Your Favorite Theatrical Experience

[SaviniFan]

What was the most memorable experience you had in theaters. Anything counts....and incident, the film itself, audience participation or disruption...it doesn't matter what ya post. Just pick something you won't forget.

With me it would have to be getting into the theater and seeing my first rated "R" film. I remember my friend and I were about 12 years old and we got the idea of walking to our local theater and seeing if they would let us in to see Escape from New York. I remember walking up to the ticket booth and I chickened out and asked for tickets to The Muppet Movie instead. To my surprise my friend went up after me and said "One for Escape from New York", and they sold him the ticket no questions asked. Well at that point I asked to exchange the Muppet Movie ticket for an EfNY ticket and they did it no problem.

I sat in the theater enthralled by the John carpenter classic. I'll never forget that.

[Mark Relford]

I remember the audience going fuckin' nutso during the last half of Child's Play. There was even a loud BANG like a gun going off in the back of the theater. :eek:

[BloodMan]

Hmmm... Return of the King... it was totally geek night. When it was all over, everyone... EVERYONE stood and clapped for the longest time. It was awesome. :)

[Luna]

I don't really know that this is my favorite experience, but it was certainly memorable...

I remember seeing some slasher or other (I believe it was a "Don't..." movie) sometime around 1980-82. I'm fairly certain I begged my father to see it, so we wound up at the only theater it was playing, one we never normally went to, and wow was it a stinky dump. Adding to the ambience was a loud mouthed hispanic woman shouting to someone else across the room, "PAPI!!" and basically carrying on a conversation by yelling in Spanglish throughout the movie. Oh, and I can't forget the large furry thing that walked by my legs. Apparently the theater had rats, so I kept my legs up after that. To avoid a huge fight and punching people out and getting bitten by rats, my father and I left the movie before it ended. :(

[Nos4ah2]

Watching Crash in the theater.
I had to drive an hour across town to even find a theather playing it.
Theater was about 2/3 of the way full.

By the end credits, my girlfriend and I were one of the few left in the theater.

[soxfan666]

when i went to see Hollow Man, i started a clap after kevin bacon was killed. I hated the movie and clapped just to be an asshole but the entire theatre joined in. It was my first time starting a clap.

[onebyone]

I was a very young kid and my mom took me to see A Nightmare on Elm Street, because well, my family didn't get the whole censorship thing. I was so excited, and it was one of the first truly great horror movies I ever saw. Also, there was a big thunder storm that night and the lights, although not the movie, were flickering, all which added heavily to the experience. It was so scary. When we got home, our lights were knocked out, and we were then both too scared to go into the house, so we went for doughnuts instead. It was an awesome night.

I had another good experience with Psycho 2, as everyone in my family, even grandparents, all went out to see it. It was the big family night, and they all loved the movie. And no one but no one thought maybe just maybe I was too young to see it.

[maybrick]

I was 8 or 9 and a large bunch of kids went to go see PORKY'S 2. Because of the reputation the first PORKY'S produced when it played theaters, the people working the that night refused to let any of us in, even with much older siblings in attendence. Usually it was enough back then for someone of age to buy our tickets for us, but not this time. So the group split up. Some of us went home, and the rest went to whatever else what playing that night. I forget what was playing in the third cinema, but me and my best friend decided on THE ENTITY. It was pretty ironic that whatever the theater people tried to keep us from seeing we got and then some. Ban us from from the harmless sex comedy but the one about the raping ghost is safe... Smooth move, guys...

[onebyone]

Some of us went home, and the rest went to whatever else what playing that night. I forget what was playing in the third cinema, but me and my best friend decided on THE ENTITY. It was pretty ironic that whatever the theater people tried to keep us from seeing we got and then some. Ban us from from the harmless sex comedy but the one about the raping ghost is safe... Smooth move, guys...

:lol:

From a harmless sex comedy to a movie that just this year made me sleep with my lights on. Yep, that is ironic. I am glad I didn't see that one when I was 8. I may have needed therapy for years and years. :nervous:

[Wayne Manor]

Sex with my girlfriend in the palatial, now-closed Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara. Top row balcony. "Cold Mountain". No one cared.

[bigdaddyhorse]

I'd have to say the Blair Witch Project. Even though I hated what I saw, I had this freaky girl with me and she gave me head for the first half of the movie. :D
Then I tried watching the movie, but fell asleep for most of the second half, mostly from boredom (probably a little from being "spent" :D ). :o

A close runner up is Evil Dead 2 when it came out. I hadn't been introduced to the first movie yet and was tripping balls on some really good mushrooms, so I had no idea what to expect. If the movie hadn't been so funny I probably would've shit myself. I just kept going from being scared shitless to crying laughing. Dude was having a real bad trip I kept thinking, but then I was him in many scenes. :nervous:

Sneaking into The Terminator and other R rated movies was always a blast too. There was some zombie or cannibal flick playing that said NO ONE UNDER 17 ADMITTED - PERIOD! that me and some friends saw when we were 15-16. I'm still not sure what flick it was. I remeber lots of guts being eaten, then the dude at the end saw the girl he was with sitting on a bench but when he sat down she was a zombie/cannibal and bit him. The End.

