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[–]SOWTOJ 1253 points1254 points ago

I will always sneak snacks into the theater, you can't stop me.

[–]Fruity_Pies 382 points383 points ago

MMmm baby back ribs...

[–]fezzikola 225 points226 points ago

Junior Mints.

[–]Ticker_Granite 189 points190 points ago

Baby Ruth's

[–]botanyisfun 162 points163 points ago

Sour Patch Kids

[–]VaRiotE 66 points67 points ago

Tater tots.

[–]hypnoderp 273 points274 points ago

Children.

[–]Yoyo8 91 points92 points ago

BLTs. Bacon, Lettuce and toddlers.

[–]Hamburgex 118 points119 points ago

Kentucky Fried Children.

[–]TylerRBack 60 points61 points ago

Tater tots.

[–]NeilPoonHandler 12 points13 points ago

Little Debbie's

[–]jdubbles 12 points13 points ago

Like veal...only babies.

[–]Aiken_Drumn 3 points4 points ago

[–]falurian 125 points126 points ago

Husband and I went to see the Hobbit recently. Stopped by the Dollar Tree to get snacks. The cashier looked at us, and said "It's a shame they charge so much at the theater we have to bring our own." And then he fist bumped me.

Prices at that theater--bottle of water $5

large popcorn-- $7.75

small box of candy--$4.75

soda--small--$3.75

soda large--$5.75

I do draw the line at a bucket of KFC. (I'm talking to you, purple poncho lady!)

[–]jake_w_smith 34 points35 points ago

Thank you for getting boxed candy. I saw the Hobbit recently, and had to sit through listening to someone behind me rustling bags of chips and candy that they snuck into the theater.

[–]expertunderachiever 11 points12 points ago

it's simple. Open the bags before the movie and only go for the goodies during loud scenes.

I've had a few cases where a dude would be playing with a bag for a good 5-10 mins trying to open it "discretely" only to have to snap at them "just open it already!"

[–]Lunawinter 19 points20 points ago

lol, prices at mine are

large popcorn - $9.60 Candy - $6 small soda - $5.60 large soda - $6.60 Water - $5.50

x_x

[–]EarthboundCory 81 points82 points ago

Do you know why they charge so much? The movie theater only gets a small percentage of the box office gross (I believe it's anywhere from 10-25% during the first month of a film's stay, which is when it makes most of its money). On the flip side, they get 90% of the profits made on concessions.

Basically, if you want movie theaters to stay in business, you should be buying concessions from them. They won't be able to stay in business without money. It's simple economics.

[–]hate_is_beautiful 64 points65 points ago

Maybe I'm overestimating the number of people who bring food in to movie theaters, but I imagine, theaters could sell more if they reduced their prices to being just over the typical market price instead of multiple times it.

[–]mightyenano 28 points29 points ago

In my own personal experience, having worked at a theater, while large prices scare away customers, so do big lines. And at my theater, due to the setup times of the movies there is a predictable rush and then a time with absolutely no one. Also, our poppers can only make so much popcorn, and even that is sometimes not enough. There's a capacity of how many people we can serve consistently before people either turn away or we run out of popcorn.

[–]deepfryerdan 157 points158 points ago

I'm not sure if I care if movie theaters are still around in the coming years. I feel like I should be able to rent new release movies at home. Charge me a shit-ton, I don't care. I'll get a bunch of friends to come over and watch.

[–]JamesTheGodMason 78 points79 points ago

Yep, that's how I feel. If movie theaters go out of business, hollywood will be forced to give us new releases at home. Which is fine with me...

I have a 6 month-old daughter and haven't seen the Hobbit, Django, or Les Mis (3 movies I have been dying to see) because its hard to find a babysitter for a 3 hour movie and its terribly inconvenient. I will probably just wait until they come out on video, which sucks because that will be several months from now. I am tempted to just pirate it, even though I would gladly pay money to watch at home.

[–]emmelineprufrock 27 points28 points ago

You might want to check and see if there are any theaters locally that run "Moms only" showings. I think the Amstar where I live does. They're showings specifically for mothers with small children.

[–]UncleNorman 48 points49 points ago

Are those the one where mom drops off the kids and the kids get a sippy cup of Jack Daniels and a benadryl??

[–]Upvotes_Awesomeness 15 points16 points ago

Sounds better than the snacks at the regular theatre.

[–]emmelineprufrock 5 points6 points ago

I assume the mothers also get a sippy cup of JD.

[–]baskervillemanor 8 points9 points ago

Is that you Casey Anthony?

[–]Sebach 10 points11 points ago

These are pretty cool. Some of the ones in my area (Ottawa, Canada), have things like reduced volume (for baby ears) and a diaper change station off to the side (with wipes and a special garbage bin). Babies cry, but it's all good in there. Oh, and they allow men, too. ;)

[–]__circle 12 points13 points ago

I enjoy the experience of the cinema. Amazing sound, huge pictures, comfy chairs.

[–]jaqq 13 points14 points ago

Pirate now, buy later. Clean conscience.

[–]MELSU 2 points3 points ago

Just pirate it, then buy the worthy ones for yourself when they come out. However, it will be awhile before those are released to pirates. I do not enjoy cams, though I do admit that they are getting better.

[–]Bring_dem 12 points13 points ago

It exists and its probably way more expensive than you expect.

http://uncrate.com/stuff/prima-cinema/

[–]deepfryerdan 10 points11 points ago

The reason it is expensive is because it's not widespread. With the ability to stream damn near anything at great quality in the majority of the US, they could probably make twice as much on first-run cinema. Imagine if it was $50 for one movie, 24 hour rental, streaming. You could get 5 friends together, make some food, pause for bathroom breaks.. the idea is priceless.

The whole movie theater experience is a bit antiquated IMO.

[–]Arx0s 9 points10 points ago

I agree with that, but it would be quite hard to replicate the experience of watching a movie in a true IMAX theater, 3D or not.

