What do you think of movie theatres banning teenagers?

[Ex Lurker]

there are a couple of movie houses here that have problems with kids loitering, being disruptive, etc. Sometimes even fights. So they've instituted a policy of no one under 18 after 8 PM unless escorted by someone over 21. Also no children under 6 in R rated movies, even with an adult. I didn't know this was a problem, but apparently a lot of parents are bringing their toddlers with them to R rated movies these days.

Most grownups seem to like it, most teenagers (predictably) don't. There's also a bit of a racial divide, in that a lot of the teens are AA, and in message board posts about it, there are references to "thuggery" and "gangs," which are often racial code words. Just wondering what DU thinks about theatres doing this.

[monmouth]

1. For the price I have to pay to see a movie, I surely don't want to

put up with noisy teenagers. If they behave like they're supposed to, fine. I don't care what color they are, teenagers can be thugs and in gangs and I don't want to be around them. I never go to the movies at night so there's the difference.

[angstlessk]

2. a private enterprise can refuse service to anyone as long as it is not

discriminatory..I see no problem as long as they do not allow white teens and refuse black teens..as far as toddlers they tend to get bored and cry...\

on edit..my r is giving me a fit tonight

[JVS]

5. One could say this is age discrimination. To be safe, I'd show some porn at intermission in order..

to make sure the law is on my side in forbidding teenagers

[angstlessk]

7. that could work...at the delight of movie goers...to be sure!

[MercutioATC]

14. I don't believe that's legally necessary, but I like your thinking!

:)

[paulsby]

15. more correctly... they CAN discriminate

they can discriminate legally, just not against protected classes.

teenagers are not a protected class.

they cannot say "no blacks, whites, etc."

they CAN say "no teenagers"

[Sgent]

30. Age discrimination is perfectly legal

in many cases. There are no laws I'm aware of that protect anyone under the age of 40 from age discrimination.

[iamthebandfanman]

39. yeah

when someones under 18, itd be hard to make a case they were being discriminated against because of their age anyway...

[JVS]

3. That's why if I ever have a restaurant, I'll have a pair of nude cage dancers in the corners.

[angstlessk]

10. now I understand your thinking...keep out the younguns..good thinking!!!

[Bolo Boffin]

4. A theater has a right to admit people or not, barring certain federal limits.

If they are banning people under a certain age across the board, then I don't think that's covered in federal statute.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. What chain runs the theater?

[Ex Lurker]

11. Rave Theatres is one

I believe the other one is Cinamark.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

27. Good, neither of them are around here.

So it'll be easy to avoid them.

[konnichi wa]

8. They can if they want...I think it's a good policy.

...

[lame54]

9. Good luck to them

[democrat2thecore]

12. I like it! Movie tix are expensive & I don't want the experience ruined -nt

[JonLP24]

13. Stupid idea... Many teenagers work in theatres

I know because I installed the Bits Ice Cream storage in nearly every Harkins in the Phoenix area. Teenagers help them make lots of money and so they ban them. If there is a fight then kick them out but when I was teenager I could trust myself in a movie theatre.

[ContinentalOp]

16. It's like bars banning people who drink.

You want to drive away one of your last remaining customer bases? Good luck with that.

[damntexdem]

21. It's beyond that -- it's like bars banning alcoholics.

It's like synagogues banning Jewish people.

[TankLV]

47. Bar SHOULD and DO ban ALCHOHOLICS...it's WISE policy...

but your TRYING to link it to synagogues and Jewish people is just plain ridiculuous...it figures...

[Enrique]

17. I'm surprised any theater could stay in business without kids

I guess it depends on the area, but when I go to movies it seems to me like 80% of the crowd is teenagers.

[LanternWaste]

18. I'd definitely go to more movies were that the case...

I'd definitely go to more movies were that the case...

Now, if we could ban red-necks too, that evening at the bijou would be a downright enjoyable experience. :P

[mwooldri]

19. Cool by me, especially the R rated rule.

Our equivalent to R is a 15 rating. No-one under 15 gets in to see 15 rated movies at the cinema. The PG-13's equate usually to a 12A - requires an adult if you're under 12.

Mark.

[damntexdem]

20. Oh what a great business plan come the summer!

I'm sure the high-school musicals will do just fine, as will as the super-hero shoot-em-ups. And the teen-love-vampire-movies will do really great.

[Ex Lurker]

22. I infer from the news that most of them aren't actually going to the movies

just hanging around outside. So they're not making money on them anyway.

[JonLP24]

25. Well ban everyone from hanging around outside

You don't make money off of adults hanging outside of a movie theatre either.

