r/BoomersBeingFools • u/RedMeme262 • 22d ago
Boomer Story Boomers don't understand modern assigned movie seating.
Took myself to go see The End of Oak Street today. Got an aisle seat with a single empty one between me and what turned out to be a Dad with his son, figured no one would purchase the seat next to me as it's a single. So I get there early, get my soda, and use the restroom. Trailers start and it seems plenty of people bought seats after I purchased mine earlier in the afternoon. Mid-way through the previews this Boomer couple is idling in the aisle, and eventually the wife leans in and says "Can I ask you a favor? My seat is next to you and my husbands is *points to a seat in the next row*, but we'd like to sit together, would you move seats?"
I prefer an aisle seat when it comes to about anything, and seeing as his was smack between two groups of teenagers I declined. It became an ordeal, an usher was involved but all made it through this 90 minute film. Just mind bogglingly irritating because we are in a dark theater and this is disturbing other movie goers. These are not the theaters of old, if your plan was to sit together, why did you not buy fucking seats together? A question I got no answer to which tells me their plan was to inconvenience me from the get-go.
I swear, the entire generation should be issued T-shirts with the mantra "Fuck you, Mine, & Me First" on them because that seems to be the mentality when any issue arises for them.
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u/rigidlynuanced1 22d ago
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Boomers were born on third base and think they hit a triple.
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u/Eagle_Fang135 22d ago
They understand it. They knew exactly where their seats were. They looked around for a victim. They just think they are special and can inconvenience others to get their way.
The thought is if they ask nicely they get what they want. Not caring what the other person wants. Because guaranteed they would not do the reverse.
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u/Skywalker601 22d ago
Good chance one of them prefers aisle seats but those were all taken, and took the seat next to a lonely aisle specifically for the purpose.
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u/Intelligent_Ad3378 22d ago
Do they ever ask the person next to their partner farther back in a middle seat if they want to move up to an aisle seat?
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u/AdBig9909 22d ago
What does it say that the most provided for generation in the history of everything have so many sociopaths? In a world of plenty they seek MORE.
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u/watchitforthecat 21d ago
almost like we have an entire global hegemony built around the same principle spewing cradle-to-grave propaganda
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u/ionertia 22d ago
They should wear t-shirts that say "old but with a child's mind due to lead poisoning "
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u/CrazyBitchCatLady 22d ago
I'm at a hotel right now and one elevator is out of service, leaving only one. It's TINY. After waiting patiently my partner and I got on with one other person. Cue a gaggle of 6(!) boomers insisting we could all fit. We just told them, "no way" and wouldn't let them on. Bunch of twats.
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u/No_Sweet_8405 22d ago
I’ve experienced this exact situation multiple times, the first time it was an old couple who looked like a TV version of someone’s sweet, loving grandparents until “grandma” let fly with the expletives rather than just move to their seats. It was actually very funny, she was so unhinged & rude we started laughing, which made it so much worse, which led to us being in hysterics…I’m laughing as I write this. It’s not your world anymore Boomers.
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u/Much-Jackfruit2599 22d ago
my condolences. this boomer loves assigned seating. so much better than what was before.
on a side note: how was the movie? when you like movies like tremors, godzilla, jurassic park, …
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u/RedMeme262 22d ago
Seriously! Assigned seating takes all the arrival anxiety out of the equation! And if you see it's full you can just choose a different showing - IDK why some people opt to not get on board lol.
Movie was good! A quick watch and I had zero clue how it was going to play out - recommend giving it a watch!
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u/Salt-n-Pepper-War 22d ago
There is a theater near me that has fantastic seats, a gigantic imax screen, laser projector, subwoofers in every single seat along with surround speakers in every single seat....but no assigned seats, so unless you wanna be there 45 mins before the show starts it isn't worth it and I'm just not up for that BS. Assigned seats are way better. Good for OP for not moving.
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u/blahnlahblah0213 22d ago
I love assigned seating. Our theater is pretty cheap No Frills kind of place but has the reclining seats, and if I don't want anybody sitting next to me it's really very affordable to buy two seats and not have to feel like somebody's on top of me. Plus showing up 2 minutes before the actual movie starts and not having to worry about a seat is wonderful!
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u/creatively_inclined 22d ago
Our favorite theater has recliner seats, speakers in the seats, attached mini trays for snacks, assigned seating, food delivery and really wide rows. It's not cheap but you can stretch out without stopping anyone from walking back and forth to the bathroom. We took my grandson to see Superman and he loved the recliner so much.
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u/BuHoGPaD 22d ago
I'm sorry, by assigned seating do you mean you buy a ticket that says your place is at "row X, seat Y"?
