Cinemas ban popcorn

by LotusFlower | August 11, 2008 at 12:30 am

3303 views | 62 Recommendations | 33 comments

A UK cinema chain has branded popcorn a 'noisy, messy' snack and is to ban it from its theatres. One of the joys of going to the cinema is buying overpriced tub of popcorn and munching through it as the film show opens up with the Pearl & Dean music and you get ready to be transported who knows where. And kids well they enjoy the taste and teenagers enjoy the taste and throwing the stuff from time to time too - its tradition.

UK cinemas have been under the cosh lately for searching customers as they enter - not for weapons but for food snacks bought elsewhere - only allowing sweets and snacks bought from them to be eaten in the cinema.

Now this chain wants to ban the eating of popcorn. This chain likes to be seen as an art house chain perhaps popcorn is seen as too low brow and they will replace it with sushi snacks - not so 'noisy, messy' but 'fishy'.

Salted, sugar-coated or dripping in butter, it has been a staple for cinema goers for decades.

But now it seems the days when movie fans can grab a bucket of popcorn and munch through a film are numbered.

The snack has been slammed for being smelly, messy and downmarket, prompting an increasing number of cinema chains to ban it.

From next month the country's largest art house chain will introduce popcorn free screenings.

'Popcorn is a contentious issue. Lots of people absolutely hate it and have asked us to ban it, so we're going to do exactly that,' said Gabriel Swartland, head of media at the Picturehouse Cinema.

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Rob Walker

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 02:59 on August 11th, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Not only is it messy, it's loud! Crunch crunch crunch during the whole movie, and then people finish their giant tub and go for a refill! My personal feelings towards how disgusting that is aside (my friends and I might share a large popcorn between 3-4 people and not even finish it), it's annoying hearing it the entire film.

Canada doesn't allow theatres to search anyone for any reason, let alone bringing in outside snacks...as long as it's not beer and a 16" pizza, they don't really care. We ran in with 1 minute to spare to the dark knight carrying the rest of our mcdonalds meals last week and no one said a word. I guess they figured we paid $14 for our tickets, we can eat what we want!

I'd hate to have to clean up spilled popcorn too.

nukemdomis

at 06:33 on August 11th, 2008

Yeah people are complete pigs when it comes to popcorn in theaters. Then again, I don't remember seeing trash cans at the ends of the aisles.

mchawk

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 03:18 on August 11th, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Clearly the art-house crowd thinks its above such common snacks. Good for them - lets see how well they survive without that extra revenue (daft buggers). Is this going to be another smoking-ban moment, where we all realise that cinemas smell weird without the scent of popcorn, just like pubs reek of stale beer without the smell of cigarettes?

The noise of people eating isn't the problem these days, it's the noise of people talking, often on mobile phones. Why don't they ban chatterboxes instead?

pinkberry143

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 03:34 on August 11th, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.

I too is annoyed hearing the cracks of chewing popcorns inside while watching good movies. I couldnt enjoy watching it hearing the person's chew beside me..

Intellectually wise, movie goers should learn how to consider the other people when they think its disturbing..Having fun is ok but to disturb others while having fun is such illiterate gestures..

nukemdomis

at 06:31 on August 11th, 2008

Do they turn the volume down at your theater or something? Where I'm from you have to yell to the person next to you to get their attention.

Karen Hatter

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 03:59 on August 11th, 2008

No popcorn? I'm outta there!

rahul

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 04:09 on August 11th, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 04:29 on August 11th, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.

gerrypopplestone

at 04:54 on August 11th, 2008

My understanding is they're going to do both! Have popcorn sessions and popcorn free sessions to ensure everyone is satisfied. I think that is pretty good!

rpshen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:16 on August 11th, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I love munching while watching movies, but eating popcorn can be pretty loud and distracting. Maybe they can introduce some other type of munchies.

rumana husain

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:46 on August 11th, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff. i LOVE popcorn! i think it is one thing to ban smoking but quite another to ban popcorn!

nukemdomis

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:27 on August 11th, 2008

LotusFlower,

They need to ban popcorn here in the states. Then at least the movie theaters couldn't rip us off by chargins twenty bucks for a couple of buckets of popcorn.

