Have you ever walked out of a movie because it was so bad?
Our parents would take my sister and me to drive-in theaters with double or triple features at least once a week for most of our youth. I vividly recall Mom taking us to see Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Cleopatra at the newly opened Century South Theaters. It was our first family movie experience at an indoor theater.
Years later, both my sister Bobbi and my future wife, Loralyn (“Dodie”) would work there at the ticket booths and/or concession stand.
Some time ago, I wrote movie reviews so often that I would see several new motion pictures regularly each week before they were released to the general public. It is little wonder my oldest son became a movie director and writer in Hollywood. On IMDB, you can see which movies he made (Mark Dennis) and the ones that I have been in (Jack Dennis).
Today, while taking a break from writing, I thought about which movies I have actually walked out of. Here’s my list:
● 1986 Howard the Duck (Tim Robbins)
● 1996 The Island of Dr. Moreau (Marlon Brando)
●2000 Battlefield Earth (John Travolta)
●2004 Catwoman (Halle Berry)
● 2004 I Heart Huckabees
● 2007 Norbit (Eddie Murphy)
● 2011 The Green Hornet (James Franco, Seth Rogan)
I almost walked out of 2013’s The Lone Ranger (Johnny Depp) but waited until the end hoping it would get better and I wanted to hear the famous theme “William Tell Overture.” It totally let me down.
This is by no means the worst movies of all time, because hopefully I chose to miss those over the years.
Have you ever walked out of a movie?
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Clever Journeys 
Never walked out of a movie but I walked out of a play once… ‘Hair.’ When the curtain rose on the final act and all the actors were lounging around the stage naked that was it for me. And the Hell of it is I’m wildly liberal but the nudism was so ridiculously gratuitous that I was up and out.
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This reminds me of covering a play at Texas State University back in 1976 or 77. It was a night event with many dignitaries (Senator, Congressional Reps, Board of Regents, etc), there to see a Mexico University to present their award winning play. This was in exchange for us sending our troupe to Mexico City for a play here that also received like honors.
I had interviewed some of the actors, etc backstage before it began.
When the play began, I had a good front row seat to take pics & my notes. I decided to go back stage to see if I could take pics from that vantage point.
The play was in its final act at this point & I was surprised to see TOTALLY NUDE actors standing in the wings unseen to the audience.
I wasn’t sure why they were standing there naked & hesistated about picture taking until they began walking out & dancing onstage. Fortunately, I was able, from that vantage point, to photograph aghast audience members reactions. Many stood up, booed & walked out.
Of course, I ran up to the lobby to interview some of them.
Later, I interviewed some of the Mexico group. It was a long night interviewing, writing, developing film in the darkroom, copy editing & getting it out before the University Star newspaper went to press.
As a “stringer” this became one of my biggest articles as it was published in many various newspapers around the world. It was especially a blessing as I paid my own way through college & this was lucrative as a student.
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Damn, I’d love to read that article. You wouldn’t be able to link it, would you? I’m interested in the rationale of the Mexican theater group for nudism. I wonder if it was the old chestnut of ‘Any publicity is good publicity?’ It doesn’t make sense that professional actors would do something that they know is going to cause walkouts and boos. I’m far from being a prude (Blue Velvet is one of my favorite movies) but shocking actions should be in service of the plot… not just to shock and offend.
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Actually, after I replied, it brought back memories so I spent about 15 minutes on Internet to see if there is anything about it. Looks like I may take a 2 hr trip to San Marcos & research archives. I will try online more later, but I’m working on so many articles right now that it is hard for me to devote the time currently.
It was quite the controversy back then, I believe because there was really no vetting (as far as I can recall), but I do know the University & local community were quite shocked. Of course, this was the 1970s in a fairly conservative area.
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I have never walked out of a movie. Movie tickets are not cheap. If I pay that much for a movie, I am getting my money’s worth.
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Totally understand. Fortunately, as a movie reviewer for AXS Entertainment, Examiner & others back in day, many of these were free for me. Otherwise, I would attempt to see another movie instead.
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I don’t think I’ve seen a movie in a theatre in 30 years. Maybe even longer! I did essentially “walk out” of my friend’s living room and went home about half way through “Blue Velvet.” Just too bizarre and disturbing to waste any more time with it.
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Totally forgot about “Blue Velvet” & agree it was disturbing.
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Groundhog Day! Why is this loop of one boring scene a timeless classic? 🙂
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I never have, but then, I don’t go that often. I, too, remember Cleopatra very well at the outdoor drive-in in North Haverhill.
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We go maybe 1 to 5x a year nowdays. We saw REAGAN last week & liked it.
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Married 34 years and Dumped our TV from the start. Did not want Hollywood or commercials telling us what it is to be a man, woman, what it is to be happy etc.. 6 children later we still don’t have a commercial TV in home we do watch old movies; Marx Brothers, Sanford and Son, Carol Burnett, Rockford Files etc Walked out of 2023 Haunting Venice YUK. Took child to first Harry Potter. Walked out within first 10 minutes
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Totally understand!!!!
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You do understand that this article dates you back to time when things were good, drive-in movies, Sock-hops, Dog and Suds Drive ins (AKA Mut and Bubbles), Arcade’s, beach parties, and other wonderful things like Jim Reeves singing. Thanks for the great articles.
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I was born in late 1955! My parents went to sockhops & I certainly remember Jim Reeves songs when I was very young. Thank you.
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