5 Ways British and American Movie Theaters Are Very Different
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- Опубліковано 16 тра 2022
- In which I compare the differences between visiting a cinema (or movie theater) in Britain and America.
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I wonder if they changed the name of the film "Jumper" in the UK so that Brits wouldn't think it was about a sweater.
They didnt, but I remember a lot of film critics at the time making jokes long those lines.
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Best comment I've read to any video this month!!
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I may not clap, but I do hit the thumbs-up button! 👍😊
Applause here for Laurence even though he’s not here to read it.
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To clarify: Bunch o' Crunch is not a bar, but a bite-sized candy based on Nestle Crunch, consisting of little nuggets of crisp rice coated in chocolate. What you showed in the video was the Nestle Crunch bar.
I've only ever seen applause in a theatre a handful of times in my life, but it definitely does happen sometimes. Also I think the applause really serves more generally as a positive moment of group cohesion for the audience rather than being literally for the movie itself or the actors.
You nailed it. Riding the wave of everyone in the theater, in the dark, is very selective, temporarily very high intimacy between strangers and the people you attended with. Probably very unique.
The first and original Star Trek movie came out the day I got married. We were poor, so our honeymoon was spent waiting in line to see it. No one in line believed we had just gotten married that morning.
Oh man, one of the odd movies. I'm so sorry...
I hope your marriage was as LONG as that movie, but not as dull. and involved much better-fitting clothes if any.
I'm so sorry too. That wasn't Star Trek, it was Star Dreck: The Cure For Imsomnia. Would've been so much better if it were The Wrath Of Khan.
@@KairuHakubi Well, if you considered the movie to be 11 years long, then yes. As for the "if any" re: clothes, that option had been pre-anticipated.
@@sjdrifter72 I was a huge Trekkie, and my new spouse was along for the ride. We were just happy that the show had been revived in some form, and weren't too critical.
There's a famous story about when Star Wars was first shown in Japan, and the producers at the screening were worried that the Japanese audience didn't like the movie because they were silent throughout, and didn't clap and holler at the end. Someone has to tell them that this was a sign of utmost respect, and they had actually enjoyed it.
I think it probably isn't a sign of respect at all, it's just how audiences react outside of North America, whether they like the film or not.
It varies a lot from place to place. Indian cinemas tend to be quite vocal in big blockbuster flicks. You can probably find video of people reacting to RRR on UA-cam, boy is it wild!
@@cbpd89 Yeah, different cultures have, sometimes, very different cultural sensitivities. And that carries over into the theater-going experiences.
Hell, even amongst American film cultural, there are very different subcultural types. You may cheer during a big blockbuster like all the _Avengers: Endgame_ anecdotes, but an indie arthouse picture will be more solom and introspective, while an intense drama, especially a very human one, is not uncommon to have some level of collective public crying as a method of catharsis and group strengthening.
A friend of mine watching assistant teaching in Japan and was taken to a baseball game there. Someone made a spectacular hit and she jumped up and started whopping. And everyone just stared at here.
‘Film’ is one of those words our grandkids will stare in disbelief when we discuss the origin of the word. Just like when they see telephone booths in Superman, or when grandma asks to ‘rewind’ a bit.
I mean movies haven't been filmed on film for decades, unless the director really wants it, as most of the time they're done digitally. By now most people interact with moving pictures via digital non-physical media, so it's more than likely a little bit of a puzzle for years now for some.
@pisswobble
Does it? Does it really? I don't think so.
My first experience with seeing movies was at the Drive-In Theater where my dad would park the car and we'd watch the movie from inside the vehicle with an audio box at the window. When both my younger sibling and I were a bit older and better behaved, then my parents would take us to the Movie Theater where we'd sit indoors with the rest of the audience. At that point, we could watch live-action movies. I think my first live-action movie was Star Wars. Personally, I think that my dad just couldn't stand the idea of being around a hundred other very young children watching a cartoon movie. At the Drive-In, he could at least threaten us with driving off the lot if we didn't behave and watch the movie.
My first movies were at a drive-in, too. Triple feature Disney movies. We'd bring our own popcorn and drinks.
Lol my mother used to drop us off for the Saturday morning Disney double feature at the historic theater downtown. Later, my best friend and I saw movies at the drive-in with my mom in the car. 1st feature was Grease. 2nd movie was Up in Smoke 😆
Mosquitos and movies at the Drive In! Hot sticky, humid, cars full of people. My parents took us to drive ins all through the 50s and 60s. The last Drive in I regularly went to was called the "Isle of View" in Panama City Florida. The name was a nod to all of the casual sex being enjoyed in the cars at the "i love you" in the late 60s...
I grew up going to the drive-in almost every weekend during the warmer seasons. In high school, we'd go in big groups and lie on the ground on blankets. During intermission, you'd go around and visit with the other groups. Simple pleasures!
My first movie was a drive-in, too! We saw ET. The closest theater to me now is a drive-in.
Back in the 1930s there was an infamous incident involving an American film that was shown in British cinemas. It was called "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum," which left a lot of Brits scratching their heads in amazement, as the word "bum" means very different things in the two countries.
I think it was based on a song with the same title, only in the UK it was retitled as “Hallelujah, I’m a Tramp”.
Umm ya could've
*Told Us The Meaning*
@@geedavia1785 ...in the States, a bum is a lazy person, a slacker, a ne'er do well; in Britain, it refers to the buttocks.
@@frisco21 Bum in the US also means butt.
@@geedavia1785 If you don't know the two different meanings, I'd say you're on the wrong channel.
I don't care which theatre chain is showing a movie if I want to see it....
Not just applause at the end, we also cheer at the screen during big moments (my dad fondly remembers Star Trek II in the movies, the scene where Kirk and Spock figure out that Khan can’t fight in 3D space, so orders an all stop, drops the ship down 5000 meters, and waits for Khan’s ship to pass over head… and then the Enterprise triumphantly emerges from below and behind it. (Horatio Hornblower in space… until he realizes his ship is a submarine too) Humongous cheering from the audience!)
That is because they place a couple of shills on the opening night and weekend. They will laugh loud at the parts that are suppose to be funny and will be the first to start clapping at the end.
Movie prices are redicolus here in the USA, so we watch UA-cam instead. Plus snacks come from grocery store at much less cost!
