Martin Scorsese Says He Stopped Going to Theaters Because of Rude Audiences

Martin Scorsese doesn’t go to the movies anymore, not because he doesn’t love them, but because he can’t stand how people behave in theaters today. He shared this in a recent chat with longtime friend and film critic Peter Travers, who just launched his own blog, The Travers Take, after leaving ABC and Good Morning America.

Travers has known Scorsese for years and asked him directly why he stopped watching movies in theaters. Scorsese didn’t hold back. According to Travers, “I asked the maestro why he doesn’t see movies in theaters anymore and he went all raging bull about audiences who babble on phones during the movie, leave to order snacks and vats of soda, and keep up a noise level loud enough to drown out the actors.”

Scorsese admitted that when he was younger, he and his friends also talked during movies, but it wasn’t the same. “Yeah, maybe,” he said, “but when we talked it was always about the movie and the fun we had chewing over the details.”

Now, instead of heading to the local cinema, Scorsese watches films at home. He has a private screening room in his New York townhouse, filled with movie posters, memorabilia, and a big screen for showing old black-and-white classics.

He also has a second screening space in his upstairs study and a huge personal film library. It’s been an important part of his life for years.

Through this home setup, Scorsese still keeps up with modern films. He’s praised recent movies like TÁR, Pearl, Hereditary, Nosferatu, and I Saw the TV Glow.

It’s easy to understand his frustration. Going to the movies today can be rough. People often use their phones, talk during the movie, or get up to buy snacks. For someone like Scorsese, who sees film as something special, these constant interruptions ruin the experience.

Theaters used to be places where people came together to get lost in a story. But now, it’s hard to enjoy a film without distractions. For many, including Scorsese, staying home just feels better.

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