[SaviniFan]

Some nice stories here....keep 'em coming. :)

[wago70]

1981 was the year for me:
**"Happy Birthday to Me" - my first R rated film - seen on a balmy spring eve in '81 with the mom. She really liked the film and told everyone about it.
**"The Howling plus Kill and Kill Again" - another fun time and my 2nd R-rated film!
**"Final Exam plus Prom Night" - my 12th Birthday! The brother and friend spent most of the time playing video games which left me alone to enjoy. Final played to only 3 people (!) and Prom Night played to a packed house (a year after its original release). The line to get into Final Exam's next showing was waiting outside and it snaked down the hall and out the front door of the mall. I should have waited until then to see it, but being 12, the folks didn't let us stay out late. On the way home, we passed by a drive-in and the very end of Final Exam was playing! *good times*
**"Halloween 2" - Packed house on Halloween night '81 - Many screams and lots of applauding when Jamie Lee shot Micheal in the eyes. Some people in costumes, too.
**"Hell Night" - seen on a Sunday night the one week it played and the audience was all college age (except for me). Lots and lots of jump screams and the part where the carpet from the floor rises will always stick out to me because so many people were shouting at the screen. For such a love it or hate it film, this is the only film I ever saw where the audience was so into it and FUN! Lots of whistling at Suki Goodwin, too.
**"Friday the 13th Part 2" - this was in the winter of '81 and this played with the first film. The ending...two rows jumped...standing up jumped...ours included. A major jump scream and then laughs of relief. We were actually scared! When we all left the theater, EVERYONE was talking about that one. The line to get in was down the hall (this was our first multi-plex).

[RyanPC]

There was some zombie or cannibal flick playing that said NO ONE UNDER 17 ADMITTED - PERIOD! that me and some friends saw when we were 15-16. I'm still not sure what flick it was. I remeber lots of guts being eaten, then the dude at the end saw the girl he was with sitting on a bench but when he sat down she was a zombie/cannibal and bit him. The End.

That sounds like Bruno Mattei's Hell of the Living Dead aka Night of the Zombies! :lol: :lol:

I'm not very old, so I really don't have any nostalgic stories about seeing classic movies in the theater... but overall I'd say the best movies I have ever seen in a theater are Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, and the revival of Grease when it was rereleased several years back. I also remember seeing Drop Dead Fred at the drive-in when I was three or four on a double feature with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze. :lol:

I have to say, though, that NONE of my theater experiences have been particularly memorable. Today's audiences seem to be less interactive than they used to be. The energy that seems to have been apparent back then is now totally lost. For example, nobody ever really screams out loud during horror films anymore (once in a while a gasp can be heard, that's about it), but that could be because the movies aren't scary. ;)

But yeah, I haven't seen many great movies in a theater. I wish I had been born earlier so I could have experienced seeing many of my favorite movies in the theater. :(

[nukfut]

The first few minutes of Star Wars, Episode I when the music starts up and the letters begin scrolling up the screen... fucking fantastic.

And then the movie starts in earnest and I realize it's a total turd...

[onebyone]

I have to say, though, that NONE of my theater experiences have been particularly memorable. Today's audiences seem to be less interactive than they used to be. The energy that seems to have been apparent back then is now totally lost. For example, nobody ever really screams out loud during horror films anymore (once in a while a gasp can be heard, that's about it), but that could be because the movies aren't scary. ;)

I think that is because, based on this thread, they are all busy getting some instead of watching the movie.

[wago70]

It's true - the audience isn't fun/innocent anymore. I'll never forget seeing HELL NIGHT. Everyone was so into it! Even at the very end, there was clapping when put that car into gear and...well, it was simply one of the funnest, easy going times I've ever had at the movies.
Most of the movies then - I don't remember hearing any "that's bullshit" types of comments like you do now. Even in THE GRIM REAPER, the couple in front of us was clutching each other tightly during the finale. Nowadays...the people are different and rather unpleasant overall.

[nukfut]

Last year a local theater had a midnight showing of Friday the 13th. Now midnight showings may be commonplace in big cities but here in podunk Ohio it's a big deal and a rare event. Anyway, I go and the place is friggin' packed and it easily the rowdiest audience I've ever seen. The place was going nuts throughout the entire movie. One of the best times at a theater I've ever had.

[RyanPC]

I think that is because, based on this thread, they are all busy getting some instead of watching the movie.

:lol: :lol:

Yeah, either that or they are chatting with each other throughout the entire movie, like a couple was doing at the showing of A History of Violence that I attended last night. :mad:

[Cujo108]

Probably when I went and saw a screening of Cannibal Holocaust up in Dallas a few years back. It was great seeing it on the big screen and hearing that lovely score play over the theater's speakers. There were a few walkouts too, and one guy across the aisle and up a row or two actually threw up. I kid you not. Call me morbid, but it cracked me up.

[indiephantom]

For horror, seeing Wes Craven's New Nightmare, Saw and Hostel at the Toronto Film Fest premieres.

Also seeing The Untouchables at a very loud and packed house in Times Square back in the summer of 87 at a 1am screening. Back when Times Square HAD movie theatres. :fuck:

Also seeing Heatbreak Ridgedin a beautiful cinema in London, England that had reserved seating and the best sound system I'd experienced up to that point.

Also really liked seeing Scarlet Diva with Asia Argento sitting in the row in front of me with her gorgeous legs up on the seat. Another great TO festival memory. :evil:

[SaviniFan]

One memorable experience I had was going to my local mall's cineplex to see Silent Night Deadly Night and people outside the theater picketing the film. It was cool to catch it on the big screen before it was pulled so fast.

[Agent Z]

My comments from this older thread (http://www.horrordvds.com/vb3forum/showthread.php?t=10132&highlight=theatrical+Friday) still stand of course.

Most recently, watching Kill Bill:Vol 1 in a theater reminded me of why I still love watching film in a theater, as opposed to my living room: the energy of that film on a big screen was incredible. And the cliffhanger statement at the end gave me goosebumps...although, in hindsight, when looking at both Volumes together, it's a scene that needs to be excised overall

[DeathDealer]

Don't worry it's going to be cut out MissionCode Z.

[Agent Z]

Don't worry it's going to be cut out MissionCode Z.

Well, it is already cut out of the combined-Volumes, full version. However, those watching the standalone Volume 1 version will still see the scene in question anyway.