As someone with multiple AMC and Regal cinemas near me, I have a lot of experience going to both. The only reason I go with AMC consistently nowadays is their $21 a month plan for unlimited movies. Other than that I don't fault anyone for going to whatever theater happens to be the closest one with a convenient showing.
That pass is killer! It's $22 a month here in Seattle (last time I looked), but 2 movies will more than pay for that. I have only seen 2 movies in the theater since March 2020 and yet I'm still paying for my Stubs A-List pass. And it's not unlimited movies, but it's 3 a week... which is still quite a lot. I was easily seeing 8-10 showings a month (often repeat showings of the same movie).
What do they care? They only get the money from concessions anyway, and even when I went to theaters, there were only a few movies a year that I'd want to see. I stopped going when smartphones became popular. I'd rather watch the movie on my phone than go to a theater lit up like a Christmas tree with other people's phones. It's quite, I can rewind as much as I want and eat whatever I want bought at a normal price.
If somehow a foreign film you like is actually getting a screening nearby but not in your direct area, you need to plan to travel to view it. Ex: I do live in Los Angeles, when a Anime movie I wanted to watch is out either sub or dub there is maybe only a dozen theaters that will cater to this niche. Of course none are within walking distance.
@@EricaGamet Regal has an actual unlimited plan where you can see a movie every 90 minutes. Price tends to be a little cheaper than amc too.
@@amandah7892 Whoa! Cool!
Laurence, you're the only "UA-cam Sensation" that can make me laugh from the moment the video begins all the way to its end!! 😅😂😂🤣🤣 Congratulations!!! 🤩 👍
At least where I am in Ohio, it is common to refer to a movie theater by its location, often in a shopping center, rather than by what chain it is. We might say something like “I heard the new Star Wars movie is showing at Easton,” referring to the movie theater at Easton Town Center, a huge shopping center in the Columbus area. When I was in college, the closest movie theater to campus was at a smaller center called the Lennox center, so we always called it “the Lennox” (or, inevitably, “the Linux”).
As for “blockbuster” I had always thought of a martial artist breaking cinder blocks with his hands. Which could literally happen in an action film, or could be a reference to the sort of spectacle you can see in such a film.
I Love Easton Mall. I’m from England but my cousin lives in Columbus, so I have been to Easton a few times. It looks like Main Street USA but with none Disney shops.
Not everyone does that? I mean, my town only has one freaking theater now so it doesn't matter anymore
Closer to Hamilton myself (the only city to ever add an exclamation point to its name for a while).
Yeah, it really has very little relevance what company owns the theater unless you've got a situation like I had back when I used to see movies in public pre-COVID. I occasionally did work for a guy who was an executive at Regal, so going there was free. I still have passes I probably won't ever use.
But yeah. Location, not chain.
Except for the dollar theater. When I was in high school that's what we all called it, and it's where we generally went because most movies weren't worth the full price theater $5. I think movies there had gone up to $2 before it got bought out and became a full price theater, and nobody cared about going there any more.
We do that here in Cincinnati too. You say I'm going to go see Downton Abbey at Kenwood or Oakley. Not Regal or Cinemark.
I applaud your lost in the Pond performances.
There was a BBC series that I liked about early silent films and the problems the industry went through called Flickers (1980). It starred Bob Hoskins. I like that term. The films at that time actually made a flicking sound.
I've never been to a movie in England. But I've seen a movie in France. I saw The Who: The Kids Are Alright when it came out. There was no concession stand in the lobby. People with trays of stuff would come into the theater where you were sitting for you to buy. Like an old fashioned cigarette girl in a nightclub.
That used to be the case in Britain too. You still get it in some (non movie) theatres during the interval where you can buy an overpriced ice cream.
They used to it at the Alhambra theater in Hopkinsville, KY, even though there was a concession stand. 1960s.
Now that’s an ironic name for a movie about The Who (looking at you Townshend)
When I've been to big movie events where the crowd was expected to be rowdy the theater has sent people in the theater with snacks to buy. Anything to keep the people seeing Snakes on a Plane/the Star Wars rerelease/whatever in their seats and out of the lobby.
54-year-old Briton here, old enough to remember when there was a break between the supporting programme and the main feature, but I've never heard anyone in the UK call that an 'interval'. An interval is the gap between acts in a stage play. In a British cinema, back in the 1970s, that gap was always called 'the intermission'.
It may have varied around the UK… in the Bolton Odeon it was certainly called the interval, and always introduced the Pearl and Dean advert reels preceded by "Now's the time for ice cream! / Now, Now Now! / Cool, cool ice cream, / Now's the time for ice cream. / Get. Some. NOW!" Finish off with a really bad image clipped from the paper for the local tandoori restaurant. 🤣
Kia-ora anyone?
The applauding at the end of the movie has two potential reasons imo;
1. It's a communal experience, And cheering with your fellow movie goers at the end of a good film can just be exciting.
2. Depending on where you are, like LA, some of the people in the credits might actually be in the theater with you.
I love that they changed a movie (film) title from 'The Madness of King George III' to just 'The Madness of King George' because America would wonder how they missed parts 1& 2.
I wonder why they didn't just write out "the Third"? That reminds me of when a local show, Almost Live, did a sketch about people in Enumclaw, WA reacting to the movie Malcolm X. One guy thought it was "Malcolm 10" and it would be funny like "Police Academy 6". ua-cam.com/video/wMu4zYWuONI/v-deo.html
For some context, Enumclaw is the reason WA finally got a law outlawing bestiality in 2006. You can read about it in the Wikipedia article, "Enumclaw horse sex case".
I think it was because only George III had any real relevance to America. Georges 1, 2, 4, & 5 really weren't that known or that important to the United States, historically.
@@valerielutter7921 never heard of them, are they more of the thin blooded originally from france pretenders that have had the throne for the last few centuries?
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@@KasumiKenshirou um, you just quoted wikipedia. Are you unaware of the fact that people can just go in and change whatever you want
Cineworld acquired Regal a few years ago and brought their unlimited subscription service here. Reese's Pieces didn't become common in US theaters until after ET. Applause was more common through the 80's, it's extremely rare nowadays.
The Mars company turned down the offer to use M & M's in ET. Reese's was a relatively new company, and jumped at the chance for the advertising, to their great benefit. The novelization of ET uses M & M's.
