Popcorn in hand, soda in the cup holder, comfortable seat position, and the previews are ending. I was thinking to myself, “This movie better be worth the $15 for the ticket and snacks.”

The movie began and so did the agony.

Almost every time I go to the movies, I encounter moviegoers who think they are still in the security and freedom of their own home. An award-winning movie in a theatre can easily go from the “movie of the year” to “annoying crowd of the year.”

Whether it is a little kid crying, a jolt to the back of my seat, or listening to the mouth of the person near me munch on a piece of popcorn, something always seems to ruin the movie for me.

The following rules outlined are not set in stone, but rather, they are rules of common courtesy and manners. Seeing as teenagers are most often blamed for these disturbances, it is important that you are aware of them so it won’t be easy for adults to blame us.

Chew with your mouth closed

This seems to be one of the most violated rules. Yes, you have popcorn. No, you do not have to chew so loud you produce your own sound effects. To avoid the gnawing cow sound, simply chew with your mouth closed.

Stop the slurp

The slurpees and the straws in the movie theater cups only fuel a person’s desire to slurp, or make loud noises in an attempt to finish all of the drink. Slurping is totally fine to get the last remnants of your drink, but is it too much to ask to do it AFTER the movie? If there is not a solid flow of liquid coming up to your mouth through the straw, your drink is empty; no need for the slurp.

Kick the kicking habit

Kicking the person in front of you most often occurs when a person forgets to use the restroom before the movie begins. I understand that kinetic motion keeps your blood flowing, but you can wait to do that until after the movie. The last thing I want as a movie theater patron is to be watching a romantic love scene and to suddenly be kicked in the back.

Save the commentary

Keeping your thoughts to yourself is extremely important. I could care less about how “hot” the actor on the screen is, or how “poor” the actor acts. I paid money to listen to the movie, not to hear play-by-play commentary.

Silence your phone

Turn your phone off! Movie screens even remind you multiple times to turn off or silence your phones. Follow the directions; they are for your sake and the sake of people around you.

Stay seated

In the middle of an action scene, nobody wants the person in front of them to stand up and say “excuse me” after they pass each seat/person. Take care of any and all business before the movie begins. Also, always look for the closest exit route in the theatre. When you walk across the middle of the room to get to the exit, duck down to avoid blocking the view of someone else.

Age appropriate please

Lastly, bring only age appropriate children to a movie. If the child cannot sit in their seat for a few hours before throwing a temper tantrum, hire a babysitter. If the child talks incessantly, leave them at home. The same rule goes for R-rated movies. It may seem cool to see a scary movie if you are underage, but loud obnoxious screams in the middle of a scene from being terrified of a movie their parents brought them to.

These rules are simple to follow, but yet the typical moviegoer still believes they are in the comfort of their own home. The next time you are at a movie, be courteous to others.