[ReNeGaDe]

Seeing High Tension and Devils Rejects was quite memorable... I never seen so many people walk out of a movie.

[Shannafey]

A few years back, I wanted to take my kids to a movie, and one of the only "kid friendly" films out was Treasure Planet. It was late in the day, and I looked at times, and there was only one theatre we could make it to. It was an older one I had never been to, but was only 15 min. from my house. I get there and pay for the tickets and go inside to the auditorium where it was supposed to be playing. The theatre is pitch black and nothing's running. On top of that, the marque over the door is unlit. I go back to the cashier and she tells me they don't have the film. I look at her puzzling and start yelling at her as to why she even sold me a ticket, and why it's one of the films listed in the box office. She's clueless. I'm already pissed off, but I don't want to deal with it, so I tell her to just give me my money back. She then has the nerve to tell me they don't give refunds, only tickets to another show. At this point, I thought I'd be arrested, since I start screaming and tell her I'm going to come in the box office and take the money myself. She pages the manager to come, and he's not willing to have a confrontation, so it just tells her to give me my money back. Would you all believe this?? Amazing, huh?

[Agent Z]

A few years back, I wanted to take my kids to a movie, and one of the only "kid friendly" films out was Treasure Planet. It was late in the day, and I looked at times, and there was only one theatre we could make it to. It was an older one I had never been to, but was only 15 min. from my house. I get there and pay for the tickets and go inside to the auditorium where it was supposed to be playing. The theatre is pitch black and nothing's running. On top of that, the marque over the door is unlit. I go back to the cashier and she tells me they don't have the film. I look at her puzzling and start yelling at her as to why she even sold me a ticket, and why it's one of the films listed in the box office. She's clueless. I'm already pissed off, but I don't want to deal with it, so I tell her to just give me my money back. She then has the nerve to tell me they don't give refunds, only tickets to another show. At this point, I thought I'd be arrested, since I start screaming and tell her I'm going to come in the box office and take the money myself. She pages the manager to come, and he's not willing to have a confrontation, so it just tells her to give me my money back. Would you all believe this?? Amazing, huh?

And this was your "Favorite Theatrical Experience"? :p

[betterdan]

My favorite time was when me and and a bunch of my friends went to the drive in one Saturday night. They were playing scary movies from dusk till dawn and I really don't remember what the movies were but I remember us having the time of our lives. The guy who lived down the street was driving his 73 Oldsmobile and me and my best friend were sneaking in by hiding in his trunk. Well we got in fine but then the bastards didn't let us out until about the time the first movie was starting. (I did end up getting even with him but that's another story;))
One guy brought a hibachi and we grilled hotdogs and drank beer (had to be careful though as we were under age) and just acted crazy as usual. Some other girls parked nearby ended up coming over and sat with us on the cars and I actually ended up dating one of them briefly afterwards.
Man I miss those times. :(

[MarkWarner]

I think my favorite movie experience was just recently when I saw A History of Violence. I went to see it at an independent film cinema downtown and thankfully it wasn't packed. The crowd I saw it with was intelligent and actually watched the movie rather than talking on cell phones or chewing or talking really loud. It was a great way to watch a great movie. Couldn't be happier.

[Shannafey]

And this was your "Favorite Theatrical Experience"? :p

Not favorite, of course, but most memorable!!

[maybrick]

:lol:

From a harmless sex comedy to a movie that just this year made me sleep with my lights on. Yep, that is ironic. I am glad I didn't see that one when I was 8. I may have needed therapy for years and years. :nervous:

:lol: Yeah, I saw a lot of horror movies at the theater back then... couldn't get enough of them. AMERICAN WEREWOLF, PHANTASM, HALLOWEEN 2 AND 3, THE BOOGENS, AMITYVILLE 2, F13 3-D... pretty much all the classics of the day. I thought they were all scary and gave me nightmares, but none of the movies I saw ever traumatized me. THE ENTITY came damned close.

[jasonmperry70]

My most memorable movie experience was when my friend and I went to see Bram Stoker's Dracula at a midnight premiere. While we were waiting in line to get in, a VERY thick fog started to seep in. When we got into the theater, it was getting foggy in there too. Really helped set the mood.

[eric_angelus]

I have alot of great theatrical memories but the two I remember most fondly are:
Seeing Halloween on its original theatrical run, I was only 7...and it scared unlike anything I have seen before or have seen since. It was the first time I ever saw a movie in the theater at night. I remeber sitting in my seat shaking and wishing for the movie to end. To make matters worse I remember this guy behind me stamping his feet during all the chase scenes and scaring me even more. I remember sitting with my hands over my eyes unwilling to watch the final moments, becuase I did not understand at that age that Jamie Lee was going to be OK...and since to me each death was scarier than the last, I though hers would be the most horrifying of all. In my mind I made the movie much bloodier. I did not see it again until 3 years later and being shocked at how much was 'cut out'

Next would be when I saw Burial Ground, simply becuase it was the most nasty thing I had ever seen in theater (I was 15 when I saw it). The audience was big and really responsive. I remember sitting and yelling when the gore got extreme...and cheering with everyone when Peter Bark had his big scene.

[Wayne Manor]

I think my favorite movie experience was just recently when I saw A History of Violence. I went to see it at an independent film cinema downtown and thankfully it wasn't packed. The crowd I saw it with was intelligent and actually watched the movie rather than talking on cell phones or chewing or talking really loud. It was a great way to watch a great movie. Couldn't be happier.

Same thing happened tonight. Beautiful film - easily one of the best this year.

[Agent Z]

I think my favorite movie experience was just recently when I saw A History of Violence. I went to see it at an independent film cinema downtown and thankfully it wasn't packed. The crowd I saw it with was intelligent and actually watched the movie rather than talking on cell phones or chewing or talking really loud. It was a great way to watch a great movie. Couldn't be happier.