The popcorn served is actually very different. In the U.K., you often have the option of sweet popcorn, as well as salted. In the U.S., the popcorn might be drenched in butter adjacent liquid and generally comes in comically large portions.
An entire bucket with free refills. Seriously? I understand that a bucket full of popcorn only costs them a few cents, but who can eat that entire bucket even if you go with friends?
Lol "butter adjacent liquid"
I'll have to remember that-"butter adjacent" 🤣
@@LeonardChurch33 That's better than "food like substance". At least it's real fat (mostly).
Yep. I'm gonna have to remember that "butter adjacent liquid" too. It's exactly like something my circle would expect me to say, and it's really quite accurate. So, double win! lol
The 51st state reference is because of Peurto Rico who has a very mixed feelings on statehood, from independence to joining the union.
Yeah i would think it was something about a new state joining
The general understanding is that they were worried it would be perceived as a reference to D.C.or Puerto Rican statehood, which are politically contentious and have nothing to do with the movie. Relatively few Americans would have recognized the U.K. usage.
In Britain, "Back to the Future" was released as "Time Travelers in a Silver Motor-Car".
Okay, maybe not.
Definitely not.
Funny, but no - especially as the De Lorean was a car manufactured in the UK.
Also as a Brit I very much enjoy going to my local indie (The Island St Anne’s, which is shockingly cheap at £4.99 or $6.23
pretty normal in the US too, although perhaps not in the midwest
@@asunbeam5479 depends when you go, at the nearest chain cinema to see Top Gun Maverick at 7.40pm on Saturday is £12 ($15) each. My partner and I went to Everything Everywhere All At Once at The Island this afternoon, and with 2 medium drinks, a small popcorn and tickets it was £15.50. Even taking into account our bus tickets there and back (day ticket £4.50 each) it’s still cheaper.
My grandparent's generation did use the term "pictures" but it fell out of use and almost no one uses it anymore.
Yes, it probably is a bit old fashioned now but I still sometimes use it and I've heard my teenage son say it occasionally - but maybe it's only with me! 😂 We live in the north btw, is it more common up here?
@@blotski My grand parents used words like pictures for movies and even cyclone for tornado but I come from a very European family. There's a lot of changes in language going on in the upper Midwest right now.
The only time I ever witnessed applause of the sort you describe at a movie was at a first-run showing (1973) of "The Sting", starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman. If you have not seen it, please go do so without reading anything about it, so as not to spoil the delicious twists. And yes, it deserved the ovation!
I remember that too for The Sting. That was fun.
On the other hand The Exorcist was a completely different story...
I saw it in the theater when I was 10. I haven't bothered to watch it since because it can never be the same the second time.
For me, the first time that I witnessed a standing ovation for a film was in 1993 at the showing of Schindler's List. That was the only time that I've been in an audience that did that. Sometimes the audience will clap for a movie, but the standing ovation was something else entirely.
For me, it was Star Wars in 1977 (yes, the original, the one and only Star Wars!). At the end scene, everyone in the place stood up, applauded and cheered; first time I'd ever experienced that. Of course, I went something like 25 or 26 times that summer to see it over and over ($1 afternoon matinees were great!), and never got tired of it :)
I think the first time I was in a theater that did a standing ovation was when I saw Rudy. I think I was about 11 at the time.
On the subject of applauding; when Avengers: Endgame came out there were loads of videos around of American audiences cheering and screaming with excitement at certain events in the film. I remember thinking that would drive me absolutely mad if it happened over here. Then again, if it was a more common thing here I guess I'd probably be used to it or even join in.
As an American, it'd drive me crazy as well. I came to watch a movie, not a lot of people getting loud.
@@paulherman5822 Check and see if the theater has caption glasses. That's the only reason why I was able to catch the puny God joke in the original Avengers. No one else did because they were too busy laughing.
@@micheledeetlefs6041 Probably not in my area... But worth a shot.😁
Last actual theater movie I went to was a Percy Jackson one, as I treated a friend's family. I'm more of a B movie type of guy, so Tubi is right up my alley. 😂
In my experience it very much depends on the movie and when in the release cycle you see it. For big franchise movies Star Wars, Marvel, etc. there will be cheers for a lot of the big moments and applause at the end but that pretty much only happens on opening night. For everything else and every other time after opening night, it's pretty much silent.
For example, I saw Star Wars TFA three times in theaters, opening night was full of energy: cheers, applause, laughter, etc. The 2nd showing a few days later, nothing. And by the third showing a couple weeks later I almost had the theater to myself.
In contrast, I saw the very first showing of Dune at my local theater and it was nearly silent the whole time.
It’s one of the few times when we Americans get to feel a sense of pure camaraderie. We didn’t always cheer and clap. That started in the 2000’s when someone hit the gas hard on the bus taking us all to hell.
I have the Collector's edition of A Hard Day's Night with a ton of special features. In on of them they were talking about the premier of the movie in Liverpool. It was shown at a very old silent film era theater where there was an organ that would rise up. Someone would play the organ during the movie. Before A Hard Day's Night started a guy was playing said organ. The lights went down the movie started, but the guy kept on playing until he was done with his song.
As a result nobody in the theater that night heard that wonderful chord which opens the song. That opening chord still gets talked about to this day.
I saw Star Wars ep IV in the theater in 1977. It was 40 years before I went to a theater again- and the only reason I went was 'cause I wrote the film being presented. The invention of the VCR ruined theaters for me.
Was is really in 1977 as you say? because back then there was no such thing as Episode IV. It was simply called Star Wars and was known as Star Wars until 1996 when Lucasfilm and the media began referring to it as A New Hope and later Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope by the time the Prequels started coming out in 1999.
@@sjdrifter72 You are in error. The original film,. in 1977, had in the beginning scroll, 'Episode IV- A New Hope'
I wasn't even alive then but i know they changed it
@@VintageCarHistory I was there in 1977 and concur with @Cool Lady. The scroll was changed for GL's first of many special editions and has stayed that way since.
I'm shocked that you neglected to mention the difference in popcorn! Here in the US, salted and (heavily) buttered popcorn is the quintessential "movie theater popcorn," but when I've gone to see films in the UK at a major chain in a major city, the only options were salted unbuttered popcorn or sweet popcorn. While we do of course have kettle corn at home, it's not really a movie theater thing.
