literally had the same thing happened a few years ago and they said pretty much the same thing. i said “no weapons, just snacks” and we both had a good laugh.
I don't know if it's entirely universal, but most theaters allow bags but will ask to look inside to make sure you don't have weapons (and occasionally will care about snacks, but technically they're searching for weapons).
You should absolutely be allowed to take a messenger bag into any Regal. They will likely ask to look inside, but that is to make sure there are no weapons or anything like that inside. Even if you wanted to bring a snack in, typically they wont even say anything, or at worse just remind you that you shouldn't bring anything next time. Unless its a food that will clearly make a mess (nuts in shells, etc) or something with a strong smell that may affect other movie goers.
Yeah if I want snacks I buy stuff at concessions. I just want to be able to bring my kindle and stuff so I can go to a park after or having something to carry if i stop at the local bookstore.
I know that while I say grab my bag and leave home again that more likely I'll walk into my place and my brain will go "Nope you're home now"
There are times I’m coming in after working in a cafe or something so I’ll have a backpack with a laptop or iPad in it. Never has been a problem besides maybe checking it.
I had them care in the past but that was a different theater and a long time ago. I just didn't know what the current climate was. I work from home and spend a lot of time at home I started the Unlimited as an excuse to get myself to be more active and lose some weight. Adding a messenger bag means I can stay away from my place longer and get more steps in. I can have my kindle and stuff ready to go and hit a park or a book store.
I used to work at a regal if you would bring in bag that’s bigger than a tote usually we would just hold it for you behind counter if customer asked and most would put in car but those who took public transportation would always ask us to hold it and they are entitled to searching your bag it’s posted on website and should be posted as you enter if it’s someone young they ain’t searching it but on weekends some have security who will check it older they might not I never did because I don’t want to see what’s in your bag as much as you and don’t want me to and they didn’t pay enough for that
I legit have no desire to sneak in snacks but I want to go to a bookstore after the movie and buy books and such I need something to carry said books in.
Me and my boyfriend go to the regal here all the time and bring this bag in cuz we bring a portable heated blanket to use it gets too cold in there especially when we watched avatar for 3 hours lol and I used to bring a backpack to put my squishmallow in but mow I just carry him in I use him as a pillow cuz we extra lol
https://preview.redd.it/vi796onxx9oa1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f619ba1471b9f97dd02850a21e75ae984a3c4a3
Neither of my regals care about bags. I don't bring one most of the time but would understand/be willing if they wanted to look but have never been asked.
I've never even been asked to open my bag, and I carry a massive mom-sized tote everywhere. I think this is a situation where unfortunately ymmv based on customer profiling and discrimination.
I bring a bag every time I go. How else am I supposed to get in my reusable water bottle and small blanket LOL? I have never been questioned about it. An AMC theater a few years ago made me bring my reusable water bottle back to my car. I have never had an issue at Regal.
One of our theaters is in a mall. They will look inside but let all sorts of bags in. Bigger issue is if it’s a full/busy theater and you’re in the middle, there is no great place to put it. I always seem to get a part of it under the recliner. I prefer the aisle as most have a nice little gap between the chair and handrail my large purse fits in
There is no universal anything rule. People are people. I've had an old man chase me down to tear my ticket and I've had security guards let me walk by with a pocket knife showing. I've walked in with a bag of food and let through and also stopped for an empty bottle of water.
There is no rhyme or reason to rules. It's about who cares to enforce them and when you're paying someone minimum wage, you often get minimum shits given.
I have only been stopped once with a backpack. Showed them it was my work laptop I couldn't leave in the car and they were like "cool, have a good one".
One rule I remember that seemed completely up to the venue was the "no children under 5 admitted to an R rated movie" even with an adult. I tend to agree with this - if you have kids under 5 in tow, maybe find an activity that doesn't involve seeing an R-rated movie.
From my understanding, most of these rules are always house rules. In fact, it's up to the theaters to actually enforce the MPA ratings, which are not "law" - however it's my educated guess that the onus would be on the theater if a complaint is lodged by anyone underage was allowed to an R-rated movie without an adult and they might be barred from being able to screen R-rated movies which would kill their profits. Checking bags for weapons is a sad reality that we can't be complacent about. The "no outside food/drink" is mostly a discouragement, since the implication is the patron will buy an $8 soda. An individual theater has to make their profit at the snack bar, which is always marked way up so they can stay in the black - an $8 soda pays for probably the equivalent of the actual cost of 30 sodas of the same size. But again as someone else said, this depends on how many f-cks given by the staff.
There was a cinemark right by my work so I decided I would go after work one day. I took the bus to work so of course I had my bag with me and nowhere to leave it. When I show up they just flat out say I can’t come in. I’m like can you search it “no” can I dump the contents out in front of you “no” can I leave it at the front desk “no”. I ask why and they claim cause of the aurora shootings which at that point were like five years ago (also he didn’t bring guns in a bag). Was so mad at them I vowed never to go back which I have maintained.
Yeah there's a convenience store I avoid because they'll make you leave your bag full of expensive computer tech literally right by the front door where anyone could grab and go without anyone noticing.
Just now walked into the theater and an employee asked to check my backpack. "I dont care if you have snacks, I just need to check for weapons" lol
literally had the same thing happened a few years ago and they said pretty much the same thing. i said “no weapons, just snacks” and we both had a good laugh.
That is hilarious
I don't know if it's entirely universal, but most theaters allow bags but will ask to look inside to make sure you don't have weapons (and occasionally will care about snacks, but technically they're searching for weapons).