One of the keys to an enjoyable theater experience is audience participation, both good and bad.

I have noticed over the years that there are different classes of filmgoers, dependent upon showtimes (matinees are the best), theater (indy theater crowds are great!), and days of the week (weekend night multiplex crowds can spell trouble).

[Atmims]

The best times I've had was at an old run down theater in walking distance from my house. I would go to the Saturday morning matinee and stop at the gas station across the street and buy a couple 40 oz. bottles of Budweiser to smuggle in. There was almost never anyone there too, which is a plus. The place is being demolished now.

[Wayne Manor]

The best times I've had was at an old run down theater in walking distance from my house. I would go to the Saturday morning matinee and stop at the gas station across the street and buy a couple 40 oz. bottles of Budweiser to smuggle in. There was almost never anyone there too, which is a plus. The place is being demolished now.

Which theatre is this that's being demolished?

[MorallySound]

My favorite theatrical experience has got to be when I was 5 and went to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze at the local university theatre. I was so pumped! That was probably the first time I was super excited to see a movie. It was sooo awesome. I had the book where you collected all the stickers and cards from the movie and everything.

[othervoice1]

I would have to say seeing Rocky Horror at the midnight movies here in town (back when we still had that) in highschool with all the nighttime freaks that knew all the words and did all the fun stunts that made the whole thing such an "experience"- no other way to see it and the most fun ive ever had at a movie- i think in highschool i went like once a week for a while- so i guess i was one of the nighttime freaks<:

[bigdaddyhorse]

Just remembered another fun one, Heavy Metal midnight show at the mall. Had to be like 97 or 98, as I had just started my "rebel" phase and snuck some MD 20/20 in. Then I ran into a guy I always saw hanging downtown, and we blazed a joint in the theater entranceway as it was starting. Dude turned into a good friend, but I lost contact with him when he went to prison a few years later. :(
Best part was an usher came in right when we were done and back in our seats (back row of course). He smelled it and knew we did it, but couldn't prove it. Soon as he left, out pops the Dog! Rest if movie was blast, almost like a Rocky Horror showing with the crowd cheering and howling, just no rice and shit. :D

[tobaccoman]

Back in Bismarck, I had a friend who was a manager at the theatre and we'd get to go in after hours and preview the upcoming films. They ussually weren't the greatest films, but we'd get so fucking drunk and stoned in the theatre which definitely adds to the experience. I remember Mothman Prophecies being probably the best I saw from those times.

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within - tripping on shrooms

The Fly/Total Recall (Midnight Double Feature) - audience was great

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective - Opening Night - my friend and I were the only two in the theatre, the next week we went again and there was about 15 people, the next week it was completely packed

[Atmims]

Which theatre is this that's being demolished?

It's a Carmike Cinema theater, that's all we have around here.

[4Gotten1]

I was just a scrawny kid, and about five of us snuck into Last Tango in Paris, with Marlon Brando. With all of the controversy surrounding the film, we were quite excited to be able to see what all the hoopla was about. Although I was less titillated than I'd expected to be, it was still a blast to have gotten away with it, as all of the ushers knew us and we were constantly getting booted out of the theatres for buying a ticket for one film, but sneaking in and watching another. We did this with Carrie too, but got booted after about 30 minutes. Needless to say, we were devastated.

[Hellbilly]

My most memorable one was being locked in a Theater with a couple of friends and other people after a late night showing of Fright Night II. We were trapped for at least 45 minutes. First we yelled, then we banged against the doors and after a while a few of us couldn't help but laugh, because it seemed so ridiculous. We were about to give up... that's when the ticket lady came running and unlocked the doors apologizing like crazy. Fun times :D

[wago70]

I once got booted from the theater during DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE for being underage (12) and having bought a ticket to FOX AND THE HOUND instead. They were checking tickets during the "beach" sequence (the best part). The usher was all pissy with me and scolded me for being too young for an "R" rated movie. Get this: this SAME GIRL sold me a ticket the following Saturday for AMERICAN WEREWOLF/ESCAPE FROM N.Y. without batting an eyelash. Years later, I'd be close friends with her twin sister. Small, small world.

[baggio]

When I saw INVASION USA at a young age. My friends and I coudn't get in at first, then I was brave enough to ask some nice couple about 5 minutes before start time, If they would say we were with them. they did, and we got in. Pretty good considering the teller just 20 min. before denied us access. saying we were not of age.

And as far as a good crowd, The best crowd EVER I encountered was at RUMBLE IN THE BRONX. My friends and I saw it at a PACKED house in one of those giant Lowes screen rooms. 1000 and over seat types. I kept saying before the movie started "since when is everybody a Jackie Chan" fan like us. This crowd was cheering, "I shit you not" after EVERY fight scene. There was loads of ooohs and aaahs after each stunt. Even the bloopers at the end, people got a kick out of.

[slinker]

Definately watching Mulholland Drive, went into the theatre in the day time when i was off work...no bugger would come with me so i headed alone. Felt really really ill during the adverts beforehand and so thought i was gonna run to the bathroom and honk ( been feeling ill all morning before ) but then the film started and from the opening music and credits i was just totally mesmorized...literally with my mouth open and drool landing on my lap hardly breathing, taking it all in....by the time it had finished i was in this weird Lynchian trance and didnt even realise, snapped out of it and then realised i didnt feel sick at all. Who needs medicine when you have cinema at its greatest ? and yes Mulholland Drive has been my favorite film since :) never before has a movie affected me quite like that. :cool:

[Peter Vincent]

Didn't we do a thread like this once before? i swore there was one just like this? Damn it all to heck, i ain't gonna search for it.

My best experience when i was a kid would have to be the Fly II. i went to a pretty ghetto theatre & people were just really yelling at the screen 7 jumping from their seats during some 'scare" scenes. Made the experience a little more enjoyable oddly enough.

