With a constant variety of movies coming to theaters, The Channels asked two staff writers to discuss how movie-goers should behave in a movie theater.

Ava Ohnstad, Staff Writer
With the release of Wicked the Musical on the big screen, a familiar question has resurfaced. Is singing along to the movie a fun, immersive experience, or does it cross the line into disruptive theater behavior?

As movie ticket prices continue to climb, often exceeding $20 for a single ticket, some argue that viewers should have more freedom to engage with the film in a way that enhances their experience. After all, when audiences enter a theater for a musical like Wicked, they’re often anticipating familiar songs and iconic moments. 

This is similar to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour film released earlier this year, where fans who couldn’t attend the live shows bought tickets to experience the concert in a shared, communal environment, singing along and reacting as if they were at the event itself.

That said, I believe there should be a balance. Movie theaters can offer different screenings. One for those who want to sing, cheer, and interact with the film, and another for viewers who prefer a more traditional, undisturbed movie experience. 

When a film is so moving that it elicits a natural reaction, like singing along or clapping, I think that is perfectly fine.

However, there is a fine line. Disrupting the experience by speaking over dialogue or making excessive noise can take away from the immersive quality of the movie for others, especially when they’ve paid good money for a quieter, more focused experience.

When attending movies that are expected to encourage audience engagement, such as musicals, it’s reasonable to expect some level of interaction, as long as this engagement doesn’t disrupt others or become rude, I believe it can be deemed acceptable for viewers to express their enjoyment and connect with the story.

Hiro Sato, Staff Writer 
The movie theatre is a place where people go to escape reality. To enter a completely different universe far from the reality many people live in. 

The way to enjoy a movie can be polarizing depending on the genre of movie that is being watched. For example you wouldn’t go into a movie like “Titanic” and expect people to cheer when Jack lets go of Rose while floating on the door. On the other hand you also wouldn’t go to a marvel movie not expecting a hoot or two. 

With that being said there should be expectations of what is acceptable and not acceptable in a theatre. 

While people go to movies for their own enjoyment, it is also important to consider the others who are also going to the movie theatre for their own enjoyment. Thus, being mindful of how vocal you are should be considered. 

It is not to say you must be completely mute while watching a movie. But it is to say be mindful of  how loud you are. Everyone has been in a theatre where someone laughs too hard at every single joke. It would get on the nerve’s of someone being very attentive to the movie. 

So, when going to the movies bear in mind of those who are trying to escape reality, and try not to budge into their fantasy