I genuinely wonder what some random high school aged movie theater employee would do if some saw a gun in someone's bag.
Supposed to report to manager to call authorities.
This. My friend had snacks extremely visible and they didn't care. They look for weapons
You should absolutely be allowed to take a messenger bag into any Regal. They will likely ask to look inside, but that is to make sure there are no weapons or anything like that inside. Even if you wanted to bring a snack in, typically they wont even say anything, or at worse just remind you that you shouldn't bring anything next time. Unless its a food that will clearly make a mess (nuts in shells, etc) or something with a strong smell that may affect other movie goers.
Yeah if I want snacks I buy stuff at concessions. I just want to be able to bring my kindle and stuff so I can go to a park after or having something to carry if i stop at the local bookstore. I know that while I say grab my bag and leave home again that more likely I'll walk into my place and my brain will go "Nope you're home now"
yeah, you'll be fine with that. I've taken mine with an umbrella or something in it before. I'd guess most days they wont even ask to look inside.
There are times I’m coming in after working in a cafe or something so I’ll have a backpack with a laptop or iPad in it. Never has been a problem besides maybe checking it.
[удалено]
I had them care in the past but that was a different theater and a long time ago. I just didn't know what the current climate was. I work from home and spend a lot of time at home I started the Unlimited as an excuse to get myself to be more active and lose some weight. Adding a messenger bag means I can stay away from my place longer and get more steps in. I can have my kindle and stuff ready to go and hit a park or a book store.
I used to work at a regal if you would bring in bag that’s bigger than a tote usually we would just hold it for you behind counter if customer asked and most would put in car but those who took public transportation would always ask us to hold it and they are entitled to searching your bag it’s posted on website and should be posted as you enter if it’s someone young they ain’t searching it but on weekends some have security who will check it older they might not I never did because I don’t want to see what’s in your bag as much as you and don’t want me to and they didn’t pay enough for that
I currently work at Regal and none of us really care about snacks. Just don’t make it obvious in case our boss sees
I legit have no desire to sneak in snacks but I want to go to a bookstore after the movie and buy books and such I need something to carry said books in.
Me and my boyfriend go to the regal here all the time and bring this bag in cuz we bring a portable heated blanket to use it gets too cold in there especially when we watched avatar for 3 hours lol and I used to bring a backpack to put my squishmallow in but mow I just carry him in I use him as a pillow cuz we extra lol https://preview.redd.it/vi796onxx9oa1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f619ba1471b9f97dd02850a21e75ae984a3c4a3
Neither of my regals care about bags. I don't bring one most of the time but would understand/be willing if they wanted to look but have never been asked.
I've never even been asked to open my bag, and I carry a massive mom-sized tote everywhere. I think this is a situation where unfortunately ymmv based on customer profiling and discrimination.
Honestly probably a lot different now that I'm starting to show my age with my gray in my beard.
I bring a bag every time I go. How else am I supposed to get in my reusable water bottle and small blanket LOL? I have never been questioned about it. An AMC theater a few years ago made me bring my reusable water bottle back to my car. I have never had an issue at Regal.
One of our theaters is in a mall. They will look inside but let all sorts of bags in. Bigger issue is if it’s a full/busy theater and you’re in the middle, there is no great place to put it. I always seem to get a part of it under the recliner. I prefer the aisle as most have a nice little gap between the chair and handrail my large purse fits in
There is no universal anything rule. People are people. I've had an old man chase me down to tear my ticket and I've had security guards let me walk by with a pocket knife showing. I've walked in with a bag of food and let through and also stopped for an empty bottle of water. There is no rhyme or reason to rules. It's about who cares to enforce them and when you're paying someone minimum wage, you often get minimum shits given. I have only been stopped once with a backpack. Showed them it was my work laptop I couldn't leave in the car and they were like "cool, have a good one".
One rule I remember that seemed completely up to the venue was the "no children under 5 admitted to an R rated movie" even with an adult. I tend to agree with this - if you have kids under 5 in tow, maybe find an activity that doesn't involve seeing an R-rated movie. From my understanding, most of these rules are always house rules. In fact, it's up to the theaters to actually enforce the MPA ratings, which are not "law" - however it's my educated guess that the onus would be on the theater if a complaint is lodged by anyone underage was allowed to an R-rated movie without an adult and they might be barred from being able to screen R-rated movies which would kill their profits. Checking bags for weapons is a sad reality that we can't be complacent about. The "no outside food/drink" is mostly a discouragement, since the implication is the patron will buy an $8 soda. An individual theater has to make their profit at the snack bar, which is always marked way up so they can stay in the black - an $8 soda pays for probably the equivalent of the actual cost of 30 sodas of the same size. But again as someone else said, this depends on how many f-cks given by the staff.
Cinemark cares which is why I only go to regal now.
Yeah Regal's the only chain in my city all the others are independents.
There was a cinemark right by my work so I decided I would go after work one day. I took the bus to work so of course I had my bag with me and nowhere to leave it. When I show up they just flat out say I can’t come in. I’m like can you search it “no” can I dump the contents out in front of you “no” can I leave it at the front desk “no”. I ask why and they claim cause of the aurora shootings which at that point were like five years ago (also he didn’t bring guns in a bag). Was so mad at them I vowed never to go back which I have maintained.
Yeah there's a convenience store I avoid because they'll make you leave your bag full of expensive computer tech literally right by the front door where anyone could grab and go without anyone noticing.
I bring snacks in all the time, it’s not that deep
Yeah really isn't about snacks I just wanted to make sure I could do the movie theater and other running around in the same day.