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I came out of my TV cave yesterday and decided that three months was far too long to have gone without seeing a new movie. If you were on Twitter around 5 p.m., you might have even been one of the kind people who helped me pick which movie to go see. (Spoiler: Most people said Bridesmaids, so that won.) Only, my rare moviegoing experience took a turn for the unpleasant shortly after the flick began, when the person next to me decided it was a great opportunity to eat his cheeseburger.
He wasn’t alone — only the most offensive. The theater was actually filled with smuggled foods — and we’re not talking the minor snacks you pick up at a corner store. I saw a sandwich to the left, got a whiff of the aforementioned offensive piece of meat to my right, and spotted a person walking out of the theater with an empty salad bowl. I was also a guilty party; I stopped by a cafe on my way and bought a half dozen mini cookies to keep me company while I killed an hour before the movie, and I had a Starbucks iced tea covertly tucked in one of my (gigantic) purse side pockets. (The intention was also to save some of this for the movie — but only a sole cookie survived that long.)
I’m not against smuggling in food. With the prices in theaters today — especially New York City — a date can easily run $45 if you include tickets, drinks, and a small calorie-ridden snack. Thriftiness is key. But when it comes to choosing your illegal snack of choice, are there not rules, PopWatchers? We seem to have moved so far beyond the idea of hot dogs and nachos (even though EW’s Kate Ward asks with rage why they choose to serve those in the first place). I’m a big fan of the movie/dine-in experience of the Alamo Drafthouse, but you go there expecting a cacophony of smells — and you’re usually too drunk to notice them all. (Margaritas!) But when I go to a traditional theater, my nose is usually unprepared for a nasal assault beyond popcorn. Maybe I’m a prude. Or maybe, just maybe, there’s a movie snack line that some fellow moviegoers are crossing — nay, leaping over.
Thoughts? What is the most offending thing you’ve seen someone bring into a movie? And (confession time) what is your greatest offense?
Follow Sandra on Twitter: @EWSandraG
I think that it’s okay to bring outside food into movie theaters- one time I brought in a grilled cheese- and it shouldn’t be called smuggling. As long as the theater didn’t specifically state it wasn’t okay, nothing wrong with it.
I think smuggling is an apt word choice since most people sneak it in as contraband.
It should be small enough to fit in your pocket, like a candy bar. Anything bigger and you’re just a pig.
liver, fava beans, chianti.
@LMFAO, precisely. Eating food is only acceptable in a blockbuster movie where the sound effects repress the sounds of popcorn crunch. You can also have M&M’s and candy bars, and i wouldn’t be mad if you bring in some nuts. Bringing in food that smells is disgusting! Eating any kind of food during an art house movie is sacrilegious(something i witnessed to my terrified shock that American audiences do)!
When i used to live in Los Angeles back in 1999 i was madly in love with the Orpheum theatre in downtown because of its architecture and the air of nostalgia it exuded. I wanted to see a movie there, so i took my then b/f to the Orpheum to see The Sixth Sense. I had absolutely no idea that it was patronized only and solely by Hispanic audiences. The movie had Spanish subtitles which i couldn’t stop myself from reading even though i didn’t know a word of Spanish. There were several babies in the theatre who kept crying. There were smells of burritos and nachos and naturally farts. I didn’t enjoy the movie even a tiny bit. I was so distracted with all that was happening around me. This was my worst movie going experience ever, but i have to say that it was unique and unforgettable in its strange way.
I prefer a family sized bag of some strong smelling Chips like Nacho Doritos. I usually fill my mouth up to the point where crumbs liberally spray from mouth. I find this amusing in Dramas such as Schindler’s List where I laugh out loud and spray saliva laden Doritos crumbs upon the crying people directly in front of me. I always make it a point of wiping my hands off on the coats of the people in front of me as well. The last time I was at the movies I carried a paid all of my bills over speaker phone and haggled over payment arrangements. I also bring in empty soda bottles to relieve my self so that I don’t have to get up to go and let the bottles roll down to the front row like bombs of sadness.
