I’m sorry if I sound like a Karen, but there are just some things you shouldn’t be doing inside a movie theater, from snapping pics of the screen mid-movie to eating your extra-pungent takeout.
I simply hate it when I go on Instagram stories and see someone posting clips from a theater screen of a movie they’re literally still watching. Don’t get me wrong—I love that you’re finally out, back in theaters, and doing your part in the great cinematic resurrection post-pandemic. But come on. I haven’t seen Sinners yet, and I definitely don’t need your spoilers (or your thirst traps of Michael B. Jordan).
Frustrated by this ultimate movie theater peeve of mine, I turned to Google to see if anyone else shared my pain. Unsurprisingly, I found an article on the subject by writer Tres Dean, recently published on GQ, titled “Stop Taking Photos of the Movie Screen During the Movie. No, Seriously, Knock It Off.” Fueled by Dean’s righteous rage, I decided to take a closer look at this behavior—and a few other offenses that drive me nuts. Because as a cinephile, the movie theater is my church. Please respect it.
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Stop Taking Photos Of The Screen
As Dean put it in his article, taking photos of the screen while the movie is still playing is incredibly rude. Not just to the filmmakers who deserve your full attention while you watch their art, but also for the people around you trying to stay immersed, and the folks at home who haven’t seen the movie yet. Honestly, it’s such a weird flex to post that you’re in the middle of a movie. I get it—sharing things online is now second nature. But maybe pulling out your phone in the theater is a step too far. Trust us: no one cares that you’re watching Wicked the first day of release.
Social Media And Texting Should Be Done Outside
While we’re on the subject of phones, let’s take it a step further. You came to the movie theater as a paying customer, so enjoy the film in front of you. This is not the place to be doom-scrolling through TikTok, watching Instagram stories, or replying to your never-ending group chat. If you can’t survive without your phone for two hours, then maybe the cinema isn’t for you—and that’s okay! Not everyone’s a movie person. But please, don’t ruin the experience for the rest of us. If you’d rather consume “content” (I hate that word) in a different way, there’s a screen waiting for you at home. Cinema is not “content.”
The Movie Theater Isn’t Your Living Room
I cannot tell you how often I’ve seen people treat the movie theater like it’s their living room. It’s honestly gross when someone takes their shoes off mid-movie. Trust us, nobody wants to smell your feet. I once saw someone prop their bare feet on the empty seat in front of them. Wild. Are we just forgetting basic social etiquette now? Movie theaters aren’t just shared public spaces—they’re temples of art, meant to be respected by both the creators and the audience. So act like it. Pick up your trash after the film, don’t wipe your grubby fingers on the seats, and for the love of cinema, keep your shoes on.
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Pepper Lunch Is Not For The Cinema
I learned this one the hard way—because I was the culprit of the crime. One random afternoon, I decided to rewatch Anora on the big screen right before the Oscars. I hadn’t eaten and was starving, so I grabbed some Pepper Lunch takeout and brought it into the theater—terrible idea. The smell was loud. Everyone around me gave me the stink eye, and honestly? I deserved it. From that day on, I realized: if you absolutely must bring food into the theater, maybe go for something that won’t perfume the entire room. Think Potato Corner discreetly tucked away in a paper bag—or better yet, stick to the classics: popcorn and an ice-cold Coca-Cola. And if you’re craving beef? Hit up Wolfgang’s Premiere Lounge instead. They’ll serve you a steak dinner during the movie without making you smell like one.
Silence Please!
We get it. Some things are inevitable. You bring your toddler to the new Despicable Me movie, and they suddenly burst into tears because something unexpected happens. Fine. That’s normal. That’s parenting. But when the noise is unnecessary and avoidable, that’s where the problem starts. For example, don’t try to explain the plot to your friend while it’s still unfolding. Don’t blurt out loud commentary nobody asked for—you’re not Roger Ebert. And most importantly, don’t you dare pick up that phone call mid-movie. If you need to say something, just step outside for a minute. You do it when you need to pee—and hopefully, you’re not peeing in the aisles, right?
