Cinema Etiquette: Four Unspoken Movie Rules Everyone Should Follow

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.” –Emily Post

 

Etiquette has been taken to mean behaving yourself in manner that is a little better than is absolutely necessary. However, what does good manners and etiquette mean when you are inside a movie theatre?

Well, for starters one should not talk loudly so as not to avoid other patrons. Furthermore, one should not attempt to record any portion of the movie as not only would this be considered rude, you could be fined, penalized and even sent to prison as well. But talking in soft voices and the refusal to record the movie aside, what constitutes as good etiquette inside cinemas? Well, truth be told, there are some behavioral nuances that we have long thought to be acceptable but are actually not upon closer scrutiny. If we wish to give everyone an equally great cinematic experience, we owe it to ourselves and to others to practice good movie etiquette. In any case, whether you are still checking for Solenad movie schedules and the like, here are some helpful tips on manners you should keep in mind:

Arrive on time

Punctuality is a common courtesy for everyone and arriving on time to see a movie should not be any different. Ideally, you should arrive at least ten minutes before the movie is scheduled to start. Why? This prevents you from being a nuisance to other movie patrons once the movie has already started. Arriving late means you would still have to find your seats which may disturb the other moviegoers who are already seated. Besides, showing up early means you can get to watch previews and trailers of upcoming movies you might want to see.

Share the armrest

The armrest—regardless of where it is situated is not your exclusive and sole property, so learn to share it. This is especially true when the cinema is teeming with patrons and it can be rather hard to declare ownership on a cup holder or armrest when you will be sharing it with a stranger. So, learn to share it. Ideally, you only get one armrest, do not be greedy and hog both. Watch the body nuances of your seatmate and see which one is his or her preferred armrest.

Do not hold up the line

Snack bars can get notoriously full with customers who wish to get their snacks particularly on times before movie airings. While you do have the leisure of pressuring what you wish to eat when it is already your turn, it is highly recommended that you already know what you want to eat even before you make it to the counter. Sure, you might still have twenty minutes to kill before your movie starts but the person behind you might only have a minute or so to spare. With this in mind, it is best never to hold the line. Have your cash and card ready and know what you want to order by the time you reach the counter.

Tall people

If you are particularly tall, you have excellent benefits when it comes to watching movies. Unfortunately, this comes with several disadvantages as well. One thing you must take note of is how to be sensitive to people who are shorter around you. Do not demand for a seat on the first aisle or else you are going to effectively prevent the person behind you from seeing anything. Try to sit near at the back of the theater so you do not obstruct the view of shorter individuals who may happen to sit behind you. The same rule applies to people with big hair or people who are wearing head accessories and who insist on keeping it on while watching the movie.

Image Source

Three Excellent Reasons Why You Should Still Consider Going to the Cinemas

“Movies touch our hearts, and awaken our vision, and change the way we see things. They take us to other places. They open doors and minds. Movies are the memories of our lifetime. We need to keep them alive.”-Martin Scorsese.

While movies remain as a relevant mode of entertainment until today, many would argue that it is a dying industry. After all, with innovations such as Netflix, streaming services complemented with the ever-increasing movie ticket prices, movie patrons would hardly be convinced to part with their hard-earned money just to see a film they could probably expect on their cable subscriptions within months. As a result of the preceding, movie studios have diminished and rather dwindling interest in making original pitches—all of which is a culmination of a bleeding industry. In this regard, some would say that the movie industry is on the brink of extinction.

And yet today, we can very much see how the industry thrives with people still queuing up to see the latest releases despite skyrocketing ticket prices. In any case, the movie industry is still very much alive and kicking. Skeptics might say this is just a rudimentary boost each time new movies come out, but evidently, movie patrons would still prefer to see their films shown on the big screen. So, if you have been planning to check the Solenad Cinema schedule for new movies, you might want to revisit the myriad of reasons why watching movies on the silver screen would still be a riveting experience:

1.) The big screen

No matter what kind of moviegoer you are, there is always something to be said about watching movies on a big screen. The experience is nothing short of enthralling and seeing a visual storytelling play out in an immense black screen would undoubtedly transport you to another world. This fact is further amplified if a particular film really exploits the format to its full potential which is evident in films like Star Wars and the like that would take advantage of grand special effects. Indeed, watching movies on a big screen has a way of sweeping you away and pulling you in—a feeling that is woefully missing when you are simply watching movies from the couch in your homes.

2.) People

While some might argue that other movie-goers can be an infuriating presence in cinemas that would deter them from watching movies, they can actually contribute to a more elevated movie experience. Noisy, rude, disrespectful and unruly movie-goers aside other movie-goers collective reactions—the oohs, ahhs and gasps can be a positive experience. After all, a group of people reacting simultaneously together would undoubtedly trigger a feeling in you as well.

3.) Focus

Watching a film in an enclosed space encourages you to channel all of your focus on the screen alone. At home, so many factors can distract you that when accumulated can be a detriment to the overall movie experience. When you are within the comforts of your home, you tend to be thinking of other stuff. Moreover, computer screens, pets, phones and of course, the undeniable temptation to get up every few minutes or so to check and recheck what is in the fridge are guaranteed distractions. Sure, you can try and train yourself to give the movie your undivided attention, and you can try your hardest at it, but ultimately, you would still fall victim to those little distractions and temptations. In a movie theater, it is just you, the movie chair and any snack you might have brought with you. The film demands and commands your full and apt attention. You are there to watch the movie and enjoy it.

Image Source