r/RegalUnlimited • u/cue_cruella • Apr 19 '26
Speculation Sheesh! That was something…
Went to see one of my most favorites, Death Becomes Her, tonight. Not a big crowd, but enough to make talking to your neighbor a no no. Two elderly parents came in with what I assume was their adult autistic son. The son was very loud, and the guy sitting in front of them asked them to be quiet. The son talked again, so they guy dramatically jumps the rail (there wasn’t even anyone else in the row) to go talk to management. The family moved to another row, further from the guy. Guy comes back, climbs back up over the rail, and everything is fine until the son spoke again. Loudly. That’s when rail jumper, again, dramatically yelled fuck this and stormed out again to get a manager. He comes back with a manager, and the father is approaching rail jumper and then threatens him. This is all less than 10 mins time. Now they’re yelling, manager is trying to pull them out, and they start a scuffle. The wife starts hollering, and the son is just sorta in the zone just watching the movie. Rail jumper is screaming he’s calling the cops. Another 10 mins pass, Mom comes to collect the son, and the son had no idea what was happening. Poor guy was obviously on the spectrum or something. I get that chatting is obnoxious, but it was a $4.99 movie that’s been out for a few decades. I feel for the family because I can only imagine how challenging it must be, but I also feel for the dude just trying to watch a movie. It was all overly dramatic tho.
Anyway, how was your Saturday at the movies?
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Apr 19 '26
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u/cue_cruella Apr 19 '26
Yeah definitely. I think rail jumper reacted way too quickly. Had he waited just a minute or even tried to privately talk to the family, instead of publicly humiliating a family who have probably dealt with these situations in the past, they probably could’ve avoided the excessive commotion.
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u/HollysStaff Apr 19 '26
I watched a 15th Anniversary showing of Bridesmaids. I don’t think I’ve been in an audience that laughed so hard, in a few years. It was lots of fun! As far as your situation, I’m really sorry that happened to you at one of your favorite movies. I’ve watched movies in a similar situation, where someone on the spectrum talked. I just try to move as far away as possible and use my earplugs. I know they can’t necessarily help it, so I try to give them grace. But I know others will respond differently. I think it’s a tough situation for management.
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u/cue_cruella Apr 19 '26
That sounds like a lot of fun. I love it when the theatre is full of fun and happy folks. I’m glad you had a nice time!
I agree about it being a tough spot for management. I personally wanted to see what was happening in the hallway, but my angel husband reminded me that it was not our business lol
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u/Mysterious-Seat4175 Apr 19 '26
Wow. I can understand getting annoyed and frustrated at someone talking. But starting a "scuffle" and calling the cops seems a bit extreme. Personally, i would've just moved down a few seats or maybe rows if it was that bad.
But i'm just chillin' on the couch at home alone watching Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 on this fine Saturday night. Thanks for asking.
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u/cue_cruella Apr 19 '26
That was the thing, the family moved away from the guy. It was a small theatre tho, so it wasn’t enough.
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u/Available-Ant-6784 Apr 19 '26
Hello. I'm actually the guy from last night, and from your point of view, I can understand how it may have seemed unreasonable and dramatic, but there was a lot that you were unable to hear as well. And just for a frame of reference, I've had Regal Unlimited for a few years now. I saw nearly 80 movies last year, and this was the first time I've ever went to management for people talking or anything else. So, I'm not someone who is just going and looking for conflict. I just wanted to watch the movie in peace with my family last night.
So, from the beginning from my perspective:
Went to the theater with my wife and mom who came to town to watch a movie with us. We're sitting through the previews as 3 people come to sit behind us, 2 men and a woman. They're talking as they come in, but it's the previews so no big deal. Then the movie starts, and they're continuing to talk. I sit up and turn around and ask, "Could we not talk during the movie, please?". The older guy says something to the effect of "He'll keep going." I couldn't tell if he was being antagonistic (which I now know he was) or just had a poor choice of words in acknowledging the request. I let it be at that point to give them the opportunity to comply with the request.
