Phone-Friendly Movie Theaters For Millennials Could Be Reality Soon (variety.com) 321
An anonymous reader writes: AMC Entertainment realizes Millennials' increasingly growing love for and reliance on smartphones for things, which is why it says it is open to the idea of phone-friendly movie theaters. "When you tell a 22-year-old to turn off the phone, don't ruin the movie, they hear 'please cut off your left arm above the elbow,'" Adam Aron, AMC Entertainment CEO tells Variety. "You can't tell a 22-year-old to turn off their cellphone. That's not how they live their life." Aron believes that AMC needs "to reshape our product in some concrete ways so that millennials go to movie theaters with the same degree of intensity as baby boomers went to movie theaters throughout their lives." AMC also realizes that if it allows people to use cellphones in theater, and text and talk to their friends, this might disturb the fellow citizen who just want to watch the god-damn movie in peace. He says the company is "going to have to figure out a way to do it that doesn't disturb today's audiences. [...] That's one possibility. What may be more likely is we take specific auditoriums and make them more texting-friendly."
Good (Score:5, Funny)
With any luck that will keep them out of the regular theaters.
Re:Good (Score:5, Funny)
With any luck that will keep them out of the regular theaters.
I'm pushing 70 years old and we go often to the theater.
I told my wife about AMC's plan, and she said "What? They want to build a theater just for assholes?"
Dear Adam. (Score:5, Insightful)
Grow a pair.
Seriously, you can tell a 22 year old to not be a dickhead unless you're willing to lose the older generation of cinema-goers. (Remember those - the people who paid off their crippling student debts and have disposable income?)
Re:Dear Adam. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Dear Adam. (Score:5, Funny)
"waiting to watch a movie"
Speaking of dickheads, how about those people who expect peace and quiet in a movie theatre BEFORE THE FEATURE STARTS?
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Re:Dear Adam. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Dear Adam. (Score:5, Informative)
They were right, you were wrong.
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Why do you say that? Is there something after those commercials?
Re:Dear Adam. (Score:4, Interesting)
Remember those - the people who paid off their crippling student debts and have disposable income?
Here is a little demographic note for you:
So the long store short is that, you are not growth portion of the market. middle aged people also don't have more disposable income than college kids. Probably because most them that have kids are using their disposable income to send them to either college or the movies :-P.
So even though you and I might not like it, business savvy theater owners will cater to their audience which happens to be 22 years who won't turn off their phones.
Re: Dear Adam. (Score:5, Informative)
No, we actually we have much more disposable income than the college crowd, we just refuse to sit through Phone-Fest when the movie starts because smartphones are the digital equivilent of a security blanket for some people. Take it away for even a little while and they lose their fucking minds.
As such, we'll buy the giganto screen TV, and a house shaking sound system to match, then watch the show in the comfort of our home when it releases to Pay Per view, Netflix, Blu-Ray, whatever floats your boat.
My food, snacks, alcohol, rules and I can pause it if need be.
Greater amounts of disposable income seems to be the work around for clueless idiots and their smartphone obsessions.
Re: Dear Adam. (Score:5, Informative)
I work for AMC, not a decision maker, just a rank-and-file IT guy, and while I can't speak for our decision makers, IMHO you've exactly nailed it.
If we catered to people who would rather get a nearly-as-good home theatre experience, we'd already be sucking wind as a company.
Instead, we're doing great, on track to become the biggest movie exhibitor in the world later this year, by trying to make the guest experience as good as we can for the largely-young, cellphone-addicted demographic that want a social experience at the theatre and who actually do want to come OUT to see movies.
So, instead of lowering prices or trying to cram ever-more-asses in ever-smaller-seats, we're taking OUT huge numbers of seats in order to put in more-comfortable recliners, adding bars to meet your friends, adding dine-in options to auditoriums, trying to push the envelope with A/V / 3D as much as we can to make the viewing experience better than you can get at home, putting butt-thumping transducers in those aforementioned recliners, and, yes, thinking of offering separate auditoriums for those who can't turn their phones off so as to segregate them from those who'd rather not be distracted.
