“Martin Scorsese no longer watches films in cinemas due to audience bad behaviour” - has your theatregoing been affected in the same way?

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 8:43am

Just as the title says. What Scorsese finds in movie theatres, I’m seeing in legit theatres on Broadway as well. Are you attending theatre less because of audience conduct taking away from the experience?

Some things on Broadway that I would have seen twice or more, I only see once. Some things I might have seen once, I don’t go to at all.

I’m curious if your habits have changed. 

Original Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jun/06/martin-scorsese-no-longer-watches-films-in-cinemas-due-to-audience-bad-behaviour

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 9:02am

No, price and general interest are a bigger barrier for me than the audience. But maybe I’ve lucked out with audience behavior.

I will say, as someone who primarily attends shows that opened recently, it’s always a bit of a surprise the 1-2 times a year I go to a long running show, especially on a weekend, because the crowd is so different. But not in a way that makes me want to stop attending.

I do find multiplex audience behavior to be worse than on Broadway. Phone use, late arrivals, people spilling cheese whiz, no ushers in the room, talking, etc. But the biggest offender is the Times Square AMC and that is easily avoidable.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 9:15am

Absolutely fair points. I’ve had mostly bad audience luck, and the 10% of the time that things go well I’m so thankful for it. 
Admittedly I’m almost always sitting in lottery or rush seats, so that may have something to do with it. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 12:29pm

I have a huge TV and a massive physical collection of films. I absolutely adore going to the cinema. I went to a screening a few weeks ago and I finally just asked myself what the hell I was doing. The audience was so poorly behaved, it cost $20, I had to leave my house and I seriously wondered what the point is anymore. The behavior at the theatre, cinema, the subway, the gym...it's hard not to feel cynical because of how frustrating the entitlement, rudeness, aggression, and lack of manners has become. Really a shame.

 

I'll never stop going to the theatre but the prices are more alarming than the behavior, and the behavior is pretty alarming. I try to see shows early because I find the audience is better behaved. But with the prices of everything skyrocketing, I have to be a lot more selective about what I see. As exciting as Evita sounds, how much will it cost to get a decent seat in the theatre when it comes to Broadway? $600? And then have the strong possibility of someone talking or texting the whole show? Someone totally invading my personal space? It's looking a bit grim out here.

[scripps]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 12:53pm

TotallyEffed said: "I'll never stop going to the theatre but the prices are more alarming than the behavior, and the behavior is pretty alarming. I try to see shows early because I find the audience is better behaved. But with the prices of everything skyrocketing, I have to be a lot more selective about what I see. As exciting as Evita sounds, how much will it cost to get a decent seat in the theatre when it comes to Broadway? $600? And then have the strong possibility of someone talking or texting the whole show? Someone totally invading my personal space? It's looking a bit grim out here."

Attending late previews or shortly after opening has been my strategy for a while, even pre-Covid. When I read on here that some performances are garnering mid-show standing ovations and constant shrieking, I know to avoid (and I kinda want to see Heathers, a conundrum). I will admit, I am surprised at times like when I saw Funny Girl with Lea Michele; I braced myself for bad behavior but the audience was appropriately receptive. TDF is a life saver and my primary ticket source; so is a friend who has the lucky touch with digital lottos. And if I miss something because it's too $$, oh well, the world keeps spinning.

I haven't been inside a movie theater since February 2020, but I might break that streak to see the Downton Abbey.

 

[binau]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 1:06pm

TotallyEffed said: "I have a huge TV and a massive physical collection of films. I absolutely adore going to the cinema.I went to a screening a few weeks ago and I finally just asked myself what the hell I was doing. The audience wassopoorly behaved, it cost $20, I had to leave my house and I seriously wondered what the point is anymore. The behavior at the theatre, cinema, the subway, the gym...it's hard not to feel cynical because of how frustrating the entitlement, rudeness, aggression,and lack of mannershas become. Really a shame.



I'll never stop going to the theatre but the prices are more alarming than the behavior, and the behavioris pretty alarming. I try to see shows early because I find the audience is better behaved. But with the prices of everything skyrocketing, I have to be a lot more selective about what I see. As exciting as Evita sounds, how much will it cost to get a decent seat in thetheatre when it comes to Broadway? $600? And then have the strong possibility of someone talking or texting the whole show? Someone totally invading my personal space? It's looking a bit grim out here."

Every performance of Evita I attended including the first people were talking during the show. It was awful. One day when I don’t give a fcuk anymore I’m going to tell them to shut the hell up, but right now when I confront people (and I have a couple times over the years) it ruins the experience for me too. 

At the last performance of Evita I attended, I overheard two basic Bs complaining to each other that the ‘rude’ person confronted them for talking and they were amping each other up about whether they were going to confront back. I could not roll my eyes further into the back of my head. 

Updated On: 9/8/25 at 01:06 PM

[abcd12]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 1:14pm

Why are audiences so poorly behaved these days?

