We don't know how to behave at the cinema anymore

There’s an emergency, an emergency of good manners. And we don’t mean it in the way Monsignor Giovanni della Casa did back in 1550, with his treatise Galateo overo de' costumi, now outdated, nor in the way the much more modern - but no less rigorous - Csaba Dalla Zorza does, measuring napkins and counting cutlery. We mean it in an infinitely simpler and more practical way, with an application to everyday life. First, it was concerts. Younger girls complained about the shouting and dancing, perhaps not understanding that - within the bounds of respect - shouting and dancing is exactly what you’re supposed to do in that context. Now, it’s the cinema’s turn, but in the opposite way.

The Twitter debate and photos of the screen during Wicked

The debate between those who believe the cinema is a sacred place - where you neither eat nor drink, where you barely breathe - and those who treat the cinema like their living room has been ongoing forever. Now, however, it has spilled onto social media, quickly turning into a generational showdown. Gen Z seems convinced that anything goes, including pulling out their phones to record entire scenes and post them on social media, sparking lengthy threads about "the best photos taken while watching Wicked" and similar topics. Older generations decry the lack of respect, complaining about distracting screens and smartphone addiction, which makes it impossible to detach for even two hours, completely undermining the beauty of the cinematic experience, which demands immersion and participation above all else. Who’s right? Putting aside the age factor, which is never as clear-cut as it seems, we have no doubts.

How to behave at the cinema

We can confidently say that it is never justified to take out your phone to snap photos or record the screen (and why would you? You can wait for the movie you’re so eager to rewatch and remember to come out on a streaming platform, and often the key scenes’ images start circulating even earlier). For everything else, like popcorn or snacks in general, it depends on the kind of movie you’re watching. If it’s a special screening or an arthouse film, with the director or part of the cast present, it might be better to skip the snacks. If, on the other hand, the occasion is more informal, then popcorn is allowed—as long as you’re careful not to disturb anyone, stop immediately if someone politely asks, and clean up after yourself when leaving the cinema. Easy, right?

A problem of alienation and addiction

Once we’ve settled these points, it’s time to broaden our perspective. Why does it feel so unthinkable not to touch our phones for 90 minutes to two and a half hours? Why does it seem perfectly natural to pull out a small, glowing screen in a dark room and take pictures of everything that catches our eye? The popcorn brain (ironically, a fitting name) makes us lose focus and prevents us from fully engaging. It’s a problem—not just at the cinema, but in the rest of our activities and even in formulating complex reflections and thoughts. The solution? Watching an entire movie without getting distracted even once could be a good start.