Let's be honest, for us cranky old folks who just want to watch and have the kids get off our yard, the movie theatre was NEVER a great place to watch a movie distraction-free.
Though I'm an old guy who's happy to turn the damn cell phone off for a couple hours, I'm proud of my company for trying to adapt to the times, rather than lobbying Congress to outlaw phones in theatres and convince people to keep buying our buggy whips.
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Just wanted to remind people that AMC only projects movies that have been approved by North Korea [wsj.com]. Same with Carmike chain, which they're trying to merge-with.
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I actually go outside to the edge of my property to gauge the impact of my sound system on the surrounding neighborhood. And I live out in the country. There are plenty of us that have the means and capability to not go to the theaters.
This is just another reason for me to not go. Yes, they may draw one crowd. They'll exclude another. As long as they make money in the long run, who gives a shit? That's what business is all about.
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willing to lose the older generation of cinema-goers
We can afford nice home theaters, comfortable furniture and houses. We also can't go to the movies weeknights, often we can't go at all because we can't find a babysitter and leaving our spouse at home is not a good way to stay in her good graces, etc. Millenials are still young and unchained, and don't value their dwellings so much as a good time.
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What about when that 22 year old becomes some ones bitch after getting busted for live streamlining the new hot movie?
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Re:Dear Adam. (Score:4, Insightful)
It's not about growing a pair, it's about maximizing income.
Do you:
A) Keep the kids out, because they want to use their phone more than they want to see a movie, or
B) Keep the old people out, because they can't handle modern technology and society.
The answer is: do which ever one makes you the most income.
I think it's focusing on the short term at the expense of the long term. They're not building good relationships by alienating all their existing customers, just to bring in customers whose loyalty is suspect anyway. The millennials will move on to the next toy experience, and everyone will treat the theater as a place to be avoided.. the place to see the movie because thanks to deals between theaters and studios, it's the ONLY way to legally see a movie at release. Going there because you don't have much choice if you want to see the movie is undercutting their long-term sustainability.
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What is baffling to me is that people seem to think that millennials don't care if somebody other than themselves or their friends is on their phone during a movie.
Sure, some people are not interested in any movie at any time whatsoever, but otherwise I imagine that plenty of 'millennials' think it's really annoying when other people are on their phone during a movie (of a genre) they themselves really like.
It's a pretty human thing to hold yourself to a different standard than 'other people'.
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Just an accident officer. The other patrons will back me up.
Maybe... maybe not... depends on how many friends are with the kid you dumped the soda on...
Another option is that you get your ass kicked because he came with 10 friends...
Or worse, you get shot...
You think it is funny, it won't be funny then...
Great idea! (Score:5, Insightful)
Separate auditoriums for people who text in the theater! Just lock the doors and leave them in there permanently.
Re:Great idea! (Score:5, Insightful)
Can't say I disagree.
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I'd pay a good amount of money if this was a kickstarter for a new theater.
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i want to poop up there.
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I like the announcement that Alamo Drafthouse theaters give before the start of the show, which was the voice mail from a drunk and self entitled patron who used the phone during the movie and got kicked out for it, which inevitably has the audience cheering.
Marshmallow eaters (Score:5, Insightful)
Can't you just stream it to their mobile phones? (Score:5, Insightful)
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MPAA: But ... but... somebody will pirate the movie that way!!!!! Noooooooooooooo!
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Create a "Cry Room" (Score:2)
Just like at church, create a "Cry Room" for these folks. Make the windows one-way and the walls soundproof. Heck, why not even let them smoke, too.
This just seems like a very, very bad idea. If you can't be without your phone for two hours, I bet you are already pirating films. Leave the rest of us alone and go watch your downloaded copy.... and you can text all you want.... from your house (or your office, dorm, basement, etc....).
If the MPAA ever wanted to INCREASE piracy, AMC just gave them the perf
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We've invented that already. It's call "the Cone of Silence." We're just working out the details of implementing it.