Laurence, because the US has a shorter history of live performances than the UK, we Americans have developed a fondness for interacting directly with filmed performances. For example, when “Mommie Dearest” first came out, it flopped as a serious drama, but because it was so cheesy and ridiculous, audiences saw the silliness potential, and gave it new life as sort of a filmed art piece. They’d show up to screenings in costume as either main character, carrying wire hangers, and chase each other around inside the theater while yelling “no wire hangers!”, all while the movie progressed. It was all in great fun and hilarious to watch. Applauding after we’ve watched a movie we liked is an extension of that desire to interact.
Interaction during live performances of the Rocky Horror Show surprised me but shouting 'Slut' at Janet is quite satisfying .
See also Rocky Horror Picture Show
@@LiqdPT I've never shouted at the movie, can't see the point the actors can't hear you.
Didn't this whole thing start with the movie "Fame", I seem to remember a RH Picture show visit in that movie?
One particular film (and "yes" it would be considered more of a film than a movie) that I remember the entire audience giving a standing ovation to was "Schindler's List".
You are referring to a cult film but I never remember Mommie Dearest falling in that category. I did attend many midnight showings of Rocky Horror and whatever John Waters movie was showing.
Born and raised in Northeast Ohio if we were going to see a movie we said we were going to "the show". It might not apply to everyone in Northeast Ohio, but that is what our family said.
Laurence, have you ever been to a viewing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" in the US?
You haven't seen anything yet.
the term Blockbuster comes from pre-1954 Hollywood when studios were completely vertically integrated and owned every step of the filmmaking experience from story to exhibition. at the time they would distribute movies in blocks which included a number of A pictures and a number of B pictures, newsreels, cartoons, etc. exhibitors had to buy the Bs to get the A's. Except when a film came out that was so popular, distributors could break the block by forcing exhibitors to purchase only the A at a very high premium.
Regarding " Hoosiers " - Gene Hackman , also of " The French Connection " fame , claimed Danville , Illinois as his hometown ; his maternal grandmother , who was from England , lived in Danville so the family moved to Danville from California . Growing up in Danville , Il. , my family lived in a beautiful three bedroom apartment above the "Times Theater " which my father managed fr. 1941 - 1960 . He was then the district manager for the privately owned theater chain w/ locations in Danville , Decatur & Bloomington - Normal Il. Sadly , like many small town theaters , the " Times " was torn down in the 90's - however , wonderful family memories remain .
There's a little terminology difference there. In the states we say "apartments, or apartment building", not apartment block. In the states most of our cities have the streets laid out in squares which we call "blocks". In the "old countries" of europe where the cities grew more slowly and organically over time, they are much less organized with only newer areas laid out in blocks. When I read or hear about the WW2 blockbuster bombs, I always assumed it could wipe out a whole block of the city, not a single apartment building.
In the US, you would use the word "theater" to refer to the specific building or location for either live stage performance or film screening. We would typically use "theatre" as more of a synonym for "drama" referring to the broader art form of live stage performances - e.g. "he studied theatre at university", "she enjoys the theatre". Confusingly, theaters tailored for the latter may also use the spelling "theatre" just because. So this is really more of a guideline than a rule.
Right; a theater is where theatre takes place.
A theater is a movie theater, if you still go to plays or something that’s your business but keep it to yourself. Like your Amish, stuck in another era.
I am from Utah, born in the mid-Fifties. When we wanted to go see a movie, we would just say, "Do you want to go to the show?" or "Do you want to go to the Drive-In?"
We also used the reference, "Snack Bar." We seldom used the snack bar at the Drive-In; instead, we would bring our food from home or from our favorite hamburger joint.
One thing I’d like to add, is that some theaters in the U.S. Are not your stereotypical theater. I live in the Chicago suburbs and we have a, Studio Grill. As the name suggests, they have a bar and grill in the theater. Where after you take your seat, a server will take your order and there is a small folding table attached to your seat. They serve burgers, pizza, chicken, salads, appetizers, desserts and a selection of adults beverages.
I live in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm most likely to go to smaller theater chains, mostly because they show the movies I want to see. One such chain is Rialto Cinemas, which has three theaters in the Bay Area. Landmark Cinemas has three theaters in the East Bay. Another consideration is how hard the theater is to get to, and how hard it will be to find parking (assuming I drive instead of taking public transit).
I suspect they changed the name "51st State" for the American market because they thought it would be confusing, not because it would be offensive. People sometimes refer to Puerto Rico or Washington, D.C. as the 51st state.
It's not true that baseball fans don't cheer. I went to an Oakland A's game recently, and the entire crowd of three people were cheering.
I think he meant that as a joke (rhe baseball thing)
@@iloveowls90 I meant what I said as a joke, too.
& sometimes, back in the old days, only the 'best' theaters showed the first releases. Like the Fox Theater in Oakland, or The Bal in San Leandro.
🤣 the poor A's - one bad batch of owners after another (except for the Haas')
My parents bought their house in 1970. When we moved in, my parents were happy to find that there was a movie theater in walking distance. My mom had visions of taking her 3 kids,ages 8, 4, & 3 to the latest Disney release to a theater we could potentially walk to. Much to their surprise did my parents find out the the movie theater, that was in a residential neighborhood and less than a mile from an elementary school, was a porno theater
The mention of Hoosiers & Harry & the Hendersons instantly took me back to my childhood. As always, great video Lawrence 👏👏👏
cinemas figure prominently into my personal movie rating system: I rate movies from best to worst:
see it as soon as it comes out in theaters.
see it in the theater.
put it on the netflix queue
wait for it to come on TV.
if it comes on the channel I'm watching, don't bother switching.
and, of course, if it comes on the TV, check to see if Laurence has anything new on youtube.
As someone that is experiencing hearing loss, I cannot enjoy seeing movies in a theater because other (censored) patrons won’t shut up! I also cannot hear PA (tannoy) announcements to save myself.
I wear hearing aids, and pretty much only watch films at home with the subtitles turned on. Another plus is having control over the volume. Usually in theaters the action is too *LOUD* and the dialogue is too quiet.
I wish they'd just make the damn movies quieter
people talk because they think they won't be overheard, but if they were more obvious they wouldn't.
