A Relatable Movie Theatre Frustration
A viral Reddit post on r/indiasocial recently struck a chord with moviegoers across India, spotlighting a now-all-too-common frustration: disruptive behaviour in cinema halls. The original post, titled “Crazy girl at movie theatre,” quickly gained traction, accumulating hundreds of upvotes and comments as users shared their own frustrations and opinions.
The Incident: Work and Social Media in a Dark Cinema
The user recounted going to see “Dhadak 2” with family, looking forward to an uninterrupted cinematic experience. That calm was soon shattered as, shortly after the movie started, three young women seated themselves directly in front of the author’s group. One opened a laptop at maximum brightness, while the others remained glued to their phones—one on WhatsApp and the other browsing Instagram and gallery apps. Despite polite requests from the user and family, the laptop remained open and the digital glow continued to distract nearby viewers.
When urged to take the work outside to avoid disrupting others or at least dim the screen, the laptop user reportedly responded by asserting she was “doing important work” and had every right to stay on, indifferent to the complaints around her. The movie experience was thus severely compromised for the author, prompting them to share their story online.
Social Media Reaction: Outrage and Agreement
The Reddit thread quickly filled with comments from users sympathising with the original poster and venting about similar personal experiences in Indian theatres. Many agreed that such behaviour was distressingly common—mobile screens lighting up in the dark, people taking calls, and even opening laptops, seemingly heedless of the shared social space and the basic etiquette expected in a cinema.
One popular sentiment lamented the apparent decline in civic sense and consideration for others, pointing out that a cinema is a public, shared environment intended for communal enjoyment. Commenters also discussed the reluctance of many theatre staff to intervene despite complaints, with some advising directly escalating such behaviour to management or security in the future.
Is Work More Important Than Others’ Experience?
A recurring theme was the perceived entitlement displayed by people who prioritize their own tasks over others’ comfort. Several commenters noted that if someone’s work or online life is truly so critical, perhaps they shouldn’t be in a cinema at that time at all. After all, everyone in the theatre has paid for their tickets and deserves to enjoy the film without avoidable distractions.
The Need for Stronger Enforcement
Redditors debated possible solutions, from stricter policy enforcement—like the cinema’s staff removing or warning disruptive audience members—to greater awareness campaigns about public etiquette. There were even lighthearted references to the traditional pre-movie messages asking patrons to silence and put away mobile devices, with many lamenting their lack of effect today.
A few users confessed to confronting similar offenders in theatres themselves, often with little success. Some advocated forming a vocal group among the affected audience to pressure management or embarrass the disrupters into complying.
Cinema Culture and the Digital Age
The incident and the thread highlight a wider trend: the challenge modern digital life poses to old-fashioned etiquette, especially in shared entertainment spaces. As more people grow attached to their screens, the importance of respecting fellow audience members is greater than ever.
Conclusion
The viral story serves as a reminder of the responsibilities that come with enjoying public spaces like theatres. While it also exposes the lack of effective etiquette enforcement, perhaps such stories going viral can play a role in nudging both moviegoers and cinema operators towards better standards—with a little empathy, and a lot less screen glare.