The decision came days after AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron first explained that the chain might experiment with texting-friendly theaters.
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After considering allowing a small selection of theaters to give moviegoers the option on whether to be able to text, AMC Theatres has quashed the idea after hearing “loud and clear” that their audience does not want this option available during their moviegoing experience.
The reasoning behind the move was the belief that “You can’t tell a 22-year-old to turn off their cellphone. That’s not how they live their life”. This time of focus in a darkened room is core to the experience of cinema.
Aron noted in his statement on Friday that AMC is investing more than $1 billion in the next few years to enhance its theaters in otehr ways.
“If ever, we only would pursue in a way we’d be totally confident all our guests will fully enjoy movie going experience at AMC”, he tweeted.
AMC Theatres is the second-largest movie theater chain in the United States, with some 364 locations – mostly in North America – including the Elmwood Palace, Clearview Palace, Westbank Palace, Hammond Palace and Houma Palace locally.
As Aron envisaged it, texting wouldn’t be a free-for-all in every screening.
Reader Carl Bonroy said, “if texting is allowed, we’re done. I love you guys for this”, added Shavonne.
“Regardless of your age, turning off your phone and focusing on a good movie is much-needed therapy”, Tim League, CEO of Alamo Drafthouse, said in a statement.
We want to know what you think on this issue. Texting in the movie theater?! But that is the scourge of our industry. How about we teach kids to act like polite members of society?
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Miles said at the April 2012 CinemaCon that a movie that appealed to younger audiences – she mentioned “21 Jump Street” with Channing Tatum – might be the place to allow cell phone use.