Now that’s low… even for Benjamin Linus! LOL
Can’t you morons eat before you get to the theatre? There is no reason for anything more than a candy bar.
Yeah you morons! haha
Is this article serious? What a whiny complainer the author is. No wonder she’s a movie recluse.
I’ll never forget the time the guy in the last row opened his smuggled bag of Skittles. They burst open and rolled all the way down the theater to the first row. Not too sneaky!
Rebecca if you are from Wisconsin, I was that guy! Lol
Must be an epidemic in Wisconsin! The same Skittles thing happened to my boyfriend. We also like to bring in subs.
What is with Skittles? I had a guy loudly munching on these next to me at an opera. It was so loud I could barely hear what was going on on stage. Yes, I know… opera not a movie (save your opinions about that)
Maybe Skittles’ packaging is really lousy.
Skittles packaging IS really lousy as I’ve had the same thing happen to me.
Smuggling in candy bars or cookies or other small treats like that is fine with me. I don’t want to be smeling somebody’s Big Mac and fries. Once, a woman behind me had some buffalo wings and I was so annoyed. The smell was so strong and it would not go away. The thing is, I think she purchased them from the theater, so I didn’t really have any right to be upset. I guess my wish would be for movie theaters to not sell food that is so fragrant.
I agree; food with a smell is too much. I love burgers and buffalo wings, but it’s discourteous to bring them to a theater. Small snacks are okay by me – chex mix, dried fruit, cookies, candy, whatever. I just don’t want it to be louder than popcorn (with regard to chewing and bag-rustling) or have a smell that will waft around. Personally, I usually just bring in my own bottle of tap water and I DARE them to try to take that away from me.
Smell is the key problem. I dont want to smell fried chicken or burgers in my movie.
im sorry, but the smell of nachos or a hot dog with onions and relish are just as offensive as a burger or sandwich. even certain candy mixes are annoying when you factor in the noise of tbeir packaging. so really, as long as its not too loud or smelly, enjoy your smuggled food.
I went to second-run “art house” type theater one time and couldn’t believe it when a woman a few seats down in the same row as me pulled out a take-out container of sushi. Needless to say, I moved my seat.
No wonder this country is so fat. You honestly can’t sit there for 2 hours and not eat?
I think this is really beside the point and you only said it to make yourself feel better.
You probably sweat gravy.
NO I CAN’T!!! If that makes me a fatty, then so be it.
I don’t need food, I just take a six-pack of beer.
true
I seriously wish there was a like option on here…that is perfect!
The most offensive thing is that Sandra can’t spell “intention.”
LOL. LOL. LOL. On topic: I feel the same way about flying. To all the d-bag piggies who bring big macs on a plane, I hate you!
Amen. Sandra-you’re supposed to be a professional writer.
Really? Do you go over all postings and articles on the internet and spell check all of them? What an interesting life you must have.
No Liz, posts can be forgiven. But when I go to a magazine’s Website and read an article written by one of their staff writers…. well, yeah, I expect it to be proofread and error-free. Would these kinds of errors be acceptable to you in the print magazine? That’s how I think of it. There are some people who still value professionalism (and proper spelling and grammar). And, if you notice, Sandra (or an editor) did correct the error, so if they didn’t care, they would have just left it.
Oh, and I’m not the person (“English 101″) who posted the first time pointing out the error.
Doesn’t really bother me. What really bothers me is when the guy next to me decides to fart a few times during the movie.
People complain about the concession prices but ignore the fact that the reason they are so high is because the theatres need to make money, they are a business, and the studios take most of the ticket sales. Just to run the building alone with the electric and water costs is enough to make your head spin.
But if you’re going to go that route and sneak in food, be polite enough to take your trash with you. The kids having to clean up after already have to suffer through customers cursing them for things beyond their control, cleaning up the left diapers and spit cups (if youre in that kind of area), it’s just insult to injury. If you’ve ever gone into a theatre that doesn’t seem to take any pride in its appearance or opperation then you can bet this is partially to blame.
