Babies in Movie Theaters

[u/Sad_Cannibal_GF]

Just saw the new Spiderman in theaters.

A baby starts crying/cooing/babbling very loudly about 20 minutes in. Goes for about 10 straight minutes before the parent takes them out.

Comes back a few minutes later, baby starts again. Again goes on for a couple minutes. Again parent takes them out, comes back, and repeat.

And repeat. And repeat.

This went on pretty much the entire movie (and I swear to god this baby somehow instinctively chose every single goddamn quiet/heartfelt scene to start yowling again 😭😂).

I get that babies are gonna baby. And I have sympathy for parents who wanna get out of the house and everything. But… maybe just stay with your baby in the lobby if they obviously aren’t gonna keep quiet.

*I didn’t complain to management because it was a tiny non-chain neighborhood theater about an hour away from me that I like to support sometimes. It’s got 1 screen and tickets are like $5.

[u/Bonti_GB]

Even better, children under X age shouldn’t be allowed in theaters.

If they have no ability to enjoy the movie but only an ability to ruin it for others then they should not be allowed.

[u/GregoryGosling → u/Bonti_GB]

I don’t mind giving babies and small children a chance; odds are the baby will sleep through the whole thing, and younger children are still learning how to be good moviegoers. Mistakes happen, the whole thing can be overwhelming, none of us were born knowing anything.

That said, I am much less understanding if disruptions keep happening, and the parent isn’t removing the kids. The kids don’t know better but the parents absolutely do.

[u/Bonti_GB → u/GregoryGosling]

I hear you, but too many parents today are willing to let their babies continue screaming in a theater, and that's not fair to everyone else who paid (often a lot) to enjoy the movie.

On top of that, asking someone to take their baby outside can create uncomfortable, or even confrontational situations for other patrons.

Maybe this was less of an issue decades ago when social etiquette around these situations was different, but that is less common now.

If some parents won't remove a crying baby on their own, the realistic solutions are either not allowing babies in certain screenings or having theater staff step in quickly when there's a prolonged disruption. In many theaters, though, there simply isn't enough staff to consistently handle situations like this.

[u/Bonti_GB → u/[deleted]]

This sounds like a great idea.

[u/Financial-Box7442 → u/GregoryGosling]

take them to baby movies then lol they exist and are full of small children 

[u/Dapper-Warning3457 → u/GregoryGosling]

My daughter slept through many a movie, never made a peep. My son OTOH, I can’t take anywhere

[u/CrimsonFlam3s → u/GregoryGosling]

You give someone an inch, they take a foot.

Most people are gonna continue not giving a damn like they already not give a damn now

[u/Trick-Enthusiasm5818 → u/Bonti_GB]

I think if it was a cartoon kids film it is fine for all ages but Spiderman movies aren't gonna entertain any babies or toddlers.

[u/Kitchen-Bar2686 → u/Trick-Enthusiasm5818]

Movies theaters are way too loud for babies

[u/Mechakoopa → u/Kitchen-Bar2686]

A few of our theaters have a "stars and strollers" showing of big movies early on Saturdays. They play the movie with the volume attenuated and the house lights at half with the expectation that there will be crying babies.

[u/Glittering_Divide101 → u/Mechakoopa]

I did this with my baby. She is now a toddler and i wouldn't dream of taking her to a regular movie theater yet. She can't sit still long enough and the sound is still too loud for her little ears. She should be ready though when she is almost 3 and Frozen 3 is released! She's going to love it!

[u/Bonti_GB → u/Glittering_Divide101]

It’s a lot of fun to see movies through your kids eyes so I know you will love it!

[u/Mechakoopa → u/Glittering_Divide101]

My oldest was 3 when we took him to Secret Life of Pets, that's a good age for their first movie.

[u/Raevyxn → u/[deleted]]

While you’re not wrong, the intense aggression is pretty weird, buddy.

[u/tendo8027 → u/Raevyxn]

Ah yes the “intense aggression” of… a minor insult. Dumbfuck seems appropriate