'Wicked' release revives debate over phone use in cinemas

The magic of “Wicked” has been spoiled by some moviegoers who say too many people are taking photos and videos during their screenings.

While it was once taboo to pull out your phone during a movie, this once-derided act has become commonplace in recent years. The release of the musical adaptation has reignited the debate over cinematic etiquette.

A moviegoer’s thread garnered millions of views on X after the user encouraged people to share their photos from their “Wicked” screenings. While some people complied, others shamed them for distracting from the movie.

Since pandemic restrictions were lifted, phone use in movie theaters has been a growing problem. Some believe the behavior is the result of years of interaction primarily through social media, which has led users to prioritize consuming content rather than living in the moment.

Social media has become “part of our identity,” said Sara Cureton, an assistant professor at Colorado Technical University who teaches psychology and social media. She said many people use social media “to be seen, whether your social media audience is just your family and friends or whether you are a general influencer with thousands of followers.”

Cureton said posting photos from a “Wicked” screening signals that “I was here, I did this opening weekend.”

Some social media users who took photos during their screenings argued that a quick photo wasn’t particularly intrusive.

But taking out a phone and posting a picture from the theater detracts from the shared experience viewers have of watching a movie together. Cureton said phones “affect behavioral etiquette, including distraction and violating boundaries in common spaces.” Many have begun to prioritize their own individual experiences at the expense of the collective.

“Moviegoing is broadly a beloved media and cultural tradition, and many people will say it is sacred,” Cureton said. “The people who are probably upset about sharing these title cards or these movie experiences are probably deeply rooted in this tradition of moviegoing.”

Alamo Drafthouse, which has a strict no-phone policy, jumped into the discussion about X and simply told guests, “Don’t do that.”

Numerous film lovers raised their voices

Eric Forgue, moderator of the r/MovieTheaterEmployees subreddit, which discusses the experiences of current and former movie theater employees, said many theaters are understaffed and don’t have the bandwidth to monitor every showing.

“If you have a problem, you should stand up and tell someone about it, because the chances of someone coming in to see a movie theater are no longer that high,” said Forgue, 30, who has been at a Cinemark for seven years -Theater worked.

Forgue worked at a movie theater before and after the pandemic until June. He said he has noticed an increase in phone usage based on his experience. He attributed this partly to the fact that guests were used to watching films in their homes during the lockdown as they wanted, including while using their smartphones.

“Then when they went back to the theater, they just couldn’t break the habit,” Forgue said.

Forgue said he’s seen teenagers taking selfies, people live-streaming big movies and even parents allowing their children to watch during movies, according to YouTube. He encouraged guests watching “Wicked” to consider: “Would you do this if you saw it on Broadway?”

People need to remember “this experience is not just about me,” he said.

“This is not my cinematic experience,” he said. “This is our cinema experience.”

‘Wicked’ release revives debate over phone use in cinemas

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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