Thank You!!! I work at a theatre and it is so annoying having to pick up everyone’s freaking trash. It doesn’t take much effort to just walk a few steps and throw away your own garbage in the trash can…not on the theatre floor
I so agree, I’m so annoyed when people sneak food in and then they don’t throw it away, they just the bags, rappers or whatever it came in on their seats!
When I was at the movies last weekend I was the last one to leave and I saw bags and wrappers from Mcdonalds, Burger King, and a box for a pizza hut personal pizza.
I don’t get that either. The garbage is on the way out of the theatre (at least the ones I go to) how hard is it take your garbage and put it in the garbage can as you go by?
If everyone throws away their trash, the kid cleaning up the trash is no longer needed and is out of a job.
@Jeff – …that’s not how it works. No one hires someone to ONLY sweep the floors anymore, unless they’re hiring a janitor. The kid sweeping the floor probably also sells tickets, takes your ticket stubs and sells concessions in ADDITION to cleaning up the mess full-grown “adults” leave for someone to pick up.
I used to be the “kid cleaning the theatres.” Yes, we had pick the trash up from the floor, but we also had to take the garbage bags to the dumpster. We had to mop up the stick floors, because for some reason, people get more soda under their feet than in there mouth. Who do you think cleans the bathroom and lobby? Santa?
Well I usual bring in gummy bears, chocolate covered raisins and my personal favorite snickers! However the the gummies and raisins are for other people so it’s okay!
When i used to live in Los Angeles back in 1999 i was madly in love with the Orpheum theatre in downtown because of its architecture and the air of nostalgia it exuded. I wanted to see a movie there, so i took my then b/f to the Orpheum to see The Sixth Sense. I had absolutely no idea that it was patronized only and solely by Hispanic audiences. The movie had Spanish subtitles which i couldn’t stop myself from reading even though i didn’t know a word of Spanish. There were several babies in the theatre who kept crying. There were smells of burritos and nachos and naturally farts. I didn’t enjoy the movie even a tiny bit. I was so distracted with all that was happening around me. This was my worst movie going experience ever, but i have to say that it was unique and unforgettable in its strange way.
@ lauen:really?it’s okay if it wasn’t specifically mentioned??they don’t specifically mention not to p*ss in the aisle,is it okay to do that?how ’bout setting fire to the seats?they don’t specifically mention not to do that.it’s not okay to smuggle stuff in,but we do it because their stuff costs so much and that’s because the consessions(snacks)is how they make the money,not so much on ticket sales.
Well, p*ssing in the aisle or setting fire to the seats would be crimes so no those things wouldn’t be okay. Thanks for playing, good luck next time.
I don’t “smuggle” – I walk right in with the stuff. My theatre doesn’t say anything. But, it is “theatre food”: healthy popcorn, etc…..I have never thought about bringing lunch or dinner. My theatre has an “adult only” section that you can order dinner and drinks and they bring it to you. You also have a buzzer at your extra-large chair for when you want something else. Oh, and by “adult only” – I wasn’t talking about “X” movies! They sell alcohol in that section – so, no children are allowed.
She said she had nothing against smuggling food–just wondered if maybe olfactorily offensive foods are a bit over the top. I have to agree with Sandra–the cheeseburger thing is gross. I smuggle candy in (yay, $1 candy at Target!) because of the price, but nothing that’s going to smell up the place and gross out your neighbor. People are too rude in movie theaters anymore. I swear if one more person’s cell phone glares in my face at the movies I may go ballistic.
I agree with you. Every time I see a movie, someone’s on their iPhone texting. It’s very annoying.
There are movie theaters that sell burgers and fries, mind you. I understand that how it may bother you, but I think you are overreacting by calling it gross. People do it legally too.
I was thinking the same thing. There are many theatres that have full-out food courts in the lobby.
yeah the movie theater I worked at sold burgers and fries, pretzels, pizza, chicken fingers, funnel cakes, etc, so that stuff’s pretty normal to me. I do have to admit that I ate pasta in a theater once, when our restaurant served us way late and the movie was about to start. So I guess I’m contributing to the problem. Sorry, guys.