Eriktekno (not verified)

at 00:43 on August 19th, 2008

No...they're going to charge you forty bucks for a couple of buckets of what ever replaces it, only the buckets will be smaller. Typical marketing S**T. Public = Stupid.

orangedroplet

at 07:00 on August 11th, 2008

Popcorn is a treat for kids and adults. In the Philippines, where I took this shot, it is enjoyed much by park goers. At Rizal Park, where there are food vendors everywhere...people just enjoy and never mind whether eating popcorn could be noisy or whether a mango with "bagoong" (sauteed shrimp paste) is messy to eat. What's delicious, must be savored. Well, if it's in the cinemas it might be another story. Popcorn, just as chips, is noisy to eat. The slurping of drinks can be as noisy also. Should popcorns be banned, then they should also ban all "noisy" snacks. Marshmallows, anyone? I'm not in UK, but then, I am pro-popcorn! (:

orangedroplet has contributed a photo to this story.

jackchi01

at 08:43 on August 11th, 2008

Well, the photo is one of the visual design of my works~~

jackchi01 has contributed a photo to this story.

Andrea M. Holifield

at 12:33 on August 11th, 2008

www.steelcitybakery.etsy.com Thanks guys!

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Diss (not verified)

at 12:41 on August 11th, 2008

Ban popcorn? hahaha, and then they say they live in a free country, pffff. All sick.

Joachim_Ciecierski

at 13:04 on August 11th, 2008

Popcorn not only at cinemas. You can buy it even on the polish Seaside on the beach.

Joachim_Ciecierski has contributed a photo to this story.

Just George 2

at 13:23 on August 11th, 2008

Al though this batch was for home consumption, I am in total agreement that popcorn is an integral part of a FUN movie experience. Inconsiderate moviegoers will find a way to annoy others with or without popcorn.

Just George 2 has contributed a photo to this story.

Jarrett Martineau

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:40 on August 11th, 2008

LotusFlower, thanks for this post. Good stuff.

I love popcorn at the movies --- and hope we never have to see an end to having such a deliciously noisy and messy snack.

martinjhoward

at 13:44 on August 11th, 2008

This popcorn was so delicious, I had to take a photo of it!

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mowabby

at 13:50 on August 11th, 2008

i say get over it uk...it's just popcorn. plus concessions are one of the only ways a movie theater can make money since they typically only get to keep 20-25% of the ticket sales.

icybooh

at 16:01 on August 11th, 2008

I'm torn! Popcorn goes with movies like cake goes with birthday parties. It's tradition, and I have a thing for food traditions (hence the photo).

But then I can totally understand the desire to ban the crunching and smacking of popcorn eating during an "art" movie. It's distracting, and sometimes gross having to listen to a popcorn pig than might be sitting one seat away.

This is a hard one to agree or disagree with. The searching for snacks is a little over the top ... that I can disagree with for sure.

seanathin206

at 16:26 on August 11th, 2008

Okay, I live in the US but how could this theater chain possibly consider banning popcorn? ITS POPCORN! and it goes together with movies like peanut butter and jelly.

seanathin206 has contributed a photo to this story.

KyFarmGirl Photography

at 19:36 on August 11th, 2008

Krogers grocery store in Madisonville Ky was having a 4th of July celebration, and popcorn and slushes were free that day. My friend Peggy Jordan is in the picture, sitting next to the slushy machine, I was in charge of the popcorn machine!

KyFarmGirl Photography has contributed a photo to this story.

faye wylie (not verified)

at 00:00 on August 12th, 2008

Enjoyed this stry!! while i agree that popcorn is a noisey snack i would never want it banning from cinemas as both me and my kids LOVE THE STUFF!!

I think it's absolutely ridiculous to ban it! they have stopped you taking in your own snacks (fair enough) so what would hey have us munch on while watching the film if they do away with the tastey treat?!

I think people would rather rent a film and watch at home so they could munch and make as much noise as they wanted rather than pay through the nose to see a film but miss out on thier fave popcorn!

KEEP THE POPCORN!!!!

Nixos

at 00:54 on August 12th, 2008

Just taking a picture of the best thing to eat while watching a great movie.

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oneonlyonline

at 01:56 on August 12th, 2008

i like popcorn

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camilla holcroft

at 04:05 on August 12th, 2008

From Bergen Kino

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Micah68

at 06:04 on August 12th, 2008

Even outdoor movies need popcorn! Members of Goodyear Heights Presbyterian Church in Akron, Ohio give free popcorn to those attending one of their free outdoor movies nights in the park across from the church building in July 2008.

www.ghpcakron.org

Micah68 has contributed a photo to this story.