As someone with low vision, I miss the days when foreign-language films were dubbed instead of subtitled!
I have never heard the term "interval" in the United States used in that way, but have heard most of the other terms you mention. In particular, a "film" is considered more high-brow than a "movie," although a "motion picture" is classier still. A "flick" is tainted by the term "skin flick" of which we shall speak no more. Also, I must add that the phrase "completely and utterly a little bit different" is totally worth a standing O.
@Kristen Good point!!
An old-fashioned American term for a movie shown at a cinema would be a picture show.
@@chitlitlah There used to be a movie theater in Iowa called "Billy Joe's Pitcher Show" because they sold beer.
Yes, I think in the US we reserve the term “film” for serious works, in the same way “literature” tends to refer to serious books. You would be a “film student” and never a “movie student”, because presumably you wouldn’t take on life-crushing student debt to study Avengers movies or “Cats”. On the other hand, you could collect “movie memorabilia”, which could include a Muppet or an iconic leather jacket, but I don’t think it would include collecting the palpable tension of a Bergman film, however tangible a pretentious film student/barrista claims it to be.
the guy is full of shit. he's ENGLISH, he DOES NOT represent the UK.
Usually in the UK, once the film finishes there’s an awkward silence and a shuffle down the multiple stairs to the main doors. You may mutter to your mate, but it’s best till you get outside until you can say what you thought about it
When I was a kid, the local theater played the National Anthem before showing the picture. Everyone was standing and looking at the patriotic scenes on the screen. I tell people this now and they laugh, but it seemed perfectly normal. The theater was also owned by a family and they did all the work.
When I was a kid, the local cinema played the Nation Anthem at the end of the showing. Some stood but must just left as quickly as possible.
@@frankmitchell3594 Yers Frank that's true, there was a rush for the exits during the National Anthem
This is also usual at theaters on military bases.
This still happens in military bases I still stand up for it 🤷
@@paranoiawilldestroyya3238 yeah I used to live in one with my family
I remember back in elementary school when, on movie days, the teacher would show us a film* on the history of sash weights or something and we were expected to applaud when it was over. It seemed silly to me then and it seems silly to me now to applaud a film in a theater. It would make sense at a film festival when the filmmaker would actually be there, but in a theater? Not so much.
*Yes, a film. Not a video. Remember the ubiquitous 16mm Bell & Howell projectors? I'm that old. I remember being awestruck when the school got the new, next-generation, self-threading projectors, but I digress.
My daddy ran the projector at The Franklin Theater in the 40's before he went to pharmacy school....he said he was an expert at changing the reels...he made it so one couldn't even detect the change from reel to reel.
Wait, what? Self threading projectors? It's really been a long time since I went to a movie theater. 😆🤣
Let’s talk about the home 8mm projectors where the film caught fire when it got stuck 😆
@@matteopascoli Been there, done that. Then you always worry every time you watch that film. Will the blistered frame make it through the gate? Somehow it never occurred to me to just cut the damaged film out and splice it. But, hey, I was a kid.
After a few times I started keeping my finger on the power switch when watching movies. Just in case.
Yeah, to me, films are shown on a projector. Or are foreign. As in, foreign films. Sometimes I miss the peace of a film break during a school day. The lights go off, the only noise is the clicking of the reels and the soothing narrator. I don't know why but it always made the classroom feel unfamiliar. Maybe I am overthinking..
In the South, people used to say that they went to the picture show.
Hoosiers! defines much of my childhood and teens growing up in Indiana. Basketball was king. One of the players was a dental student I taught. His dental practice is in Warsaw IN. Steve "Rube" Hollar. Good kid. I rarely go see movies honestly but some are worthwhile.
Before they were torn down, the theaters that became AMC were called Cineplex Odeon.
My friend and I drove an hour to one, because it was the only one in the area that had the new movie "Die Hard" with THX audio.
One of several chains AMC bought out. Did the same to General Cinemas if I remember correctly.
@@willp.8120 not quite. Cineplex Odeon was under the Loews merger. After the merger AMC and Regal did a market split and one chain would leave a market in exchange for allowing the other chain more access.
General Cinemas was a takeover and they were forced to close locations due to bankruptcy laws before the takeover could happen.
Source: I was working for GC in 2001 and Loews in 2006.
I remember seeing the return of the original Star Wars (ca.1981) in an AMC.
I miss midnight premieres. The last one I went to was to see Harry Potter:DH2, and I actually saw it at 3am and not midnight because everything was sold out for that time, and my family and I waited in line for hours. I saw it in IMAX 3D and got special 3D glasses that looked like Harry's (which I saved).
It was such a phenomenal experience and that I will cherish forever. Kids these days will never get to experience that and I think that's sad.
I'm sorry for your loss.
I also miss midnight movies and the movie theaters that used to have movies for $2 that were second run, but they were $2 every day all day
Midnight showings had a much different feel than these 6pm Thursday premiers. While I hated being at work til 3am it was a unique experience in the industry.
Laurence -- I just sat down from a good 5 minute standing ovation for this latest UA-cam Blockbuster Vlog Masterpiece!!!
In the Midwest (Northeast Illinois, to be exact), if you plan to see a movie with someone, I and almost everyone I know, says......"Hey, wanna go see a show?"
In Texas a common theater snack is a big dill pickle. They're often sold in single-serve packages that you peel open. I've never been a fan, but you can always smell them.
I saw “Jaws” at a military theater in Okinawa in 1976. The whole audience cheered when the shark blew up.
🤣🤣🤣
You didn't mention that candy in US theaters usually comes in a box which seem to fascinate other British you tubers who do taste test videos.
it's also funny that a candy box of that approximate size is still generally referred to as a 'theater box' because that's so iconic.
A "blockbuster" is a film that has lines wrapped "around the block". Major cities being laid out in a grid pattern are referred to as "blocks". So if you see a line outside of a movie theater stretching down and around the corner it's considered block busting, or breaking around the block. Hence "block buster".
The term did actually come from the bomb reference itself... in the early to mid-40s.
@@EricaGamet no I know about the bomb origin. I was just pointing out the reason why it was applied to Jaws in reference to it being the first film with lines that wrapped around the block outside the movie theater.
@@BrooklynBeTheBoro Okay... but I just meant that using the term blockbuster to refer to a hit film was first used in the 1940s and cam from the term for the bomb (as in, "It was a hit."). So they were using that term for a film way before Jaws.