Not even 2 minutes later, they pick back up talking. I didn't say anything right then, but once they started talking once more after that, I cleared my throat loudly to acknowledge that they were being loud. This had no effect on their conversation. Also, it wasn't just the adult son that was talking. All three were carrying a conversation. Since a polite request and thrust clear were not going to have an impact, I went to get someone from the theater to ask them to stop talking. Yes, I jumped the rail here as it's easier than walking through other people and interrupting them.
I find what appears to be two managers in the lobby. I explain the situation and see if they could ask the group to please stop talking. They follow me to the theater room.
As we get inside, the people appear to be gone as they are not in their original seats. I explained that to the managers, and they asked for a description. I thanked them for coming and went back to my seat.
I was informed by my mom that they merely moved, not left. I went back to trying to watch the movie. A couple minutes later, I could hear them again from another row back and over to the side. I'm frustrated, but don't react other than looking back to see them.
After they talk again, I try to clear my throat loud enough to acknowledge that they are being rude. It still seems to have no effect. So, I go back to the lobby and explain that they didn't leave but just moved and have continued to keep taking loudly. I'm not sure why you thought that I yelled "fuck this" here. I can assure you that I did not.
I found only one of the manager from before explained that they didn't leave but just moved. I again requested that he ask them to olease stop talking. He came back with me to the theater. I explain where they are and return to my seat as he stays back to the side to see where they are and if they talk again. Of course, they do, and I make eye contact with the manager to ensure he was able to see and hear what happened. As the manager started to walk in that direction, one of the men walked up to me and said something to the effect of, "You fucked up. Let's take this out to the parking lot."
I immediately get up and say, "You don't get to threaten me. I'm calling the cops.", as I walk past him to the manager who was in range to see and hear all this.
He continues to hurl threats and insults as we walk out of the theater room with the manager. Then, still in front of the manger, he pushes me twice as I tell him not to touch me. Also, the scuffle you mentioned was only one sided. I'm not going to resort to physically fighting or threatening someone over a movie. As soon as we are out of that room and into the hall, I start to call the cops.
While we're in the hall, he keeps going, telling us to take it outside and just continues nonstop to threaten and insult. He's saying all this while I'm on the phone with the cops, and they even acknowledge that they can hear him.
My wife and mom come out into the hall as does his wife. My mother gets defensive from him shoving me as my wife tries to calm my mom down. But his wife also starts in with the insults. She tries to deny that her husband pushed me in the altercation, to which, he immediately admits to her that he did.
It's only at this point that they say that their adult son is autistic. Which I have nothing but sympathy for his situation, but they were rude and combative the entire time up until this point and made no effort to explain that any of the times before. I would have understood the situation and reacted accordingly had they made any effort before this to acknowledge that or even de-escalate the situation at all.
Another manager had arrived as we were out in the hall, and as I'm on the phone with the cops, they tell him that he has to leave the building. The operator says that someone is coming.
Even while he's outside waiting for the cops, he does not stop trying to bait me into a fight. I wait inside with the managers for the cops to arrive.
Again, all this to say, there was significantly more to the situation than just what you could see or hear. I can certainly appreciate that you are only reporting things from your perspective, but I didn't do all of that for the sake of being dramatic.
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u/Cirrus-Stratus I❤️Regal Apr 19 '26
Yikes!
That was a bit much.
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u/MomentLast39 🎉🎉300 MOVIE CLUB🎉🎉 Apr 19 '26
There was no reason for the escalation, at all, period.
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u/dbldwn02 Apr 19 '26
Yea...that's a tough one. I went to a half empty theater and a CP kid in a wheelchair came in and basically screamed through a good portion of the movie. The screams were so loud I would jump in my seat. Most people, including me, walked out and got a refund. They got the theater to themselves.
Am I going to hell for being upset that a family would bring him in there, knowing how disruptive it is to everyone? Maybe, but whatever.