[–]Abbacoverband 19 points20 points ago

I dunno. I would have hated to see some of the movies I saw last year on a TV screen, no matter how big the TV was.

[–]Narfubel 69 points70 points ago

Basically, if you want movie theaters to stay in business, you should be buying concessions from them.

No, it's not my fault they have a shitty business model.

[–]mightyenano 16 points17 points ago

I work at a movie theater, and I completely agree. Yet, for the most part, the business model works and people continue to buy from us. If you really want to see change in the prices, then don't buy. Either the theaters will go under or they'll be forced to change.

[–]Shuhalo 24 points25 points ago

I've been hearing that argument for most of my 46 years, and I still don't buy snacks from most theater's concession bars. Yet somehow theaters manage to muddle on.

The cost per serving on soda and popcorn is miniscule compared to the prices theaters charge. I see no reason to let theaters gouge me. They're propping up an outmoded business model with artificially inflated prices.

One of the few places I will buy concessions is at Sundance Cinemas, where, I can buy freshly popped corn, decent baked goods, a good beer or a decent cup of coffee. Yeah, prices are still higher, but so is the quality of what I get for my money. That counts for a lot with me.

The best I can get at Marcus Theaters or other big chains is a bucket of half stale corn, soda or mainstream candy; I can buy all of those elsewhere much cheaper. The theater adds no value for the huge margin they expect.

[–]WalkingTarget 4 points5 points ago

I was a regular at the Art Theater in Champaign when I was there for grad school. Limited run/indie movies, good old movies for cheap on weekends, the place was great. Also the only theater I bought concessions at regularly - you could get an alcoholic drink, coffee, cookies/brownies from a local bakery, and your standard popcorn/soda/candy options.

Seeing The Big Lebowski for a $3 ticket with the option of buying white russians = packed house. That was a good one. I miss that place.

[–]dubesor86 35 points36 points ago

Ya but they are biting themselves in the ass. People are lazy. People are hungry. People WANT their popcorn and coke. But not for that price. So instead of saying 'Hey, we don't sell enough, better make it even $1 more expensive' they should start using their brain. Sell your drinks for $2 and I guarantee you, the profit will be higher due to massive increase in customers. Same with popcorn. That shit costs nearly nothing to make. $3 for popcorn. there you go, you have happy customers who pay 5 bucks each additionally in your cinema. But keeping those prices results in people bringing their own stuff or just watch it at home where they can eat as much as they like without getting broke. It's simple logic.

[–]SuperGeometric 5 points6 points ago

Man I'm glad you thought of that! All those managers of theaters are so dumb!

Seriously though, they make more money selling popcorn at $5.50 than $3. Which is, y'know, why they price it at $5.50. Do you really think that more than double the amount of people will buy popcorn at $3 than $5.50? I think the research these theaters use to set their prices says otherwise.

[–]LickItAndSpreddit 8 points9 points ago

So you're saying because the system is broken:

  • That is, the deals from studios leave the movie theaters getting $#!& profits on ticket sales - which is the service they're supposed to be providing to customers - so the theaters have to make obscene profits on cheap, disgusting snack food to keep providing the service (movies) that is advertised just to stay in business

that I should support their price-gouging on a secondary product/service they provide?

If making me buy concessions is the only way a movie theater can stay in business, then I prefer it to go out of business. No customers = no revenue = no business.

[–]JBHUTT09 23 points24 points ago

It's not as damaging sneaking food into huge chain cinemas but it kills small local theaters. My local movie theater is in danger of going out of business because as it stands they cannot afford to upgrade their systems to digital. People around town are pissed but then they turn around an complain about how expensive the snack are and sneak their own in. And what's more is that this theater has the cheapest snacks I've ever seen. You can get a large soda, some candy, and a large popcorn for under $10. Seriously. People need to think before they act. Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's just like that to rip you off.

[–]fied1k 3 points4 points ago

Good one, Morbo

[–]currish 175 points176 points ago

Parents...check local theater schedules. Most places around here will have a child-friendly and sometimes sensory-friendly showings. It's usually the first or second showing of the day.

[–]watson_and_crick 60 points61 points ago

At the Somerville Theatre near boston they have a baby friendly movie for parents. Where the movies are definitely FOR the parents (they're showing the new Schwarzenegger movie now). I think its awesome to give parents a way to get out without the hassle of having to find a sitter, etc. or the problem of babies being babies in a normal theatre.

[–]kevinpatrickdoyle 13 points14 points ago

Also they serve beer.

[–]parsnippity 12 points13 points ago

Yes! They keep the lights on, but low, and don't have the volume booming, so it's not so freaky for the little ones, but kids are welcome during these showings, and it's awesome.

[–]absurdly_sarcastic 40 points41 points ago

I have way more problems running into adults who talk through movies. It isn't your fucking living room, assholes

[–]currish 13 points14 points ago

This is why I love the Alamo Drafthouse. They don't fuck around with that crap.

[–]I_Tuck_It_In_My_Sock 2 points3 points ago

Answering phones and taking their pictures with flash while sitting in the theater. Its aggravating as shit. There is a theater here that serves drinks in a 21 and up section (that you have to pay more to get in), I swear to god you're just trading loud ignorant teenagers for loud ignorant drunks. I hate that theater but everybody thinks its the best they've ever been to.

[–]Jake-san 10 points11 points ago

I live in Finland, and we have a baby friendly showing once a month only. Not so dark, lower volume, microwave for food etc. Its some romance movie always. Its nice now that we have a baby, but its 1pm when I'm at work. Screw you Finnkino!

[–]SO_not_a_raper 9 points10 points ago

Seattle here, several theaters in the area do Mommy Movies every Thursday morning where they don't dim the lights as much and the volume isn't as loud. The theater is packed with parents and babies so nobody really cares if their kid is fussy. The front aisle looks like a stroller parking lot, it's pretty funny!

[–]Serasha 23 points24 points ago

I've always felt that any showtimes before noon on a weekday are fair game for my three year old. However, if she is having a hard time sitting still, we leave immediately. If its early enough, we get a refund. She is happier because she wasn't enjoying herself, I'm happier because she obviously needed an activity that is more physical, and other parents in the theater are happier not to have any bad examples for their own kids.