There is a theater in my area that has a food court too. Everything…hamburgers, Chinese, Pizza, sandwiches, and… Mexican. They even provide trays that sit on your lap. Needless to say, it can be overwhelming. People can be pretty smelly as it is without adding pungent foods to the mix.
I agree. A snack that doesn’t smell up the place is fine, but if aphone/text lights up MY face one more time, I’m gonna ask the person who interrupted my movie-watching experience for a refund of my ticket price. Grrr.
You should beat them senseless.
I often do ask (tell) the person texting to turn off their phone, as long as they’re not that far away from me and I can do it without further disturbing everyone else in the theater (people four rows ahead of me texting also bother me, but they’re too far away for me to do anything about it). Then the person without fail gives me a dirty look like I did something wrong, but does turn off the phone – though it sometimes takes more than one request.
Pitch one of those skittles at ‘em (kidding.) Some theaters will remove the compulsive texting offender if they know they are there. One has to rat them out but it feels good to see them leave.
And if someone is really offensive and annoying, you might even get cheered for having them removed!
Just tell them, “You know, you could use your phone in the parking lot for free, instead of paying 12 bucks to use it in here.” Works for persistent talkers, too.
Our theater has a big sign saying outside food is not permitted. They’ll toss you out if they catch you with it.
I don’t mind if people smuggle in food – I certainly do (except at the Alamo Drafthouse – saw Bridesmaids there on Saturday). But I wish they’d clean up after themselves!
The theatre I regularly go to has a full court in the lobby and a19+ only area that has in-seat food and beverage service (incl. alcohol). The food isn’t priced any worse than any of the local casual dining restaurants so if I’m catching a show after work I’ll grab dinner there. But I agree with the above posters-food’s fine, but cell phones deserve a death sentence.
I’m ok with most food smuggled in, but the cell phone thing makes me stabby. So does gum smacking. I HATE gum smacking.
In the ’80s, I was at a movie with my best friend and Molly Ringwald was smacking her gum two rows in front of us…My friend told her to stop it but I was so embarrassed (this was at the very height of Ringwald’s fame). Now that I think of it, it wasn’t the fact that it was Molly, it was just that I didn’t find it that annoying… but it was one of my friend’s pet peeves.
Since when are cheesburgers “olfactorily offensive foods”?
I’ve done Five Guys burger and fries. So yeah, I’m one of the guilty party. I think my biggest offense was a burrito. Sorry world.
I snuck in a burrito too – there is a Taco Bell right next to the movie theater. I think anything is fine as long as it doesn’t smell (no grilled onions!) and as long as you don’t slop it all over the place.
I snuck in some sweet potato fries once! I think I’ll try Five Guys next time. Yum!
Nothing to be ashamed of Anna. We gotta beat the system in any way possible.
I just snuck in a chillie burger this weekend at the hangover. But it did have a strong so not aging. But the theatre I go to there is a chipotle right next door so everyone always has food. Plus it’s not that people can’t wait it’s just that sometime you dont plan and arrive late. Hence smuggle food.
“It did have a strong so not aging.” I am usually pretty good at deciphering what the heck someone is trying to say, but I have NO clue here.
Yes, I’m going to second Ryan’s request for an explanation of “it did have a strong so not aging.” I thought I had read it wrong, but now I need to know.
I think Elli (Mae?) meant not AGAIN because it (her CHILLIE Burger!) had a strong ODOR. Really excellent communication skills, Elli!
Thanks Estee! Wow, missing and misspelled words.
Wow, Estee you’re GOOD!!
It might be “it did have a strong odor so not arguing.”
I saw the Hangover 2 tonight with my boyfriend. We brought in California Tortilla (quasi-Mexican food) with us. The place has a deal that if you spend a certain amount, you get discounted movie tickets. Normally, we just grab the food and head into the movie. We’re discreet about it and we’ve never had any complaints.