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 1:16pm

The whole experience is terrible. The seats are too small, the drinks are hilariously overpriced, the sightlines can be unpredictable from production to production, you're herded in like cattle at the last minute, callouts feel more frequent and are often shrouded in mystery, and it all costs a fortune. The audience being atrocious is a factor... but it's part of a larger whole. While we can demonize the audiences (and maybe we should), it's clear most producers and presenters spend very little time, effort, or resources on the audience experience. 

I've said in other threads but the experience has become too fraught and ultimately too expensive. I can no longer justify the expense and it was my favorite thing. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 1:18pm

scripps said: "Attending late previews or shortly after opening has been my strategy for a while, even pre-Covid. When I read on here that some performances are garnering mid-show standing ovations and constant shrieking, I know to avoid (and I kinda want to see Heathers, a conundrum). I will admit, I am surprised at times like when I saw Funny Girl with Lea Michele; I braced myself for bad behavior but the audience was appropriately receptive. TDF is a life saver and my primary ticket source; so is a friend who has the lucky touch with digital lottos. And if I miss something because it's too $$, oh well, the world keeps spinning.

 

Same!
 

binau said: "One day when I don’t give a fcuk anymore I’m going to tell them to shut the hell up, but right now when I confront people (and I have a couple times over the years) it ruins the experience for me too.
 

Me too, unfortunately. Just gives me a pit in my stomach and more than once I've have extreme reactions that were so aggressive I got scared and it ruined the showed for me. It's not worth it. But even the "smaller" reactions are frustrating. At Oh, Mary! the man next to me would NOT stop manspreading into my space. I kept gently bumping his leg with mine so he'd take a hint and he'd back off for a bit. But then he kept doing it and I gave him a pretty strong push with my leg to get his out of my space and he gave me a death stare like I was insane. Like, dude. You've crossing over into MY space. I know the seats are uncomfortable. I am very tall. But get a grip and get over it! It shouldn't be my problem and totally affect my experience.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 1:21pm

I think Martin Scorsese inability to watch movies in theaters has more to do with the fact that he's in his 80s rather than occasional bad behavior by audiences. In fact, ever since movie tickets booking switch to advance seat selection from first come first serve, it has been nothing but a pleasant experience. I've been going to the movies regularly since 2023 (2-4 times a month on average) and the only times people were not sitting silently are during the horror movies. But that is expected and it's part of the fun. I normally go to AMC Empire 42st and Lincoln Center. Love both locations and yet to have a negative experience. People using phones in theaters doesn't bother me especially if done discreetly. IMO, people behave better than pre-pandemic and theaters no longer have clearly unhoused people who basically live in movie theaters by moving auditoriums all day. 

Whomever not being back to cinemas since 2020 is missing out. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 1:23pm

gibsons2 said: "I think Martin Scorsese inability to watch movies in theaters has more to do with the fact that he's in his 80s rather than occasional bad behavior by audiences. In fact, ever since movie ticketsbookingswitch to advance seat selection from first come first serve, it has been nothing but a pleasant experience. I've been going to the movies regularly since 2023 (2-4 times a month on average)and the only times people were not sitting silently are during the horror movies. But that is expected and it's part of the fun.I normally go to AMC Empire 42st and Lincoln Center. Love both locations and yet to have a negative experience. People using phones in theaters doesn't bother me especially if done discreetly. IMO, people behave better than pre-pandemic and theaters no longer have clearly unhoused people who basically live in movie theaters by moving auditoriums all day.

 

Lucky you.
 

Updated On: 9/8/25 at 01:23 PM

[scripps]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 1:37pm

Yes, missing out on shining lights in the dark and burnt popcorn munching triggering my misophonia. Me and my 75" TV with surround sound get by just fine :) 

[KarenValentine'sheadband]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 1:48pm

He's not wrong. Many times I've witnessed bad behavior when seeing a film. It really sucks. Americans in general are entitled and narcissistic. They believe they can do whatever they want at all times. I went to the Oasis concert this past Saturday and they were great. Been a fan since the start and have seen them many times over the decades. This one was different. People were scream singing and going on IG/FB live all night with their cell lights on. Non-stop talking, crying, and weirdly dressing up. It was like a Taylor Swift gig but for 50–60-year-olds. The point being, things like concerts and soon-to-be movie theaters are that the experience isn't about the art—film and musicians, but about the people in the audience. The audience has turned their focus on to themselves. I realizes this may be negative but I go to 30-40 or so gigs a years and watch this behavior all the time. A sociologist would have a field day at today's entertainment venues. 

Updated On: 9/8/25 at 01:48 PM

[gibsons2]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 1:52pm

scripps said: "Yes, missing out on shining lights in the dark and burnt popcorn munching triggering mymisophonia. Me and my 75" TV with surround sound get by just fine :)"

Meh, if done discreetly and on low brightness, I tend not to even notice people checking their phones. Old folks in Broadway theaters don't even bother muting the phones and if they ring, everyone is aware. I'm also sensitive to sounds and being a female in my 40s only made it worse. Still, watching a movie in a theater never aggravated me to the point I decided to leave and never return. Not sure if it's luck, I genuinely believe cinema audiences became more civilized recently. 

