If I were at a film premiere, where the crew & cast were present in the theatre for the viewing of the film, I would applaud. But otherwise, I just don't see the point at all.
And as far as I can remember, people didn't applaud at the cinema. Though I think I recall my mother saying when she was a kid the audience applauded - perhaps just for the projectionists even, because it was still a fairly new technology I suppose.
I remember when I was a kid, people used to applaud on airline flights when the plane landed. But not by the time I was an adult. Though I have been on a few flights in recent years where some people applauded. But by no means uproariously.
But the last few times I've been to the cinema, people have immediately started applauding when the credits started rolling.
I can't remember which movie it was the first time I noticed it. But I remember thinking it was a fluke... Could've been a 'fan-nish' movie. But then I went to see White Noise (because Michael Keaton was in it) last month, and applause at the end was uproarious with people clapping wildly for about a minute straight. Though I thought the film was fairly decent as horrors go, and I always like Keaton... the film by no means blew my socks off. And I heard a lot of people thought it was awful. And this was at the Cinemark Cinema in Moosic, Pennsylvania, so I hardly think it just so happened people involved with the film were at that viewing. So I don't think this is about the quality of the film, or the fan base.
Could it be a developing trend? Should I be expecting this the next time I go to the cinema? Is it just in my area... is this common elsewhere?
I've seen applause after movies that were "fan" types. Star Wars, especially. Sheer excitement for people who have waited and waited, I guess. It's not so much to express appreciation, the way it is in a live performance, but to show that you agree with the movie, or you get it, or it's your philosophy or just basically say something about yourself. A "Hell yeah" of sorts. I think.
I hear that people in Japan applaud when airplanes land. I don't know if it's true. Southwest airlines gets applause sometimes-- I think maybe cause people on the cheap flights are not very experienced travelers. And I've had applause when the ride was a little bumpy.
I hope it's not a trend. Both situations always make me feel a little weird. It's the teenager still in me who liked to make fun of people, mostly to avoid being made fun of herself. :)
Posted by Kim Wells | Sunday 13 March 2005 10:23AM
I've never been to any Star Wars movies. Ever. Never even seen any. haha. But I don't remember any applause at the cinema for Lord of the Rings, and that was a fan type movie. I don't think White Noise was a fan type movie... but I could be wrong. And it certainly does make more sense when there's die-hard fans there.
Yeah, I kind of worry about it being a trend too. It did make me feel uncomfortable. But I was more feeling like something was up... like I had the feeling that something was going on that I didn't know about. I mean, the applause started so abruptly that it wasn't like one person started clapping and everyone followed. Which made it seem like it was just to be expected. Like I should've been clued in, but never received the memo. haha!!
Not that I'll be joining the applause though. I really find the sound of clapping rather annoying actually.
Posted by Chloe | Sunday 13 March 2005 12:29PM
At a film festival or a showing where cast and crew could be in attendance, I can see clapping. At the opening night of Lord of The Rings or Star Wars movies in your local theatre, it's the geek factor; people who simply don't function normally in social contexts... that's the only thing that makes sense.
Posted by richard | Monday 14 March 2005 12:45AM
Well, when you go to a 'fannish' type movie... The "geek factor" is likely to be the majority. So the social context, in that sense, might actually be what's 'normal' for the geek factor in the majority. Kind of like, "When in Rome..."
But no matter what, I'm not sure if any of that applies to the movie White Noise. So I'm still at a loss about that.
Posted by Chloe | Monday 14 March 2005 9:07AM
I used to work at a movie theater in college. I remember lots of audiences applauding for all different kinds of movies. The same movies didn't get applause every night. My guess is that what happens is that one person starts clapping and everybody joins in, and it's not really a way of showing appreciation for the movie, it's a way of communicating with the crowd of strangers with whom you've just shared a good time. I think it's people saying to each other, boy, that was fun, I had fun, and I'm glad you had fun too!
I've actually clapped at a movie once or twice myself. The last time was at Shakespeare in Love. I couldn't help myself. I was so excited by the movie I just had to let it out in some way.
Only one other person applauded with me, a college girl I didn't know about five rows away. She and I laughed at each other but we were also glad to make contact, to find someone else in the theater who was just as moved.
Posted by Lance Mannion | Friday 18 March 2005 11:57PM
Lance Mannion: The idea of applause as a means sharing with fellow audience members sounds like the best explanation. But at the showing of White Noise I mention, the applause erupted all over simultaneously... so I wouldn't have thought of it as one person who decided to share and others reciprocating... It did seem contrived, like I wasn't clued into something. haha.
Posted by Chloe | Wednesday 23 March 2005 1:53AM
I still find it annoying when people applaud at movies.
If it's a movie festival with cast and director appearing, then I would applaud.
I just find it redundant to hear claps after a movie.
Posted by Lenny | Wednesday 29 August 2007 7:24AM
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I've seen applause after movies that were "fan" types. Star Wars, especially. Sheer excitement for people who have waited and waited, I guess. It's not so much to express appreciation, the way it is in a live performance, but to show that you agree with the movie, or you get it, or it's your philosophy or just basically say something about yourself. A "Hell yeah" of sorts. I think.
I hear that people in Japan applaud when airplanes land. I don't know if it's true. Southwest airlines gets applause sometimes-- I think maybe cause people on the cheap flights are not very experienced travelers. And I've had applause when the ride was a little bumpy.
I hope it's not a trend. Both situations always make me feel a little weird. It's the teenager still in me who liked to make fun of people, mostly to avoid being made fun of herself. :)
I've never been to any Star Wars movies. Ever. Never even seen any. haha. But I don't remember any applause at the cinema for Lord of the Rings, and that was a fan type movie. I don't think White Noise was a fan type movie... but I could be wrong. And it certainly does make more sense when there's die-hard fans there.
At a film festival or a showing where cast and crew could be in attendance, I can see clapping. At the opening night of Lord of The Rings or Star Wars movies in your local theatre, it's the geek factor; people who simply don't function normally in social contexts... that's the only thing that makes sense.
I used to work at a movie theater in college. I remember lots of audiences applauding for all different kinds of movies. The same movies didn't get applause every night. My guess is that what happens is that one person starts clapping and everybody joins in, and it's not really a way of showing appreciation for the movie, it's a way of communicating with the crowd of strangers with whom you've just shared a good time. I think it's people saying to each other, boy, that was fun, I had fun, and I'm glad you had fun too!
I've actually clapped at a movie once or twice myself. The last time was at Shakespeare in Love. I couldn't help myself. I was so excited by the movie I just had to let it out in some way.
Only one other person applauded with me, a college girl I didn't know about five rows away. She and I laughed at each other but we were also glad to make contact, to find someone else in the theater who was just as moved.
I still find it annoying when people applaud at movies.
If it's a movie festival with cast and director appearing, then I would applaud.
I just find it redundant to hear claps after a movie.
