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Box Office Etiquette: Surviving Midnight Madness

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Box Office Etiquette: Surviving Midnight Madness

No one likes being the middle man in a lightsaber duel. And it's even more dangerous if you get in the way of a flock of middle-aged women stampeding to snap a picture with the nearest Edward Cullen cardboard cutout.

The world might be ending in 2012, but if it is, Hollywood is going out with a bang. Several big-name movies are on the docket for this year, including the next installment of the Twilight series, The Dark Knight Rises, The Hunger Games, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Hobbit, The Avengers, Step Up 4 and Bourne Legacy, to name a few.

With films of this caliber, there is but one thing on the minds of the die-hard fans: midnight showings. A place for stalwart aficionados to congregate in all their costumed glory, these midnight events attract the most devoted of the devotees. On the other hand, tickets also fall into the hands of less dedicated fans that are there as much for the people watching as they are for the cinematic debut.

Whichever camp you fall into, here's a couple rules of thumb to help you survive the midnight madness:

Dress the part.

And we're not just talking about selecting the proper bat-shaped mask or monkish hobbit robe, though of course these are important items of concern. If you're going to be waiting in a long line for the movie, comfort is key. And will you end up in the portion of the line that extends outside and wraps around the parking lot? Your best bet is layers. Bring options to suit either hot or cold temperatures, so you can more fully focus on decoding elfish jargon with your buddies or perfecting your dance moves in hopes that Channing Tatum will see your YouTube vid. And, in case of inclement weather, having a poncho on hand is never a bad idea. And just think - it can double perfectly as a Batman cape. Oh, and seen the commercials for Axe's newest cologne? Yeah. You might be better off saving that riot-inducing elixir for another occasion.

Feed the need.

Nothing can ruin a long wait more than a growling stomach. Plan ahead to combat the hungry blues by bringing along plenty of food. If you're waiting inside a theatre that doesn't allow outside food, make sure you have cash or card on hand to amply supply you with popcorn, Milk Duds and slurpees for the long hours ahead. If you think you might get jealous of a neighbor's snack stash, consider bringing extras and setting up a bartering system to spread the goods around.

Camp like a champ.

If you're serious about this midnight business, you might be looking at a rather extended waiting period. In such instances, the only way to dominate the wait is to brave the line like you're braving the great outdoors. Bring a tent, a sleeping bag, a folding chair - all the camping goods. Plug in your headphones with the sweet sounds of nature and you'll feel just one step away from lounging on the shores of Lake Tahoe. But, of course, certain outdoorsy activities such as mallow roasting and skeet shooting aren't your best bet. You wouldn't want to miss your movie because of an encounter with local law enforcement and a criminal defense attorney, after all.

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cliver Mar 2, 2012 @ 10:40 am | delete

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Pinkchic18 Feb 29, 2012 @ 10:00 am | delete

Great tips! I attended a Spiderman midnight screening a few years ago and it was a little bit of madness but not horrible. I can't imagine some of these really crazy ones! Sounds like fun though :)