MOVIE THEATRE ETIQUETTE

A large, dark room filled with people sitting in rows enjoying a movie being played on a big white screen and you ask – what could go wrong? My answer: ANYTHING. From trash talking and food fighting to possibly a mini revolution of sorts, movie theatres are home to much drama themselves. Buckle up and get your flavoured popcorn ready for I am about to tell you exactly what to do and what not to do with that popcorn pack later on, plus more.
1.Try and be on time. It's no fun walking into the theatre after 15 minutes and scurrying in the dark trying to find your designated seat among so many. The best thing to do is to be punctual. Come early and if you're out with friends, wait till everybody has arrived. Check the details on your ticket, get some popcorn if you want and find your seat before the movie starts.
2.Keep your mobile phones in 'silent' mode. Or better still, turn them off. If you receive a call or a text message, it's always preferred that you take it outside. The backlight of your mobile screen is a distraction to the people around you. Even if you cover your mouth to whisper on the phone, you're actually raising eyebrows and annoyance all around. Everybody's here to watch a movie, not you.
3.Unless you find it absolutely necessary, don't talk. Hold your thoughts till the end. If you have seen the movie before, there is no need to be a prompter to others. While watching a comic scene it's natural to laugh and/or applaud but try not to be over-enthusiastic about it. And regardless of who is on the screen, be civil and do not whistle. That is a complete no-no.
4.Don't leave your seat every now and then. Nature does send you signals but isn't it always a better practice to be prepared or to at least hold it until intermission? Exiting and entering halfway through the movie disturbs the people seated behind you and the ones you have to walk across, putting their feet at risk of being stomped on in the darkness.  And while we're still under low lights, do not put on PDA. There could be kids around, or even a distant relative.
5.Be socially responsible. Try not to create a mess with the food and drinks. Know that you can always carry your pack of popcorn and glass of cola out to dump in the trashcan, or you can leave it under the seat. Do not rely on the staff and show some humility with the good habit.
Other than these basic rules, one should always use common sense at the movies. A simple example could be to not bring kids to horror flicks. Also if someone creates a commotion, be courteous and walk up to him/her or ask an on-duty usher for assistance. With that, I'm signing out. Hasta la vista, baby.