Moviegoers, critics and even some industry insiders are blasting Alamo's new mobile ordering system which seems to go against decades of brand-building as a distraction-free cinema.
Guests looking to order concessions will now be required to use their phones to do so, even during the movie. Fans worry they’ll also use them to text and scroll through social media.
by Interactive_CD-ROM
26 Comments
This was reposted from a previous submission to better comply with rule #1. Thanks.
>*Alamo had no comment on the backlash, but* ***company insiders emphasize the “Don’t Talk. Don’t Text” policy will still be in place****, that staff will be trained to spot proper versus improper cell phone use, and that a service request button is being added to the mobile app for moviegoers experiencing any issues. Also, no staff cuts are currently planned as a consequence of the new system.*
Not surprising. Once Sony bought them, the Alamo of old’s time started running out.
I will not go back to Alamo until they update this which is a shame since I’ve been going a lot for the past year.
Forcing people to use their phones during a movie is idiotic…
Wasn’t that their whole thing that they don’t fuck around with movie disruptions?
I do not understand the appeal of Alamo Drafthouse, even before the relaxing of the phone policy. Who cares if someone is on their phone if a fucking dude is running up to the viewer next to you and delivering appetizers, dinner, and drinks? And then rolling back through during the climax of the movie to give everyone bills. The facade of a pure viewing experience is BS, you get a better time going to a regular theater without the annoying lit table service.
It’s not removing the no-phone policy, it’s mandating phone use in the theater. This is pretty much the death of the chain.
Yea I went to alamo 27 times last year, once this year I can already tell a difference.
Damn it, Sony! I guarantee you that this was their idea for the chain, too.
Oof
Honestly, listening to people gulp down food, smelling the chickens and the pizza and whatnot is more annoying than people on their phones. I can ask people to stop scrolling, or turn down the brightness. I can’t ask people to not eat
Alamo, in my experience, has never enforced the phone rule. The one time I complained about someone actively talking on the phone, I was told “what do you want me to do about it?”
Oh hell no.
Morons.
I canceled my Alamo Season Pass, going from paying them $20 a month (even in months where I only went once or not at all) + whatever food, to zero until they change course on this decision. i just absolutely refuse to take part in a movie theater experience where phones are not only encouraged but REQUIRED to get the full service of the theater.
Fuck that. That ruins the experience.
Two issues here. The glowing bright kills any sense of immersion and once people pick up their phones they just have to check their email, scroll Instagram, or something else that extends the infinite glow of the burning bush ass bright light vaporizing eyes without mercy in the dark.
Stopped going to Alamo when, during the big emotional death scene of A Star is Born, the waiter decided it was a good time to give me the check and hold out the card reader.
In the whole Magnited States?
To ruin this to do union busting is a nightmare.
I like the phone ordering compared to paper. But I also just love Alamo Drafthouse, and watching movies in theaters. Our Alamo encourages getting there 30min early to enjoy food/drinks and they play trivia on the big screen. They did a recap for 28 Years too since we were seeing the Bone Temple. I’m always happy to spend my hard earned money there, and I even tip generously just hoping it sticks around for at least a little while longer
Unpopular opinion, but I vastly prefer this.
Before the movie, I prefer to see the menu and place my order without having to push the button to call the server and verbally tell them my order. The theater is a noisy place regardless and not conductive to ordering. Especially considering the menu is super basic stuff. Not like you’re getting a recommendation on sauces for your steak.
Calling a server in the middle of the movie to then verbally give them your order in the middle of the movie is even more distracting than having a phone out. You are talking loudly and them moving through is blocking the movie. A phone screen light is minor compared to that.
Of course if I wanted to be fully immersed in a movie I wouldn’t go to a place that serves food and drinks in the theater. But this is a more casual experience like having a movie night at home. You don’t expect people to be quiet and not eat during a movie at home.
People shouldn’t allowed be allowed to order concessions once the movie starts anyway. This is so stupid.
Hot take: Alamo drafthouse has always sucked. It has never, ever been a “distraction free” experience.
Alamo’s “no phones” policy is what they’re known for. That would be like McDonald’s getting rid of the Big Mac, or Waffle House banning people from dining if they’ve been drinking.
I’m not seeing the controversy. It’s already one of brighter theaters.
All they have to is request that people ordering food dim their phone as well have a menu page that is itself already in dark mode.