Disturbing, cursing, attacking: the cinema outing has become a nightmare

For many moviegoers, a trip to the cinema has turned into a nightmare: young people disturb, curse, make a mess, and sometimes attack others during screenings. The phenomenon worsens during the summer vacation, and cinema chains have no clear-cut solution. Just last week, an indictment was filed against four teenagers who attacked an usher at a cinema in Rehovot. The cinema chains have issued responses condemning violence and reporting increased security and ushers.

For many moviegoers in Israel, a trip to the cinema has become a nightmare due to disturbances, cursing, filth, and sometimes even violence by young people during screenings. The phenomenon, which is not new, is worsening during the summer vacation, and cinema chains have no clear-cut solution. Just last week, an indictment was filed against four teenagers who attacked a 19-year-old usher at a cinema in Rehovot, after he asked them to stop misbehaving and smoking. The usher was injured in the face and required hospital treatment. Moviegoers report children talking on the phone, shouting, fighting, and leaving 'gifts'. Cinema chains, including Hot Cinema, Planet, and Cinema City, have issued responses condemning violence and reporting increased security and ushers, but moviegoers feel the solution is insufficient.