[LynneSin]

23. I think these are great ideas and perhaps I might head back to the movies again

I remember seeing the movie "Underworld" and right before it started some woman showed up with 3 kids all under the age of 6. This was the 10pm showing of the movie. I realize this woman has the right to see a movie and subject her children to the violence of Vampires and Werewolves but not at a time that should be strictly adults enjoying the movies.

I know of a theater near where I grew up that has "Mommy & Me" viewing of all their movies. It's a Wednesday afternoon showing but it's a time that if non-breeders like myself go - I should deal with it since it was clearly advertised as a "Mommy & Me" thing. (Daddy's welcomed too).

As for kids under 18 without adults - again I'm not overly challenged. The ones that come in tend to be distruptive but you can't assume that for all kids. I could see this for weekends when the late shows tend to be more for dates and not rowdy crowds. I like it but that's a personal thing - I think the rule can be a bit harsh.

[Mike 03]

24. Well, as a filmgoer, I would appreciate it, but I just know the studios are going to sue

the hell out of these theaters, because this age group is their bottom line.

OMFG... Can you imagine what the boards of directors at the majors are thinking right now?

Before they even green light a script, the first thing they do is run a series of tests to make sure the film will appeal to teenagers.

LOL

[Burma Jones]

26. I have to say that nearly everyone that has bothered me by yakking during a movie....

Was well past their teenaged years.......

[Believing Is Art]

28. Not a great idea

There are a lot of rude teenagers, but there are a lot that just want to sit quietly and watch the movie. No one remembers the second group. I don't imagine the summer blockbusters will do as well without teens. It seems like they could hire some extra security to handle the trouble-makers and that would better solve the problem.

Why are teenagers supposed to behave well when everyone is telling them they're already punks just because of their age?

[Politicalboi]

29. I think it's silly

Being 16 once I remember going to the movies Friday nights with my friends. At that time if you were 16 and had your license you didn't need and adult to drive. I can see picking out the trouble makers but not banning teens.

[seabeyond]

31. since parents arent seeming to teach children how to behave in public places

maybe the public places will have to do the teaching. kickin kids out of malls too. kick them out of enough places they might get the message that they actually have to behave, civilized

certainly not working in free for all form

[Codeine]

56. Precisely.

If you cease behaving like an animal you won't be treated like an animal.

[seabeyond]

59. those opposed is another example of excusing the behavior which i see too much as it is

kids get kicked out of theater after 8 and if my kids whine, they arent going to hear me standing up for them and their rights and how UNFAIR it all is. it is gonna be in your face, when your peers can go to the theater and not tear it up and not disturb others, maybe you can have the privilige, but it is on the kids shoulders, not the owner.

(i am dealing with a drunk brother who has been rescued more than three decades by my father, at 48 his 18 yr old girlfriend left mon., lost another job tues., got two more dogs, and arrested last night for another dui. his two boys who one stole 800 at walmart and the other joined a gang, just recently ran away, stole a truck, used stolen credit cards and ..... no repercussions. i am damn tired of bailing people out and excuses and whining.)

[azmouse]

32. A lot of people here are missing the point that it's AFTER 8pm

The attendance among adults will increase if they know they don't have to deal with teens later at night.

[JonLP24]

33. I'm aware of that

But adults after 8pm will be buying drinks and popcorn from teenagers working behind the register. I don't know about that paticular area but majority of Harkins employees in the Phoenix area are teenagers. I installed a Bits Ice Cream storages in nearly every Harkins in the Phoenix area and they have rules specific for their juvenile employees such as loosing popcorn and soda privaleges and ran into quite a few underage employees. That is why I don't support this idea because mostly teenagers do the work at theatres so it makes no sense to ban them. If they start trouble kick them out, if they don't let them enjoy the movie. Curfew in most places is 12 at night so as long as it doesn't go past that I have no problem with them being able to attend a movie.

[azmouse]

34. I don't see where they're banning teens from working at the theatre after 8pm

only from hanging around or sitting in on R rated movies.

[JonLP24]

35. You're missing my point

My point is since teenagers are allowed to work for theatres then they should not be banned from attending. I'll look at the OP again but I think he was referring to being banned after 8pm, not just R rated movies. The R rated movies refers to the 6 six year olds. 8pm refers to teenagers not escorted by an adult.

on edit: As far as hanging around that should apply to everyone that doesn't have a ticket.

[azmouse]

41. My point is that malls in this area (Arrowhead is one) ban teens

after a certain time because they chase the adults away... and it's the adults that are spending money later at night, not the teens.

Teens that are working are not chasing away the paying adults. That's the difference and I whole-heartedly agree with the policy.
Also, how many adults 'hang around' outside a movie theatre or anywhere for that matter.