I think talking or using your phone during the movie is much worse.
I took my Chinese food in with me once. Thank goodness for big purses.
I’ve done that so many times! And Japanese too! I worked at a theatre in high school, so I’d go see a movie after my shift and eat my dinner while I watched. I think the worst was the Thanksgiving leftovers – full out with mashed potatoes and stuffing sort of meal!
To think, all these years I’ve been content to smuggle candy or nuts when I could have been smuggling real food. How the heck do you get a burger into the theater?
Exactly. What rock have I been living under that I didn’t realize people snuck in whole, full-on meals to a movie??!
My husband & I have brought burgers, fries, and fountain drinks into the theater before. I had a huge purse and walked VERY carefully. When we were young and poor, I popped our own popcorn, put it in a plastic bag, and buttoned it under my coat. In looking pregnant, came out looking skinny. (Can’t pull that one off anymore.) Once (honestly) I forgot that I had a drink cup in my hand and walked in right under the eyes of the ticket taker and no one said a word. Did get stopped entering a Moody Blues concert and robbed of my fresh fruit (which they don’t sell at that venue) but after dark I got a 2nd-hand high from the weed smoke coming out of the general seating area. Guess that was OK but plums are contraband?
I still pop my own popcorn — movie theater popcorn is so bad for you. It’s popped with coconut oil, which contains 94% saturated fat. No thanks!
Have to disagree on that, Audrey – “The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and their properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.”
quote from some site I googled…because I remember hearing that coconut oil is a “good” fat…
Coconut oil gives you dental care?
We definitely pop our own corn. A friend and I take our under 12s to the matinees and if we were to buy snacks, slushies, and tickets, it’s around $25/person. So we bring in our own popcorn, juice boxes and bottles of water.
Most obnoxious: some guy drinking whiskey (from the smell of it) and getting completely smashed.
Most obnoxious but also kind of hilarious….in a really sad way.
HA! I’ve got no problem with it IF you handle your alcohol! We’ve snuck in beer or mini’s many times but it’s never been nearly enough to get drunk. People eating, texting or whatever doesn’t bother me. Only two things incur my wrath: talking loudly & kicking my chair.
Back in the 80′s I had a duster coat with big inside AND outside pockets and was able to smuggle in a 12-pack of Bud bottles for me and my friends. We were good to go until one of them put an empty on the floor and it rolled on down until it smashed against the legs of one of the chairs. We were asked to leave…
I have yet to see a theater – around here at least or anywhere else I’ve lived for that matter – that doesn’t say ‘no outside food’. That said I have been guilty of smuggling food esp carrots & celery sticks & peanut butter crackers. Smelly or noisy food just seems wrong.
Noisy food seems wrong? How soggy are the carrots, celery & crackers you drag in? I know of no quiet way to eat ANY of those if they are consumed as intended. So maybe you should leave your noisy veggie platter at home next time.
LOL!!! I was thinking the same thing! These are very noisy choices indeed!!! Too funny!
I am against anything with too much noise or too much odor. Can’t imagine having to watch a movie I paid over ten bucks for while listening and smelling someone’s nasty snack.
my sister and I brought Mochi into a theater. Thank goodness for lids!! We have also smuggled canned beverages in shirt pockets, bags of snack mix, candy, popcorn, and chips in huge “movie” purses.
I am guilty of “smuggling” in candy and drinks to almost every movie I go to, but I’ve never brought in actual food. The worst offense I’ve witnessed was last year at a showing of New Moon. Some college kids actually brought in a case of beer! Don’t know how they did it, but I kept hearing the sound of pop tops popping, their comments got louder and louder, and by the end of the movie one of them fell down the stairs! When I turned around, I saw all the empty beer cans and the empty case–Natural Light! lol
Um, candy is actual food.
Um, no it’s not. Even though I have eaten it for breakfast sometimes.
The beer is pretty bad, but I think I can top it. During Stars Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith someone actually lit up a cigarette in the back of the theater. When a pregnant woman in the front complained and an attendant came in, they put it out. But started smoking AGAIN after a couple minutes.
