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Posted by Gary Davidson (Member # 2198) on 02-20-2006, 12:58 PM:
 
I know that one recent trend in movie-going is for young girls to attend horror movies in “packs.” Has anyone noticed any other movie-going trends in this vein?
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 02-20-2006, 01:38 PM:
 
My viewing of The Ring at AMC Quail Springs Mall 24 in Oklahoma City was frequently disrupted by a pack of irritating teen girls. Those little twats were screaming at anything that could be construed as remotely scary. I think they were doing that in an attempt to get attention and impress people with how much more they were enjoying the movie than the rest of us. If only they knew what the rest of the audience thought they would have kept their mouths shut. One lady who worked at that theater stood up after the show and thanked the girls for messing up the show for everyone else. The rest of the audience applauded. The girls had to leave the theater a bit embarrassed.

I consider it a big plus if a movie theater isn't attracting the ABC After School Special teen crowd. Those kids just ruin too many movies with all their misbehavior.

Here in Lawton most teens go to the mall theater. That place is only a few years old and it's really beginning to fall apart. The Carmike theater across town is very superior from the technical standpoint, but it also has the additional advantage of having a more mature and respectfully quiet crowd.
 

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Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 02-20-2006, 01:48 PM:
 
The most recent movie going trend I’ve noticed is me walking out and getting my money back whenever any of the above mentioned “packs” of kids (or any another gang too young or rude to watch quietly and attentively) comes in and sits anywhere near me. Between the conversation, giggling, cell phone messaging and constant crawling over me to head en masse to the bathroom, I can’t take it. The other trend I’ve noticed is me walking away from the concession stand empty handed when the popcorn jockey gets too aggressive in upselling, but I’ve covered that somewhere else.
 

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Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 02-20-2006, 03:57 PM:
 
Just an influx of patrons who really doubt the quality of their respective features. Not doubt over the presentation quality, just overall annoying phrasing like "Is this one any good?". Don't ask me or my employees such things while we're agents of the box office. Why not "Which films do you reccomend?"

We get a lot of new-comers, too; either people who work in the neighborhood but usually frequent their suburban theaters, and those making the trek to see Minneapolis' only full-day engagement of Syriana These people request detailed directions to every restroom, drinking fountain and napkin dispenser in the building, allowing them to easily forget the direction of their auditorium.

Fewer credit card transactions too...
 

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Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 02-20-2006, 10:27 PM:
 

quote: Gary Davidson

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I know that one recent trend in movie-going is for young girls to attend horror movies in “packs.” Has anyone noticed any other movie-going trends in this vein?

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Man, where have you been? Teenage girls do EVERYTHING in packs..

Seriosuly, I would not consider it anything new.. Noticied this for years..
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-21-2006, 02:10 AM:
 

quote: Jim Ziegler

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Teenage girls do EVERYTHING in packs..

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quote: Monte L Fullmer

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...viscious little monsters they are, when grouped together..

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Unfortunately I know exactly what you're talking about. When I was an usher it seemed like the teenage boys always wanted to yell and fight, now it's the girls.

Every weekend we seem to be regularly kicking out groups of young girls who refuse to 1.) stay seated, shut the hell up, stay off the phone or 2.) act like an overall nuissance and/or trash the place.

Two weeks in a row I had to ask the same kid to leave after she refused to stop doing back flips in the hallway!

The latest trend:
Small popcorn and small soda sales have gone up.
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-21-2006, 12:16 PM:
 

quote: Jonathan M. Crist

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This skewering audiece trend explains the fall off in Sunday business - since teens and families with young children are not big sunday night goers.

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quote: Jonathan M. Crist

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Why? Well it seems to me that the first run business in my area continues to be skewering younger-and-younger. For the most part it is now mostly teens and families with younger children. Teen horror and family stuff are doing the majority of the first run business. The middle adult (and more sophisticated) audience seems to be staying home - content with thier DVDS and home theatres.

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quote: Brad Allen

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Because the movies of late, that's who they are aimed at. Youngins. The middle adults are being left out by the current movie choices.

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It also does not help that the distributors are not going quite as wide with adult product as they have they been in the past. Yet another disturbing trend.
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-22-2006, 02:20 AM:
 
Disturbing trend on the overkill of "boy/girl" and "chik fliks" - all the same dumb story, rehashed over and over again.

