AMC movie theater worker threatens mother with fine for turning on flash to film tween daughter dancing during Taylor Swift concert film
A cinema worker has come under fire for allegedly threatening Swifties for using their phones with flash on to record during Taylor Swift’s concert film.
The film version of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour was released on October 13 and has since sparked a debate about cinema etiquette.
Jennifer Smith, 39, of Alabama took her 10-year-old daughter to the movies at an AMC and was threatened by an employee for filming her daughter with the phone flash on during the movie.
Smith said, “I suspect someone complained, so an AMC employee came up to our group and said to our group, “If you turn on your flash again, you will be charged a $50 fine.”
“One of the moms chased him away and told him, ‘This is not the experience Taylor Swift wanted.’ We’re just having fun with our little girls,” she said.
A movie theater worker threatened Swifties for using their phones to record with flash during Taylor Swift’s concert film. The film version of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour was released on October 13 and has since sparked a debate about cinema etiquette
Swifties have sparked widespread controversy with their behavior during the film, which has been described as a ‘one-in-a-lifetime concert experience’.
Audience members stood up and danced to Taylor’s hits, did conga lines across the theater, belted out the lyrics and even did cartwheels and backflips in front of the screen.
On one side of the debate, it’s argued that the film should recreate the concert experience – especially for people who weren’t lucky enough to score tickets to Swift’s live shows. For those people, the movie was their chance to have fun and sing and dance along with the pop singer.
Other people disagree, saying that a movie theater is not a place to stand or even whisper – let alone perform acrobatics in front of the audience.
People took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their thoughts on the argument.
One user said: ‘Eras was NEVER going to be a traditional movie experience, you’re crazy if you thought people would just sit quietly and not react, sing or dance. That said, YELLING is actually really annoying, like you need to shut up. Also, don’t block the screen.’
Another person said: ‘Anyone filming at the Eras Tour Movie has literally zero respect and it’s fucking annoying ESPECIALLY if you do it with the flash on and film yourself???’
Another person opined: ‘Loved the Eras tour film, a lady in our theater gave out glow sticks for everyone to use! Except the people in front of me were recording THEMSELVES with the FLASH ON. As if they weren’t recording the movie, they were recording their faces while watching the movie. It was quite annoying.’
A fourth added: ‘They should have made two types of The Eras tour films – one for all the annoying people to shout and sing and another for people who don’t sing and just watch.’
A cinema worker shared a creepy 10-second clip of security footage showing Taylor Swift fans dancing hand-in-hand in a circle at the bottom of the screen during a screening of the pop superstar’s Eras tour documentary.
The grayscale security footage, which contains no audio, shows a group of viewers gathering in the aisles of the theater and staring straight ahead as if hypnotized by the film.
Taylor Swift encouraged her fans to continue having fun with her movie. She said of . . wow, just thank you!!!’
Jennifer Smith, 39, of Alabama took her 10-year-old daughter to the movies at an AMC and was threatened by an employee for filming her daughter with the phone flash on during the movie
Taylor Swift encouraged her fans to continue having fun with her movie. She said of . . wow, just thank you!!!’
Swifties have sparked widespread controversy over their behavior during the film, which has been described as ‘a unique concert experience’. Audience members stood up and danced to Taylor’s hits, did conga lines across the theater, belted out the lyrics and even did cartwheels and backflips in front of the screen
There is one on the AMC website list of rules that outlines behavior they won’t allow in the Taylor Swift movie.
The website said: ‘Here are helpful tips you should know before heading to this epic, one-of-a-kind concert film experience
‘Taylor Swift Eras clothing and friendship bracelets are strongly encouraged! Masks (other than standard face masks used explicitly for health and safety reasons) are not permitted.
“We encourage dancing and singing during this concert film event, but please do not dance in our seats or block other guests from viewing, walking safely, or leaving the venue.
‘Feel free to take selfies and group photos, but you are not allowed to record the concert film on our big screen.
‘Have a good time, but respect other guests who enjoy the concert film or other films at the AMC.
‘The running time is 2 hours and 48 minutes, plus approximately 10-15 additional minutes for pre-show and trailers before the concert film begins. Outside food and drinks are not allowed. Tickets are non-refundable.
‘This concert film experience is excluded from A-list reservations. Passes, exchange tickets or discount tickets may not be used.’