Movie Theater Violence

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern Dec 28, 2008

According to the Associated Press, on Christmas night 29-year-old James Joseph Cialella of Philadelphia, shot a man inside a Regal Cinemas auditorium because the man’s family was too noisy. Police said that Cialella told the family to be quiet, threw popcorn at the man’s son, then confronted them. When the father stood, Cialella reportedly shot him with a .380-caliber handgun. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, playing at the time, quickly turned into “The Curious Case of Movie Mayhem.”

Some moviegoers believe that their individual film-going experience takes precedence over everyone else’s enjoyment, while others merely use the darkness as an excuse for obnoxious behavior. Both men exhibited a selfishness that predominates today: Watching movies at the cinema is a community experience. That means, you have to endure some occasional talking, chair kicking, popcorn munching, and shushing. It also means that you should strive not to be the person (or family) contributing to the mayhem with your own talking, kicking, munching, or shushing.

To help keep movie theater violence restricted to on-screen depictions instead of off-screen re-enactments, I offer these suggestions for mutual tolerance:

• Remove noisy children from the auditorium immediately, and don’t talk during the movie except in soft whispers.
• Turn off cell phones and anything else that makes noise or lights up.
• Don’t wear hats to movies, lean to one side, or sit on the edge of your seat – all of which block the view of the person behind you. If you’re over six feet tall or 250 pounds, then sit near the back for the same reason.
• When you’re seated next to rude people, move to a different seat, if possible. If the auditorium is full and a polite “shush” doesn’t work, then complain to management immediately. Never take matters into your own hands by confronting other patrons.

And if you can’t behave, then stay home!