@@EricaGamet wow, for real!? Which film was it first used for?
Some of those movie candies are near 100 years old. Reese's pieces are from c1980, and famously used in the movie "E.T., the Extra Terrestrial". As a kid, grownups always said "Flic", referring to the flickering quality of light as they're projected in the old days, silents?
The applause isn't mandatory in the US. When it happens, it's magic. I remember watching The Color Purple at the theater. I was surprised how interactive the black audience was. My limited stuffy movie experience was much more subdued. It wasn't long before I was talking to the movie screen too. One part in the movie, I was so wrapped up in the moment, I stood and cheered. So did many others. To this day, that was my favorite movie experience. It was my first of many interactive movies.
I remember The Passion for the complete silence from the audience.
I always thought of the burst of applause at the exuberant end of a movie as being analogous to the way the passengers on a plane after a terrifying flight or landing erupt into applause. I seldom felt that I was applauding the pilots; I was applauding with relief that we were all still alive. Maybe that's just me, though.
I cried a lot
@@yasminesacristan5855
At The Passion?
I cried with both movies. The Color Purple had joyous moments though.
The Passion became part of Easter tradition. I watch it and still get very emotional when Mary sees Jesus stumble and flashes back to when he was a boy. She can't protect him anymore.
@@JustKrista50 I sobbed actually. Yes both movies
It is also said it is rude to applaud unless you truly loved the film you watched or it was a well earned moment by the audience. It is also a custom of respect among the family and friends of any of the people that worked as crew, somewhere in that long long long list of credits that play at the end. If you spot them you of course clap.
One unusual thing I’ve seen at some cinemas in the UK that I’ve never seen in the US was charging different prices depending on where the seats were located. For the few times I’ve went to see a movie in the UK, the seats with better locations actually cost more. Standard admission only got you a seat that was to the side, up front, or far back. The seats in the middle rows cost more. I’ve never seen this done in the US.
That may have been the case in the old fashioned cinemas which had stalls and and a circle. Nowadays the multiplex screens seat far fewer people so all seat prices are the same. It's only for live theatre that there are dearer seats and cheaper ones.
@@Lily_The_Pink972These are plain Odeon cinemas with regular rows. I just checked online and even today the centrally located rows are considered “Premier” and cost extra. The standard seats are either in front or in the rear.
@@SCGMLB This is true. The cinema I nearly always go to has 'premier' seats in the middle, which I believe are slightly bigger too. Of course, if you go midweek and at a time of day when it's very quiet you don't really have to stick to the seat on your ticket and you can sit anywhere. So in the dark it's quite possible to accidentally sit in a premier seat as they are not actually labelled. I wouldn't do that of course. Honest.
There are specialty theaters called Art Film houses. Also, do not forget IMAX. Hiking 6 stories up to get to your seat.
The big cinema chain in my region is Marcus Theatres. Thankfully, I can say I've never once seen anyone stand up and applaud the films I've gone too. That sort of thing would be more or less frowned upon here, and people just tend to leave during the credits without making much of a fuss.
We don't think of Britain as less than the US. Or whatever you said.
I think it's our government that has that attitude, but regular people don't.
There's this misconception in the u.k. that Americans think they are better or the best country I the world , I'm sure there's a fair few who do have this attitude but most are pretty aware that many countries do things better in certain areas and same with the u.s.
I've lived in the US for 50+ years and am completely unfamiliar with 51st state having anything at all to do with Britain. I hear it used quite a bit by people who want Puerto Rico to attain statehood.
I actually had a bartender in the UK refer to themselves as the 51st state
I pick my movie theater based on how comfortable it is. The seating, air conditioning, lighting, cleanliness(including the bathroom), and how long I have to wait in line.
Those more comfortable seats are a nightmare to clean. I swear we’ve spent 3 times the hours cleaning since we upgraded to luxury seating. From an operation perspective it’s definitely not worth the cost.
@@enfynet the movie theater next to my house met all of my requirements. Then Hurricane Florence came along and took a dump inside the theater. They still haven't opened back up and probably won't.
Rocky Horror Picture Show is a hoot to attend as it had audience participation. When it rains in the film, everyone stands and sprays water above their heads. When there is a toast on screen, the audience throws toasted bread at the screen. When a match is lit to read the address on the mailbox, the audience takes out a small flashlight to “help illuminate” the reading. The audience stands and dances The Time Warp when the movie characters dance. Rice is thrown in the air when Ralph and Betty exit the church after their wedding. We hosted a German exchange student in the 80s and they were shocked, but then found the humor and wanted to see the movie again and interact, too.
Now that you mention it, it is pretty strange that we have such loud reactions in the theaters for big movies. But I have to say, that is sometimes the best part of the experience. I saw Endgame in theaters the day after it opened, and I got to go to the Hollywood premiere for two of the Spider-Man movies (FFH and NWH), and let me tell you- it was *awesome,* because I got to experience an exhilarating movie with people who also love it. So even though the actors weren’t there, it was awesome to cheer or scream at the big moments. It’s really cool to see (more hear really) everyone’s genuine reactions in the moment.
The reactions for concert/events can be pretty loud. My theater was showing some K-Pop band concert and the screams were so loud we could hear them all the way down the hall to concessions. From one of the older guys there, he said the Hannah Montana concert was louder, could hear them screaming all the way to the lobby from down the halls.
You need to go to a theatre in a black neighborhood. They yell at the screen, telling the actors to look out, duck, or whatever. It's hard to hear the movie, but it's very entertaining in it's own rite. The first time I experienced this was when I was living in North Carolina. Several groups kept talking to the screen as if the actors could hear, and adjust their reactions accordingly. I don't remember the movie, but I remember them!!🤣
Omg yes!!! Best one is seeing a horror movie in a black neighborhood. People talk through the whole thing, giving advice to the characters. It’s so fun!
Oh yeah. Hysterically funny how they do that. 🤣🤣
growing up in a predominantly black neighborhood, going to the movies was a fun experience
I'll bet Rocky Horror Picture Show was quite a hoot!
We were white and very rural, so we didn't get to go to the movies, but my mom used to talk to the actors on the TV. I would crack up when, in a drama, she'd yell "Don't go with him, you ninny!"
