Coming to a Theater Near You

While the comfy seats, butter-soaked popcorn, red velvet curtains and irresistible candy are beckoning for a return to entertainment, some may have forgotten the preferred etiquette for watching a movie in public. This holiday blockbuster season, UScellular is reminding moviegoers how to best use, and not use, smartphones as part of the theater experience.

“Visiting local movie theaters is a beloved holiday tradition for so many and we are happy to see a safe return to doing so this season,” said Mike Burwell, director of retail sales and operations for UScellular in Illinois. “Our smart devices can be a helpful tool as people head back to the theatre — from researching movie listings to booking tickets; however, we want to remind everyone how important it is to do their part in creating an enjoyable, and distraction-free, experience for all.”

According to a UScellular survey, 52% of respondents considered smartphone usage inappropriate in a movie theater. UScellular shares the best practices for using smart devices for your next trip to the theater:

• Use apps to simplify the experience: IMDb is helpful for researching movie plot lines and identifying favorite actors making an appearance. Once a film is selected, Fandango provides upcoming movie times and the option to purchase tickets.
• Go mobile for entry: Purchasing tickets online in advance not only ensures a spot in the theater, but many theaters will accept digital versions of the tickets purchased via a smart phone for entry, helping keeping lines short.
• Turn off or silence notifications: If completely powering down devices is out of the equation; using a smart phone’s notification settings to modify alerts to minimize disruption is the next best option.
• Lower screen lighting: While it is recommended to avoid using a smart device at any point while in the theater, if there is an emergency, lowering a screen’s brightness will help reduce the disruption to others sitting nearby.