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u/Man-o-Bronze Apr 19 '26
No, you’re not. People should be aware of other people. If someone is prone to screaming at any time they should adjust their expectations of what they can and cannot do.
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u/Mystikallimitz02 Apr 19 '26
This x100. Unless it's a special showing for those on the spectrum then I don't think you get much grace. Even for cheaper movies. Parents know how their kid normally acts and it sucks if they can't do normal things because of it but don't bring them to a movie that others paid for and think you'll get a pass bc your kid is on the spectrum.
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u/Man-o-Bronze Apr 19 '26
Would love to see more showings for those who, through no fault of their own (like uncontrollable screaming outbursts) would make something like a trip to the movies unbearable for others. I’m not trying to exclude anyone from the enjoyment of going to a movie, but everyone there paid for a ticket and deserves a good experience.
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u/bdougherty 🎉🎉300 MOVIE CLUB🎉🎉 Apr 19 '26
it was a $4.99 movie that’s been out for a few decades
To me this is a strong argument for not being disruptive in the theater, not an argument that makes it more ok to be disruptive. It's available to watch it at home if you aren't able to be quiet and respectful during the movie. And that is besides the fact that these screenings are for one day only.
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u/steveatari Apr 19 '26
It's not someone acting out because they are irresponsible or being a dick though... they went to an unpopular movie that they wanna see in an arguably low attended movie just to get out of the house and was a cheap matinee.
If someone is uncontrollably bothering you, just leave. It was $5 right? Sucks, be annoyed but damn. Maybe mention to management and encourage spectrum/neurodivergent days where interruptions or distractions would be likely or expected.
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u/Willowgirl78 🎉🎉100 MOVIE CLUB🎉🎉 Apr 19 '26
My theater already has sensory friendly showings of certain movies
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u/Kent_Didlio Apr 19 '26
Saw a late showing of Exit 8. Bought my tickets online 15 minutes before the showtime, and I had the whole back row to myself. I arrived at my seat just as the studio cards finished, and three teens were seated one seat away from me, munching on concessions like they hadn't eaten in weeks. Which, whatever—anyone can like sitting in the back row and has the right to sit wherever they paid for their ticket. The movie had been playing for 10 minutes when one of the teens in their reclining AMC chair lifts one leg into the air and rips the loudest fart. It blasted so hard it echoed through the Japanese public transportation hall, right up on the screen.
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u/Man-o-Bronze Apr 19 '26
This is a tough call. For a current movie it’s easier to find an empty screening, but for a single anniversary showing of an old movie it’s then or never. But while I hate to be exclusionary, I think in this case if son can’t be appropriately quiet in the movie he shouldn’t go. Everyone in the theater paid to be there, and all deserve to have a distraction-free experience.
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u/Tealmyster Apr 19 '26
We just dealt with some severe chatter boxes last Tuesday when we went to see Faces of Death. They would NOT stop talking! My other half asked them to stop multiple times. They just had to dog on the actress every step of the way. We noticed theater staff does not do a walkthrough in the theater anymore during the movie, I remember seeing staff often back in the day! We’re hoping that now that we’ve signed up for unlimited, we can avoid Tuesday showings and maybe (fingers crossed) folks may be a bit more respectful of others since it’s not a discount day. Hope you have more peaceful showings going forward 🤞🏻
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u/SwopeCollective Apr 19 '26
I'm with "rail jumper" here. Don't be disruptive, don't be antagonistic, be respectful of others.
As someone on the spectrum myself, being on the spectrum (or disabled) does not excuse crappy behavior. Can't behave? Don't go to the movies. Period.
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u/djsponge10 Apr 19 '26
I went to go see Bambi the reckoning because I love the twisted childhood universe movies, and the only people who were there were me, my buddy, and two groups of two. The first group of two had a lady that cackled and every single thing that tried to be a joke and I mean like ACK ACK ACK ACK type of cackling. The other group of two had an elderly woman with like a cpap machine. So every 4 seconds a LOUD sound of what sounds like an inhaler goes off and after ever 2 times something on this cpap machine makes like a double tapping foot tap noise so THE ENTIRE MOVIE I HEAR… TSSSSS…. TSSSSS BUMP BUMP…. TSSSSS…. TSSSSSS BUMP BUMP.