My movie theater chain of choice is Harkins. It is a local chain that is throughout Arizona and bits of Colorado so it's family owned. 2nd choice is AMC who have a number of "luxury" theaters. A lot of our "art house" theaters didn't survive the pandemic.
Harkins rocks!
The first time I went to a movie in England was in London for a matinee of a James Bond flick in the early '80s. There was a salt shaker on a counter beside the napkin dispenser so I shook some on my popcorn. It was SUGAR. After the the the movie we went to a burger king for a burger to calm my shaken nerves over being assaulted by SUGARY popcorn. The pickles on the hamburger were SWEET. These people are insane!
I am a little surprised you didn't mention the DRIVE-IN theater. I don't recall them being in the UK.
I think Drive-In theaters would have made a fortune when the pandemic started.
There's one around the corner from me and we did go in 2020.
I have a drive in by me- stayed open all thru pandemic and since no real new movies were being released due to no one working- they showed double pics of all the great movies! Covid revived the drive in by me- people were so desperate to go somewhere and feel normalcy- didn’t even care if it was playing Back to the Future and Ferris Bueller double feature- it was awesome!
Drive In Cinemas are not common I the UK, in fact I don't know if we have any. This is probably due to several factors 2 of which are the British weather and space we are a much smaller and overpopulated country
@@pedanticradiator1491 that makes sense- I can see why- but if u ever do get a chance to goto country where they have them I recommend it! It’s nice on a summer nite- they have huge snack stands- u can bring your own food ans cooler - and it’s super cheap - u always get 2 movies and I especially loved it when my kids were younger - I could take them to see a movie they wanted when they were Small children so if they talked or got noisy or didn’t matter lol-
In the 1930s and 40s, my grandparents would "go to show." I used to tease my grandma and ask "You'd go to show what?"
"Go to the Show" was a Chicago term, at least into the '70s. (I'm surprised Laurence didn't mention it, being in Chicago).
@@elultimo102 Ah, yes, she'd said that to me, too. She was raised in Chicago, or as she pronounced it "Chi-cau-go."
@@hymmj147 Daley, Chicagoland Eddie Schwartz, & I, all called it Chi- CAW -go.
I'm an American and our theater chain where I lived was actually called "General Cinema"
In the US, Film tends to denote a Work of Art; something that so beautifully details the Human Condition. Movie is the mass produced fodder for people who don't want to think after watching it. Everything you listed is a movie.
I've always found it strange that people will sometimes clap in a movie theater when the film has finished as well. I've been to the movie theater/theatre in 4 different countries; USA, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore.
Japan is similar to the U.S., but you are aloud to bring anything you want to eat into the theater to snack on while you watch. I've brought anything from donuts to McDonald's. My theatermates in Japan would often bring things like dried squid to snack on.
Singapore seems like it's a cross between the U.S. and U.K. as far as the movie theater experience goes. However here in Singapore, popcorn comes in two flavors, salted and caramel and is often mixed. The other favorite snacks are tortilla chips with nacho cheese, or hotdogs.
Thailand was a bit strange to me. Before the movie started, they would show a cllip of the king and everyone had to stand up and solute the king. EVERYONE did, possibly some under fear of imprisonment. If you are seen to be insulting the king in any way shape or form, you can be arrested. Seriously.
These days my cinema hall is my living room. It's just not economically feasible to take a family of 4 to theater, spending close to $50 on the film itself, and another $50+ on snacks. We can wait a bit and rent the thing for $5, saving about $95 from the cost of the movie.
I've never been to a movie where people stood up and clapped at the end. Mostly all they do is get up and quietly shuffle out like a zombie who's mentally exhausted from sitting down and watching a movie.
It entirely depends. Most blockbusters get good reactions but the very best for me personally was going to see Apollo 13 opening weekend at the Space Coast. A goodly portion of the audience were retirees - Apollo veterans - and the end of the film received a standing ovation. As we exited, I heard one old-timer tell his friend "good movie; of course it was a bit more complicated in real life"
The "51st State" would have been perceived in much of the US as a movie about Canada, as Canada is often derisively called the 51st state by those in the US.
I love it when there's a big crowd and there's verbal excitement in the theater. The reaction adds to the experience. Knives Out and Black Phone were greatly enhanced by a lively crowd for me. Applause at the end is more about the people around you sharing a moment than it is acknowledging the filmmakers.
Sometimes a lively crowd means repeat business. I had to see The Naked Gun a second time cuz the first time I couldn't hear half of the jokes over all the laughter!
Personally, I go to a movie to watch the movie, not listen to other people being disrespectful, using their phones, etc. Do that stuff at home, don't impose it on others.
@Tsarn SG Legitimate reaction to the movie is completely different than disrespect. I agree with you that people having loud conversations, texting thru the movie with a bright screen in your face, etc., is beyond annoying. I'm talking about the whole audience gut-busting laughing at The Naked Gun that you miss half the jokes. Then you can see it again and laugh all over again at the stuff you didn't catch the first time. That was another memorable time at the theater for me.
Wait, wait, wait!!! Is Scotland considered British? If so, what about the ASSIGNED seating?!?!?! I went to a movie in Edinburgh and it wasn't a full theatre but the first seat in every row was filled with the rest of the row empty! What a shocker but also nice as I didn't have someone eating popcorn right next to me.
I live in Phoenix and almost every theater has reserved seating. It's very odd to find one that doesn't. Plus we have many, many threaters that offer full on food and bar service. Press the little light on your table (it swings away so you can recline when you're done eating) and they'll take your order and deliver your food and cocktails or refill your popcorn. When your done, press the switch and they'll clean up your plates. Love it.
It depends on the chain. Before the buyout, Odeon was free seating. I didn't experience assigned seating until all the Odeons were rebranded. The indie cinemas I've been to are free seating too
(I don't like assigned seating - I like the first come first served method)
Wait a minute, "we went to the pictures"? THE pictures? You Brits drop articles for everything else "went to hospital", "went to university", "went on holiday", why keep that article in that phrase? Why not "went to pictures"? How does this dropping of articles work in the UK? What's the rule?
Applauding for a movie can be regional. It regularly happened when I lived in LA, but rarely when I lived in Nashville. I think the only film I can remember applause for there was Jurassic Park.