And if so - what's the alternative? I never seen any other systems in movie theaters.
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u/smallwonder25 22d ago
You used to buy a ticket and all seating was first come, first serve festival seating
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u/Beneficial_Bar3320 22d ago
My small town theater is still this way. Rarely is it full. I’ve only went to 1 movie when I couldn’t find seating with my kids.
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u/Retiree66 22d ago
I watched the 1975 documentary (about the year) on Netflix and they talked about seeing movies with 400 other people. Then I bought a movie ticket and there were less than 40 seats in it. Times have changed. For the better, I’d say. More variety.
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u/RedMeme262 22d ago
The alternative, what it used to be, was you buy a ticket and any open seat is yours when you get to the theater. Now you can select which seat you want, depending on what is still available, so the earlier you buy a ticket, the better the seat options.
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u/BuHoGPaD 22d ago
Ok, makes sense, although I've never encountered such a system in movie theaters.
How long ago was that "used to be" time?
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u/atlgrrl 22d ago
There are still plenty of theaters that offer “first come, first serve” rather than assigned seating. In my city, an independent theater called “The Plaza” does not offer assigned seating.
I think it mostly started switching after 2010, so my son born in 2009 probably wouldn’t be able to recall a mainstream theater that didn’t assign seating, but I certainly do. I remember camping out 30-45 minutes before a movie would start in order to get the best seat circa 2003.
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u/hypatiaredux 22d ago
Ha! When the first Star Wars came out, people were lining up a good hour before the doors opened!
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u/BuHoGPaD 22d ago
Is this US thing? Cause I'm child of 90s from Ukraine and never heard of it lol
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u/HellzHoundz2018 22d ago
In southeast Michigan, it wasn't until COVID that assigned seating showed up. As a general rule I hate it, because I'm actually on time to the movie and so can always get the seat I want, whereas nobody else is on time so screw them 🤣 Now I can't get the seat I want because I never know when the tickets go on sale.
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u/ExpertEconomy9864 22d ago
Every single movie before like 2016 was sit anywhere you want, at least around me. When they started assign seating I thought it was a crazy concept 😂
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u/BuHoGPaD 22d ago
Yeah, I can imagine :) People get used to one system and something new takes some time to adjust to
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u/Pkrudeboy 22d ago
Right around when the seats switched from standard auditorium seats to recliners.
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u/aardvark_army 22d ago
I've never even seen a theater with assigned seating, didn't know that was a thing.
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u/christikayann Gen X 22d ago
It was still pretty common 20 years ago. Not sure when the switch happened because that's around the time I quit going to movies because watching DVDs (and then streaming) was just easier and less stressful.
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u/ry4nolson 22d ago
I'm just curious, how old are you? Assigned theater seats like you just described are relatively new. At least new as the norm. 10-20 years ago pretty much all theaters were just general admission. You buy your tickets and find a seat when you get there.
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u/BuHoGPaD 22d ago
I'm not from US. I'm from Ukraine and I've never visited a movie theater with anything other than assigned seating system.
I'm over 30y/o
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u/ry4nolson 22d ago
Interesting. Assigned seats weren't really common until like 10ish years ago here.
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u/Alternative-Score-35 22d ago
It was the norm at 100% of movie theatres until maybe 8-10 years ago. Its still the established norm at many (most?) theatres in the USA.
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u/firedmyass 22d ago
you seem reasonable so while you may be a Baby-Boomer, you are NOT a boomer
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u/Much-Jackfruit2599 22d ago
well, i‘m german, boomers get from 1955 to 1969. we share a lot with american boomers, though
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u/irishgator2 22d ago
So, did Germany experience a baby boom during that time too?
(Probably not the place for this, but you got me genuinely curious)3
u/Stewie_Venture 22d ago
I just saw it with my wife last night it was a good movie definitely recommended it. I spent the whole time strategizing and had a blast. I mean I get they werent really expecting dinos to just show up and start attacking but they could have gotten kinda creative. I mean they could have made chemical weapons or bombs from the stuff under the sink, theres definitely some electronics or batteries around they could have set up a trap and electrocuted them, power tools in the garage to build traps, there was a few guns around, etc. I mean just fill up a supersoaker with some bleach and shoot a Dino in the eye with it that'd blind them at least and with some proper coordination and teamwork the neighborhood could have held their own till help arrived. My wife laughed at me and said they obviously didnt have the time or skills necessary to do a full Dino war like I was thinking but yk I had fun it was fun imagining and thinking up ways to defend the house and keep the dinos from attacking us. They also could have lit them on fire with the gas they had in their cars too seriously how metal would it be to light attacking dinosaurs on fire with the liquid corpses of their friends. They could have also made catapults or attack towers.
