ya believe). Anyway, well worth seeing on a screen even in mono and only 1.85AR. Also saw Seven Samurai at that place during the same festival. Not even the uncomfortable seats bothered me.

I have to agree with Tim, that if I had a house not an apartment, and the money for a new TV and surround set-up, sure I'd stay home more. But some films I'd still insist on seeing in the theater — like I went out of my way to see Dark Knight in IMAX.

Re: the live theater comparison. I went to see Inherit the Wind on Broadway a few years ago, partly because George C. Scott was playing the lead. Unfortunately, the day I went, he was ill and Tony Randall was filling in (Charles Durning was the co-star). Not quite what I had planned, but still an entertaining afternoon at the theater.

i thought the story of the guy shooting someone who was talking during the movie pinpoints my feelings pretty well. i cant stand people talking and constantly getting up and leaving and reentering the theatre! its ridiculous and i wish something would be done although shooting someone is a little extreme!

Luckily for me I live outside of LA and have quite a few great theaters that are pretty damn good about making sure, talking, texting, children, and all of those problems are usually weeded out on their own.

I generally make it a habit to never go to the major chain theaters (Edwards, AMC, Kirkorian) and if I do, never on a weekend and never during the evening. Weekend and evening shows at the major chains are always plagued with stupid teens that cannot control their ADHD and general idiots that make for a bad movie going experience for sure. Matinee's however, generally seem to be the elderly crowds and I have yet to have a bad viewing during a movie shown before 1pm.

Outside of major chains, I try to stick to arthouses, indie theaters, places that generally dont have pre-teens and Madagascar 2 playing at them. You get better films, smarter people and moviegoers who are there to see and appreciate a movie not hook-up or text their friends.