Every Friday, Cinema Blend answers one reader question. Last week, we tackled the always contentious issue of seat-saving, and this week, we’re plowing forward with an equally divisive topic. If you have a question related to movies, whether it be theater etiquette or about one or more completed films, fire off an email to Mack@Cinemablend.com.
Under What Circumstances Is It Okay To Rest Your Feet On The Seat In Front Of You?
Aiden C. from Hattiesburg, Mississippi
If you walk into a sparsely populated theater, chances are you’ll see at least ten to fifteen percent of all the people in attendance with either their feet resting against the seats in front of them or their legs full on draped over the seats in front of them. To some, these pretzel-ish attempts to get as comfortable as possible are classless, immature and self-indulgent, while to others they’re perfectly acceptable ways to maximize the relaxation potential of the theater. So, where does Cinema Blend stand on the issue?
Well, in most cases we’re for it. Regardless of what the sixteen-year-old ushers might tell you, if there aren’t people in your immediate vicinity and you feel like tossing the leg up on the seat in front of you, we’re a big thumbs up. Rotate your ass in a circular manner and push back on your seat slightly until you’re able to come up with the exact position that feels closest to the one you normally take with using your couch and coffee table at home. You paid eighteen dollars to watch this movie on a big screen. You deserve to feel good while doing it, at least provided it doesn’t affect the good time of others.
And this is where this issue gets extremely complicated because there are some idiotic leg resters out there without any common sense or manners who give all of us a sketchy, asshole-ish reputation. So, let me go over some situations in which it is absolutely not okay for you to rest your feet on the seat in front of you.
#1) There is someone sitting directly in front of you.
#2) There is someone trying to make their way out of the aisle who needs you to move your damn leg.
#3) The theater is filling up and it’s clear new arrivals are interested in sitting where your feet are.
Those are all no-brainers. Now, let’s move on to something a little more complicated. Is it okay to rest your feet on the seat in front of you if there is someone sitting diagonal (or kitty corner, if you’re an old woman) from where you are now. Let’s go to a sample picture…
First of all, whichever of these two people sat down second is a weirdo considering how many quality open seats there are, but that’s beside the point. The question is can our friend with the yellow face put his feet up considering where the girl (or hippy) in the blue is sitting. The answer is yes. He is allowed to put one foot on the chair in front of him. Because she is sitting on the diagonal left of him, he is well within his rights to place his right foot on the outside of the seat in front of him, thus giving her a half seat buffer. Let’s take a look at a picture…
Everyone has their own little quirks and eccentricities when it comes to expected modes of behavior at the movies. In fact, it’s entirely possible you could go on a date with someone who may flagrantly violate these rules or on the opposite end of the spectrum, someone who might judge you for putting your feet up under any circumstances. That being said, these are pretty good common sense rules that should get you by with the majority of people in the majority of situations.