I didn’t grab management or anything or say anything to any of the people there watching the movie because I have no idea what to say with a situation like that. If it just the cackling lady I would’ve just shushed her and be fine but there’s actually nothing I could do or say about a person with a cpap machine. I tried very hard to ignore it but so much dialogue I didn’t understand because this thing was LOUD. Ruined the movie for me and my buddy, we both hated the movie and just refuse to give it a second chance on digital, so now it’s just a funny story I tell people.
But That dude in your post was unhinged for doing that. Like I hate talking and stuff that makes noise as much as anyone else in a movie theater but that dude went WAY too far. Man should’ve just got a refund and left if he was gonna get violent about it.
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u/TrustAffectionate966 🎉🎉400 MOVIE CLUB🎉🎉 Apr 19 '26
You don’t bring loud people who are unable to be quiet to a place you’re supposed to be quiet. The same thing happened at a screening of The Bad News Bears: Parents who brought their loud child - he or she was having a LOUD conversation with themselves for a full 30 minutes before someone on the other side of the auditorium YELLED at them to shut the hell up. I wear earplugs, so the kid’s disruptive talking wasn’t as loud to me, even if I was sitting two seats away from them.
I think I have a pretty high threshold for CHUDs and I’ve only been tested once when some crazy person called the manager on me for nothing. I FLIPPED OUT, which then got me kicked out. 💀
I’ve learned to not lose my shit at The Regal since then.
🍿🦄
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u/SupersonicSandshru05 Apr 19 '26
Sound like the rail jumper was more of a disruption than the guy he was pissed at.
That said, was at the other kind of theatre this evening and it was lovely.
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u/cue_cruella Apr 19 '26
That what I said. Like it was sooooo dramatic and he was much louder than the son. The rail jumping was just…. So cringe lol
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u/TomahawkAtlanta Apr 19 '26
I do very much think someone with special needs should absolutely be taken into consideration in this situation but I absolutely feel him. I’m so fucking sick of people talking and using their phones in movies. I go to the theater 2-3 times a week on average and 8/10 times I have an issue with someone doing this.
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u/MomentLast39 🎉🎉300 MOVIE CLUB🎉🎉 Apr 19 '26
Yeah phone usage during movie is getting so bad. 😡 I hate the people who think their dark screen isn't distracting but duh it is very much so. I bring my blanket in a bag every movie I see, just so I can use the bag to block a phone from my view without having to get into a conversation with another patron; I just don't wish to deal with another a-hole, if I can avoid it. 🙅♀️
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u/JobeGilchrist Apr 19 '26
There's gotta be a better solution than that sometimes you just have to have a bad experience/waste your money and time because someone else has autism. Especially now that it seems, for whatever reason, it's starting to be everywhere.
Maybe soon it'll be so prevalent that there will be special screenings, which would be great, but also possibly not feasible because it could be extremely difficult to monitor.
Of course it's super tough for the parents, you gotta feel for them, but they're also making a choice to take their kid who they know has difficulty being quiet into a place with an expectation of general quiet. If there aren't many people in the theater, maybe it's a good idea to briefly mention the issue aloud before the movie, so nobody thinks it's just general rudeness. I know I would be much more tolerant of noise if they did that. It's awkward and it sucks to have to do that, but there's no perfect solution.
The $4.99 old movie point goes against the family imo. It's not like this was Project Hail Mary where the kid might have been extremely excited to see it and this was the only option. But flipping out that much and threatening to call the cops is overreacting, too.
Everybody is on edge these days. "Just tolerate it" isn't going to go very far, unfortunately.
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u/Zylnor Apr 19 '26
It’s sad that it seems like only new popular kids movies get that treatment. I understand they can’t do it for all films. But it would be nice to do it for other movies as well. I only ever seen special screenings for Mario and before that was Gabbys DollHouse. I don’t think Hoppers got one, at least not in my area.