In some ways I agree with you but I do remember when you could smoke in movie theaters and I also remember that the neighborhood theater had seats that had a cup holder on one armrest and a little tiny ashtray on the the other armrest! And before you say that must have been a million yrs ago – not really as I am under 50 yrs old!
Truthfully what I find most offensive is parents who drop off their kids and let them run wild, throw food/candy around and be noisy! I’d rather sit next to a guy munching a burger than have a pack of 10 yr olds running wild or wind up sitting behind me talking and kicking my chair!
And the worst thing I’ve ever snuck in into a movie is little bag of cheese puffs or doritos cuz I can’t eat popcorn!
SR – thanks for clarifying that it wasn’t really “a million years ago.” I was so confused.
Ok, well I’m just 40, and I can remember when smoking was allowed in theaters, on planes, inside the mall. I even remember ashtrays at the end of every aisle at the grocery store. This was 1990. In Florida. Now that I think about it, it was like a million years ago…
Anything with cabbage is definitely verboten. That should be common sense. No cabbage rolls, please!
We usually stop off at the Dollar Tree store before going into the movies. We each get a soda and whatever candy we prefer. Then when we get to the movie we buy their ubber expensive popcorn.
If their prices were anywhere near reasonable I would purchase it at the theater. However I can buy a giant box of Junior Mints for $1- at the Dollar Tree, or…..I can spend $3.50 on a small 69 cent box at the movies. Hmmmmmm, hard decisions!
The worst that I have had to smell is tuna fish sandwiches. I abhor them, I think they are disgusting. I can’t even deal with roommates or boyfriends who make them in the kitchen. But at a movie theater? That’s even worse.
I have friends who used to try to sneak in all sorts of stuff, like it was a competition. Once they brought in a watermelon, another time a roasted chicken and once Chinese food. I’ve seen others order a pizza and have it delivered to them at the theater.
I go to a lot of preview screenings so smuggling in food is part of the ritual. But I do not think you should be bringing in a full meal. This old couple I’ve seen twice bring in two plastic bags of food, including the disgusting tuna fish sandwiches. Their bags also included a box of crackers and beverages.
Besides the usual candy and a drink, I’ve brought in cookies once and a bagel w. cream cheese because I hadn’t had one thing to eat all day.
My friend and I smuggled a pizza into the movies once. It’s one of my proudest achievements.
Amazing. how did you do it? Put the pieces in tupperware? I seriously want to know.
I’ve done it too (smuggled pizza). Just kind of walked in with it–didn’t even try to hide it. Nobody said a word. I’ve only done that once, though. Mostly, I just smuggle candy.
I’ve done that, too! My boyfriend and I were seeing Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s “Grindhouse” at an AMC in a mall. We knew it would be long, so we made an event of it and bought a large pizza from the mall food court and took it into the last screening time of the day. We tried hiding it under our coats, but definitely failed. The employees obviously saw, but didn’t say anything. And our theater was empty, save for one other person (who had brought in food of their own). It was a blast.
The very small “medium sized” popcorn here is $8, a very small cup of soda is $3.
Of course, I’m gonna sneak up some food.
Potato chips are my main sneak. I buy a box of 50 Lays BBQ-flavored chips at Sam’s Club for $11, that’s .22 cents each.
I even bring a bottle with a large straw, filled with half water/half juice and ice in it.
With the lights off, hardly anyone notices.
My cousin and I brought in out entire Taco Bell Grilled Stuffed Burrito meals when we caught the very first ‘Tomb Raider’, but since then we’ve toned it down to sodas/coffees and some sort of candy/cookies type snack. We just go out and actually eat afterwards.
*our
Starbucks is the only thing I can think of. Although I think we took leftover pizza into a movie with us once because the pizza place and the theatre are in the same building. We didn’t eat any of it though.
And btw, my favorite local theater serves popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, burgers, pretzels, and pizzas. So… They’d hardly notice whatever we brought in, unless it was some Indian food or something with a really strong odor.