'Your 4 year old can't play on your iPad during the movie': 20+ Moviegoers who were driving the theater employees crazy

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Dec 12, 2023 3:00 PM EST

Some people do not know how to behave in a movie theater. It seems to be an ongoing problem that's gotten worse post-2020. It's like people were alone for so long during that period that they forgot how to act once they started doing activities outside the house again. 

Theater patrons have never been perfect. But these days, you can expect to see a half dozen bright cell phone screens in the crowd. It's so strange that people will pay money just to go sit in a theater and stare at their phones, sending Snaps to their friends or texting about the movie is boring. You can do that at home for free!  

You can expect to step over piles of popcorn and those sticky floors covered in spilled soda. And apparently you can expect the woman next to you to pull her hoodie over her head and start vaping, making the theater reek for a while (this is a personal one that just happened to me yesterday. I can't believe that woman didn't get kicked out expeditiously). 

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  • These theater employees shared their pet peeves that customers love to do. Some folks just act like they've never seen a movie in their whole lives, like the people who wander in and start asking what's playing. There are giant boards that show that info, but no, these people want to hear it right from the employees. 

    After you check out these intriguing stories, read about these people who got utterly abysmal Christmas gifts, like one Grandma who gifted her grandkid a dollar store electric toothbrush. 

  • 01
    AAAA
    via Jake Hills on Unsplash
  • 02
    Movie Theater employees, what do customers do that instantly you off? Bad customer stories?
    via u/jayhass
  • 03
    wslabarr Had this happen tonight: A lady came in with her infant to see The Purge: Anarchy. It was the 10:00PM show, and she couldn't understand why she couldn't bring her crying infant into a theater with 200 or more people. She proceeded to call back after she left and threaten the manager who she spoke with saying that he was lucky, because she was "about to hit him in the face and .... him up" with security literally standing next to him. Kid on her hip the entire time.
    via u/wslabarr
  • 04
    awesomeguy28 Every time they complain about the prices to do and say I am committing "highway robbery." For one, I don't set the prices. Also, you do NOT have to buy popcorn and a soda. It's your choice. Stop complaining.
    via u/awesomeguy28
  • 05
    Rosomak This was almost a daily occurrence for me: Customer "Excuse me, the movie in theater 5 hasn't started yet." - Me - "Well what time is it supposed to start?" Customer - "6:00." Me - "And what time is it now?" Customer - "5:54." Me - ಠ_ಠ
    via u/Rosomak
  • 06
    ellers23 I loved the time that I spent working in a movie theater, but I rarely miss some of the customers. Some examples: ● People who brought in food hidden in bags, then left the trash. More specifically people who brought in chicken wings and then left the bones on the floor under the seat.
    via u/ellers23
  • 07
    • At my theater, we had a military and a senior discount (no student discount though). It's inconvenient when you say you're military AFTER you purchase your ticket. It's also irritating when you get offended if I ask you if you'd like the senior discount. I realize you spent thousands on Botox, but it's clear you're at least 70. • No you can't have a refund because the R- rated horror film you're watching is scaring your 2 year old.
    via u/ellers23
  • 08
    ● Picking up trash isn't fun when you could have thrown it away yourself, but spelling out "HEY" in popcorn on the floor isn't cute. sure as Any bad customer stories I have all come from around the same time of year - the premiere of Eclipse. TH
    via u/ellers23
  • 09
    lessnoisemoregreen Also, people who don't look a day over 40 claiming to be a senior...I've never checked an ID for that but a couple of times I've just said, "....really?"
    via u/lessnoisemoregreen
  • 10
    grumbo1563 "I need twelve tickets." "Ok, which movie?" "Uhhh.... S storm 9" After transaction is complete. "You didn't give me the children's discount for seven of these tickets, also I'm military and my mom's a senior and I only wanted nine tickets."
    via u/grumbo1563
  • 11
    nocleverusername190 Former Movie Theater Employee Here: I. When I needed to card younger-looking people for R- Rated movies and they'd say something to the effect of: I left it elsewhere...and then they yelled at me like it was my fault. II. Kids who made it obvious they were gonna try to sneak into an R-rated movie. III. Couples too lazy for a baby sitter so they brought their kids (babes-12 year olds) to scary movies.
    via u/nocleverusername190
  • 12
    neongreenpurple On a lighter note, there was one lady who forgot what movie she was going to see. After we figured out it was one of the Twilights, she informed me, "I've been Vampires all calling it day."
    via u/neongreenpurple
  • 13
    NotTheBelt Former cineplex employee here, if your order comes up as 6.66, please don't make me charge you extra for something to change the amount, it's not an omen it's junk food.
