People Cheering and Screaming in the Movie Theatre

[LobsterFeng]

I just got back from the midnight release of Captain America 2 and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it was a very exciting and well made movie. What I didn't enjoy, however, are the people that are so excited that they can't help but scream and cheer whenever they feel something good has happened in the movie. (Captain America is kicking ass, better scream real loudly.) This only seems to happen in the crowds that come to the midnight showing and I find it really annoying and embarrassing. I just want to watch the movie and I hate it when I miss a line or something because the audience felt the need to cheer real loudly.

Does anyone here enjoy this type of experience when they go to the movies? I sure don't; I think I'm going to avoid midnight releases from now on just so I can be in an audience that isn't so excited and loud at everything.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Nope, that never once happened to me here in the UK. The only closest thing to a crowd reaction is usually laughter from a comedy/ humour scene in a film.

 

[Anachronism]

I've only had it a couple of times, and I think they were at one or other of the Harry Potter films where there were a legion of irritating children in the cinema.

It's odd, I actually went to an advanced screening of Cap 2, so presumably everyone there would have been pretty excited to see it, but they were very good and quiet apart from laughing at the jokes - which is, obviously, not a problem.

Frankly, I think they should be allowed to chuck you out of a cinema if you're being too noisy. And then you go to the Special Hell.

 

[Spambot 3000]

I'd expect it maybe from a crowd for a kid-friendly movie but otherwise that is absolutely fucking unacceptable behaviour, doesn't matter how many idiots spout that 'MOVIES ARE A SOCIAL EXPERIENCE' bullshit, they're fucking wrong and stupid.

 

[Pinkamena]

Never, ever experienced that and I go to the cinema a lot. Different cultures I guess.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Last time I went to see a movie, the entire theatre was deathly silent for the whole film.

Admittedly, I was watching Vampire Academy, so I was the only one there.

(That movie is not nearly as bad as it's made out to be)

 

[omega 616]

Nope, that never once happened to me here in the UK. The only closest thing to a crowd reaction is usually laughter from a comedy/ humour scene in a film.

Yeah, the worst we get is the odd glow of a phone and laughter at the right times.

Though in America, it seems to be the custom to applaud films, like the cast and crew are in the theater with you ... which seems silly to me, it's not like you finish watching breaking bad or game of thrones and then give a standing ovation.

 

[Random Encounter]

Never had that experience before but then again I've never attended a midnight screening before.

I tend to wait a week or so when the crowds die down so it's not too crowded.

 

[Zhukov]

I've only heard cheering in a movie theatre once. It was the second LOTR movie. Legolas did this grab-and-swing-onto-a-running-horse stunt and some teenage guys a couple rows back made a bit of noise.

At the time I remember thinking, "Why are they cheering at a screen?" Still haven't answered that one. It just seems weird to me. It's not a live performance, it's not as if the actors can hear your appreciation of their work.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I've only heard cheering in a movie theatre once. It was the second LOTR movie. Legolas did this grab-and-swing-onto-a-running-horse stunt and some teenage guys a couple rows back made a bit of noise.

At the time I remember thinking, "Why are they cheering at a screen?" Still haven't answered that one. It just seems weird to me. It's not a live performance, it's not as if the actors can hear your appreciation of their work.

Oh god this happened all the time in the LOTR movies... Legolas riding the troll, Legolas doing the horse stunt, Legolas skating on a shield, Legolas sliding down the mumak's trunk... every freaking time.

 

[TheSapphireKnight]

I can't say I've really been to a movie where the crowd was obnoxiously cheering or screaming. I've been to movies where some people have clapped afterwards(which I have never really understood).

I would say the closest I have gotten to that was when I saw the Avengers with my grandpa. Everyone in the theatre was just having a great time and it honestly made it a better experience.

 

[Serving UpSmiles]

Never had that, apart from some wankers in a harry potter movie where Harry kisses Cho Chan, they were doing the old "oohhhhh" I think it's an american thing.

 

[ViridianV6]

Never had that happen to me in a cinema, and if it had, I would avoid the cinema altogether.

What I have had happen when I was watching the Dark Knight is some absolute asshat say the lines the Joker says 5 seconds before to his friend trying to impersonate Heath Legder. That drove me up the wall, and everyone else until his friend told him to can it.

A few chortles when a character makes a quip is fine, and clapping afterwards is weird but at least it's not distracting. Otherwise sit down, shut up and eat your popcorn/choc top!