Most recently (and don't make fun) it would've had to have been The Polar Express in IMAX...man, talk about sucking you into the movie. The 3D effects, combined with the deafening sound and added for spice the Gigantic 5-story screen plus the genuine feel for the holidays...I had to see it TWICE (once with the wife, and again to take my son, he deserved the experience). i think its being re-released in IMAX THIS holiday season...might get a 3rd viewing in IMAX (the DVD will NOT do it justice). THIS is what a movie experience should be like!

[kyouki]

I have really only two memorable movie experiences:

When I was a young kid I went to see Batman with my brother and mother... I was in awe the whole time. From Danny Elfman's score and the memorable opening (that seemingly every superhero movie has copied since) to the fact that Batman was being played by Beetlejuice for god's sake to the creepy ending this was pure movie magic for me. At the end of the movie everyone in the theater stood up and cheered! Standing ovation for Batman!

Before that my mom had sent me off to see Return to Oz when it first came out thinking it would be just as innocent as the Wizard of Oz. Of course, anyone who has seen Return to Oz knows the rest of the story. ;) It wasn't an audience participation thing, but it was one of my best experiences because I was so shocked at how the movie wasn't at all what it had been advertised as.

I haven't had a pleasant movie-going experience since Batman (in 1989?)!!! That's ridiculous. :(

Nowadays when a friend does convince me to see a movie it's always ruined by the usual suspects (people having conversations, making "jokes" at the screen, judging the "gayness" of every character in the movie loudly to all in the theater, etc etc).

[gojira69]

I have so many memorable Drive-in theater experiences, but my most memorable theatrical experience was in a walk-in.

It was in 1972. The Rafael Theater on 4th Street in San Rafael, California was showing "BEN". I took my younger brother to see it.

Well, I was 16 and a smart-ass and the movie was embarassing. So when it came to the scene where the little kid lip-synchs to Michael Jackson's song "BEN" and when he was done I start clapping furiously. That was all it took to tip this theater packed full of kids over the edge. Everyone laughed, clapped and shouted at the movie screen. It became mayhem in that theater for the rest of the film... candy, boxes, popcorn all being thrown at the screen and better yet at each other. Especially fun was going up on the balcony so as to get a better shot at people from above.

We'd hi-jacked the theater and no one tried to rope us in. It was 1972, a rat named Ben was on the screen and the theater was ours!

BobB

[gojira69]

13 Ghosts is coming to town! I begged my mother to let me go. She told me she didn't want me to go because it would give me nightmares! I promised her I wouldn't. When the film finally came to the theater she had an older brother take me.

I was 4 and it was 1960 at the 4-Star Theater on 23rd and Clement in San Francisco (which is still in operation by the way). We walked the 4 blocks from our house to the theater.

Everytime there was a scary scene my brother told me to cover my eyes which I did. I "watched" the entire film in this manner and covered my eyes for any and all scenes where a ghost came on screen! I was petrified! Have you seen this movie recently? Its a hoot! How anyone could find any of it scary! But I guess if you cover your eyes your imagination can create terrors greater than those on the big screen...

And yes, I had nightmares.

BobB

[VideoViolence]

Two of my best:

The Blair Witch Project - It was around the time Heather was looking into the camera crying and saying "I'm so sorry....." or not long before it. These teenage girls in the audience were laughing and giggling. This guy in the audience said "Shut the fuck up, goddamit! We're trying to watch a fucking movie!" and they shut right up.

The Ring(Remake) - Right at the part, near the end where Samara crawls out of the tv towards that reporter friend of Rachel's friend. I swear, every woman or pretty much every woman, screamed at the top of their lungs. One guy grabbed his girl's arm during that, and she hit him.

[KillerCannabis]

The only real memorable experience I've had was watching Friday the 13th part 3 in 3-D at the NuArt in santa Monica. The crowd was really into it and it made the entire movie really fun to watch. Other than that watching Star Wars Episode 3 at a midnight show opening night was a lot of fun. Thats the kind of crowd you want when you're watching one of those films. Awesome.

[Sam]

All these good stories and I really don't have anything exciting to contribute. The only thing that really stands out is getting to see the Star Wars trilogy on the big screen in 97 or so, even though they weren't the "true" original versions. Still was quite moved to see them all opening night and in a theater. Other than that, probably seeing Office Space which at the time had no real press so a friend and I thought it'd just be a run of the mill no-brainer weekend flick, came out nearly pissing ourselves in laughter.

[Tye]

Having the opportunity to see Suspiria in the theater a couple years back.
No....not the greatest of stories but since it's my favorite horror film it made for a very memorable experience.

[evildeadfan123]

When I saw Friday the 13th Part 2, when it was originally Theatrically released, Me, my mom, and dorky Brother saw it. About 7 minutes in the movie, the music starts up, so you think something is going to happen. Alice goes to the window with a knife, and her Cat jumps inside through the window. I screamed, my mom screamed, and so did several other women in the audience screamed. I still remember it every time I watch Part 2

[evildeadfan123]

Another memorable experience, was when Me, My mom, and Brother went and saw The Brood, when it was originally released. We went to sit down, and some woman brought her baby in, probably no more than a year old, to see The Brood. The baby was crying through half the movie.

[Wayne Manor]

I once got booted from the theater during DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE for being underage (12) and having bought a ticket to FOX AND THE HOUND instead. They were checking tickets during the "beach" sequence (the best part).

What sequence was this in "Don't Go in the House"?

