Cinema etiquette debate: Phones and loud eaters disrupt screenings

A BBC article reports on growing audience disruptions in cinemas, including phone use, loud eating, and talking. Examples include a screening of 'Project Hail Mary' in London where someone translated dialogue in real-time, and a Valentine's Day showing of 'Wuthering Heights' where a woman unwrapped a large chocolate heart. TikTokers Cerys Hawkes and Finian Hackett shared experiences of disruptive behavior, with Hawkes noting two men filming themselves with flash on during 'Smile 2'. The 'Minecraft Movie' screenings saw popcorn throwing and even a live chicken brought in. Cinema chains Vue, Odeon, Cineworld, and Everyman have policies asking patrons to switch off phones and be considerate. Debrett's lists etiquette tips. Dr. Kirsty Sedgman from the University of Bristol notes that debates about audience behavior date back to Plato, but the social contract has weakened since COVID-19. The UK Cinema Association's James Connor says most audiences follow etiquette, and the UK and Irish box office had its best post-pandemic year in 2025.