I was at the movie with a couple of friends to see Top Gun Maverick on an IMAX screen in Brussel. During the projection one of the spectators was talking loudly for a while and it started to be irritating. Some people
Shhhh the person but he kept talking loudly and acted confrontative. So the person Shhh him stopped and tried to continue enjoying the movie.

I wasn’t feeling well and/secure with this situation because I don’t like violence and it seemed that this situation was going to develop badly since the rude person acted territorial about it and looked confrontational.

Like a good geek / Socially awkward person and non confrontational I was pondering leaving the projection and/or looking for a staff member to denounce the situation.

Still, I paid 17€ for the ticket and I didn’t want to stop looking this awesome movie I otherwise enjoyed so much.

Enter the internet device most of us have in their pocket, dark mode to not annoy people around me and googled “kinepolis Brussel security” and low and behold they have a procedure for this type of situation!

https://kinepolis.be/fr/faq-page/experience-cinematographique/que-dois-je-faire-en-cas-dun-probleme-dans-la-salle

Texted a message about the situation according to the instructions and within 3 minutes came a 2 persons squad from security. They went looking approximately where I told them the disturbance was and I didn’t looked too much what was happening behind but the dude and his gf/wife left the projection mid movie and the whole attendance was relieved.

It still was shitty to pay 17€ and feel insecure at the movie but I still want to thanks the gentlemens that discretely handled the situation.

Just wanted to share this LPT.

15 comments

  1. I thought this was basically plastered on the walls in all of the kinepolis rooms. I know in Antwerp theres the sign that goes “text room number + whatever code” to some number if there is anything wrong here.

    ​

    Good to know it works.

  2. I’ve stopped going to Kinepolis for two reasons:

    – 17€+ and commercials are shoved down your throat, sure I’m going to buy those tampons now that you showed me the commercial twice even though I’m a man…

    – Amount of salt in a popcorn is a crime on humanity, this crap is borderline vomit inductor

    – Ever tried to opt out from their marketing emails? 17 pages of checkboxes and no respect to your privacy what so ever

    I hope that one day someone will figure out that people go to cinema for movies (insert board meeting meme here) and maybe making the actual experience good could pay enough? Someone gets paid way to much for looking for alternative sources of income and it shows.

  3. Just fyi Kinepolis and UGC are always on social deal, the tickets are about 8€ for UGC and 9€ for Kinepolis

  4. I had the same expirience at Kinepolis, also while watching Top Gun Maverick. I went to see the movie with my mom and when we got there, 2 drunks were sitting in our seats. And two other friends sat behind them. When i told them theu were sitting in our seats, they moved but because they smelled so bad i told my mother in a foreign language to move one over. When they saw thay they started insulting us in flemish thinking we didnt understand them. The guy behind them was even encouraging one of his friends to come sit right next to me. But basicly the whole movie they were talking and the smell was just horrible. At a certain point i thought we had bought 4DX tickets because when they were showing the scene in the bar, i felt like i was there in the bar with them because of the smell and noise of these drunks. I considered snitching on them to the personal. But they were 4 and i took my mother, and i didnt wanna take any chances. That was my top gun maverick in kinepolis story.

  5. Funny story: We once had a team event in Kinepolis and the CEO was doing his bit in front. One of my co-workers texted the number on the wall saying “Jammer dat het licht nog steeds brandt in zaal 17, doet wel een beetje af aan de ervaring.” Lo and behold, after about 2 minutes they actually dimmed the lights.

  6. I’ve had so much bad experiences in both kinepolis and euroscoop. But i have to admit. I’m very sensitive to people eating and especially talking.

    I live close to a local movie theatre now and the difference is huge. The crowd is so respectful towards eachother. You can even take your Duvel or other beers inside the room. So if you have the chance to go to a smaller theatre , don’t hesitate!

  7. Too bad it’s only available in Antwerp & Brussels. This would be a great idea in all cinemas. It would make the Kinepolis prices easier to swallow if I knew I could have assholes removed from the room.

  8. I once told a guy if he didn’t put his phone away, we’d find out if his prostate would be able to send text messages.

    That one worked as well, but this one seems like the better option. Thanks!

  11. I went to Sonic 2 a couple of months ago and there was a group of younger girls who were constantly yelling, playing with their phones (screens at max brightness) and throwing popcorn around.
    It only started to get really annoying just before the break, went to the badroom and when I came back there was someone from the cinema there asking if there were complaints. Apparently those girls are there quite regular and cause quite some ruckus every time…
    I told them that they were really annoying and disruptive and that if they wouldn’t handle it, I would (done it before, I don’t pay money to be in a room with annyoing shits of any age, I pay for a movie)
    The cinema people handled it and alas, 2nd part was much better to enjoy.

    Point is: don’t hold yourselves back and go call someone from the movie theater to quiet the asshats up.

  12. Almost half my experiences at the cinema in Belgium were like what the commenters here described. Maybe I am just not an easy person to satisfy, but I can’t stand the noise from people talking, eating popcorn, opening candy wrappers etc. It all ruins the experience for me. Especially when some people think they entered the arena and are looking for a challenger.

    For much much less money I can enjoy the movie at home at my own comfort, watch/pause/continue the movie whenever I want, still eat something without bothering other people, not having to be bothered by other people and set the volume to my personal liking. I kind of wonder why cinemas still even exist.

    You can invite friends over if you like company. That way you hand select the people you know you can enjoy a movie with.

  14. As long as sociopath confuse attention for respect, loudness ensues. Sad it has come to this but whenever anything social reaches a certain scale, we do need guardrails and security for just a few. Thanks for sharing the LPT and surely helping others who just wanted to enjoy the show
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  15. In all the UGC cinemas, there is a black-red “CONTACT US” screen with a phone number for disturbance just after the ads and trailers.

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