[evildeadfan123]

Another memorable experience is when American Werewolf In London came out. Our only theater at the time, Summit 4 Theaters had just opened. Me, my mom, and my brother went to see it. Including us, there was about 8 people in the whole theater. We waited about 25 minutes, and they still hadn't started the movie. One of the other people in the theater, got up and told the manager, and the movie started. They demolished the theater about 4 or 5 years ago. Couldn't compete with the Multiplex, and now we have a 16 Theater Multiplex. I pretty much watched movies from 1978-1986, at movie theaters. We would go every weekend and see at least one movie. We went to Brywood 6 Theaters, which is no longer around, 63rd Street Drive-In, which is no longer in operation, Blue Ridge Cinema, which is no longer around. I weekend, about 1980, we saw Star Wars and Alien on the same day and in between both movies, my mom left the lights on our 1978 Chevy Chevette, and at the time I was on crutches, and we went to Sambo's and ate lunch. I sure miss those days. I Mom raised me right. She saw the Original Psycho, when she was 15, and she told me she couldn't take a shower for weeks after the movie.

[bigwes15]

For me it was a drive-in double feature of the Thing and Halloween 2. My buddy and I got in with his aunt and were about 10 at the time. The Thing kicked ass, but didn't scare us. For Halloween 2 we tried to keep going to watch the movie outside of the car, but were getting scared shitless so we kept retreating to the sanctuary of the car! I sure miss those drive-in days. A close second would be a showing of fast Times at Ridgemont High with my grandfather when I was also 10 or 11 while my parents were away on vacation. He claimed to hate it, but was chortling throughout and I don't think he minded the nude scenes either. My parents caught it in the burgeoning days of home video a year or two later and couldn't believe that I had seen it-they were a little pissed. At the risk of sounding sappy, my grandfather was the best guy I have ever known-he took me to a LOT of movies as a kid, including many pieces of shit that he didn't have to sit through, like Parasite (in 3-D!), Mortuary, and countless others. he even tired to get me into Evil dead, but the cocksuckers wouldn't let me in even with him! We also saw a lot of Bronson and Eastwood movies, which were more enjoyable for him and I loved as well. RIP, gramp-and thanks.

[wago70]

Cool story! I remember The Thing at the cinema. I saw it on a double bill with Humongous (which nobody cared for at the time). The Thing had the audience going wild and two girls ran up the aisle and out the door from the theater during the scene where a character suffers a heart attack and they're trying to revive him. Classic stuff! Those girls never came back!

[pacinofan]

I can remember my Dad taking me to a lot of 80's classics when I was too youing to go myself. Stuff like Terminatoir, Cronenberg's "The Fly" and Evil Dead II, Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, NOES: Dream Warriors. When ever my friends and I wanted to see an "R" rated horror flick, we knew my Dad would take us. I also remember going to the drive-in w/ Dad to see Friday the 13th V: New Beginning.

[Damage]

My favourite movie theatre experience? Superman back in 1978. My little brother and I and two of our friends went to see it. Great movie, fun for all. Well we get to the scene when Supe finally finds Lois Lane after the big earthquake but its too late. Heavy scene, Supe's holding Lois' lifeless body in his arms, his eyes welling with tears, his lips quivering. Well, just before he screams his big "NOOOOOOOO!" someone in the audience lets loose with a tremendous baked bean fart. I mean, it was loud! The whole theatre erupted in laughter and when you're a kid, there's nothing funnier than that. We still talk about it to this day and my kids love hearing that story. In fact, whenever we watch it, I can't resist doing the same thing at that moment. Even my kids join in. Ahhh, farts. Is there anything they can't do?

[SaviniFan]

My favourite movie theatre experience? Superman back in 1978. My little brother and I and two of our friends went to see it. Great movie, fun for all. Well we get to the scene when Supe finally finds Lois Lane after the big earthquake but its too late. Heavy scene, Supe's holding Lois' lifeless body in his arms, his eyes welling with tears, his lips quivering. Well, just before he screams his big "NOOOOOOOO!" someone in the audience lets loose with a tremendous baked bean fart. I mean, it was loud! The whole theatre erupted in laughter and when you're a kid, there's nothing funnier than that. We still talk about it to this day and my kids love hearing that story. In fact, whenever we watch it, I can't resist doing the same thing at that moment. Even my kids join in. Ahhh, farts. Is there anything they can't do?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Oh that's great! I read this this morning and nearly spit out my cereal from laughing so hard. What timing that person had! :banana:

[Peoples Icon]

Myself and two friends went and saw The Return Of the Jedi Special Edition and it was just us and one other guy. Towards the end of the film when Luke was with the Emperor and Vader we just got up and started acting out the scene word for word. It was awesome. I am sure the guy was pissed off but we didnt care. A small experience I had was when I saw Mission Impossible 1. I was the only one in the theater and felt like they showed the movie just for me. That was great. My third and final experience was just recently at Star Wars Revenge of The Sith. My mother, sister and three friends of mine waited in line to see this. Their were a bunch of people waiting as well and I had to watch a few Star Wars geeks act out some lightsaber duels. Anyway when it was time to go into the theater the place had such poor crowd control that my mother was punched in the back of the head a few times which hurt her to the point where she had to go to the hospital the next day. We did wind up calling the cops when we were at the theater but could not find the kid that did it to her. I looked for the little bastard myself but he must have fled because he was no where to be found. The cops said they were investigating the incident but nothing ever happened. I was not very impressed with the way the theater had handled the whole ordeal. The manager acted like she did not even care. Lets just say that ruined the night for everyone and pretty much tarnished Revenge of The Sith for me because I will remember that incident everytime I watch that damn movie.

[The Chaostar]

Venice FIlm Festival: The film: The Others.
A cinema of 1500 people, knowing why they are here, with full silence at the right moments, screams of horror and laughing, just to "exorcise" the damn thing.
If every screening was like this.

[betterdan]

Damage that was a great story. :lol:

[4Gotten1]

Someone should start a thread on fart stories. We all have them, and they're almost always quite funny!

