Midweek Mumbling – Why is it so hard to have good Cinema Etiquette #3 Food and Drink
This week we follow-up our previous rants with another look at Cinema Etiquette, Food and Drink.
Following the success of the previous rants about Cinema Etiquette, I thought that I would touch on the subject of Food and Drink in a cinema. The previous rants can be found HERE and HERE
We all have our favourite foods that we take into a screening. A while back I could not see a film without a pack of peanut M&Ms and a bucket of Diet Coke. But do we really need them? Or are we just pandering to the concession stands and unknowingly annoying the other patrons?
For a long time now I have got myself out of the habit of eating and drinking during a film. I think this stems from a couple of angles. Firstly it is just so expensive to buy the snacks these days, secondly I got fed up with my bladder filling up within 10 minutes of a film and lastly because I started to care about the other people around me. But it seems that I am quite often alone on this.
Quite often I sit in the cinema waiting for the film to start, as we know I am generally one of the first to arrive so I can get the best seat (in my opinion) and I watch the other people streaming in with buckets of popcorn, sweets, hotdogs, nachos(!), ice cream and enough liquids to put an end to the hose pipe ban in Southern UK. I wonder to myself what is it about the cinema that summons people to want to pay out for the amount of food they seem to need to get through a film. Is it something about attention span? Do cinemas pump out a secret gas into the foyer that commands people to buy that much? Or is it simply habit? Whatever the reasons it seems that I am in the minority in not wanting a distraction from the flickering images on-screen. I seem to be alone in that when the lights dim I want to be left alone in ‘THE ZONE’ and to lose myself in the story.
Why do Cinemas sell noisy and smelly food?
I honestly do not have a problem with people eating in cinemas. If a patron wants to eat it is their choice, it’s fine. But why must the cinemas sell them food that ruins it for other patrons? Why does the drink come in Bucket, Big Bucket, and Barrel sizes? Who had the bright idea of tagging POPCORN as the food of choice for film watching? Surely something like marshmallows would have been a better idea?
I remember a little while ago I was in a screening of CHRONICLE and what seemed like a great seat (3rd row back dead centre) was swiftly ruined by a group of young teens who decided to have a popcorn fight. The group was in the row behind us, I was gritting my teeth to the sight of flying pop corn but when one of the YOOFs managed to knock over their entire soda it felt like I had been standing in front of a dam when it burst. I was drenched. Not a happy experience.
Why do some people insisting on eating food that requires a plate in a dark cinema?
This brings me onto Nachos. Who had that idea? There is only one thing worse than a noisy popcorn eater who insists on getting every single last kernel out of the bucket, and that is a smelly nacho eater. The smell of hot chili and cheese is enough to put anyone off the film. Also, how are you ever going to get that right if you cannot see what you are putting into your mouth? It must get everywhere.
It isn’t often I am on the side of the cinemas these days, but I really feel sorry for the poor ushers in the local multiplex. As I leave the film and the lights are getting brighter and I look around me and the cinema often looks like there has been an explosion. Popcorn everywhere, empty cups, packets, tissue and other items I will not mention. I make my way to the door and there is the poor guy with his big black bin liner that is expected to clean the place up only for it to be ruined by the next group. It is no wonder why they often look down their noses at you when you buy a ticket. What a job.
Let us look at the basics.
If you have to eat -
- Get something that will not pollute the cinema – both in odour and noise
- Buy a drink that won’t spill, and do you really need a gallon?
- Think of the poor guy cleaning up after you and take your rubbish with you
About The Author – Scott Lawlor
Chief Editor of FRC. A self confessed geek with an unhealthy thirst for all things Home Cinema. Whether it is the latest Action film or Subwoofer. Check out his home set up HERE
What are your thoughts on eating in the cinema? Do you have a ritual? Comment below…
Scott Lawlor
Popcorn fighting? Ouch. No wonder you watch a lot of movies at home….
I really don’t enjoy the smell either, not to speak of all the trash. They never clean up between the early and the late night shows so you have to be lucky to find yourself in a clean spot.
This said: I’m afraid we’ll have to live with a certain amount of food sales in the theatres. As far as I understand it it’s a major soucre of income and I don’t want to think about where the ticket prices would be without it.
I completely understand why they have to sell the food. I just wish it was a non polluting variety!
Lovely stuff, Scotty! Really liking this series!
Why people think it’s acceptable to eat nachos in a cinema is beyond me.
The food fight scenario also sounds hellish, WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME PEOPLE?! I would have disembowelled them all no doubt.