[JonLP24]

43. It doesn't matter how many adults 'hang around'

The policy should apply to everyone. Just like my old apartment's policy that said "children are not allowed to skateboard on property" well my mom challenged that and won because the policy didn't apply to adults. It must say no one is allowed skateboard instead of just children. Similar policies exist when I was married in regards to my ex-wife's kids such as the "Children aren't allowed to play in the parking lot" when faced with a fine we threatened with a lawsuit because we took advantage of their policy and later changed it to no one is allowed to play in the parking lot. Whether they are chasing away adults I doubt it. Many it's the adults chasing themselves away out of fear of pesky teenagers but teenagers mostly keep to themselves.

on edit: It's BS that a teenager can work at a theatre after 8 but cannot attend it. Total BS.

[Lyric]

36. I agree with the teen rule, but not with the other one.

If the smaller kids aren't being disruptive, there's no reason for the theater to play morality nanny. As much as we disapprove as a society of babies and toddlers being exposed to "R" rated movies, parents should be able to decide for *themselves* what's appropriate for their kids and what's not. When LyricKid was a baby/toddler, we used to take him with us to end-run matinees in the afternoons of "R" rated movies that *we* wanted to see. Because it was toward the end of the run, and because we went to afternoon shows on weekdays, the theater was usually damned near empty save for a handful of other people who had ALSO brought their small children. Those shows were the only ones that people with no childcare could see without risking a disturbance to the other theatergoers. We'd park him in his huge, comfy stroller that laid back and turned into a little bed, and he'd take his afternoon nap while we watched the movie. It was never a problem; the ONE time he woke up during a show and fussed a bit, Rhythm took him out and that was that.

Rules that the one mentioned in the OP pretty much destroy the possibility of that strategy. If this had been one of *my* local theaters, they'd have lost our business forever.

[Love Bug]

55. Would you want your 5 year old to sit through "Saw"?

Kids that age can't differentiate between make-believe and reality. You can't tell me slasher and ultra-violent movies aren't damaging to kids. Shame on any parent who takes their kids to those.

[Kerrytravelers]

58. I don't know if it's about being the morality police, or just the crying and talking that children

do.

In R rated films, I expect to see adults and older teens. Little kids scream, cry, etc.

Our local theaters have banned children after 6 PM for R rated films. Now, we only go to R rated films after 8. And if we do go to an R rated film before 8, we know we have no right to be annoyed. So, honestly, it works in the parent's favor, too. Anyone who goes before 8 knows the rule, and therefore shouldn't fuss at parents with children in the theater.

[ejpoeta]

37. i know that many malls have taken steps to discourage teens from

hanging out there during the day and during the week (i think). they play music that kids don't like. I don't really have a problem with it in general, as kids under 18... shouldn't they have a curfew? i don't know.

[BlooInBloo]

38. Presumably they really mean non-white teens.

[iamthebandfanman]

40. yikes, thats kinda reading into kinda far isnt it ? n/t

[iamthebandfanman]

42. from my personal experience

from working at a movie threater for a couple years AS a teenager ...

it seemed to me the worst kids were usually between 11 and 13/14. as they were being left to go to the movies on their own by parents for the first times.

i had to have parents called all the time for kids who just refused to behave and let people enjoy a movie.

adults DONT like coming to the movie when there is a large amount of kids hanging out... thats just a fact, and was told that very thing by several customers.

i literally had to break up fist fights and call the cops on people... something at the time i thought id never be doing against my fellow under 18'ers.

its sad but true that unsupervised CHILDREN , when put into a situation that they are surrounded by peers, are going to do stupid things!

while limiting when someone can or can not be some where is definitely a harsh response, it is possible that other steps had been tried before and failed...

kids are going to be kids tho. its to bad that a few have to ruin it for the rest of them.

but hey, ultimately that place can do whatever it wants because its private ... its hard to make a case that a CHILD is being discriminated against by age when infact thats the point. hence why theres an age in which you get the label 'adult'.

[Iggo]

44. I'm 100% against all zero-tolerance laws.

No exceptions.

[TankLV]

45. I'd support the theater whole heartedly... thugs and gangs shouldn't be allowed to wreak havoc for

their own amusement and to the danger of others...

which is what these "poor innocent teenagers" were doing...

I say these "teenagers" need a good swift kick in the but as good measure...

[A-Schwarzenegger]

46. NOOOO! They could merely administer small ELECTRIC SHOCKS to moviegoers

who are determined to be talking too much or too loudly, or
making too much noise eating, or who move around too much,
sit up too high in their seats, wear hats or hair-dos too big, etc.
I don't go to the movies myself because of a reaction I have with
space, darkness, strangers, etc. In any case, they could have
decibel counters & motion detectors & a watcher from
the ceiling like in casinoes, with infrared cameras, to make
sure the wrong person isn't inadvertently getting a shock.
NOT A LARGE or HARMFUL shock, but one which would simply be
noticed & heeded. It is silent & won't disturb other patrons.
Once it is instituted, everyone will quickly
hear about it & be prepared. For example, one shock for talking
too much, two shocks for moving around too much, three for smacking
gum, four for fighting, etc. It may take a while for the glitches
& kinks to be ironed out, but in the end most reasonable people will
probably be happy with it.