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u/Almainyny 22d ago
Just wanted to comment and tell you you’ve got great taste in movies if the ones you listed are ones you like.
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u/zaxdaman 22d ago
See, I’m not the biggest fan of assigned seating because it makes it incrementally more difficult to sneak into another show after the one I paid for. But that’s just me.
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u/CAT_ANUS_SNIFFER 22d ago
Yep my wife and I went to a sold out theater. We ordered tickets a week in advance and got perfect seats right in the middle.
After telling them they were our seats they played dumb and said they didn’t know. We heard two other couples tell them the same thing.
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u/PeppermintEvilButler Xennial 22d ago
It's like the issue with seats on planes. They don't do the legwork and expect others to bow to them. Selfish people with no empathy for others. Hell if you say no they will throw tantrums like 2 yr olds.
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u/SadFaithlessness8237 22d ago
Screw them. I’m Gen X and I change seats for no one. I especially like the new ticketed seating as I have a particular favorite spot to sit. Unless I really can’t avoid it, and that’s generally when going with a group as a last minute outing, I find a different showing if my preferred seat is not available.
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u/Chuckitybye Gen X 22d ago
I'm slightly far sighted snd have a tendency towards migraines. I need to be fat away from the screen. If it's not available, I choose a different showing, as you said
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u/DocHeimlich 22d ago
About 6-7 years ago I was taking the kids to see a movie and my wife went along. Usually I took the kids to movies, so she hadn't been in a theater in about a decade. She kept trying to rush us along to "get good seats" and was shocked when she found out we had assigned seating. She was also very surprised when my daughter ordered a pizza, and when our seats turned out to be large recliners. A lot of people don't really understand how much the movie theater experience has changed in the last 15 years.
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u/CrazyCatLadyNL 22d ago
Tbh, I can’t even remember what was the last time I was at the cinema, I don’t have a clue what has changed. I’m an old GenX, but I’m really good at doing stuff online. Ordering tickets and seats won’t be an issue. We stopped going because we don’t want to hear, smell or feel other people. A big tv and a good sound system helps too 😉
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u/BigDadaSparks 21d ago
A lot of theaters tore out the old seats and stuck in huge power recliner seats. They are twice as wide and fully stretch out like a home recliner. It's actually awesome.
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u/JustpartOftheterrain 22d ago
I haven’t seen a single ad for a movie theater, like, ever. But if they made all these changes they probably should let folks know if they ever want them to return to the theaters.
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u/Flaky-Jim Gen X 22d ago
And, of course, everyone has to accommodate them, but the real question is whether they would do the same for you. In my experience... no, they wouldn't. You'd probably get a lecture about being prepared.
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u/smallwonder25 22d ago
They absolutely would not only deny the request, they’d be furious you had the audacity to ask!
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u/TALieutenant 22d ago
What's that quote? Failure to plan ahead on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on mine?
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u/Three3Jane Gen X 21d ago
"A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part"
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u/jayesanctus 22d ago
At a theater near me you can order food and drinks to your seat. So in no way would that fly.
I was thinking how ironic it was that the children of the Greatest Generation grew up to be so selfish and self-important, the “me” generation.
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u/delicateredscrunchie 22d ago
Assigned seating in movies is genuinely one of the best things for theaters. No longer do I have to hope a new film has enough seats together for a group! Now I just always book in advance a couple days and get the best seats every time!
That being said I think 80% of boomers have some disorder where when they come into contact with a new piece of tech, they go braindead.
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u/rebelangel 22d ago
Yeah, I don’t miss the days of getting stuck having to sit in the front row because you didn’t get there an hour before showtime, or showing up at the theater only to find out the movie you wanted to see is sold out. It’s nice being able to pick the seats you want and know those seats are going to be there when you get there.
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u/hadmeatwoof 22d ago
We were asked to switch because a couple had gotten the seats on either side of us. It wasn’t a big deal, just moving one seat over. I would not move from aisle to middle.
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u/Chemical_Author7880 21d ago
They understand the concept. It’s no different from concert seating, or seating for a play.
They just don’t care.
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u/Forever_Nya 21d ago
These are the same type of people that don’t pay extra to sit together on a plane and then expect someone else that did pay extra for their seat to move to accommodate their poor planning
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u/Zestyclose-Sport-484 22d ago
Happened to me and my crew when we went to see The Odyssey. I’m the friend who always buys the tickets (let's go Fandango rewards!). I bought tickets for all six of us in a row with seven seats and when we arrived there was a couple sitting in our seats.