Remakes that are flooding the screens - along with the sequels that are so brain-dead, that "I've wasted two hours of my life, sitting here."

Movies geared to the young generation that were written by a writer(s) with an I.Q of a 5yr old.

Hardly anymore movies for adults to enjoy.

Almost a "good-bye", heart lifting movies.

Definitely "good-bye" to the 'Classic Western' - where the good guy always gets the bad guy. (can you imagine if John Wayne got offered the lead part in "Humpback Mountain?" He'd shoot that individual in a heartbeat and not even flinch, then sue the film company for such an offer) Now, it's "how much homosexuality can be installed in this fliks."

Almost, no more movies with high standards and morals - all about depressive things.

..and why am I still in this business...??? Guess, I still love it and care about it.

-Monte
 

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Posted by Matt Fields (Member # 3211) on 02-22-2006, 07:10 AM:
 
Friday night has always been teen night at my place. I absolutely dread seeing them every week...many teenagers are evil.

I put extra staff on Friday night and have hired a security guard whose entire job is keeping these kids quiet.

My advice is too seek out the really bad kids, and kick them out until they are old enough to be in public without making an ass out of themselves.
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-22-2006, 10:38 AM:
 
Monte - you need to watch "Eight Below."

- Not a sequel
- Not a remake
- No bad language
- Enjoyable for kids but does not insult adults' intelligence
- Uplifting story (if at times a bit unbelieveable)

IOW, just what we need more of. (and it was #1 last weekend too.)
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-22-2006, 12:19 PM:
 
Yeppers it was, Mike. Worked at one of our first runs and kids and parents galore due to school being out for President's Day.

Parents and kids love animal fliks, just the critics hate them and write goofy reviews on them.

-Monte
 

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Posted by Matt Fields (Member # 3211) on 02-22-2006, 09:55 PM:
 
According to IMDB, Eight Below was a remake of the following Japanese movie:

IMDB entry for Japanese movie

Was the right kind of movie though.
 

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Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 02-23-2006, 12:26 PM:
 
A few trends at our one-screen theatre 65 miles away from any competition:
•Thursday nights are busy as it's often the last night of a film run here. That "last chance" to see a film has been drawing them in like Friday or Saturday nights;
•Adults have been avoiding the 8 PM Friday and Saturday night PG or PG-13 films to avoid teenage behavior;
•Good Docs can do good business; SuperSize Me, Penguins, Why We Fight, Walmart and others fit this bill. I wish there were more.
 

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Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 02-23-2006, 10:31 PM:
 
The latest trend that I've noticed is that everytime I see a trailer for a movie that seems interesting, I'm not interested enough to actually go see it when it comes out (even though it's free for me).
 

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Posted by Gregory Brannon (Member # 405) on 02-27-2006, 11:45 AM:
 
Gary you posted "young girls to attend horror movies in “packs.” "

I couldn't agree with you more. I went to see "When A Stranger Calls" at the AMC Firewheel 18 in Garland, TX (Dallas suburb) on opening night and for me that was the last straw seeing PG-13 horror movies on opening. I too sat in front of a pack of teenage girls and their boyfriends who wouldn't STFU. I was tempted many times to get an usher but it was a packed house and I had a prime center seat. I call myself being smart about attending PG-13 movies that may have a high teenage attendance by never sitting near the final back 3 rows because it's like a high school assembly but in this case no matter where I sat it was awful. The sad thing is there were many adults like me in the movie that appeared to be annoyed but didn't say anything. I don't know if it's because people are so unpredictable now days.

I was so pissed that I when I was instructed by my ticket stub to participate in their customer survey I made sure my unpleasant experience was known (kinda passive aggressive) since I didn't do anything about it the actual time that I was at the showing.

The funny thing is that I went to the same theatre the following Friday to see Final Destination it was hardly a packed house and a much quieter subdued crowd compared to the week before. I don't know if it was because it was an R rated horror movie or because attendance checked ID prior to entering the auditorium. Either way it was a much more pleasant experience.

However I do think that all theatres for specific PG-13 movies that are likely to draw teen crowds on opening night should if possible have ushers to occassionally roam the auditorium to keep gregarious teenagers in check.
 

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