WARNING: Given the nature of the question being answered, this post does contain SPOILERS for every single one of the mentioned films. We've placed the film titles first so you can decide which you'd like to read and watch! Please proceed with caution!
Recently, in a thread on the subreddit r/movies, Redditor u/scruffymovies23 asked movie lovers, "What’s a reaction to a movie you saw in theaters that you’ll never forget?" and people really came through with some absolutely A+ examples!
So with that in mind, here are just a few of the most popular responses shared:
1. 22 Jump Street (2022)
"I was recently rewatching the Jump Street movies and was reminiscing on the first time I watched 22 Jump Street in theaters and the wild reaction that happened when Ice Cube was revealed to be the dad of the girl Jonah Hill was dating in the movie. I remember the room felt electric when that reveal happened."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
2. Jurassic Park (1993)
"Nothing will beat seeing the T-Rex for the first time in Jurassic Park in theaters. The cup with the water, the sound effects, the acting — all of it was magic. It still gives me goosebumps to this day when I watch it again."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
3. Borat (2006)
"I saw Borat in the cinema with my brother and there was a lot of laughter throughout. However, an older couple sitting diagonally in front of us didn’t laugh once. Then Borat commented that his sister's 'Vagine hangs like sleeve of wizard.' The elderly woman gave a sudden shout of a laugh and then continued to laugh really, really hard. She can’t stop, and her husband was just looking at her with a surprised smile, like he hadn’t seen that side of her for many years. It was a really sweet, intimate moment to witness."
You can watch the scene here:
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4. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
"The night vision scene in Silence of the Lambs. Everyone held their breath."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
5. 127 Hours (2010)
"When 127 Hours came out, I saw it opening weekend. Aron Ralston was actually at the theater and gave a little talk beforehand. He made some jokes and talked a bit about his experience. Well, one thing he said was kind of a warning that the movie got pretty intense, and, if you're feeling light-headed, to just stay in your seat. You may pass out and that's OK, but that way you'd wake up right back where you are. No big deal. Everyone laughed and we got on with the show. Cut to the climax of the film when he is using his dull pocket knife to cut the nerve in his arm, and some guy at the front of the theater stood up and started walking up the aisle. He got about 20 feet before he faceplanted. He probably should have stayed in his seat."
You can watch the trailer for the movie here:
View this video on YouTube
6. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
"I was 14. My best friend's father took us to a huge, old, 600+ seat theater. The type that had a stage. It was completely sold out. I was sitting right next to the wall. When Darth Vader turned on the Emperor, the crowd got so loud that the walls shook. Not figuratively, either — they legitimately shook. 40 years later, it's still the greatest movie moment of my life."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
7. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
"I'll never forget because of the online hype and online advertising they were doing for the movie. I showed up at the theater and the lines were incredible. The thing I remember was all of the people who'd already been in a showing were hanging around the theater, seemingly shocked and confused, while crowds of people were still waiting to get in. It was less like a movie and more like an experience for everyone involved. I'd never seen anything like it, there was nothing casual about it."
You can watch the trailer for the movie here:
View this video on YouTube
8. The Departed (2006)
"When Leonardo DiCaprio got shot. The whole theater screamed, and I simultaneously heard: 'NOOO!' 'What?!' 'Is this a dream?' 'Holy shit!' Then silence."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
9. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
"When Michael Keaton opened the door to reveal he was the girl's dad: loud audible gasp from the audience. You can feel the movie shifted gears and the scenes that followed were intense."
You can watch the scene here:
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10. The Devil Inside (2012)
"At the end of The Devil Inside when the characters got into a car accident, the movie cut to black, and a URL appeared on the screen that said to go there for the rest of the story. The theater I was in went wild. People were yelling, 'This is bullshit!' and actively booing the credits. If this was after the days of alcohol being allowed in theaters I think they might have burnt the place down. I've never seen a theater so united in hatred of a movie."
You can watch the trailer for the movie here:
View this video on YouTube
11. Hereditary (2018)
"For a solid 5 minutes after the telephone pole scene, my theater was silent. Not quiet. Silent. It was almost oppressive."
You can watch the scene here:
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12. Avengers: Endgame (2018)
"When Captain America lifted Thor's hammer, the whole room went absolutely batshit."
You can watch the scene here:
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13. Cats (2019)
"I saw Cats in theaters four times. You could FEEL the sadness from the fans of the Broadway show, the confusion from the people whose first experience with Cats was this film, and the disgust from everyone in general. The barely contained laughter every single time I saw it — it was a weird feeling, and I loved it."
You can watch the trailer for the movie here:
View this video on YouTube
14. The Ring (2002)
"When Samara climbed out of the TV. It's the only time I’ve been in a theater where practically everyone let out a scream. I saw it with my then-girlfriend (now wife) and her two sisters. One of her sisters grabbed my leg."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
15. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
"My theater gave a standing ovation for Hitler being shot."
You can watch the scene here:
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16. Inception (2010)
"I saw Inception in a packed theater, but you could have heard a pin drop during the movie. When it ended with the spinning top, the whole place erupted."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
17. Oldboy (2003)
"I saw it in 2004 before it became a cult classic. It was playing for a week at an independent theater, I just knew the basic premise and wanted to check it out. The absolute silence when the credits started rolling at the end of the movie. Nobody even got up right away. We all just sat there, then slowly people started to get up and quietly leave. My favorite movie experience ever. I don't think any of us had any idea what we were in for."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
18. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
"Steve Martin's character introduction. I've never experienced a theater laugh that hard before or since."
You can watch the scene here:
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19. It (2017)
"It got to the garage part where the projector falls over and a giant Pennywise comes out of the wall. An older lady in front of me threw her popcorn straight up in the air and screamed, terrified, 'These white people are crazy!' I haven't laughed that hard since. I still think of it and chuckle to myself every once in a while."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
20. Rocky IV (1985)
"My audience counted down with the referee, and absolutely erupted when Drago was counted out!"
You can watch the scene here:
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21. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
"The entire opening sequence was a goddamn thrill ride. When the title card hit, my packed theater exploded with applause."
You can watch the scene here:
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22. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
"When Aragorn fought the leader of the Uruk Hai, my crowd popped at the ending like a wrestling crowd pops when a wrestler hits their finisher. That whole movie experience to this day is one of the best I’ve ever had. Everyone was super into it, and this was before the day of huge hype for movies like MCU or Star Wars. The end of that duel was just *chef's kiss*."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
23. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
"On the other end of this spectrum, I’ll never forget the kid in my audience who shouted 'GROSS' when Rey and Kylo Ren kissed."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
And finally:
24. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012)
"The fight scene at the end. I would give just about anything to experience the utter chaos of that unspoiled moment at a midnight premiere again."
You can watch the scene here:
View this video on YouTube
All right, you've read their picks, but now it's your turn! What's an audience reaction in a movie theater that you'll never forget? Share in the comments below!
Some responses were edited for length and/or clarity. H/T: Reddit.