What makes the food fight worse is that the brats parent was sitting in the aisle behind them and didn’t try and stop it!
I don’t understand why eating is even allowed in these major cinema complexes. Surely, with all the money they spend on the joint, with digital sound and projection and all that, they would prefer you to keep their auditorium clean?
I guess that’s what happens when the cinema chains make the most of their profit from the candy bar instead of the ticket booth.
That’s exactly it. Cinemas don’t actually make anything from ticket sales because they have pay the distributors for the film in the first place, which barely covers that cost, so have to push for the sweets and food they sell at the extortionate prices. It’ll never go away, only get worse because if they didn’t sell all the overpriced crap, they’d all simply go out of business.
It is sad, but totally true. Take the food out and the tickets would rocket in price!!
It kind of amazes me when people leave their garbage. How hard is it to carry it the 100 feet or so to get out of the theatre and toss it in the bin on your way out?
I don’t mind 90% of the concessions items being eaten, but nachos drive me nuts. They are the 10%. They’re crunchy and loud, fat slobs are likely to lick their fingers (thereby making more noise), and the whole idea weirds me out. Nachos aren’t a cinema food.
I’ll still get the popcorn and soda- the smallest size popcorn, and the medium soda. And I drink the soda very slowly to avoid bathroom trips. The rule about the popcorn is that whatever I’m going to eat has to be eaten before the movie starts. Once the movie starts, I’m done with it. I’ve found that some of the smaller theaters in my area sell popcorn that’s actually appropriately sized, and it also tastes a ton better.
I seem to remember your ritual with the small popcorn and soda. You are a gentleman and a scholar sir!
Nachos!! LOL no one likes them, yet people still eat them
I’ve never ate anything in cinema personally. I just by me some water and that’s it. Hate when idiots start crunching popcorn… or in my country sunflower seeds.
Oooh Sunflower seeds? That sounds very noisy indeed!!
I usually stick to M&M peanuts and a coke or some juice, but that’s about it and I do always take the waste with me to dispose it myself. I agree though that I don’t understand why you can buy stuff that makes a lot of noise. When you were younger, did you ever sneak in your own food? I remember succeeding once in getting a whole Burger King meal in there….that was a very long time ago though and I wouldn’t dare to do it now. Let’s say I’ve wised up a bit
HAHA Yes the old sneak is a good one!! We used to do that quite often. The good thing about having a wife who likes a film is she always has a bag. So we can get the odd sweet in if we fancy…
Burger King? Nicely done sir!!
Popcorn is the worst food for the cinema. It’s just so easy to be a noisy food. Where did the idea come from that popcorn was the cinema food of choice!?
I remember I went to the cinema once and someone snuck their Nandos meal into the cinema. Yes. Nandos. A quarter chicken and chips if I remember rightly.
HAAH I know right? It is when they are running out and have to scrabble around for the last bits!! Plus the un popped kernels break your teeth, it is a health hazard!!
Hold on… a Nandos? That is mental
Popcorn is cheap and easy to make for a big profit, so I understand where the idea came from. Unfortunately it is noisy, messy, and smelly. Also, why does every candy have to be sold wrapped in the noisiest plastics in existence?
I think the rustling in a candy packet is probably worse than the popcorn eating if I am honest
Great post! I agree about the Nachos, Jesus Christ, might as well just serve chilli peppers with a bowl of melted cheese. And I do feel bad for the people who have to clean up this mess. I usually don’t eat in the cinema if the movie is very long I bring my own food because 1. the food in the theatre is ridiculously expensive 2. I’m pretty sure my stomach would explode had I eaten it
Nice to find another NON eater Sati!!
The cleaners certainly have a tough time!! Poor things.
I don’t eat anything in the cinema except maybe a packet of chewits or fruitellas. And I’m very quiet. God help me if I ever have to put up with someone eating something that stinks in the cinema. I’ve luckily never come across these nacho eaters. I can’t stand smelly food at the best of times but if it distracts me in the cinema, I’m going to dish out a can of whoop ass. Or at least mumble something under my breath.
HAHA I love Chewits!!
You know Pete, every time I do one of these rants you scare me a little!!
Nachos are an idiotic cinema food. Noisy, stinky, overpriced.
I often shove things in my mouth while watching a film, but it’s generally with booze / chocolate / sushi, and always stuff that I’ve sneaked in. Smuggling in alcohol should be part of the cinema experience.
I must admit I do always have a couple of pints at Dukes!! But that is a very rare occurrence these days!
