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

I agree about Lalaland. However I was watching it on a plane and could just switch it off.

Husband and I desperately wanted to walk out of the film, Cloud Atlas, but we were in the middle of a row and didn’t want to disturb anyone. A free screening so packed out, but what absolute rubbish.
A friend and I walked out during the interval of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. A professional production in our local theatre. Friend has just bought cheap tickets that were being touted at her work. It was sooooo boring. Starred that pretty actress that was Chesney’s first love in Coronation Street and then in Strictly. Apparently, according to the manager on the door, we weren’t the only ones that week who left early.

Husband and I really wanted to escape a theatre production of Nine to Five’ a few years ago. It was dire and so dated. It had Bonny Langford in it and so many screechy American voices. However, yet again we were surrounded and the people around were seemingly enjoying it, laughing along whist we were stony faced and puzzled! Coincidently, these were tickets we had won in a competition. I honestly feel the ones we loathed had probably given away a lot of free or cheap tickets to boost the audience numbers.

I left 20 into ‘The Good the Bad and the Ugly’

Just dreadful.

Agree about La La Land - utter rubbish. Unfortunately as I tried to sneak out quietly I tripped down the small step at the end of a row of seats and fell loudly into a heap. I was literally rolling in the aisle (and had a massive bruise on my hip to show for it).

I fell asleep during the first Harry Potter film - but I was heavily pregnant at the time. I declined an invitation to see Lord of the Rings, knowing that I'd be bored out of my mind.

Left Dirty Dancing at half time. It was the West End show and daughter and I love a live performance particularly if it has an orchestra. We sat four rows from the front there was no live music only taped and to add insult the performers lip synced (sp?) the whole way through which was very obvious sitting so close. Dancing was ok but not enough to make us stay for the second half.

No, unless you count the time that we were given free tickets to the opera by members of the orchestra who happened to be 'living' on a narrowboat near ours for the duration of the show.

They suggested we join them for a drink in the pub next door to the theatre (in Manchester) during the interval. We didn't realize as we left through the main entrance that we wouldn't be able to re-enter because although we could leave, the doors were kept firmly closed in the other direction
On discovering our mistake following that drink, we had to sneak back in back-stage with them, and barely made back to our seats in time ?
(Whether or not either of us really wanted to see the rest is another matter, but we didn't want to be seen as ungrateful!)

I made it through the Exorcist but only because I was with my friend and her boyfriend and we were all clinging onto each other. We were so scared they both stayed the night at my place, but my friend and I were both nervous wrecks for weeks afterwards. I was a horror fan before that but realised horror films had gone beyond my limits and I wasn't keen on them any more.

I walked out after 30 minutes of The Exorcist, some 45 years ago. It unnerved me for some months thereafter.

La la land was dreadful

No, never. I am ever hopeful that 'tosh' will get better as it goes on.

Once for a Shakespeare play at Stratford, one of those alternative productions, we were given the tickets. Once many years ago at the cinema, my boyfriend for the evening sat us in the back row and was far too frisky, so made excuses to go to the loo and didn’t go back.

I dislike musicals so don’t go to see them , it solves the problem of walking out.
I went to see Soldier Blue when I was 17 with my then BF , I loved it . I found it very sad and so sorry for the native Indians . I’d love to see it again to see if I’d feel the same watching it at 67 though.

I do recall some years back my husband and myself went to some theatre in West End - I cannot even remember now the play ? it must have been that bad! but oh my one of my funniest memories. We both sat there & left on the interval and headed straight for the nearest pub ?? my memory was mostly my husband’s face! He just looked so ‘wtf’ ?? I myself just got Into a fit of giggles laughing - I don’t really know why - I just kept looking at his face - we paid for the good seats as well!!! And the strange thing was as we left with others walking in front and behind us at the interval break we heard most of them saying how much they were so enjoying it! ?‍♀️We did have a laugh though.

Gwyneth I wonder if that was the same version of Romeo and Juliet that DH and I walked out of!
I have wished to walk out of a couple of ballets ? but didn't! However I have left a few concerts at the interval when the music of the first half was what I really came for!
I can’t think of any films, but I rarely go to the cinema, and when I do I pick carefully

I would have happily walked out of 'Aspects of Love' at the Birmingham Hippodrome back in 2008 - I thought it was AWFUL. (even with David Essex in it!). But we'd gone as a big group and I knew the friend who'd organised the trip would be upset if some of us left - and probably never organise another theatre trip again - so I sat through it.

I was very disappointed with both Phantom of the opera and Cats, but didn't walk out, I nearly walked out of La La land but felt sure it would get better .....it didn't ?

I loved blood brothers, I have to say.

2 Shakespeare plays at Stratford just didn’t get the drift of it. The Blues Brothers, and a few pantomimes. My absolute favourite is Blood Brothers seen it about six times still moves me to tears at the end.

I walked out at half time for Miss Saigon, I know everyone loves it but I thought it was boring and the sound was shocking. The fire alarm went off in the cinema in New York when we were watching The prequel to Wizard of Oz with Mila Kunis, all I can say to that is saved by the bell. Also left a show about salsa during the intermission, I can't remember the name of it but it never made it to the West End. I walked out of Priscilla Queen of The Desert, it was a terrible performance, usually my favourite show.

What a lot of varied responses, it really does go to show how much people’s taste varies both between different people, and also changes as we grow older.

We have when we are not enjoying it - we used to go to the theatre a lot (and will again!) and have left at the interval. It feels a bit odd, almost like sneaking out when we shouldn't but we've paid for the tickets and it's up to us if we want to leave!

A very early BF took me to the cinema to see Soldier Blue, aged 15. To this day I have never seen anything with more sickening violence than this film had. I was utterly traumatised by it for a long time afterwards.

Oh, West End Live was one of my favourite things another living in London! I miss it.

I went to a free event in Trafalgar Square with my granddaughter about three years ago - I believe it has been held each year. It consisted of the cast of several musicals performing sets from their shows. I thought it would be entertaining but I didn't enjoy it much and neither did my granddaughter. I was so glad that I had never paid good money to see the ones on offer, which included Wicked and The Lion King.

Generally, I'm not keen on musicals but I really loved Les Miserables and We will rock you.

As for for films, I agree with the poster who mentioned Event Horizon - very hyped and a lot of nonsense. Didn't like Avatar (dozed off once or twice) or any James Bond/Star Wars films.

I found Midnight Cowboy very moving, ditto Space Odyssey.

My son recommended TV series The Serpent. I thought it looked rather lurid and unpleasant in the trailers but I gave it a go anyway and found it really gripping. I felt so much admiration and sympathy for the member of the Dutch diplomatic staff who actually did the job he was supposed to do.

This thread just goes to show how different peoples' tastes are.