18.
And: “It’s not just one instance. After nine movies in a row, I finally gave up on going to the movies where I had to loudly tell people to shut up when they continued talking to each other like they were in their living room. Most of the time, when a loud voice booms out, ‘Shut up!’ in a theater, it works, but I shouldn’t have to do this EVERY TIME. One time, two guys beside me in a crowded premiere were doing a running Siskel and Ebert critique of the movie from the beginning. I figured it would taper off and die, but 10 minutes in, I had to lean over and remind them that I paid to see the film, not listen to their opinions of it.”
“The last time, I was in a nearly empty theater. One guy was way down front, two girls were in the best mid-house seats, and I was a few rows behind the girls. They chatted through the entire film, even after I asked them politely to keep it down. I’m not talking whispered comments, but a full-blown chat at normal volume. Since I’m a big dude and they were a couple of young girls, I decided not to shout or make a fuss and just tried to ignore them, but it was the final straw. I haven’t been to a theater since.”
—Anonymous