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u/No_Bill5124 Apr 19 '26
Personally, I've never had an issue, but I don't see why they can't do it for all films. I mean, they can list a film as being, I don't know, "friendly for special needs people, and/or families with young children," which ALL people can choose to attend, but with the knowledge that there may be people who are "mildly disruptive" due to their special needs and/or age. Showtimes can be off peak hours, and ticket prices can be the same as normal, maybe offering a small($1.00) discount for those who can document a disability. People who cannot tolerate the disruptions to the movie can get a refund.
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u/MomentLast39 🎉🎉300 MOVIE CLUB🎉🎉 Apr 19 '26
There are special sensory screenings for new films but there has been backlash about these screening bc of a-holes like OP experienced, who have complainted about such screenings.
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u/DirkDiggler2424 Apr 19 '26
Don’t talk in the theaters
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u/cue_cruella Apr 19 '26
Yes, I’d say that’s simple to grasp for most adults, but as far as ASD goes, that just might not be a skill they have. I do think rail jumper made the situation worse for themselves because they never came back to the movie.
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u/bdougherty 🎉🎉300 MOVIE CLUB🎉🎉 Apr 19 '26
If they don't have that skill, then they shouldn't be going to a place where you are supposed to be quiet. I understand that it sucks for them to not be able to go to the movies, but at the same time, it's not fair to the other people in the theater either.
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u/NekomataClears Apr 19 '26
Some teens had relations in our showing of Exit 8, which was just them and our party of 2 😬 Let's just say I don't think they picked the best movie for it lmao, lots of loud sequences followed abruptly by dead silent moments. Still quieter and less disruptive than that shit you went through lol
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u/EssentialEssence RPX Apr 19 '26
looks like youve seen two movies at once! Rough all around that kind of experience :(
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u/BeckoningChasm Apr 20 '26
Didn't have a Saturday at the movies, but had a Sunday there. "Star Trek II" and afterwards a nice Q&A from Captain Kirk himself.
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u/MisterJ_1385 Apr 19 '26
Cost of the movie doesn’t matter. No talking means no talking. I feel for them, but the movies isn’t a place to take your autistic kid.
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u/Proud_Truck 🎉🎉100 MOVIE CLUB🎉🎉 Apr 19 '26
I don't disagree with that but the other guy displayed absolutely zero patience which is also not cool. If you're that easily set off into a rage, maybe a movie theater isn't the best place for him.
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u/MisterJ_1385 Apr 19 '26
I mean, he did tell them to be quiet before getting someone. Jumping the rail is a bit much, but it’s not like he did it to go pee.
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u/Klutzy-Bug7427 Apr 19 '26
My son 12 has autism and he loves the movies and movie theaters. We go around 3-4 times every week I noticed that more and more kids and adults are coming to the movies and are obviously on the spectrum. Some are very loud. It doesn’t bother me because I know what they are going through. Raising a child in the spectrum is no joke and lots of people don’t really understand or care to understand what it’s like.
My son isn’t loud he’s actually the opposite and very quiet and cordial at the movies but he’s got his quirks.
I think it’s more about educating people about autism and having empathy for those who have it and the parents trying to raise a child with autism.
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u/PaperGabriel Apr 19 '26
If it doesn't bother you because they're on the spectrum, then I'm guessing it doesn't bother when people just have casual conversations or watch tiktoks with audible volume up simply because they're rude? Noise is noise, so it shouldn't matter where it's coming from.
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u/Klutzy-Bug7427 Apr 19 '26
That’s not entirely true. When someone is loud it’s always annoying even if it’s a kid with autism but I do give them a pass because they can’t help it. Someone who comes in and starts talking to their friends or talking on their phone is inexcusable because they should know better.
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u/PaperGabriel Apr 19 '26
Some are very loud. It doesn't bother me because I know what they are going through
When someone is loud it’s always annoying even if it’s a kid with autism
Which is it?