Star Wars is the only movie I've watched in the theater to which the audience stood & applauded. I forgot about it until it was mentioned. Great video! 👍
Am I weird for being American and having never been in a theater where people applaud? I live in a large metro area (Phoenix) and I’ve never seen that happen. I even saw the same Star Wars ep 7 on opening night.
Nope, even "Star Wars" (1977) and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) were seen without many cheers or applause.
@@Otokichi786 I was 9 when Star Wars first came out and went to a big theater in Boston (we lived in a smallish town about 40 miles away). I will never forget that massive theater bursting into applause when the Death Star exploded!! I fell in love with movies right then and there. Even now, it still happens if you go when there is a large, enthusiastic crowd. Everyone applauded at the end of some of the musical numbers in West Side Story last December when I went.
The only movie I remember hearing the audience cheer & applaud was "Independence Day"--when the White House was blown up.
@@EricaGamet do you think maybe it’s a regional thing? I’ve been going to theaters consistently and still take my kids to all the big movies but have never experienced it here.
@@Aj66602 That's what I was thinking. I have been trying to remember which movies got the applause, and where I was. The only one I remember for sure was Schindler's List on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. It was being shown in 12 of the theaters at different times. Hmm. Midwesterners are more expressive?
as an American I've seen the applause thing a handful of times. it's weird and I've never understood it. it's not too common, but it does happen. not just for movies with diehard fans, but with just some normal one off movies that are just pretty good
Fellowship of the Rings had a huge standing ovation. If you can't understand why, you never will.
I usually go to Regal Cinema because the one near me has reclining seats and is the closest theater to me. Also I know that one of my favorite horror films is known by 2 different names "Dead Alive" and "Braindead" all depending on which country you saw it.
One thing the pandemic did cause a resurgence of is the uniquely American type of theater called a "Drive In" (although there's a few here and there elsewhere). It's exactly what it sounds like...a giant screen in the middle of a field/lot with parking spaces. You drive up to the gate, purchase tickets and drive to a spot and watch the movie from your car. In the old days you had a speaker you clip on the side of your open window so you can hear the movie. Today they usually have a radio station or even a digital stream you tune into to hear the movie. These were often much cheaper than the theater and it was common to see a "double feature" at these for the price of one movie. Concessions were in the back of the lot and usually cost a lot less than the overpriced ones at theaters.
I used to love these as a kid. We'd get out of the car and could still easily hear the movie while playing and nobody really disturbed anyone else (unlike in a theater where you have to be quiet). They were all dying off before Covid, but a bunch of them seem to have come back since people couldn't go to crowded theaters. I honestly don't have a lot of nostalgic memories of indoor theaters much, other than some specific movies I saw as a kid. But I definitely have fond memories of the Drive-ins. It was just an all-around better experience than a theater. With modern streaming, I don't really care much for going to a theater anymore, but I'd still go to a Midwest drive-in just to hear the duel between cicadas and the movie audio at night.
Bridget Jones 3 Shut Up …. 😂😂😂😂
I’m clapping! 👏😂
my friend clapped at the end of "Escape from LA" when Snake Pilskin set off the global EMP.
I stumbled on your video today. Really enjoyed this learning experience😊
Last time I was at the theater, Lilo & Stitch had just come out, it was overpriced & I got a headache. Never went back. I just wait for home\streaming release. ALOT cheaper & I don't get a headache from other people talking & making annoying noises.
That's why I go during the week.
The last two movies I've gone to, there was less then ten people in the theater I was in.
Not a peep from anyone.
See, Alamo Drafthouse has spoiled me for well over a decade. I can't see a movie without craft beer and local farm-to-table pizza. I also need a custom pre-show of really weird video ephemera that is somewhat related to whatever the movie is about. Normal theaters are just miserable places to me now.
With a name like Alamo Drafthouse, you must be in Texas. Long story short--there is Venetian Cinema in DFW- probably several locations across the state. I saw several photos taken inside the theater-- each row of seats had a long table in front of it, and the patrons had quite a banquet!
Great vid. When I was kid, my dad was a movie fan and took us kids to lots of them. It was a great experience and full of fun. We got popcorn and candy and pop at the concession stand. We never really stood in any lines and very few movies had intermissions. But it was great fun and we all loved it. Thanx for your vid!
When I was in London in 1990 . we went to one of the Odeon cinemas. The differences that stood out were:
- It was a single theater showing just one film instead of the multiplex places in the US that have multiple smaller theaters within one building. I could see how an Odeon could also be used as a concert site for non-stadium type shows as it had several thousand seats.
- Fewer snacks were available , but there were 2 types of popcorn. They had the typical over salted style and one that was lightly sweet and not very salty. I got the letter and absolutely loved it.
When I was young, there were no theater chains. They were all local. And they were simply called "theaters," as "movie theater" sounded like something a hillbilly might say. They were also single screen affairs, with only one movie showing for adults each weeknight, and another for children during the daytime hours. As far as I can recall, the first theater chain to arrive in my small city was the one located in the then-new shopping mall, circa 1992. But it might have been the standalone chain theater not far from the mall. I have no brand preferences, but the one with the reclining easy chairs makes for an enjoyable movie watching experience. My movie candy of choice is Junior mints, or Mike & Ike's.
Also, I don't recall ever being at a movie where anyone applauded at any time, except maybe a 1970s disaster movie where the most sympathetic characters made it out alive. But I didn't join the applause. It startled me.
I feel like I remember applause for Indiana Jones Star Wars ET and possibly footloose
I was amused to visit a theater in Australia. Not only was the theater incredibly dark (ushers with flashlights led the way to our seats), the audience was SILENT. It was amazing! The movie was violent and bloody (Ned Kelly), but no sounds were heard from the moviegoers. We had the same experience viewing the original "Carrie" in Auckland NZ. The best behaved audience as well. I stopped attending movies decades ago in the US. We are loud, obnoxious, disruptive pigs, in movie theaters.
If you want to see an American audience interact with a movie, you should join 500 Star Trek fans at a Star Trek convention watch "Galaxy Quest" with a very energetic and funny Star Trek actor making comments and generally stirring up the crowd. Laughing, shouting, clapping, and just a whole bunch of reactions are a sight to see/hear/experience.
While I don't applaud after your videos, I still talk about them with admiration after