Half the thrill of going to the movies is the crowd. Laughter rolls through the theater after a great punchline, a jump scare gets everyone screaming in unison, and big action scenes spark cheers like you’re at a sports game. But sometimes, that excitement goes off the rails. Audience antics can spark viral trends, bend (or break) the rules of theater etiquette, and in extreme cases, even cause chaos.
From Gen Alpha turning screenings into meme-filled chaos to conservative audiences pushing back against controversial films, and early moviegoers running out in fear, there have been plenty of times in history when the crowd stole the spotlight and sometimes even upstaged the movie itself.
Click through the gallery to
revisit the most unforgettable movie screenings that prove sometimes the real drama happens off the screen.