[–]mowgles 9 points10 points ago

I hope this isn't a general assumption among parents. A lot of adults, my husband and I included, go to the before-noon showings because they're a lot cheaper ($6/person as opposed $8/person matinee and $12/person at night).

Thankfully, we haven't had that many run-ins with young children in our theaters. But honestly, as long as parents sit on the edge of the rows and remove their kid as soon as it starts crying, I don't care.

[–]Serasha 29 points30 points ago

Well if you go to a 10:30am showing of Monsters Inc 3D on a Tuesday expecting no children, you're gonna have a bad time. We stick to animated movies as that's all she's interested in and I've never seen adults without kids in any of the shows we've been to. It would never even cross my mind to bring her to a "grown-up movie", so I think you're in the clear. :)

[–]KermitDeeeFrog 5 points6 points ago

Obviously no one is talking about a Pixar movie at 10am in the morning :)

[–]ShadyLondon 529 points530 points ago

I haven't been to the cinema in 14 months. I have a 14 month old. That's the price you pay.

[–]Dugen 113 points114 points ago

Twice in 8 years. 8 year old. Also, modern TVs make theaters a lot less appealing.

[–]keto4life 172 points173 points ago

Theatres make theatres a lot less appealing!

Theatre

  • Extortionate prices for ticket
  • Diabolically extortionate prices for food (I took my family (2 kids and my wife) to the theatre a month ago and it cost me £41. That's $64 USD!)
  • The food is all low quality, high sugar dog shit and the coffee tastes like scalding dishwater
  • The seats smell funny and I have no say over when the movie starts or how many hours of shitty commercials and phone warnings I need to sit through.
  • The volume is deafening.
  • The person next to me smells like piss and sweat
  • The person next to me on the other side doesn't understand how fucking rude it is to use his smartphone to check facebook on full brightness.
  • The person sitting behind me is a cunt with feet disporportionately large for his body and apparently he doesn't understand that kicking the seat of the person infront of you repeatedly might be slightly irritating.
  • The person sitting infront of me is 9 foot tall.
  • The person sitting infront of them laughs at an unreasonable level and should be tarred and feathered for laughing at the scene where the kid gets hit by the train when no one else did. Who the fuck does that?
  • The gaggle of teenage girls sitting along from her should be ejected for screaming at every fucking sound effect and scene transition. Fuck that. Napalm.
  • The floors make a weird clicking noise and stick when you walk to a seat that is inevitably taken by some fuckwit with an intellect too low to understand seating coordinates or which screen to sit in. "Excuse me. I think you might be in my seat." - Everyone sighs at you because they have to stand up to let people past for the 15th time because the people who designed the seating assumed that the entire row would arrive and sit in unison.
  • You arrive as a spur-of-the-moment type event to socialise with friends. There are no seats or you need to sit at opposing corners of the screen.
  • Blue LED's. Blue LED's every-fucking-where. No. Just no.

Home

  • No ticket
  • Food costs me the same as food would cost me at home.
  • I get to eat good quality munchies of my own preference. Filter coffee and salt and vinegar almonds, thank you very much. Order a chinese while you're at it!
  • My reclining sofa is leather. My dog keeps my legs warm.
  • 7.1 Surround sound at a sensible level so that I don't finish the movie with PTSD.
  • The person next to me smells like piss and sweat
  • The person next to me on the other side is a cushion. Literally a cushion.
  • Nobody sits behind me (reducing the chance of getting knived)
  • Nobody sits infront me (reducing the chance of a GBH charge to myself)
  • The gaggle of teenage girls isn't anywhere because Chris Hansen.
  • The floors were layed by me with insulation and heating. I'm barefoot.
  • Anyone can arrive at any time. Oh yea, did I mention there's free whisky and beer. Oh, and pretty much any film you want from the last 40 years. And my restroom doesn't smell like urine or require a security attendant.
  • Blue LED's. Blue LED's every-fucking-where. Covered with black insulation tape.

[–]tritter211 21 points22 points ago

Its amazing how the problems you mention for the theater is universal.

[–]keto4life 6 points7 points ago

If it's that universally observed, you'd think the industry would do something to minimise these problem spots. Never mind though - families get in half price on a Wednesday morning instead!

[–]ironmig 17 points18 points ago

order a Chinese while your at it

True. You can't purchase by phone a Asian hooker in the theaters.

[–]keto4life 3 points4 points ago

I'm pretty sure you could with enough money and the right number.

[–]Lumberjack92 6 points7 points ago

Yeah, where is this "Home" place?

I kind of want to watch a movie there.

[–]imbignate 6 points7 points ago

Don't forget home's greatest feature: The Pause button.

[–]Tastygroove 7 points8 points ago

Oldest is 16. I've been to three movies, the rugrats movie (was a big deal,) the spongebob movie (super big deal,) and Ray (because, motherfuckin' ray Charles..kids stayed home..)

42" 1080p and 5.1 system will just have to do... Gee, what a hardship.

[–]whoooooooooooooosh 25 points26 points ago

Movie theater by me has 10 am movies where they leave the lights on and it's geared towards parents with kids. Talking, noises, etc. are allowed.

[–]perplex1 35 points36 points ago

20 month old for me. I still haven't seen The Dark Knight Rises. Don't want to see it at home, trying to catch it at the $1.50 theater!

[–]jmonty42 265 points266 points ago

My kid's almost 2. We've been to a couple of movies. It's called finding a babysitter.

In fact, when one kid was crying during the Avenger's, I yelled out to the parents "Find a babysitter, WE DID!" Probably more disruptive than the kid, but was necessary.

[–]johansolo 107 points108 points ago

Can we get a Bravery Level measurement on this one?

[–]SPOCK_THOUGHT_FIRST 112 points113 points ago

Moderate to So.