    via u/NotTheBelt
  • 14
    ErikaCD Not a theater employee but saw this old woman the other day when i went to the movies. She spent 5 minutes at the counter J about how the food and drinks didnt get a senior discount. Then they give her her ticket and food and she starts walking away and her friend that was browsing the snack stand 10ft away walks up and completely cuts the line and orders her
    via u/ErikaCD
  • 15
    ticket and food AND also about how expensive it is and how there is not senior discount. Finally she off and I get my stuff and i go into the theater and they are both sitting in the handicap seats. So the movie starts and they spent the entire movie telling each other what they thought was happening. Of course since they were so old they were shouting at each other.
    via u/ErikaCD
  • 16
    atlantis911 When people get personally offended that we are upselling/suggestive selling. IT'S OUR JOB. We literally get suspended if a secret shopper catches us NOT doing that. Is it a job? Yes. Would we rather go about like robots and not get suspended? Yes. One time, this bridge troll comes up and is like: "Large." Me: "A large what?" Her: "DRINK." Me: "... What would you like to drink?"
    via u/atlantis911
  • 17
    Her: sigh "A COKE. LIGHT ICE!" I'm thinking, ok, she's a I'm not going to suggest a bigger size, she might kill me. "Here's your drink." Her: "Popcorn." Seriously, people. A customer who uses complete sentences is a good customer indeed. I am a person, not a vending machine. "What size?" Her: "Ugh, larrrrrrge!" Me: "Okayyy, any butter flavoring on that?" Her: "NO. -_-"
    via u/atlantis911
  • 18
    So I get her stuff. Out of habit, I say "Alrighty, any nachos or M&Ms with that?" She loses it. "NO. If I wanted anything else, I would have said, hey, THIS. IS. WHAT. I. WANT." I lose it. "OHHHHHH. IS THAT HOW THAT WORKS!?"
    via u/atlantis911
  • 19
    Her: "Yes. That's how that works." I swipe her card: "Straws and napkins are at the condiment stand, thank you!" tl;dr: This thread is sweet therapy. Don't be that I'm trying to be helpful you inarticulate Neanderthal. |.
    via u/atlantis911
  • 20
    welmayb I work at a discount theatre. I am not a highway robber and I sleep just fine. Most of the has already been said, but I figured I would rant anyway. I ask (in my head) the following questions weekly, if not multiple times a day: If it's soooo expensive, why are you handing me your credit card? Why do think it's ok to spit a whole bag of sunflower seed shells on the floor/ seat in front of you?
    via u/welmayb
  • 21
    Why do you want your toddler to see a rated R movie that should arguably be N17? You paid $1.25 for your ticket. Is that worth getting into a fist fight with a total stranger in front of your kids? Why do you think yelling at me is going to get you want you want? Why do you think I am your personal assistant?
    via u/welmayb
  • 22
    Have you ever worked a day in your life, because clearly you don't understand how a business is run. Why are you mad at me for asking you, and your 5 children, to stand in line on the sidewalk instead of the middle of the road. Do you really think I will mistake the outline of a 2 liter bottle of soda in your jacket for a beer belly? Can you read? Are you sure...?
    via u/welmayb
  • 23
    If you're in such a hurry to see your movie that started a half an hour ago, why didn't you get your wallet out while you were standing in line? I also frequently have to make the following 'Apologies': I'm sorry you drove an hour to see a movie 20 min late on a Friday night and it's sold out. I'm sorry you sat in the wrong auditorium for an hour, because you didn't listen to the box office or podium employees when they said you were in auditorium 1, not 5.
    via u/welmayb
  • 24
    I'm sorry you couldn't understand that when I said, "that is a 3D movie" that the movie was in 3D. I'm sorry your movie was blurry, you sat in the wrong theatre for the 3D showing for 2 hours. I'm sorry you looked at the show times for a movie theatre in another state. I'm sorry your 4 year old can't play on your iPad during the movie.
    via u/welmayb
  • 25
    I'm sorry you haven't seen a movie since 1950, because that's when popcorn prices exceeded ticket prices. I'm sorry I gave you a coke when you asked for a coke but you were thinking dr. Pepper in your mind and you only realized this after you drank 44oz. I'm sorry that you can't read. Really, the number 5 on the door wasn't very clear and the sign that reads, "Neighbors" and has a picture of Seth Rogan really does look like a blue bird and could easily be mistaken for reading, "rio 2."
    via u/welmayb
  • 26
    I'm sorry you didn't pay attention to your 2 year old and he wandered out into the lobby alone so we called the police after 20 min of trying to find you. Anyway, I'm late to the party but I feel better. If it's any consolation to my fellow movie theatre employees/ managers, now you know you are more intelligent than so people and you many know how to treat other human beings.
    via u/welmayb
  • 27
    OakieDoker I can't tell you the worst but i can tell you the best! "enjoy the movie!" "Thanks, you too" Never gets old. It's even better when the customer acknowledges their mistake and gets all awkward.