[dembotoz]

48. my teens will just watch pirate copies

They might not be readily available now, but they will figure it out.
music is pirated, games are pirated

you think you have problems with stolen intellectual property now--just you wait
ain't seen nothing yet.

hollywood will build demand for a product and then deny access to a whole bunch of very
bright and computer savy kids??????


good grief.

[Codeine]

57. They already do that.

Teens aren't even going to the films at these theaters, just hanging around causing havoc.

And, as an aside, most kids aren't very bright. Much like most adults in that respect.

[seabeyond]

60. so... you will teach you children theft. good parenting 101. n/t

[Fuzz]

49. What's going to be the over/under on boners at that ceremony?

[Iggo]

50. As a stand alone comment...

...that one's hard to beat.

[Fuzz]

51. Weird, it didn't belong there.

Was supposed to be on the Palin/nra gun thread.

[dysfunctional press]

52. say what?

:shrug:

[Fuzz]

53. See 51.

[Love Bug]

54. I'm fine with them banning people who exhibit disruptive behavior

as long as it extends to the idiots who text or talk on their damn cellphones during the movie! Same for those who talk during the movie like they think they're in their own living rooms!

Part of the problem is most movie theaters don't have ushers anymore to keep the peace. What they have are the teenagers they hire to sell sodas and clean up after patrons. They shouldn't be expected to police the patrons, too.

[Hansel]

65. Agree.

It's a rudeness and lack of respect issue. No matter what the age. I don't see a particular issue with teenagers. Most of the issues I see are with children being at age inappropriate movies and acting out because they are bored, or full grown men being at subject inappropriate movies (read "chick flicks") and acting out because they are bored. Kicking seats, talking, running up and down the aisles and playing with cells phones or video games seem to be the favorite of both of these groups.

Theaters needs to reestablish usher positions at theaters. With the price of tickets and concession snacks they certainly should be able to afford them.

[citizen snips]

61. When I was 17 I was refused admittance

because I did not have photo i.d. on me. I complained about it to the cashier and someone behind me said that they were protecting my innocence. But anyway I returned later that night with my I.D. talked to the manager and said he was protecting my right to not be discriminated against. Point is if they are going to make me lose gas money then I will just stay home and pirate movies.

[Dappleganger]

62. Loud kids in rated R movies

As a parent to four kids (three teens and one pre-teen) I find it appalling and rude that parents insist on bringing their loud children of any age to a rated-R movie. It's not appropriate for their age (duh!) and many of us are there expecting an adult evening. If we wanted to listen to loud kids we would have stayed home with our own! These people should be prohibited from bringing any child except a newborn nursing baby who is QUIET into a rated-R movie, IMO. We always hired sitters and when we couldn't we just waited for the dvd or vhs (we've been married awhile). I am very empathetic to parents who cannot get out because they can't afford a sitter, have no family to help or are unable to find a sitter...however, there is a time and place for everything and bringing your younguns into a rated-R movie isn't one of them!

[SpookyCat]

63. Love it!

The Sundance Theater here in SF has a balcony with a bar that is 21/over. Big plush seats, little tables in between them, lounge area outside the balcony itself. Fizzy water in an actual glass...and no. freakin'. kids.

Little slice of heaven!

[Telly Savalas]

64. The profit margin on a single medium popcorn

should be sufficient to pay for a full private security force for the evening. I find it hard to believe that this isn't a wiser economic decision for the theater than banning the cornerstone of its customer base.

[saltpoint]

66. This isn't solvable by taking sides based on age, IMO.

It's no surprise that the kids aren't into the rule.

It's no surprise that the parents probably are.

I like a quiet library. I like a quiet moviehouse. Call me old-fashioned.

[SeattleGirl]

67. That sounds good to me, though it really would affect me, because I

don't go to movies after the bargain price times are over for the day.

But if the kids are being disruptive, getting into fights, etc., then yes, ban them for certain hours. Maybe they'll learn to behave. Maybe not, but there should be some times when adults can go to a movie without a bunch of disruptive teens around.

And I agree with the policy of banning kids under 6 from R rated movies. I know some people may not agree with me, but if I'm going to a movie that rated R for violence, language, sex, whatever, I don't want it accompanied by the sound of babies crying or little kids fussing. And yes, I've had a child, and I think there are plenty of places where bringing kids of any age is appropriate. Movie theaters showing non-kid movies is just not such a place.