[–]DiabolicallyRandom 45 points46 points ago

Bravery Level: Burnt Out Parent

[–]crunchy_fap_biscuit 19 points20 points ago

[–]bardlo 11 points12 points ago

6 Ron Pauls

[–]Sabin10 19 points20 points ago

As a parent I don't understand why you would take a your baby to a movie. My daughter is 18 months old and in total she has cried maybe 5 times in public and when that happens we take her somewhere that she won't bother people.

I could probably take her to a movie with no issues but I still wouldn't because it might be that one in 50 chance that today is the day she will choose to have a screaming fit and I will NOT sit there in the theater and let it go on. At the same time, I am not willing to miss half a movie to deal with a screaming child so I will not bring her to the movies. It's fucking simple, the fact that there are parents who don't get it astounds me and I wish we could sterilize them and their offspring because you know stupidity is hereditary.

[–]asianwaste 10 points11 points ago

or $8 an hour for a local baby sitter.

or you can tag team with the spouse on the weekends.

[–]Patrico-8 14 points15 points ago

My wife and I trade weekends with other couples with kids. Every other weekend we have date night without having to pay $50 - $100 for a sitter, and they do too. Plus it's people we know and trust, not some 16 yr-old who sits and watches our TV/eats our food all night. it's not that hard to get out of the house with kids, you just have to be creative.

[–]expertunderachiever 18 points19 points ago

That's the price you pay.

If you have no friends/family and/or are a martyr.

Seriously, go get babysitter for a couple of hours.

[–]Rdubya44 10 points11 points ago

You can take a dog more places than a baby

[–]Numlocks 14 points15 points ago

Because when you tell a dog to shut up it usually will.

[–]BakedGood 31 points32 points ago

But babies just love strange noises played at ear-shattering volumes.

[–]DiarrheaGuzzler 111 points112 points ago

Theater here refuses kids, and has a special day of the week set up as 'baby day' so all the parents with crying kids can still see movies, but be quarantined. God bless the Drafthouse.

[–]skarface6 7 points8 points ago

They also serve beer, which I can totally see helping the movie experience if there are tons of crying kids around.

[–]KermitDeeeFrog 9 points10 points ago

I bet some parents prefer to take their noisy kids to a cinema full of adults. Why would anyone want to go to a movie full of screaming kids?

[–]DiarrheaGuzzler 16 points17 points ago

Why would anyone want to go to a movie full of screaming kids?

because that's when they are allowed to go, or else they can go to the fucking Regal in the mall

[–]astrocountess 30 points31 points ago

There's a theater in Seattle that has a small sound-proof room in the back with a window so parents could take their baby in there, watch the movie, and not disturb others. I always thought that was a nice idea.

[–]YumenoKyuusaku 59 points60 points ago

The Alamo Drafthouse has a very strict policy for kids and is perfect for avoiding these situations. Children under the age of six are not allowed, nor are unaccompanied minors.

[–]danintexas 21 points22 points ago

This is the only place me and the wife go to watch films.

[–]pipboy_warrior 7 points8 points ago

Man, I miss having a decent adult theatre that allows alcohol and food. Years back we had a place that offered full service food and bar and had a one drink minimum, thus no kids where allowed.

[–]BoB_nugget 9 points10 points ago

God Bless the Alamo Drafthouse.

Magnited States of Merica!

[–]nothanksohokay 3 points4 points ago

Everything I hear about this place is awesome. Wish there was one local to me.

[–]happywaffle 3 points4 points ago

And if you're a noisy adult, they'll kick you the fuck out.

[–]MeesterComputer 28 points29 points ago

Crying babies are terrible at the movies, to be sure, but quite frankly I've had more showings ruined by groups of tittering/twittering teenagers than I have by babies.

[–]Bearence 10 points11 points ago

You know what's even worse? Tittering/twittering teenagers who bring their crying babies to the movie.

[–]matthewstringer 3 points4 points ago

How about seeing Avengers and listening to a kid behind us perpetually translate the entire movie for his non-English speaking grandparent? Guess in a way it was adorable, but maybe they could have found a language appropriate screening or otherwise have been more considerate. We would "shhh" them constantly but it didn't help. :(

[–]Geoffvster 186 points187 points ago

When my wife and I had our kids we missed almost every movie that wasn't for kids for nearly 6 years. Don't bring a baby to a grown up movie!

[–]atypicaldude 43 points44 points ago

When we saw the Hangover 2, someone brought a toddler. That kid laughed at the silly jokes like the monkey slapping at zach galinakis. Then once they have all the ladyman jokes, and the penises it was just awkward because we knew a 3 year old was in there. It ruined most of the movie.

[–]GiantContrabandRobot 26 points27 points ago

I saw The Grey with a 6 year old sitting behind me. Every 10 minutes he would go "This is scary," or "Mommy I want to go."

[–]Hypobasis 44 points45 points ago

who brings a fucking toddler to the hangover.

[–]RugerRedhawk 46 points47 points ago

Trashy selfish parents.

[–]DonSimmons 44 points45 points ago

TL;DR Dont bring a baby to the movies

[–]Lunawinter 27 points28 points ago

Unless its a session specifically for them! lots of cinemas have mums and bubs sessions here

[–]TurboDisturbo 33 points34 points ago

jesus christ that was so british

[–]Lunawinter 9 points10 points ago

Australian, but basically the same thing. It's the actual name they call the sessions in the newspaper ;)

[–]masterch33fer 49 points50 points ago

TLDR ≠ FTFY

[–]roofoo 73 points74 points ago

TL;DR Don't have babies.

[–]I_RAPE_FURSUITERS 26 points27 points ago

TL;DR Please keep having babies, they're delicious.

[–]indivitalism 16 points17 points ago

Did you bring your baby? Babies don't watch this! Take the seed outside--leave it in the streets! Run it over after the show

Seriously, though. For a moment I thought this was one of those 'shops where the eyes are replaced with mouths.

[–]jwjody 94 points95 points ago

I have a 3 month old. I have the kidlet all day on Saturdays so the wife can teach a weekend lab.