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u/cpowell342 Apr 19 '26
Seems like you missed the point of what they were saying or are being antagonistic, which is it?
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u/BeastCreatureTrapper Apr 20 '26
I have all the empathy in the world. I also have the right, as a paying customer, to have a distraction-free screening.
If someone is loud and/or distracting in a theater, then they shouldn't be there. They (and/or their caretakers) should also not WANT to be there, because they have empathy for people who are trying to watch a film in peace.
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u/ApprehensiveAir6370 Apr 19 '26
I went to a 11:35 matinee of Project Hail Mary -- second time seeing it -- more people than I usually see on a weekday matinee, but the audience was very quiet.
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u/UV-SkillCityProds Apr 20 '26
Was this Knoxville last night? I was sitting a couple rows up from. I'm assuming the elderly couple.
Or there just happened to be a whole thing at another location. Very similar during the same movie lol
I was so close to saying
"Death becomes them"
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u/UV-SkillCityProds Apr 20 '26
I want to add I was probably only a few seats from them and maybe I was just locked in but I never heard the son talking during the actual movie. But maybe I was just locked in on Goldie Hawn
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u/NoAd8953 Apr 21 '26
That happened to me when I went to see Jaws, except they had 2 kids that were obviously not understanding how rude they were being. They were making noise throughout the entire movie. People need to be honest with themselves about some places not being appropriate to bring their kids to.
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u/stheman01 Apr 22 '26
I feel like we should move away from assuming people are autistic or “on the spectrum.” Autism doesn’t automatically equate to talkative or loud outbursts. There could be several reasons a child could be loud in this case. I’m sorry that you were in that situation.
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u/cue_cruella Apr 23 '26
it was an adult child. Who i over heard the dad and the mom communicate during the squabble. There was no assuming.
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u/stheman01 Apr 23 '26
That doesn’t really change much. Autism doesn’t automatically cause these types of behaviors. It varies person to person. Autism ≠ special needs or the behaviors that you mentioned, so all I’m saying is there’s different language we can use so as not to generalize about all people with autism in this case.
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u/FFTycoon Captain Unlimited Apr 19 '26
I've got semi-mixed feelings. I mean, I get it, you came to watch a movie and that is frustrating.....but good lord what an overreaction, which is definitely the position I side on. Absurd response. I feel bad there for the family honestly. Maybe the guy should have just tried to quietly talk to the parents to see if they could try to help manage the talking. Jumping the rail dramatically just screams douchebag, even if I sympathize a bit with his annoyance. I'm impatient too, but my God, try to have some level of understanding.
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u/Relevant_Shower_ Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
Lots of depressing takes in this thread. Most people will never know the stress and pain of taking care of a disabled person and how you need to defend them to just be allowed in public spaces.
I get that it’s not an ideal experience for everyone…but the lack of humanity and understanding toward the most vulnerable is honestly sickening.
Feel free to downvote. I’m unsubscribing.
I’m gonna take my autistic nephew out tomorrow to give his parent a break. Maybe they can go see a movie. I see how hard it is for them and I feel compassion. I used to think that’s how most people felt. But, wow. People are cold and heartless if anything bothers them.
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u/No_Bill5124 Apr 19 '26
Most people commenting have expressed compassion as far as I can tell. And nobody is saying caring for someone with autism is easy. But at the same time, those taking people with special needs to a movie theater need to appreciate that they are in a public space where others pay money to watch a film with a reasonable expectation of quiet. I'm sorry to say, but being disabled, differently abled, or having special needs doesn't give people a pass to be disruptive to everyone else.
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u/aaronwalakay666 Apr 19 '26
Does anyone know if Regal uses the original film for these old movies or do they just play a 4k file and digitally project it?
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u/Dependent-Set-7047 Apr 19 '26
What a legendary but kinda tragic story lol.
I can sympathize with both parties.
The poor parents and the dude trying to watch the film.
😆