[X-human]

Mystery Science Theater 3000 was probably my best experience, I'd never heard an audience consistently laugh as much as they did. It was also an amazingly respectful crowd, I can't recall any specific shouts at the screen although I recall it happened a couple of times. It's also the ONLY time I've seen an entire audience stay for the full length of the credits.

Evil Dead II is probably my next favorite, the audience really got into that one and many lines were quoted by the crowd as this was a re-release. I don't think I've ever heard the word "work shed" said by so many people at the same time before or since. :D

[Frankenstorm]

This is a brilliant thread if you haven't checked it out. I'm hoping others are as interested in reviving it as I am cuz I can't get enough of these stories.

I've got a couple of theater-going experiences I'd like to share if the thread picks up again but the first one that always comes to mind is Re-Animator. Saw it upon its release in a packed house. The scene where the Dr.'s head is about to "go down" on Barbara Crampton, when his tongue came out, there was a crescendo of screams from every girl in the theater which then caused every guy to laugh hysterically. One of my all-time favorite movie moments, horror or otherwise!

[ReelFear]

I would have to rate CREEPSHOW as my favorite theatrical experience.
In 1982 there was an ad in the paper that said if you show up in a costume you get in for free. So I am this 12 year old kid and me and a friend get dressed up in costumes and get dropped off at the theater by my mom. Of course there are older teenagers and adults and NOBODY else is wearing a costume, so everyone is laughing at us. The movie was Rated R, so we couldn't get in without my mom walking us to the ticket counter to buy the tickets, thankfully she left. As we walked into the lobby there was a photographer from the newspaper and he took our picture. When the film began and I heard the music and saw the color and comic book feel, I was absolutely blown away. I still credit Creepshow as the first movie where I was aware of the soundtrack, and to this day remains my all time favorite. That Creepshow experience changed my life, and made me the horror fanatic that i am today.

[Erick H.]

There used to be a theater in Norfolk,Va. called the Circle 6,it was one of the first multiplexes in the country and was a flagship AMC theater for years.As time passed the neighborhood it was in became run down,a high crime area and the theater turned into a bit of a grindhouse.All six screens would be running horror ficks,cheap actioners and semi-smutty comedies,in other words it was an ideal place to go if you were an exploitation fan.My friends and I haunted this place pretty regularly and they showed some wild ones,DEMONS,DEAD ALIVE,Euro shoot 'em ups like CODENAME :WILD GEESE,the full spectrum of down market films.The day before A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4 opened they ran a marathon of all of the ELM STREET's ,four movies for the cost of one,topped off with a midnight screening of the new part 4.Well we were THERE,we slipped in with our jackets stuffed with WENDY'S burgers and had a blast.That was definitely a ''talk to the screen" audience,but it was good natured.Some punks tried to hastle us in the parking lot later but in the end no punches were thrown.Great night.

[Zillamon51]

Easily my best theatrical experience was the premiere of Godzilla: Final Wars at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. We even got to hang out on the red carpet to meet the cast, crew, and the big G himself!

5237 5238

Some other memorable ones:

Pet Sematary 2 was the first movie I saw that got a standing ovation at the end.

I took my Freddy glove with me to see Freddy's Dead. At an opportune moment, I used it scare some girls sitting in front of me. The whole theater loved it.

During Jason Goes to Hell, the top of the frame was cut off for the scene in the diner parking lot. The crowd started chanting "We want head!"

Seeing a horror flick at the local dollar show can be fun if there are a lot of black people in the audience. (They often talk to the screen, and the ladies don't hold back the screams.) Bones went over well.

Last summer, I saw Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3-D. Sitting right behind me were two little girls, who talked through the whole thing. I didn't mind, because they were really into it. Some examples:

When the female lead lights up: "Ohh, she's smoking!" :eek:

When a guy grabs a rifle: "He has a gun." "I want a gun!" :fire:

When the Gillman carries off the heroine: "He wants to kiss her." "He wants to love on her." :o

[mclay18]

One of my favorites was the recent Friday the 13th remake. Opening night, packed with mostly older fans of the franchise (with their kids), plus some teenybopper kids and high-school students who snuck in.

Some of the funniest sections was when America Olivo pops her top in the pre-credit sequence I can clearly remember a chick in the back saying "Oh. My. God." at that bit (and there were some scattered snickers when Willa Ford gets it and her tits are shown). And another was when Jason started killing in earnest (right around when Jason throws the ax and gets Arlen Scarpetta in the back) -- the older fans started cheering/hooting every time Jason killed somebody and/or was in pursuit. Speaking of which, after Jason kills Julianna Guill's character, one older woman cracked "Now she's horny."

And then at the very end where Jason pops out of the lake and onto the pier, the crowd erupted in cheers, laughter and applause. Ah, memories.

[Mattapooh]

Great stories!

Mine would have to be the time my Dad took my older sister and I to see Robocop. That flick was released in 1987, which means I would've been seven years old (!) when it came out, with her being close to nine. I absolutely loved it, but the clearest memory I have is when dude got hit with the toxic waste and started to melt, my sister started to feel a bit queasy while my Dad and I just laughed and laughed. When he got hit by the car and splattered, we lost it! God, we talked about that scene for weeks afterwards and how much it disgusted my sister. Such a fun movie.

To top it off, we even stopped off at KFC on the way home.

The fact that my Dad had no problem with me watching violent flicks at such a young age was really cool, it was just treated as over-the-top fun (especially in a Paul Verhoeven flick) and it ended up being one of my favorite childhood memories.

[Frankenstorm]

For my 12th birthday my brother took me to our neighborhood theater to see a double feature of SQUIRM and THE DEVIL WITHIN HER (AKA I DON'T WANT TO BE BORN). I made it through SQUIRM but by the time THE DEVIL WITHIN HER started I had had enough. I remember the opening scene of the doctor looking quizzically over Joan Collins as she's trying to give birth and him saying "it's as if it doesn't want to be born". At that point I begged him to get me the hell out of there, which he did.