I love going to the movie theatre although there are fewer and fewer movies I want to see. But a few weeks ago I really wanted to see the Hobbit. And I considered taking the baby.

Generally he's very calm, very quiet, rarely cries. Seriously. Sometimes I'm worried there's something wrong with him because he's so chill.

Anyway, I almost took the baby to the theatre. Then I thought about it, I mean really thought about it.

And decided I didn't want to be that parent.

(I still haven't got the chance to go see The Hobbit.)

[–]smartzie 79 points80 points ago

Sorry about not getting a chance to go see it, yet, but THANK YOU for not being that parent. That movie is damn long and just not suitable for a baby/small child.

[–]rmh86 25 points26 points ago

I'm glad you thought about it and decided against it, but honestly such decisions shouldn't take too long to decide.

3 month olds = no cinemas.

[–]truthnottrash 93 points94 points ago

Fuck you HARDER if you bring any of these to a movie:

1) iPhone with dumbass ringtones set to concert volume. 2) Anyone who has seen the movie 6 times and feels the need to loudly comment on every. little. nuance. You're not Roger fucking Ebert. 3) Ridiculous giant hairdo that will block everyone behind you's view of the screen 4) Anyone who has bathed in AXE or any other noxious potion. Try a shower next time, stinky.

[–]uh_oh_hotdog 15 points16 points ago

2) Anyone who has seen the movie 6 times and feels the need to loudly comment on every. little. nuance. You're not Roger fucking Ebert

That's not nice. Roger Ebert can't talk anymore.

[–]truthnottrash 31 points32 points ago

Take that as a warning. ;)

[–]BrotyKraut 124 points125 points ago

Fuck yourself and go to hell if you bring a baby to an r-rated movie.

[–]Corgan1351 78 points79 points ago

When I went to see Django Unchained, someone brought their toddler. I couldn't believe it.

The non-comedic violence in that movie put me squarely outside my comfort zone; I can't imagine what it did to the kid; he was bawling, and theater staff eventually told the mother and her kid to leave.

[–]narcberry 42 points43 points ago

Also went to see Django and someone brought their toddler and what looked like a 3 year old girl, all sitting ~5 seats to my right. The man immediately behind me was the size of an elephant and couldn't fit between his seat and mine, kept clicking something (imagine someone tapping their fingernails on their desk for 2 hours), and had to comment on whether he thought each scene was good or not.

After the violence started, about 2 minutes in, the toddler to my right starts crying. The parents do nothing. As the movie quieted, the toddler didn't. This eventually saddened ANOTHER TODDLER IN THE FREAKING BACK enough to start crying too.

As I'm pondering just how miserable this movie experience is, I look up and see django's wango hanging on a 40ft screen. All of this was mine for the mere price of $40 (including date).

I wonder how my night would've gone if I had my date come over for a private viewing of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Er no I dont, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MILLION TIMES BETTER.

[–]RugerRedhawk 9 points10 points ago

Wow, I would talk to management if I saw a toddler sitting in a film like that.

[–]bwat47 38 points39 points ago

I'm surprised the staff let them take a toddler in to that movie in the first place...

[–]Lunawinter 10 points11 points ago

Isn't it illegal? at the cinema I work at we can't let anyone in under the age of 18, no exceptions. This may just be for the Australian R18+ rating so I don't know if it applies anywhere else.

edit: Thanks guys, I am now very much aware of the US rating system ;) it is different to mine!

[–]pixelnote 12 points13 points ago

In the US, R-rated movies allow anyone under 17 to go in if accompanied by some form of legal guardian.

[–]b1ackcat 5 points6 points ago

In the US, the ratings system is a guideline. Though I believe in some areas it's enforced as law, in most places it's just movie theater policy.

When I worked at one, it wasn't strictly enforced, and if a parent was with them there was no stopping them.

[–]bwana_singsong 4 points5 points ago

We have an equivalent rating, NC-17. It's very rare for a movie to get this rating (because no one submits ordinary pornos for rating).

Here's a list of NC-17 movies ranked by how much money they made. Not a lot of great movies there. in particular, no one should see The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover -- indeed, no one should see any Greenaway film if they like people.

But Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (¡Átame!) is a great, fun movie.

edit - whoops, responded to the american, not the aussie. oh well.

[–]smartzie 16 points17 points ago

I would include some PG-13 ones, too. I saw The Hunger Games and someone had a little kid with them (slightly older than toddler). Yes, it's totally appropriate to bring a squimy kindergartner to a movie about teens killing each other for sport.

[–]RizzoFromDigg 39 points40 points ago

I used to work the box office at my local movie theatre. This is an awful job where dreams go to die, but the bar is pretty low and you can get away with shenanigans.

One of my few proud moments though has to do with a baby.

The movie Hostel had come out. Which was not the first of the torture porn flicks. Saw had been around for a while, so everyone kind of knew what they were getting into in a movie like that.

So it's Saturday night, it's somewhat busy, and this trashy couple shows up with their baby, in a fucking stroller, and asks to buy 2 tickets to the 9PM show of Hostel.

I just said "No".

There wasn't really a policy that backed me on this, and I might have gotten in trouble with the management, but I'm not letting those two bring a fucking baby into a torture porn movie. It's unfair to everyone else in the theatre and it's fucking inappropriate for a god damned toddler.

So they just seem surprised that I refused to sell them a ticket. It takes a minute for this to process, then the female opens her maw.

"Fuck you we can see whatever the fuck we want give us two tickets to fucking Hostel, bitch!"

So I calmly respond: "Hostel has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America, and we don't let children into R rated movies at night. I'm sorry but we're unable to let you bring your baby into Hostel, the torture movie."

And they just stared at me, incredulous. While the line of people for whom it would be appropriate to see that awful movie became more and more irate with these idiots. I sent them over the management, got on the radio, and explained the situation.

Sadly, I didn't get to see the follow up conversation, but management was happy to tell them to got he fuck home and not come back.