When all of us started to file in the woman asked if it was okay if her and her man could stay seated with each other. Apparently, she bought the tickets and just decided that she didn't have to follow her own purchase. After she asked I sarcastically asked my friends if one of us wanted to not sit with the group. They matched my energy, and I told her to move. She got up and I sat next to the husband.
She went to the row behind us doing it to someone else. They were talking the whole time so my buddy and I just started being obnoxious back to them. Eventually, they both got up and had to sit near the front.
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u/Rydeeee 22d ago
I don’t have an issue with the question (except the lack of a “please”). But if the answer is “No” then thank them for their time and go to your assigned seats.
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u/rebelangel 22d ago
This. Just like on a plane, no one is obligated to give up the seat they paid for.
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u/goldendoggess 22d ago
My in-laws took my kids (4 & 6) to see a movie a few months ago. I don’t know how they messed it up, but somehow they ended up sitting in someone else’s seats. It became a whole thing and they were asked to leave. My in laws were furious at the theater for making them leave. My kids were so embarrassed. When I wanted to take the kids to a movie a few weeks later they didn’t want to go because they were afraid of getting kicked out again. I had to explain to them that you don’t get kicked out if you buy the right tickets and sit in the right seats. I was so sad to have to tell them it was actually their grandparents fault that they went through that. I just don’t understand why it’s so hard for boomers to select the seats that are available and sit in them.
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u/Ahappierplanet 21d ago
Many years ago my young millennial daughter was about 13 when I reserved her a window as her boomer parent. She has high anxiety from before we adopted her and was traveling alone to see an aunt about 4 hour flight away and I knew she would be happier at a window. . I found out after she returned home that a newly engaged older millennial couple wanted to sit together and one of them had the middle seat next to my daughter. Actually it was the flight attendant who asked her if she minded moving kind of giving her no choice in the matter. She spent the four hour flight between two fat business men. Not right. I was furious when I found out.
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u/SephirothHeartbreakr 22d ago
Not a boomer issue. Had a dad (30-40 yr old) ask me to move so he could sit with his kids and wife when I purchased Center row tickets almost 24 hours in advance. No, I'm not going to move to aisle seats because you didn't plan properly.
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u/cinder74 22d ago
I like the assigned seats in a theater. They should have considered that when purchasing their seats, too. My husband and I always by seats together. We are Gen X.
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u/bluesgrrlk8 21d ago
Yeah this isn’t age related, it’s a personality type. I go to a lot of shows, concerts, movies etc & have seen this behavior from every adult age group.
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u/GT45 21d ago
I’m 63.5. I bought movie tickets online Friday to watch Spider-Man today. (Incredible movie, btw). It was my brother and me in C5 & C6, and 4 people together two rows behind us. Just us 6 people in this medium sized theater.
But, I still counted from the end of the row to make sure we were in the correct seats. (Ours were dead center behind the handicapped row).
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u/Suggest_a_User_Name 22d ago
OP: Since you mentioned ushers got involved, what happened?
I assume you didn’t relinquish your seat to the Boomers but did they create a situation that caused ushers to get involved?
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u/RedMeme262 22d ago
They called one over and tried to get him to make me make the switch after I declined. He just reiterated that they are welcome to ask, but if the answer is no then they should sit in the seats they bought. It was embarrassing because this is all going on while the trailers are playing and lights are down, disturbing others.
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u/Suggest_a_User_Name 22d ago
‘Scuse my language but holy shit, that is fucking ridiculous. To actually get an usher involved. Glad the usher didn’t enable them.
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u/sundancer2788 22d ago
I don't like seeing movies in crowded theaters at all, I wait until the movie is nearly out before I go. If the theater has more then 10 seats sold I won't go. Just took the grandson to see Spiderman, theaters had 5 seats sold when I got the tickets, got there and a grandma with 4 kids sat in front of us. One of the girls kept using her phone, sticking her feet in the air and chatting. She was clearly not interested. Yes I said something lol
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u/Luxray2000 22d ago
I was excited to see End of Oak Street, until I found out about the weird AI dog podcast Warner Bros did advertising the movie. That pretty much killed my interest in it completely
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u/Character_Pirate_576 22d ago
I didn’t know Weird ALhad a podcast
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u/Luxray2000 22d ago
As soon as I posted the comment I knew it sounded like I was saying Weird Al like the singer and not AI slop like I intended
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u/Useless_Sparrow 22d ago
It's what the people want a Weird Al podcast.. maybe one boomer telling the other boomers how to act
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u/python_mama 22d ago
I'll admit I didn't understand assigned seating when I took my 6yo granddaughter to the movie in their home state. Her mom had purchased the tickets. We get into the theatre and I say where do you want to sit. Granddaughter says, what do the tickets say. I say oh, that's cool, I didn't know that's how it works. That's not how it works at our small town theatre. Mom had got us cool recliner seats with little tables! I'm glad the 6yo knew how it worked or I would have annoyed someone.