What?
What?
What what?
What?
Formalizing what they already do, basically. (Score:3)
Basically a no-op. If AMC has a policy against texting, they sure don't enforce it. This just means they won't have to give free passes to people who complain about it.
That's why I'm willing to drive 45 minutes to the nearest Alamo or ArcLight or other cinema that actually enforce rules against being disruptive.
Bullshit (Score:3, Insightful)
"When you tell a 22-year-old to turn off the phone, don't ruin the movie, they hear 'please cut off your left arm above the elbow,'"
Speaking as a millennial, this is total bullshit. Only a tiny subset of us actually have a pathological need to be in constant communication with others.
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Accusation : Millennial's would rather cut off their arm than stop texting
Millennial : That's not true
Accusation : Millennial's can't help but make angry protests online
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Sleeping with the enemy (Score:5, Funny)
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Or you could explain how she's being an inconsiderate bitch.
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I can tell you're not married. What part of sexytime vs being right do you not understand?
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Yeah - when you're not married the two aren't mutually exclusive.
Re:Sleeping with the enemy (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't procreate with her. Such bad judgement and inconsiderate behavior will make child rearing a nightmare.
Re:Sleeping with the enemy (Score:5, Insightful)
You should tell her you need to take a piss, complain to the manager that someone is using their phone during the movie and then let them deal with it. Even though movie tickets are pricey, they are cheaper than divorce or hookers. If you feel bad, slip the manager a twenty and tell them not to recognize you.
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The first time he does this, she will see the pattern and that's the end of that.
Do not take on the professional.
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You can't have a pattern of one ... it would take at least twice. But probably end up in the same place.
Honestly, though, if OP can't tell his wife to shut off her phone because it's damned rude and inconsiderate to other theater goers, it speaks volumes about how they communicate and what she thinks about him, since by extension, he's "that rude woman's husband". That's not an "otherwise wonderful woman", that's selfish behavior that takes her husband down with her. Then she withholds sex.
OP, seriously, in
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You can't have a pattern of one ...
Woosh! A woman can...
Re:Sleeping with the enemy (Score:5, Insightful)
Unfortunately, I'm married to an otherwise wonderful woman who feels entitled to text in theaters. Every time we go out, I'm forced to choose between standing on the right side of history and getting sexytimes later.
She is both inconsiderate *AND* weaponising sex - even pizza delivery guys do better than that.
Re:Sleeping with the enemy (Score:5, Funny)
She is both inconsiderate *AND* weaponizing sex
So, yes, we've established that she is, in fact, female.
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guilt, guilt the hell out of her.
you're taking from other people, your own enjoyment and even the makers of the film. A lot of people spent a lot of time to get everything just so in a work to get you feeling things. It's a disservice to their work to not give it your full attention.
unless it's bay or sandler... in which case, fuck you both for keeping them going :)
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Take her to this theater. When it bugs her a lot she'll see why it hurts the experience and the problem will solve itself.
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But then I see comments like this, and it becomes evident that while the years go sailing by, some people have dropped anchor in a time before my birth. And I've seen Pete Seeger perform live.
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Two Things I Want (Score:4, Interesting)
1. Broadcast the soundtrack to the phone so you can wear earphones and not be bothered by idiots who aren't watching the movie.
2. Broadcast subtitles to VR glasses on the same phone with the focus distance == screen distance. One of the main reasons I don't go to movies is hearing problems. With current technology, subtitle focus distance and screen distance are literally yards apart.
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1. Broadcast the soundtrack to the phone so you can wear earphones and not be bothered by idiots who aren't watching the movie.
Enh. Silent does little good for me. That bright screen alone is very distracting. If you can't live without your phone for 2 hours, there's something wrong with you.
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My son had a gf that would basically sit on the couch with him doing what the heck ever on her cell phone and called it spending time together. If he tried to leave the room or go do something other than sit next to her being ignored she would get mad.
