Have you ever walked out of a cinema/theatre half way through a show?

AmberSpyglass sorry for the late reply. I’m glad it made you chortle, I have been laughing reading other posters submissions too ?

I went with my husband who gave me the entirely wrong impression of the films premise. I was angry with him afterwards, and he just shrugged his shoulders and said “how was I supposed to know, I didn’t read the whole synopsis” ??‍♀️

I anticipated a jaunt like Poirot or oceans 12 and saw some unspeakable things instead ?

I saw Cats not long after it had opened in the West End, and I hated it. Fast forward to 2001, and a friend and her daughter came over from America for a visit. The daughter had her 21st birthday whilst here, and at her request we went to see Cats, again in the West End. I absolutely loved it second time round.

When The Exorcist was released in cinemas, my friend and I (aged 14 ish) went to a Saturday matinee. After about 20 minutes, my friend was so frightened, she made us leave - to the jeers of the rest of the audience. Most of whom were our age. Oh the shame.

And, I walked out during the interval of some awful "comedy" play as it was so dull and very unfunny

Biggest regret was for getting tickets to the preview of Evita when it first opened in the West End, and forgetting we had them, until about 5pm on the day we were supposed to be going. We decided we couldn't be bothered to rush to get ready and get there on time, so decided we'd "get tickets for next week instead". It got rave reviews of course and we couldn't get tickets again for nine months . Saw it half a dozen times after that, as I loved it so much, and thought that Marti Webb was much better than Elaine Paige in the lead role.

Eloethan-i didn't walk out but you've reminded me about the play Closer.I felt exactly the same.

I saw a Restoration Comedy some years ago, starring John Nettles. A lovely voice but a dire play - we left at half time for a nearby Italian restaurant.
A few weeks later, a work colleague told me she’d seen it to and thought it was great and had ‘really cracked along’. Well, it was lost on us.

yes Showaddy waddy when the lead singer had lost his voice and a Karen Carpenter Tribute that didn't sound a bit like her

Yes both of us walked out of Wicked at the interval. Both of us thought it was awful.
Felt bad about it as DD bought the tickets for very good seats as a present, but was really not to our taste.

Yes I walked out of Pulp Fiction. Had gone with the neighbours and left them to drive home. I walked home all the way anything to get away from that awful film.

Oh yes. Thé Importance of Being Earnest. Love thé play and was looking forward to it but should have realised when looking at the cast. All «of a certain age». It was about an aged amdram group putting on a production of TIOBE. And the lead was an actor I cannot stand.
At the interval I put my coat on, DH asked if I was cold, I replied No I’m leaving. So we did.
Note to self. Check below the title Oh and it was a « stellar « cast. Very well known names. Travesty though

We walked out of the musical Cats during the interview. It was so tedious. Then a few years ago we left a play half way through. This was supposed to be a comedy and it was dire. Im almost sure they had theatre employees dotted around the audience to laugh loudly! There just wasn't anything worth raising a smile never mind a laugh.

Who remembers the days when some longer films had intervals? Well some friends and I went to see Spartacus and ‘walked out’ at the interval, not because we weren’t enjoying it, but because we thought it was the end of the film!

Oh and I fell asleep three times during Phantom of thé Opéra, does that count ?

OH and I walked out of a strange modern ballet years ago. We also walked out of a Tom Hiddleston film - High Rise? He is a brilliant actor and extremely good looking, but there are limits. Years ago I walked out of Performance with Mick Jagger. I took OH to see Dogville - a three hour film which is quite violent. OH wanted to leave after 10 minutes, but he stayed to the bitter end. I loved the film but people were leaving in droves.

Lady in Black. Lucky to be near the West end. Theatre land. Missing it

Walked out of a dreadful show about Margaret Thatcher and the Queen. Can't even remember the name. My friend and I waited until the interval so as not to disturb others, but that's 75 minutes of my life and £29 I'll never get back!

Fernhillnana

Yes I walked out of Pulp Fiction. Had gone with the neighbours and left them to drive home. I walked home all the way anything to get away from that awful film.

Now that is my favourite film ever! I love all Tarantino’s work.

We once got free tickets to a cinema, back when a Sunday paper gave them away, and we went to see a film whose title I don't recall but we decided it was a dated thing that looked like the old Rock Hudson/Doris Day films, we left after about 15 minutes and weren't the only ones! Later found out that it was meant to be like that.
I wanted to leave Titanic, such a tedious film.
When we went to see a Clint Eastwood film, Unforgiven, I spent most of the film in the foyer doing a crossword.
I didn't want to go back in Phantom of the Opera after the half-time drinks!

Aeons ago, but a whole group of us walked out of the cinema only about 5 minutes after ‘Song of Norway’ started (IIRC about Edvard Grieg) since it looked so cringe-makingly corny.

I’d have liked to walk out of Les Mis (just too Mis for me). It did get a bit better but IMO too long.
The only bit I really enjoyed was the ‘Master of The House’ song, with Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. Brilliant.

An Elton John concert !
It was at the old Wembley Stadium and the support bands - Rufus with Chaka Khan, The Eagles, The Beachboys compered by (at the time) Radio 1 DJ Johnnie Walker. It was at a time when Elton was wearing pretty outrageous outfits for his live concerts, so we sort of expected the same - but no, he ambled on the stage wearing just jeans and a t shirt with a cap, no huge sparkly specs even.
He went on to just sing form his album Captain Fantastic that hadn't even been released in the UK. We left after 20 minutes, we were that bored! A great shame as the other bands had been amazing
At least we had no trouble getting onto the underground and catching an earlier train home !

I walked out of a Tribute show, it was so bad it was embarrassing. I did wait till the interval tho !

Never walked out but didn't 'walk in' until The PetShop Boys had finished their gig at Knebworth, I find them extremely irritating for some reason. The rest of the gig was great, Status Quo, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins and Pink Floyd were superb. We used the Paul McCartney and Wings set to find the loos and refreshment, I find him so dreary, but when they started singing Beatles stuff they were fine.

Took my then 15 year old daughter (who was preparing for her GCSEs) to see Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' at a city theatre. it was produced by Michael Bogdanov and starred Vanessa Redgrave.

Far from being a magical island, the setting imagined by Bogdanov was one of a sink estate with a backdrop of burned out cars. Redgrave was full of herself rather than the character, and, I thought, embarrassingly OTT.

We walked out in the interval. Fortunately, it didn't put my daughter off English literature for life! Should have asked for our money back.

Oldwoman70

I'm with Bluebelle when it comes to The Greatest Showman - I have never got past the first 20 minutes, believe me I have tried.

You've got further than I did, couldn't see the appeal though I'm not a fan of musicals.
I've tried the Tolkein films, never got beyond 10 minutes, I never liked the books either.
I wouldn't go and see Chariots of Fire because I don't like sci-fi!! Older members may remember the books around in the 60s.

I don’t remember but when I was about 6 my parents took me to a pantomime as a treat. I wasn’t able to walk out but luckily I’d had the foresight to bring a book in my bag! Needless to say I didn’t get a treat like that again ?

Cats the film was hilarious. That’s how I coped with it. My husband thought it was great. When Judy Dench started to sing I shouted out ‘ No Judy don't’. The cinema audience laughed. Couldn’t help myself!!!!

Clockwork Orange. Too violent. Also, Midnight Cowboy. Dustin Hoffman coughing made me feel sick. My Little Pony... fell asleep !