The most insufferable moviegoers: Phone addicts

At the cinema, some audiences are less easy to support than others. Sure, there are compulsive latecomers or especially noisy popcorn eaters, but today, let’s focus on the phone addicts who can’t answer their cell phones…

When you buy a theater ticket to see a movie, the tacit contract you make with other theatergoers is (or should be, anyway): for the duration of the feature film, it will be at least a matter of good manners, discretion, and respect.

For some, these few basic rules are obvious. However, for others, things are sometimes more difficult.

Of course, each viewer has their own relationship with cinema, and undoubtedly there are as many different ways of evaluating a film as there are people on earth. Therefore, it would not be right to explain to someone how to watch a feature film, nor to lay down any laws about viewing.

That being said, we will no doubt be able to agree on basic principles regardless. For example, regarding the misuse of mobile phones.

Remember, to function optimally, the cinema session should be conducted in silence and darkness. Without falling into mania or sectarianism, we can prove that the slightest noise or the slightest light on a film will parasitize it. In this regard, compulsive cell phone users are probably the worst enemies of “real” viewers.

These people systematically abandoning the giant movie screen for their tiny pocket screen is an increasingly widespread phenomenon, and one that can literally ruin a movie for you.

As long as the annoying person is sitting in line in front of you and they decide – out of boredom or addiction – to spend the rest of their session on Whatsapp or Candy Crush, they won’t pay much attention. It will systematically shift so that the latest Scorsese finds himself with little pink candies falling on top of each other.

Like all manias, this one has distinct degrees. We are sometimes lucky enough to meet “light” addicts who are content to send two or three SMS messages during the movie, check the time a few times, and in the end don’t bother much.

But unfortunately, on the other end of the spectrum, true micromaniac addicts lurk. Those who are dragged to the cinema probably did not pay for the tickets and have no intention of spending a second of their time watching the movie. For those who have games to finish, lots of messages to send, memories to write (why not?) and videos… on Youtube!

The most dangerous of these rare specimens, who will not even wait for the light to go out to take out the phone, will even allow himself – if he is too tired and if he feels like it – to answer calls out loud. They tell the interlocutor about the plot of the movie they are “watching” (don’t frown, it’s a real story).

So how should we go about overcoming these annoyances, which end up treating cinemas as large public seats (€12 per entry) with interestingly projected images in front of them?

As always, the first step is to prioritize diplomacy. Sometimes a simple, friendly reminder of the ground rules will be enough to save the session, provided, of course, that your interlocutor is in a good mood.

Otherwise, you may need to insist or find a tactic to solve the problem effectively. Feel free to share your unfortunate experience with this issue and your tips to fix it if you have any.

(Re)discover the trailer for Killers of the Flower Moon, currently in theaters…