[The Chaostar]

TCM (original)
It is a festival in an old theater, five screenings a day, with tons of horror films from the 70s. A lot of the films are bad and the audience hasn't got a clue about what they are about to see. So TCM starts, they are silent, they start laughing with the lead characters, tearing the movie to shreds....and then Leatherface appears. And they all shut up and stay silent until the end. The movie ITSELF had its revenge.

[Frankenstorm]

...they start laughing with the lead characters, tearing the movie to shreds....and then Leatherface appears. And they all shut up and stay silent until the end. The movie ITSELF had its revenge.

That is sweet.

Reminded me of seeing THE EXORCIST director's cut or whatever they called it. In the original, only two times do you see the face of the demon: once during Father Karras' nightmare and at the end when Regan sits up in bed. That face always effed me up.

Anyway, in the new cut Friedkin threw in that face a couple more times, like when Ellen Burstyn walks in the house and the lights flicker, you see the face in the stove exhaust hood. Well the crowd had been pretty boisterous but when that face appeared, I heard a girl behind me literally gasp and say to her companion "did you see that face?" Her voice was quivering and she sounded like she was going to cry. It was cool to know that half-second glimpse of a demonic face screwed up someone else like it had me.

[vampyr789]

when i saw Disturbia with a friend on opening night. it was a theater filled with 17-18 year olds. so much audience participation...i loved it. when the movie got scary my friend hid under the seats, and the girls behind us were screaming. "Oh SHIT!! OH SHIT DONT GO IN THERE!!" they did that the whole movie. there were these two guys infront of us that kept yelling at the girls to shut up. people were throwing stuff at the screen, talking to it. there was so much screaming and laughing. i loved every minute of it.

My dad took me to see Friday the 13th (remake) that was fun too. buy the time the lines "your tits are stupendous" and "you got perfect nipple placement" came around, the whole audience were laughing their asses of, including my dad and myself, and when Trent screamed like a girl my dad said "What a pussy" under his breath.

[fattyjoe37]

I have two:

Rocky Balboa
This one happened during the trailers. The trailer for "Blood & Chocolate" was playing and it looked absolutely terrible. I can tell that the whole audience is thinking "what the hell is this?" as the preview plays. Then the title comes up and the narrator says (in a ridiculously serious voice) "Blood......and Chocolate". The whole audience busts up and continue to do so through the opening titles of Rocky.

Observe and Report
My girlfriend and I are the only ones in the theater. About 20 minutes before the end a theater hopper walks in and sits down. Seconds later a giant dick is onscreen and he promptly gets up a leaves. We were laughing so hard!

[BrokeNads]

I go see 28 weeks later and one man vomits to the person in front seat of him. So the man is vomit in the back of the head of this man and is not clear because movie is loud so I never hear the vomit sounds because is in other side. So we see the man walk up the walkway and we hear him swear about the fucking bastard vomit on me to the cinema workers and the hair and shirt is wet from this and smell!!!!!! We see this is terrible but then people start to go because of the smell start to come around. When I start to smell this vomit smell I go imediate and get my money back. I think is maybe every body do this. Is like a smell of very bad vomit and beer smell and rotting mellons. I see the movie next day again. I like the movie but when I think about or see the dvds in the store for this movie I remember the smell. Not good but is in my memory.

[Dusk]

LAND OF THE DEAD, because I went on the first morning session of a weekday so no one else was in the theatre. Oh wait, there was one person who came in and of all the seats sat 2 rows ahead of me. Scratch that one...

Okay, SCREAM. Alot of energy in the theatre that night. Good times.

[Fall Break]

Ok 100% for sure Freddy Vs Jason and the reason I say that is they had the advance showings of that on August 14, 2003 and there was that huge blackout in the New York and Ontario just 4 hours before the movie was showing. I live in the border of Ontario in Quebec and all the people were coming over for gas and food because Quebec had power and it was full madness. I though it was funny cause there was a fight at the gas station next door and then I get to the movie and there were people chearing "freddy" and "jason" and another fight. The crowd was so pumped and so noisy.....plus people were just happy to have AC coolness. Was good times.

Second place Natural Born Killers. I couldn't get any of my buddies to go and it was the first day showing. The movie starts and I'm the only bastard in there. Plus was the most fucked up thing I seen in theatre up to that point.....maybe ever.

Third place Star Wars Episode 1. Waiting in line for 6 hours for the midnight showing in Ottawa @ some old theatre on somerset (I think it's gone now) and just before the end of the movie the real gets F in the A and I never got to see the end......Untill I had to watch it all over again just to see the last five min campfire cookout.

[Criswell]

As a 16 year old budding film buff i stumbled alone into a day double feature of Pink Flamingos and Desperate Living have no idea what i was about to experience. OMG!

Never laughed so much in my friggin life. Next day i took 8 of my mates to a midnight viewing at the same theatre this time with a packed hippie/student/artsy audience. What a wild night.

2nd best was sneakng with a mate into the opening night of Pacinos Cruising! People were storming out after 10 minutes!

[Frankenstorm]

In 1988 two friends and I were going to see The Cramps (the band) at the Ritz in NYC. When we get there, a guy at the door tells us the show has been canceled due to a band member getting "food poisoning"! We're bummed, but looking for something else to do, we found the first Police Squad! movie at a downtown theater. The place was packed and at times you couldn't hear the movie because everyone was laughing so hard. I never laughed so much at a movie from start to end before or since.

A short time later we went to see it again at a suburban multiplex. There were three or four other people in the theater. You could have heard a pin drop the whole time. Quite a contrast.

(I finally got to see The Cramps at the same venue a year and a half later.) :)