[–]MichaelTrinh 8 points9 points ago

As a moviegoer, I thank you. Especially for maintaining class and professionalism :)

[–]Squints753 32 points33 points ago

Reminds me of when some dumbass couple brought their 5 year old to Watchmen. I mean, the film is loud enough, but I guess you needed to introduce your child to the mechanics of sawing one's arms off....

[–]SinCitySaint 8 points9 points ago

People who don't know anything about it just assume its a superhero movie. I saw a few dads with kids during the midnight showing I went to.

[–]Hypobasis 25 points26 points ago

I wish there was some sort of rating system for that....

[–]egon0226 13 points14 points ago

I still laugh at all the parents who complained to the theaters because they brought their kids to Bad Santa.

[–]shunpoko 9 points10 points ago

Some asshole brought their toddler into Skyfall. Which has a lot of explosions since it's a James Bond movie. Guess whose devil spawn kept shrieking and taking forever to calm down. Yup. They got so many death glares when the house lights came on and everyone could see who the perp was.

[–]mas277 25 points26 points ago

Best thing I've ever heard in a theater. The scene: a baby is crying his/her ass off somewhere in the back of a Friday night showing of some crappy R-rated action picture in West Philly. The theater is packed.

A gentleman, in a reasoned plea to the mother, bellows, "PUT THE TITTY IN THE MOUTH!"

[–]delhux 86 points87 points ago

My thoughts on this as a parent and an occasional movie-goer:

Kids ticket prices should vary by age, time of day, and movie rating.

Kids can go to G-rated matinees during the day (say, before 5p) for a reduced ticket price, maybe five or six bucks.

If a parent wants to take their baby/toddler/whatever to see the latest action film at 9p, be my guest; its a free country, but the price of a single children's ticket is now no less than $150.

I think all theatres should institute this immediately.

[–]BakedGood 53 points54 points ago

Baby ticket should be $1,000. And you have to give them your phone and ID as collateral.

[–]winkandthegun 11 points12 points ago

I disagree. I don't think the rest of the audience should have their experience ruined because some baby is crying throughout the entire, regardless of how wealthy the parents are. I would argue the movie theater has an obligation to prevent this sort of thing from happening.

[–]hailley 7 points8 points ago

I'm pregnant with my first child and my husband and I already agreed this would not happen. I love going to see movies, but not enough to ruin it for everyone else.

[–]mytoeshurt 57 points58 points ago

The closest I have ever come to screaming at a stranger was due to this. People directly behind me in the theater. 6 year old kicking the back of my chair, and 2 babies crying for the entire movie. I am normally a VERY tolerable person, but here is the kicker. IT WAS FUCKING RETURN OF THE KING. The most excited I have probably ever been in my life to see a movie, and you take babies to see a fucking 4 hour movie!!! All these years and I still want to punch every one of those mother fuckers in the face. Babies included.

[–]crushthehorns 44 points45 points ago

The parents who allow their kids to kick the back of strangers seats on airplanes, in movie theaters, etc. is beyond mind-boggling to me.

[–]sarcastek 7 points8 points ago

So the dads, and the babies?

[–]awayand 4 points5 points ago

head over to /r/apologizeplease

[–]stupidalien 5 points6 points ago

my god what a depressing sub reddit... :,(

[–]monkeyleavings 6 points7 points ago

My recent theater problems haven't been crying babies...they've been middle-aged couples who think they're in their fucking living room, commenting and discussing and predicting and explaining throughout the movie.

[–]dankNbeans12 287 points288 points ago

Movie theatre. Quiet restaurant. In the line at the grocery store. At the DMV. Doesn't matter to me. Please feel free to bring your baby. Toddler. Tween. Teen. Girlfriend.
But when that little bitch starts flipping shit, please take it outside. Or at least, the bathroom.
Nothing worse than a parent that pretends they can't hear their own child screaming.

[–]StoryGopher 21 points22 points ago

I used to work at a uni library. This lady brought her fussy babe once to study for exams. She started making the I'm tired cry and wouldn't stop. Three people asked me to do something about it. When I asked her to please step out of the quiet area until her child calmed Down. She flipped her fucking shit at me. Okay lady I know finding child care can be tough and its hard going through school with a kid but Allllll theessseee people also pay tuition and this is a vital time for them. She got up and stormed off to the bathroom and her friend apologized for her. Then her and I moved their things into an A/V room with a heavy door. It was a good compromise made between calm minds.

[–]carlotta4th 4 points5 points ago

Usually the parents I see are responsible enough to take their kids someplace quiet when they start crying... but man, when they don't? Computer lab. Trying to write a paper... a very young infant is bawling it's brains out, and the mother does NOTHING. Nothing! In a small room where the sound is easily contained and amplified into the ears of all present (especially since newborn cries are much higher pitched then when they get a bit older)! She's just tippity typing away.

I understand you need to use a computer too, mother-lady, but you're stopping 20 other people from accomplishing their academics. It was just so... rude.

[–]yourbuddyjoe 53 points54 points ago

Movie theatre, quiet restaurant? Absolutely I agree with you. However, it is unrealistic to expect a single parent to get out of line at a grocery store or the DMV to quiet an upset baby. They should make some attempt to solve the problem but these are people that need to eat and function in society just like everyone else. There are certain public and shared private places where this is just going to happen every now and then. Unfortunately that is a price we must all pay.

[–]dankNbeans12 14 points15 points ago

Alright, I see your point.

[–]TrolliusJKingIIIEsq 3 points4 points ago

And really, why would a crying baby be so bothersome in line at the DMV or grocery store? Jesus, it's just a crying baby, and it's not like there's some sort of expectation of quiet in either of those places.

[–]JaktheAce 262 points263 points ago

No, you don't bring anything that could flip shit during a movie, that throws everyone out of the experience and is extremely rude. Especially considering what it costs now.

[–]rmh86 168 points169 points ago

The Hobbit was ruined for me because this guy refused to take his screaming baby outside.