I told him if it bothered him he should break up with her by text with a smiley. "i want to break up :)" "we in the same room u ain't said nothen for 2 hours"
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Broadcast the soundtrack to the phone so you can wear earphones and not be bothered by idiots who aren't watching the movie.
You'd still have to put up with dozens of glowing screens littering your view of the main screen though.
Not Long For This World (Score:3)
Alamo Drafthouse is going to eat their lunch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
In the Detroit area we have E-Magine theaters, which have whole-theater reserved seating and electric recliners, and a similar no-phone policy.
They make the AMC theaters look like dinosaurs.
Goodbye AMC (Score:3)
Quoting from: https://drafthouse.com/about [drafthouse.com]
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I thought this was the Magnited States of America [youtube.com]
Get the hacksaw ! (Score:5, Insightful)
When you tell a 22-year-old to turn off the phone, don't ruin the movie, they hear 'please cut off your left arm above the elbow, ...
Sure you can. I'm fine with the arm thing - it's your choice. However, if you *need* it leave it on, put it on vibrate and leave the theater if you get or need to make a call. Seriously, how hard is that? Your need to feel connected shouldn't interfere with others' enjoyment of the movie.
this is /. so, where are the blockers? (Score:3)
So fucking stupid (Score:3)
Thanks to high screen TVs, good home sound systems, quick-to-home releases (to cut into piracy) that's never going to happen. (Hell, and homes having AC) Oh, and the unmitigated dreck being produced that's all nostalgia. But the solution is clearly to take something away from the theater experience, and make it less able to compete.
Oh, and Box Office records are still getting broken constantly, so, this seems like it's in search of a problem.
Unrelated to my point: I recently saw a fist-fight at a theater over someone using a phone. The guy using the phone deserved getting hit. He was an ass.
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I'm not so sure about the theatre seat profits (outside of inflation), but there's more money in the system because international sales are starting to dwarf domestic US sales. Theatre owners in the US aren't receiving those profits.
No, NO, and HELL, NO! (Score:2)
Missing the Point (if there even is one) (Score:5, Insightful)
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If I'm a theater trying to get millenials in, I would setup this separate room and then take this a step further: show a text comments section above or below the screen and display (censored/moderated) comments from the audience during the movie - could be pretty funny/entertaining as an optional experience (go to normal room if you just want to watch the movie).
OK. I'd personally pay $5 more for this, if the moderators can limit themselves to just censoring trolls and spam. Actually, an algorithm that only accepted X-RTed and liked tweets geolocated to an actual theater showing that move at that exact point in the move would be pretty sweet. Or alternatively one that only showed high-rated tweets from within that theater right then, and gave each patron upvoting/downvoting and theater commenting karma, a-la Slashcode or Stackoverflow might be pretty cool too.
I w
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OK. I'd personally pay $5 more for this,
Why? I really do not understand what this desire to see random comments from people I don't know popping up on screen during a program or movie is all about. The producer and director have spent a lot of time trying to create a mood that enhances the movie, and you'd pay extra to see snotty or snide comments pasted on the screen?
BBC America did this with the last season of Dr. Who. They ran the series normally, and the second time through they put up tweets from the viewers. Really? We're in the middle of
Good example (Score:2)
When you tell a 22-year-old to turn off the phone, don't ruin the movie, they hear 'please cut off your left arm above the elbow, ...
I really don't see the problem here. When they talk to me all I hear is "whaa whaa whaa whaa".
Now get off my lawn!
Catering to the lowest common denominator (Score:4, Insightful)
I recall a story recently about paying $50 to stream a movie a the day it comes out in the theater. This is why I'd gladly pay $50 to see a movie at home under my own control, with no morons ruining the movie with their damned phones. I can tell my kids to shut up, and I can pause the thing to use the bathroom. I can pop my own popcorn in the microwave and mix up my own adult beverage. $50 would save me a pile of money versus actually going to the theater, and I'd get to talk about the movie with friends -- or we could just have the friends over and all watch the movie together rather than having it ruined by some jerk not even paying attention to the movie because they are texting with their friends.