[KarenValentine'sheadband]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 2:16pm

gibsons2 said: "if done discreetly and on low brightness, ."

 

People who have bad behavior issues tend not to care about that. No offense. 

 

[dadaguza]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 4:56pm

This thread has prompted me to ask - was Hamilton in theaters really supposed to be a sing-along?

Because a large corner of TikTok seems to think so, and some are actually creating an uproar if they're told not to sing during the movie, others griping that their theater was "too quiet" and they walked out. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 5:02pm

dadaguza said: "This thread has prompted me to ask - was Hamilton in theaters really supposed to be a sing-along?

Because a large corner of TikTok seems to think so, and some are actually creating an uproar if they're told not to sing during the movie, others griping that their theater was "too quiet" and they walked out."

I saw an audience-filmed clip from the United Palace screening which had lyrics on the screen along the lower edge, and the audience was really singing. 

I suppose if a screening is labeled as a singalong and there are lyrics being shown, people can sing if they want to. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 6:00pm

Viewing live theatre, I have no problem shooshing people or telling them to put their phone away.  I have occasionally looked right at them and told them to be quiet or I will get the usher involved.  I have done that a decent number of times, and I have to say that it has always worked for me.  Once at 'On Your Feet',  I had to tell two non-regular theatre-goers (I assume) to be quiet twice.  The second time, I told them I would get out of my aisle seat and ask the manager to quiet them down.  It worked; despite looks to kill at intermission and upon exiting the theatre.

I would not do that in a movie theatre because, frankly, you never know who may have a gun or want to start a fight.  Despite that, and cell phones lighting up, I still like to attend a movie in person, particularly if it is a comedy, which I find is more enjoyable to me in a crowd.  

Ironically, I find that I don't enjoy the theatres with reclining thrones as much because I don't feel that communal experience.  Sitting back, I don't even feel like my wife is there with me, because I can barely see her.  It does, however, dramatically discourage talking and you don't see phones lighting up constantly.  So, while it should be a far superior experience, it is not for me.

I suspect that I will find a way to attend movie theatres as long as they exist.

One last point: When I am in NYC, I try to attend a movie at the Paris theatre whenever I can because that to me is the ultimate movie experience, intimate, a well-behaved crowd (when there is a crowd), and memories of the first time I ever attended it, in 1966, to see my first foreign film, A Man and a Woman.

 

[lastmidnights]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 6:08pm

I hear a lot about bad audience behavior, but my question is always "and what did you do?" I'm coming more and more to the conclusion that common courtesy is not so common, and it's on us to at least try something when we see bad behavior. People are so afraid to interact with others (probably because every other week you see some viral video of someone having a meltdown somewhere), but most of the time, I find just turning and looking at the person behind/next to/wherever they are is enough for them to stop. Or just whispering shhh. If that doesn't work, I tell an usher at intermission, and they're always on top of it. I know it's not ideal, but we pay too much to just sit there passively and allow our experience to be ruined. It shouldn't be that way, but if nobody speaks up, people believe their bad behavior is ok and  continue to do it

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 6:09pm

Art house cinemas in New York like The Paris are mostly still fabulous to see films in with audiences that are respectful and serious.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 6:45pm

lastmidnights said: "I hear a lot about bad audience behavior, but my question is always "and what did you do?" I'm coming more and more to the conclusion that common courtesy is not so common, andit's on usto at least try something when we see bad behavior. People are so afraid to interact with others(probably because every other week you see some viral video of someone having a meltdown somewhere), but most of the time, I find just turning and looking at the person behind/next to/wherever they are is enough for them to stop. 

I'm always surprised that people are afraid to speak up if their evening is being negatively affected. Tickets are too expensive, and life is too short: Speak up. Usually people are so unaware of other people nowadays. it didn't even occur to them they're being annoying to others at the theater.

Updated On: 9/8/25 at 06:45 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 7:45pm

I find that if you're able to go to the early (before noon) or later (after 9pm) screenings for most movies, you'll usually have a private (or semi-private) screening.  That's usually the case at the AMC and the Regal on 42nd.  This is even  on the weekends (except for the biggest blockbusters like the Marvel/DC movies on their opening weekend).

 

[RainbowMerman]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 10:02pm

Aren’t the movie theaters dying ?  People just wait for it to stream

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 10:05pm

RainbowMerman said: "Aren’t the movie theaters dying ? People just wait for it to stream"


I see another older and long dormant account name has awoken. BirdieBoy/BroadwayFlash is that you? 

Updated On: 9/8/25 at 10:05 PM

[veronicamae]

Posted: 9/8/25 at 10:08pm

I have AMC A-List and see 3-4 movies a month on average. Since you can see how many tickets are reserved for any screening, I do lean toward the less-popular showtimes - usually matinees - to mitigate the chances by having fewer people present.

And in re: Broadway - no, "bad audience behavior" doesn't discourage me from attending.