He was finally hissed at by enough people to just get up and leave, but it took a good 45 minutes. In those 45 minutes I paid hardly any attention to the movie as I slowly filled up with rage.

It's a terrible experience for movie goers to have to put up with. Cinemas should just ban babies.

[–]dhicock 67 points68 points ago

I would have found an usher or a manager. Missing 1.5 minutes of the movie makes up for the saved 43.5 minutes

[–]NinjaCameraman 57 points58 points ago

Our local theater employs college students as ushers.

College student movie buffs who already hate the world for how little they're paid to put up with people's shit.

They almost salivate when given the opportunity to tell disruptive people to fuck off. It's a fun theater.

[–]nailz1000 22 points23 points ago

I was assuming this was going into an apathy direction, turned out happier than expected.

[–]phorkor 15 points16 points ago

Right? Why wait 45 minutes? If someone is being disruptive, do something about it. If you don't do anything, then people need to stfu. YOU (not you, rmh86) sat through all that crap for 45 minutes, YOU let it continue and just dealt with it. If you did that, it must not have been that big of an issue for you so why complain?

And by "doing something about it" I'm not saying go up to the guy and tell him to take his screaming sack of terror out of the theater, go get someone that works there and tell them what's going on and if they don't do anything, you want your money back. Simple solution yet people just let things continue then come to the innanets and complain. DO SOMETHING.

[–]JaktheAce 24 points25 points ago

any time something like this happens you can leave and go to the front desk. They will always give you a free credit to come back and see it another time.

I've never had issues with a baby, but there have been people in my theater before talking so loud it ruined it and I had to leave.

[–]krum 14 points15 points ago

Every town needs an Alamo Draft House.

[–]SHIT_IN_HER_CUNT 11 points12 points ago

45 minutes? holy shit that is a bad theater imo. The last theater I went to, once the kid started flipping out (crying/yelling) they were given one chance to stop or to leave because they are ruining it for everyone else

[–]dankNbeans12 44 points45 points ago

Anything that "could" flip shit? Nah, I don't see the problem as long as everybody's cool. As much as I hate listening to brats throw their tantrums in public, it's no reason to exclude well behaved kids.

[–]RollTide22 7 points8 points ago

I agree with this completely. My nephew is almost 2 and every movie my sister has taken him to he has stayed calm and quiet. However, were he to decide to flip out, she would immediately take him out to the lobby.

[–]starlinguk 14 points15 points ago

If you're gonna ban anyone who could misbehave you should only allow, um.... Nobody?

[–]marcelinebassplaying 13 points14 points ago

Yeah. How do people expect little kids to practice behaving properly in public if they're always left behind at home?

[–][deleted] ago

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[–]RugerRedhawk 4 points5 points ago

I would only bring a small child to a movie that was specifically targeted toward small children. And even then, only when they are old enough to appreciate it. My daughter was capable to sit through a movie appropriately at age 2, my son, not even close. It all depends on the kid. And if I'm at a showing for winnie the pooh, or tangled, I'm not going to be too upset if I hear some kid noises here and there.

[–]lolturtle 98 points99 points ago

Theatre and quiet restaurants are understandable. DMV and grocery store though? Thats an unreasonable expectation. People have kids, and still have to do things. I've become much more understanding as a parent. You were a kid once two. You probably annoyed the crap out of everyone in a grocery store once. Show some compassion. At least you weren't the one who got two hours asleep the night before. The parent is probably more upset/ annoyed about it.

[–]sorrenn 33 points34 points ago

At least you weren't the one who got two hours asleep the night before.

As a child-less adult, what I don't like is the guilt-trip that I get by some people with kids. You chose to reproduce (in most cases, anyway). That's great for you, but it's not some altruistic act for which we should all be grateful.

Truly, I have empathy for people in all sorts of scenarios, but it's weird when parents imply that they are fulfilling some kind of great service for the rest of us by attending to the burden of their children.

[–]lolturtle 11 points12 points ago

I wasn't trying to guilt trip, I was showing some perspective. I listen to my kid scream a lot and it bugs the crap out of me. I get lots if anxiety when she does in public because I don't want to bother others and I do my best to calm her down. Having her was my choice, but it is so nice to get words of encouragement from strangers who look at me like they understand how hard it is sometimes. It only bugs me when people get self righteous and pass on highly judgmental parenting advice when they haven't even had kids.

[–]Grimee 3 points4 points ago

AMEN!

[–]omarion99 3 points4 points ago

Theater and restaurant I understand, but that's where I stop agreeing with you. You don't go to a DMV or grocery store to have a nice relaxing atmosphere, you're in a public place, you have no expectation of quiet.

[–]lisabadcat 14 points15 points ago

That's one thing that struct me about the shooting in the Colorado theater last summer was the fact that some guy had his 2 week old baby with him. At a midnight showing... WTF people?

[–]Mistersinister1 5 points6 points ago

Haven't been to the theater since I had my daughter. 2+ years, that and its mostly shit in theaters anyways, will find a sitter for evil dead though.

[–]rabid_porcupine 5 points6 points ago

Had first kid 3 1/2 years ago, been to 3 movies since, all sans babies. Absolutely no movie is so important that I have to rush out to see it, dragging along an infant or toddler. The three movies I have seen, were because grandparents took kids and sent husband and I out.

[–]I_Am_So_Awesome 5 points6 points ago

I hate going to the movies. More specifically, I hate my fellow movie-goers. Talking, cell-phone-using, munching mongoloids. So disturbing.

[–]npech001 13 points14 points ago

There was a baby in the theater when I saw Django Unchained. I can only hope that the child's first word will be "nigger". That'll teach the parents.

[–]MewtwoStruckBack 13 points14 points ago

If you won't do anything to quiet your kid and get an attitude when confronted, and your kid's under 8, I'm telling them the truth about Santa.

If your kid's over 8 and causing a disturbance, I'm going to do the same thing in regards to god.

Parent your fucking children or I'm going to do it for you and you won't like how I deal with your kids.