It's only theory (Score:5, Funny)
Could we try demonstrating the difference to them with a practical experiment?
They are addressing the wrong problem (Score:5, Interesting)
Rather then bring them into a theater, why not just put up a screen in their snack bar/cafe/restaurant and let them have the option of using headphones on their cell-phone to hear the the soundtrack delivered by a local Wi-Fi stream? Maybe Lay-z-Boy type seating with a snack table in front of you, too.
That way they can talk to whoever on the phone during the movie without disturbing anyone else.
Hell, they could offer them a golden multi showing super-ticket so the restaurant does not need to be cleared out. They can watch a marathon if they want, as long as they keep eating snacks and ordering more $20 sodas. Can you say Lord of the Rings/Hobbit/Star Wars/Star Trek marathons, anyone?
They can sell more top shelf items, such as real pizza to order, burgers and fries, salads, etc, not just the crap they sell now. They make their actual profit from the food they sell anyway, might was well cater to folks who like to splurge while enjoying the latest first run movies,
Get Off My Lawn!! (Score:3)
Should be doable (Score:2)
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I read elsewhere that what AMC is discussing is having selected screens or showings at their multiplexes be designated for smartphone use during the movie, similar to the way you select between the 2D or 3D showing of some movies.
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If anyone wants to experience church services they are available nearly everywhere
I take it you aren't a churchgoer then. This is much like saying "If anyone wants to experience a football game, they are available nearly everywhere". Different churches, sometimes even within the same denomination and town, are very different. For instance, mine is very supportive of social justice issues (eg: The Beatitudes), is proud of our many same-sex couple members (and from what I can tell the feeling is mutual), and openly discusses and incorporates the scholarly research on historical sources and
So basically.... (Score:2)
So basically, AMC is allowing shootings in movie theaters?
But seriously -- they will allow you to text, but not use your built-in video camera? How will they tell the difference?
And of course, slipperly slope time is that complete loud phone conversations will start happening during the movie.
And beatings. Lots and lots of beatings.
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But seriously -- they will allow you to text, but not use your built-in video camera? How will they tell the difference?
Well, if you go from my idea from my previous comment, the same device that prevents light pollution from your phone to your neighbors would quite likely impede incoming light (eg: from the screen) as a side-effect.
Why I no longer go to movie theatres (Score:2)
...same degree of intensity as baby boomers went to movie theaters throughout their lives.
I'm a boomer who used to go out to see movies quite often. I don't even mind how pricey it is today. What I DO mind is all the advertising for crap not related to movies. That, and the ad-filled trivia games and crap that show before the ads that roll before the movie, have so totally put me off that I stay away for all but the biggest must-see-in-a theatre shows.
I really hate paying to see advertising in a theatre - fucked if I'll also pay to sit in a movie house with a bunch of non-house-broken smartphone
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I grew up going to double-features and movies with actual intermissions that were long enough to go to the bathroom. I still go to the movies though and don't care about the ads since I just use my smartphone to keep me entertained until the movie starts. Unlike these millennials, though, I was taught to be respectful. So, when the movie starts I turn on airplane mode and pocket the phone so that even if the screen were to accidentally activate the back-light won't bother other patrons. I would be embarrass
Quiet cars worked for trains (Score:2)
Ah yes (Score:2)
You can't tell a 22-year-old to turn off their cellphone. That's not how they live their life.
Ah yes, treat everyone in the same vague demographic as if they were an amorphous mob of clones who act and think the same way.
What could possibly go wrong?
Upgrade 3-d glasses to 3-d helmet (Score:2)
We just need a full face helmet with 3-d glasses built in, and a port to accept the most popular phones. The phone interfaces to the helmet and projects your texts, memes, etc. translucently onto what you see. It's a full-face helmet with advanced acoustic technology so that you can talk or even shout without disturbing other patrons. This might be dangerous though, because if you had an emergency nobody would hear you. Don't worry. The helmet will also incorporate a heart, BP, and body temperature mon
Etiquette is still a thing (Score:3)
fixing the wrong problem (Score:2)
Aron believes that AMC needs "to reshape our product in some concrete ways so that millennials go to movie theaters with the same degree of intensity as baby boomers went to movie theaters throughout their lives."