I tell you, nachos should be BANNED from cinemas, I mean seriously!! The crunching sound is just unbelievably annoying. I actually don’t like to eat during movie watching, I find it distracting. Plus if I drink too much then I have to go to the bathroom, so best to just focus on the movie
HAHA It is nice to see I am not the only one with an incredibly weak bladder!! Thanks Ruth
Yeah, I don’t get the love for noisy food at the cinema either. I try to avoid eating anything while there — just a cup of water will do for me! Fine ranting, my friend. Keep ‘em coming!
Thanks Eric, I am glad you enjoyed it!
Yeah, all of this is a sad fact for moviegoers. Of course, the other thing that’s not spoken of here is the fact that movie theaters are not in the business of selling movies. They are in candy and food business, see here, and we’re paying for that (in more ways than one). Fine post, Scott.
You make a very good point Michael (as always). It is a sad world that the money the cinemas get is mostly from the concessions.
I’m pretty sure I’d punch someone if they got into a popcorn fight and spilled soda on me.
HAHA I was close John, very close!
The smell of butter that goes with pop corn makes me freaking gag. It smells like feet. DISGUSTING!!! And I hate people munching on food during quiet moments of a movie. I always wait for loud moments to grab a handful of candies or eat whatever I’m eating.
We are fairly lucky that we don’t have so much of the butter here. I would probably be the same as you and gagging all the way through the film!
You have nachos at your cinemas? That is SO weird!
I always get popcorn whenever I go to the multiplex – it is just part of why I love going to cinemas so much (which is not very often, so I don’t have a problem with the etiquette). And a big coke, and sometimes an ice cream or lollies. Depending on how long the movie is and how hungry I am. But I never eat during quiet parts. My snacks are usually half gone by the time the movie has started anyway!
HAHA I know right? They are like the ANIT FOOD of cinema, and yet they seem to be popular!
I usually ate popcorn and drink. Nachos a couple of times, but it’s a bit expensive and I tend to focus more on the nachos rather than the movie (distracted because it’s yummy). Does it smell? I don’t know, I never ate beside someone with nachos. Never saw a popcorn fight, that must’ve been crazy. But yeah, once I bought chips but realize that it’s noisy (crunchy) so I never bought it again.
Chips are really noisy, and you know as soon as you have a mouth full it is going to be a quiet tense part of the film and you won’t be able to chew for ages!!
Popcorn is one of the movie concession items that I was surprised to find quite smelly. Since I rarely eat popcorn in general, the smell of it is probably more noticeable but I’ve just chalked it up to something that comes with the territory when I go to the theater. I love me some nachos though, lol, so I do eat them from time to time, if I’m in the mood.
You make some valid points here about movie food that disturbs other patrons because of the size, smell and/or potential to spill accidentally or be thrown around intentionally, such as the popcorn incident with those teenagers that you mentioned. Maybe candy is the way to go..Twizzlers aren’t smelly, lol.
During my screening of Casino Royal I made the mistake to bring in some nachos (or Doritos – no idea now) ANYWAY the lady next to be totally gave me attitude about it. I proceeded to be whatever about it just because she was generally rude during the screening.
I must have been hungry because I never usually eat that type of stuff in the cinema. In fact I rarely eat much – maybe a bag of candy and some water (occasionally a pretzel). The popcorn is way too salty for my tastes.
Also since I often go to the pictures in NYC, I usually am on line for a while when a big picture comes out. So I end up eating before I get into the movies.
Scott are you suggesting I should stop bringing my tuna fish sandwiches from home to the theater?
I am loving this series on cinema etiquette.
If only cinemas didn’t make most of their profit from food we wouldn’t have this problem. If I bring food (and that is an extremely rare occassion) I sit at least three rows away from people and crunch during explosion scenes.
I try to accept that people want to eat in the cinema, but seriously, I must say that it fucking pisses me off. I haven’t eaten in the movie theatre since I was a kid, and I never will again. Though I do drink occasionally, I NEVER eat. I can do that at home.
I absolutely agree with everything you’ve written here Scott.
Luckily, nachos have never happened to me in the cinema, and neither have I had anyone slurping their drink or having it accidentally tipped over me.
However, I have had some instances: during ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’, an older couple had actually bought a PLASTIC BAG with SANDWICHES. I do NOT want to have listen to f*cking rustling!! Also, during ‘The Help’, an elderly couple behind me actually had perhaps one of the most criminal of foods with them: BOILED SWEETS >:(
I tend to take my own bottle of water and buy sweets at other shops near the cinema, must cheaper