    via u/OakieDoker
  • 28
    Gokias I had a customer who was pretty throughout the transaction. He pays with cash and when I hand him his change he looks me in the eyes for 10 seconds while my hand was in the air. He finally puts his hand out and I put the money in his hand, only he doesn't grasp it at all, and it falls on the counter. I say "Oops, my bad" and pick it up and put it back in his hand.
    via u/Gokias
  • 29
    Once again he doesn't grasp it, he just looks me dead in the eyes with his hand completely flat while his money falls on the counter again. I just walked away. It's kind of hard to describe but if you were there it would have I you off too. The way he did that was really patronizing.
    via u/Gokias
  • 30
    latenitekid Once, I asked a lady if she wanted to purchase the larger size popcorn for $0.75 more (as is policy). She proceeded to stare at me for quite a while. Finally, her mate takes a look at her, and says "Wh- what the is wrong with you? Answer him!" She said yes.
    via u/latenitekid
  • 31
    the BoenCrothers Carding for R-rated movies. "What, I don't look like I'm 17?" or "You make me feel old" coming from 18 year olds. You guys are young, shut up. Also people getting offended by just asking for an ID. Come on, it's my job. Why make this a thing?
    via u/theBoenCrothers
  • 32
    digitalpretzel Good story of my days in a theater: A large group of kids from a summer camp come in to see the latest blockbuster. Business love this. 30+ kids come in with pockets full of cash and each one buys a large popcorn, large soda, and a ton of candy. Money Money yall. Ushers, however, hate it. Because they are messy and never clean up.
    via u/digitalpretzel
  • 33
    Except this time.. one of the kids forgot their purse, so the chaperone comes in after the theater just empties to try and find it for her. She sees the horrific mess the kids left. So she apologizes, goes back and pulls every single kid off the bus and made them come in and clean it up. I tried to tell her it was no big deal, that's what we pay the usher to do. But she insisted.
    via u/digitalpretzel
  • 34
    F123454321 I was an usher and I always hated when people would hold the ticket that I had to tear in their mouth because their hands were full
    via u/F123454321
  • 35
    DerbyKs They bring in a lot of celery and peanut butter. Sticky mess yo. 157 Share jayhass OP Never seen that before, ew
    via u/DerbyKs
  • 36
    Nollid Yesmar Where do I begin? (current employee) ● People who come up asking to see a movie only to find out it's at a different time and get mad at you then when you ask them where they looked to find the times that they looked at the wrong theater online • Kid's parents who when their kid drops something the parents respond with "Don't worry about it, it's their job to clean it up"
    via u/Nollid Yesmar
  • 37
    • When they show up 30 minutes late to their movie and yell at you for it being sold out Demanding fresh popcorn at like 10:20 when (at my theater at least) we usually make our last batch at around 9:45 so we don't burn ourselves on the popper when trying to clean it. I could go on, by my mini rant is over.
    via u/Nollid Yesmar
  • 38
    • EDIT: When people come up to me while I'm in box office and ask "what's playing right now?" When we have 3 giant TVs behind me with all the movies and times on them. (probably one of my biggest pet peeves)
    via u/Nollid Yesmar
  • 39
    Jack Cade The laziness of those that can't throw away their garbage. You were physically able to carry it into the theater and by all right and definition it should be even lighter now as you ate andor drank a portion of it. I'm not there to clean up your trash, I'm cleaning spills before they set. You didn't tip yourself you me so go disrespectful slobs. You just enjoyed your movie and claim the world needs to go green and say how much you love and respect this indy theater and then you do some
    via u/Jack_Cade
  • 40
    Traxix Leaving behind cups of dip is god awful.
    via u/Traxix
  • 41
    uselessmoose Current Readings employee here.... there are too many things to name that right off. me • When they try to enter cinemas that clearly say "not seating" • When they're already sitting in cinemas when I go to clean (when the cinema is filthy) When they complain about candy bar prices - what the .-.-.. am I to do about it? Give you a discount because you're an annoying ?
    via u/uselessmoose
  • 42
    When they comment that "there's a lot of mess up there for you to clean" - really? • When they leave mess as if they are human pigs • When parents abuse me because I refuse to sell their 12-year-olds R18 movie tickets The list goes on. Also, managers that only employ every last member of their family and give them all of the hours. And then when the general manager of the company says: take it up with said manager.
    via u/uselessmoose
  • 43
    [deleted] It ¡me off when I have a long line at concessions and the customer finally gets up to order after waiting 5 min. or longer and they don't know what they want and they take another few minutes discussing what to get, holding up the line that much longer.
    via u/[deleted]

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