The problem is he believes this is a reasonable goal. It isn't. Baby boomers went to the theaters because that was the only place you could watch the movie. Eventually, VCRs changed that, allowing you to watch at home, but at a lower resolution. Today, many living rooms can produce a better experience than the movie theaters - similar resolution, and without sticky floors and overpriced popcorn.
The only thing that theaters provide that my living room does not is a place for teenagers to make out.
Another reason to not go to the movie theater (Score:2)
...
Let AMC do this (Score:2)
gees (Score:2)
And we wonder why they feel entitled, we make 'em so.
Funny, Cinemark doesn't have this problem.. (Score:3)
That the AMC CEO said it is worrisome -- it shows he doesn't care one bit about presentation. And if he doesn't, then his underlings won't, either.
Good for AMC, it'll only accelerate their demise. I've not been happy with their presentation for a long time now.. I stopped going to AMC completely.
Maybe they can do what some theaters did back in the smoking era - a lot of the cinemas back home (Puerto Rico) that were built in the late 70's early 80's had a glassed-in standing-room-only section at the very back where you could smoke, then return to your seat in the auditorium.
Funny thing is, Cinemark doesn't have this problem.. I go to one from time to time, I don't see a sea of glowing phones during the feature. Maybe the snipe featuring self-absorbed teens lost in the screen and calling them out as mindless has something to do with it? I can't find it anywhere, but it starts "It's movie night and the big screen beckons, but the small screen won't go away"
It's anvilicious, with bits like "Watch the movie on this giant screen made for movies." And, "Go away, pocket screen"
Will they now ENFORCE rules in normal theatres? (Score:3)
I get the impression it's an epidemic of talking and phone use in the US cinemas, I've got several US friends and anecdotally online there appears to be a LOT of talking or phoning over there, especially from one particular demographic (hey, I keep hearing it consistently)
I had a US friend come over here for a month and she checked out the cinema 4 times with me in that time, she was utterly shocked that (for the most part) people are generally quiet here, no phones out, etc. It does happen but I get the impression FAR more over there.
Will the cinemas which now offer a movie going experience for inconsiderate assholes who want to talk and use their phone, surely the regular experience will be policed better, right?
I'll yell at people if I have to over here (not often) but I get the impression doing it over there might end up in a fight.
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(BTW, I'm actually who still goes to the theaters several times a year...)
No other way to see a movie?
Except at home, via DVD/BluRay (bought or rented through netflix, redbox, etc.), iTunes, Netflix, On Demand, HBO Go (and other cable channel analogs), Amazon Prime, Vudu, etc............
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No, I'm someone who respects copyright law (and the hard work of the people who made the thing you're attempting to enjoy), apparently unlike you.
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If they don't deserve to be paid for their work, why do they deserve your eyeball time? Or, more to the point, are you claiming that you wouldn't pay anyways, so they lost nothing?
If it's worth zero to buy,is ti worth zero to watch?
Sorry, I meant to ask why you waste your time watching what is worthless? Oh, because it isn't worthless, just not as much as you want to pay.
The argument of many a shoplifter.
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My wife and I haven't been to a movie in several years. There are several reasons for this - the main one is that the movies just suck these days, and the tickets and food are over-priced. Every once in a while, we will get something on-Demand at home, and usually about 20 minutes in we both decide that the movie sucks and we stop watching.
But the other thing I find exceptionally annoying is how they crank up the sub-woofer to rumble the entire room for every stupid noise - even for the "commercials" at t
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I stopped going to movies when Chaplin jumped the shark around 1925.
Chaplin jumped the shark in 1918 when he started his own production company.
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"If we are pumping gas, we are asked to not be on our phone."
Irrationally, and without evidence of danger, but they put the signs up anyways.