 

[viscomica]

I've only heard cheering in a movie theatre once. It was the second LOTR movie. Legolas did this grab-and-swing-onto-a-running-horse stunt and some teenage guys a couple rows back made a bit of noise.

At the time I remember thinking, "Why are they cheering at a screen?" Still haven't answered that one. It just seems weird to me. It's not a live performance, it's not as if the actors can hear your appreciation of their work.

Oh god this happened all the time in the LOTR movies... Legolas riding the troll, Legolas doing the horse stunt, Legolas skating on a shield, Legolas sliding down the mumak's trunk... every freaking time.

Don't forget Legolas competing with Gimli!

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I've only heard cheering in a movie theatre once. It was the second LOTR movie. Legolas did this grab-and-swing-onto-a-running-horse stunt and some teenage guys a couple rows back made a bit of noise.

At the time I remember thinking, "Why are they cheering at a screen?" Still haven't answered that one. It just seems weird to me. It's not a live performance, it's not as if the actors can hear your appreciation of their work.

Oh god this happened all the time in the LOTR movies... Legolas riding the troll, Legolas doing the horse stunt, Legolas skating on a shield, Legolas sliding down the mumak's trunk... every freaking time.

Don't forget Legolas competing with Gimli!

I don't recall fangirling over that to be honest. Unless you were

 

[Ubiquitous Duck]

I don't tend to hear many outbursts from when I have attended the cinema.

Mostly the only loud activity is laughing, which you can't really complain about.

OK, I complain about it depending on context actually! I remember I was watching Django Unchained and there is one scene where there is a man hanging upside-down, naked (as a form of punishment/ridicule for 'misbehaving' as a slave). And then this one guy started laughing and nudged the girl he was with and was like "you can see his balls!". She looked at least as unimpressed as I was, maybe more so, because she was associated with this guy.

The point was it was a dramatic scene, not a funny one and it was a very juvenile source of humour - especially when you are considering this is an age 18+ audience in UK cinemas for Django Unchained.

Other than very few isolated incidents though, normally someone who has become bored with the film and starts chatting, I can't really say loud outbursts are more than a rarity. Especially group ones, I've never seen that.

I don't know if it makes a difference, but this is UK audiences to cinema.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

No, I've never really experienced it.

The biggest laugh I heard was from The Hulk doing the 'Loki hammer,' other then that I barely hear a peep from the audience.

Mind you I either go during the middle of a weekday for adult movies, avoid kids movies for a week combined with the first rule, and visit a really swanky movie theatre for comedies. (mind you I normally never watch comedies anyway).

 

[username sucks]

I'm in the US and I have never experienced this. People say that it's an American thing all the time, but I think it's more likely specific crowds that cheer at movies. All I have ever heard from the whole crowd is laughter at the funny bits in movies, but that is to be expected.

I imagine it would be annoying to hear cheering, though.

 

[Casual Shinji]

All I ever got from all the times I've gone to the theater, were laughs when something funny happened (which is natural), or subdued mockery when something stupid happened (wich too is natural).

I think maybe once or twice there's been an occasion where someone applauded or cheered, but that halted fairly quickly once the person in question realized they were the only one doing it.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

I don't tend to hear many outbursts from when I have attended the cinema.

Mostly the only loud activity is laughing, which you can't really complain about.

OK, I complain about it depending on context actually! I remember I was watching Django Unchained and there is one scene where there is a man hanging upside-down, naked (as a form of punishment/ridicule for 'misbehaving' as a slave). And then this one guy started laughing and nudged the girl he was with and was like "you can see his balls!". She looked at least as unimpressed as I was, maybe more so, because she was associated with this guy.

The point was it was a dramatic scene, not a funny one and it was a very juvenile source of humour - especially when you are considering this is an age 18+ audience in UK cinemas for Django Unchained.

Other than very few isolated incidents though, normally someone who has become bored with the film and starts chatting, I can't really say loud outbursts are more than a rarity. Especially group ones, I've never seen that.

I don't know if it makes a difference, but this is UK audiences to cinema.

I'll 1-up your story. I was watching 12 Years A Slave, and some stupid bint next to me started laughing during the long shot when the protagonist is hanging from a tree and trying to breathe. Closest I've ever come to hitting someone to make them shut up.

Latest one of these experiences I had during a screening of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. When the very last scene (the one with the twins) ended, a girl screamed aloud in the theatre. Didn't bother me, since those scenes are usually meant to evoke that kind of reaction, and the movie was basically over.