I've only experienced that during a movie in, say, the midnight premiere of a popular sequel where people are really giddy. But I've experienced that everywhere including Paris and Prague.

I guess that's what you're referring to because it's hard to call applause during credits "inappropriate." Thought that's something I only experienced out of the States.

It's just fun. We're social animals. Nice to just go along with it instead of being judgmental.

Why is it considered inappropriate to be a participant with an enthusiastic crowd who loved the particular scene or movie? I think it is actually cool.

Where did you go? The only time I have heard applause at a movie is when the credits roll.

Yeah, but why? "Good job, projector. You shine ever so brightly among us. and you never missed the screen once during the whole movie!"

Or perhaps the crowd applaud themselves for successfully going to the movies again.

The possibilities are endless.

A social urge to show appreciation, even when the intended recipients couldn't ever possibly hear it. I've mostly seen it in cases where excitement was already high, like the first night of a highly-anticipated movie, where something exceptionally amusing just happened.

People sometimes express emotion in ways that don't really make sense.

Or maybe the audience enjoyed the movie?

I don't think it's any different from watching a sporting event and screaming and shouting when the team scores a goal. Even if you're all alone, you want to show appreciation.

Have you ever cried because of a movie? If so, why?

I'd argue crying is a much more primal respons than the somewhat arbitrary slap your open palms together to create a noise response.

Must be regional?

The only movie I've ever heard people applaud for was a very political movie (Fahrenheit 9/11). That's also the only time I ever had to stand in line for a movie as well. If it wasn't opening weekend, it was close to it.

having lived here 40+ years, and seen many movies, I think I've seen/heard applause or cheering maybe... 2 or 3x? At the end of a fantastic movie, there may be cheering. Massive stunt that fools everyone - maybe. But cheering/applause at the cinema in the US is certainly not common.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you have mostly lived in all white areas and or watched movies that appeal primarily to white audiences.

Go watch a Tyler Perry movie or the recent black panther if you want to hear lots of clapping or cheering during a movie.

In the last 15 years yeah. Before that probably somewhat more mixed area, but possibly so on movie choices. I don't go to many 'summer blockbuster' sort of movies any more.

I'll never forget the first time I saw a movie in Atlanta...

Do you not live in a big city? Nearly every movie I see ends in applause.

And when I saw Get Out...

Standing ovation at the end.

This happens every time I go to Japan Society in NYC to see an old Japanese film.

I guess it's because it takes effort to get some of those films in good quality or because someone that represents the restoration company is sometimes present, but I don't understand why we're clapping after seeing Yojimbo or some other common film that has been easily available in HD for quite a long time.

Anyway, "Americans clapping after X" has been a meme for some time.

You've never shouted at the TV then?

This is extremely rare, but when it does happen it's during movies where the applause won't detract from the experience - like, at the final explosion scene in a fun action movie.

> I don't understand why that's seen as appropriate.

Maybe we don't understand why you're not enthusiastic to see like, the Death Star get blown up.

No one here is applauding during like, art flicks.

Not everyone in the US does this. I don't usually. It's odd, honestly, because it seems intended to honor the people who produced the film.. but they aren't there to hear or appreciate it. So.. Not sure?

If the idea is just theatergoers feeling togetherness at experiencing the film with each other, then maybe it makes sense? Yet, it's quite different.

God save our gracious Queen... yet she's not there to hear it, most of the time. It's just in us.

Beats the heck out of shining a 1500 lumens torch everywhere in the theatre though. Or whatever output their iPhones produce, they all seem to be stuck at max brightness.

I found that weird, too. Along with using the term “theatre” for a projection event.

Are we not allowed to use our own words to describe things? I find it weird that in addition to our culture, foreigners are judging our language, seemingly just for fun.

Perhaps they are only using their own words...