[–]buzzbeebara 4 points5 points ago

This is one of the reasons why i only see movies at an Alamo Drafthouse. there are specific days for infants, otherwise they are not allowed.

[–]borkborkbork99 3 points4 points ago

I was totally expecting a picture of a bag from McDonalds when I opened this link.

[–]coppersink 13 points14 points ago

This is why movie piracy was invented. Stay home with the baby and download. It's the only moral thing to do.

[–]daltond2 7 points8 points ago

This is interesting. My sociology professor was telling me the other day how Americans have very little patients for children in movie theaters. Americans get pissed when kids are brought in, but in movie theaters in India the whole family goes and young kids are brought too. Instead of their complaining about the kids being there they will complain that the movie theater isn't loud enough. So most of their theaters are very loud and have kids roaming around just being kids.

[–]Ganswon 11 points12 points ago

Have you seen indian movies? Of course they don't mind a distraction.

[–]MrWiggles2 10 points11 points ago

Oh hell, you just reminded me of one of the worst dates I've been on.

My girlfriend and I used to live in a little college town, with a much larger city about 45mins away. Whenever we'd go to that city for shopping or exploring, we would always go to our favorite tavern before coming come. That tavern is awesome, over 200 beers, about half on tap, awesome food which was mostly organic or locally sourced - you know, basic hipster fare.

Anyway, we go this one night at about 9:45PM. We order our beers and chat for a while as we haven't decided what to eat yet and didn't want to cut our time short. Then, at about 10:15PM, a couple comes in and sits at a table right in the middle of the restaurant. Bear in mind there's only about 10-15 tables inside the whole place, with just as many more outside split between front and back patios.

Well, this couple had a kid, and by kid I mean infant. Maybe 4-8 months old, I'm not good at judging age. Not 10mins after they sit down, that little monster starts bawling...screaming...crying? I don't know if there's a word for the noise this creature was emitting. It was awful, and about 10x louder than the combined noise of 30+ people chatting/laughing/drunkenly singing along to music in a god damn BAR.

They fucking ignored it. They ignored it like they didn't even hear it. No cooing or coddling to try to appease the beast, no pacifier to sate it's bloodlust. Nothing. They just sat there and slowly enjoyed their food, while the rest of the patrons couldn't.

We got up and went outside to try to avoid the noise. Then, it started raining - forcing us back into the demon's lair. We asked for the check before we even sat down, packed up our food in to-go boxes as we hadn't even been able to get halfway through our meal, and promptly left.

What the hell, seriously. It's one thing to take a child out in public that late, when they should already be fed and put to sleep. It's an entirely new level of WTF to do the same, but take the child to a god damn bar/tavern that late. There are people in there who came to the bar specifically to get away from their kids, why would you do that to them? That child had no business being there and the parents had no business bringing it.

New parents need to realize that immediately after birthing a child, you are instantly no longer the most important person in your life, your child is. And because of that, you also lose many benefits and luxuries of being single or childless. That means no more late movies (without a babysitter at home) no more formal dining experiences (without leaving the child with a babysitter) no more spur of the moment bar nights (again, babysitter). Why in the hell can't people realize that you can't just keep doing everything you used to do? Your life is effectively over the moment you create a new one, that is, until they get to college and move out.

/rant

[–]Firome 14 points15 points ago

Correct. I have a 15 months old. I have been to the cinema probably 10-12 times though. BY MYSELF. or when her grandparents watch her for an evening.

Not to mention ~85dB is pretty freaking loud for a small child.

[–]zgh5002 5 points6 points ago

And this is why I love Alamo Drafthouse. Booze, real food and no kids and very rarely teenagers.

[–]thoroldjames 6 points7 points ago

most adults are far more annoying than all but the odd kid that's in full meltdown mode..

[–]CurkyHangles 31 points32 points ago

As a father myself, a crying child in almost any context is just background noise that I can easily deal with. However, bringing a child, especially a fussy child, to a movie theater is just a dick move.

[–]DogBoy99 77 points78 points ago

The rest of the world cannot deal with that noise. It's worse than fingernails on a blackboard. Ignoring your crying child is a dick move to everyone within earshot.

[–]GinsuGuy 15 points16 points ago

Its like a dog barking, you don't hear it if it's yours.

[–]PowerOfMagnetism 16 points17 points ago

I hate that noise so much. I just can't understand why people think it's okay to allow your child to cry in public without doing anything to stop it. If I brought a dog that wouldn't stop barking to a public place I'd be expected to keep it quiet, yet people flip out as soon as you ask them to keep their kid down. Children should be seen and not heard.

[–]Obvious0ne 14 points15 points ago

I've heard that parents get good at tuning it out - but nonparents are not.

[–]abducteeofgitmo 3 points4 points ago

To everyone considerate enough not to bring your kids to the movies I say thank you.

[–]andrebosis 3 points4 points ago

fkin hate kids

[–]Tehmellophonist 8 points9 points ago

Seriously. It's one thing when its at the movies, but I can't tell you how many choir/orchestral concerts I have been to and performed at that have been ruined by a baby crying in the background. The parents just think they can shut them up and sit there, buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. They keep going, and going, and going, and going. Energizer bunny shit.

[–]messengerofthesea 19 points20 points ago

I thought it was going to be a picture of an assault rifle.

Too soon?

[–]AhMannnn 12 points13 points ago

Sorry if my toddler wants to see Django!!!...goddamn

[–]mowgles 3 points4 points ago

Went to see this a few weeks ago at the before-noon showing, and immediately spotted a mother with a 4-5 year old and a young baby. Thankfully, the little girl was terrified by the R-rated previews alone, and successfully begged the mother to leave.

[–]Vee_Vee 14 points15 points ago

circlejerk alert.

Like anyone is going to disagree.

[–]JaktheAce 3 points4 points ago

Do people actually do this? It has never happened to me, and I see a lot of movies.

[–]fine_sharts_degree 11 points12 points ago

Yeah, those things are SO loud when you try and open them

[–]OneOfDozens 10 points11 points ago

what a controversial opinion you have