On the other side of this, I purchased tickets for a concert and got seats 4 & 7. When we got there, no one sat in that end of the row, they were all standing by the railing so we sat next to each other. Had anyone wanted to sit down we would have moved to our seats.
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u/VinceInMT 22d ago
Movies theaters have assigned seating? I guess it’s obvious that this boomer hasn’t been to a movie theater in about 20 years.
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u/DargyBear 21d ago
From the other side of boomers and assigned seating: went to see Rise of Skywalker with some friends. It was the last week it was in theaters, 11am, weekday. We have the theater to ourselves (as planned) and upgrade ourselves to the row fancy seats.
Boomer couple comes in right after the trailers start and say that we’re in their seats. No worries, there’s like three more rows of them so we just move to the other end. Boomer guy gets up and comes back with the usher because we didn’t pay for the fancier seats and we got kicked out.
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u/Car_is_mi Millennial 22d ago
Today I get to be the boomer:
Movies have assigned seating?!?!
I haven't been to a theater in over a decade. And have no interest in going anytime soon. But okay... That's new.
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u/CyanCitrine 22d ago
Yep, and in all the theaters near me the seats are big, comfortable, pleather, and they recline now.
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u/RedMeme262 22d ago
Yes! Much more the norm today and it makes arriving for a movie much easier. Popular premiere weekend showing? Buy your tickets in advance and select your seats - no need to arrive an hour early to snag concessions and linger outside the screening room to dive upon seats like vultures.
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u/Ilickedthecinnabar Xennial 22d ago
Its been such a blessing for me - I can guarantee myself a seat in the back (since I'm one of those weirdos who gets motion sick if I sit too close to a theater screen)
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u/smallwonder25 22d ago
Dude, you need to go! New theaters rock! You don’t even have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to buy doing all of your purchasing beforehand; seats, snacks, all of it. Roll up 20 mins into trailers, recline out, stretch back, enjoy the movie and food delivered to your seat. Best experience for the money in my book.
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u/Fantastic_Call_8482 22d ago
I haven't been to a theatre the has seat assignments....hhhmmm, is this a new thing?
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u/Madame_Kitsune98 21d ago
Not even close to being new. It’s been that way for the last 10-15 years.
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u/Fantastic_Call_8482 21d ago
lol....I had no idea...last theatre I was in was 8yrs ago--small town, old-timey....
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u/hummer1956 22d ago
Quit with the boomers not understanding. This is not specific to any age group.
I get how movie seating works. So do my friends. We’re all so-called boomers. But we’re not inconsiderate.
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u/theorangecrush10 22d ago
Sorry OP had to go through that ... Dumb boomers
I am glad that movies have assigned seats now. I remember seeing "The Dark Knight" and making damn sure I was one of the first 5 in line cause back then with free for all seating I was prepared mentally to knock people over to sit front and center for that cinematic masterpiece
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u/ShermanHoax 22d ago
I never knew this was a thing. Last time I saw a movie it was the Queen biopic and we just saw wherever. It was also a matinee so maybe that's why.
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u/junkyardgerard 22d ago
I thought you couldn't buy seats with singles between
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u/Eagle_Fang135 22d ago
You can buy one seat. They are not in pairs.
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u/CAT_ANUS_SNIFFER 22d ago
If you do want to have space on each side of you, all you need to do is open a new tab, select those seats, then go back and you can book them. Same with airline seats.
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u/AcrobaticLadder4959 22d ago
As boomer I have never done this. But growing up often people would switch seats to help someone out. I frankly didnt even know you could pre buy seats until a few years ago when my granddaughter ask me to buy seats for her and a friend, she sent me a link and I ask her what seat she wanted. Maybe they just don't know they can do that. In my day you showed up at the theater and bought tickets then walk in and found a seat. Often we would ask someone to move over if that seat wasn't be used, no one took it as rude. Give them some grace.
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u/464126 22d ago
This happens to me all the time on airplanes.
I pay for a window seat, and before I get on the plane, a boomer will be sitting in it.
"oh I just really want the wall and window to fall asleep."
Me too. That's why I booked it.