Buying a ticket for one movie but seeing another

[joanmo42]

I don’t see what the big deal is.

I suggest you confess your mistake in confession (it is only a veniel sin), then make restiution by donating the amount of the ticket to the Church or a charitable organization.

 

[Nan_S]

In any case, by buying a ticket for a movie but seeing another one, you’re denying the movie’s production company the income which is rightly theirs (unless, I suppose, the ticket you bought was for a movie produced by precisely the same company, which is unlikely, given the complicated way in which individual movies are financed, and the numbers of different directions ticket income would be split).

I would say that you’re obtaining an advantage that you’re not entitled to. You might have paid for something you didn’t, in the end, consume but you’re still consuming something you haven’t paid for. And you’re depriving the rightful recipients of the money due from the ticket you should have bought. And, guess what, that’s theft. It may be a small amount, but it’s an amount nonetheless. There may be no net benefit or disadvantage to your pocket book, but the effects go beyond your own finances.

Basically, we’re commanded to love others. Is it loving to deprive someone of something to which they’re entitled, no matter how insignificant in the grand scheme of things, just because we feel like it? I’d say no. I’d also say that to do so is sinful, if we’re aware of the full facts. (And if you weren’t before, you are aware now!)

I couldn’t have said it any better. This is just another form of theft of intellectual property, like making bootleg copies of computer programs, CDs, or DVDs and sending them to friends, rather than forking out the money to buy legitimate copies.

If you like the work that certain artists or programmers do, and want to get more of it in the future, why would you deliberately cheat them out of the royalty payments they are rightly owed? Your little theft, compounded with the little thefts perpetrated by your friends and other like-minded folks, ultimately add up to big bucks lost at the other end. And that means the next decent movie or album or software program they were intending to produce doesn’t get made, which is bad for everyone.

Of course, if the movie you bought a ticket for was Toy Story #7, and the movie you actually went to see was Chain-saw Slasher #13… well… I wouldn’t be caught buying a ticket for Chain-saw Slasher #13 either, no matter how curious I was. But now you’re dabbling in the Dark Side, which adds another layer of sin to the mess…

 

[havana1]

Of course, if the movie you bought a ticket for was Toy Story #7, and the movie you actually went to see was Chain-saw Slasher #13… well… I wouldn’t be caught buying a ticket for Chain-saw Slasher #13 either, no matter how curious I was. But now you’re dabbling in the Dark Side, which adds another layer of sin to the mess…

That’s a pretty broad generalization, don’t you think? If most horror movies “punish” the bad characters (the ones who are misbehaving), thereby making the horror movie a de facto morality tale, then how can watching that be construed as ‘dabbling in the dark side’? I can’t think of any recent horror movies that weren’t morality tales.

 

[jkiernan56]

It is stealing. You are taking the seat of the person who paid for it.
Let’s say I work in the mall and some co-workers & I buy tickets in advance for movie X.
You & some friends get there & it’s sold out so you but tickets to Z but then go in to see X instead.
My group & I arrive after the commercials and previews have started and there are no seats because you have taken ours. You all have stolen our seats.

I bought a ticket for one movie but ended up seeing another. The other theater where I watched the other movie was only about 1/4 full. It didn’t bother my conscience one bit.

 

[Nan_S]

That’s a pretty broad generalization, don’t you think? If most horror movies “punish” the bad characters (the ones who are misbehaving), thereby making the horror movie a de facto morality tale, then how can watching that be construed as ‘dabbling in the dark side’? I can’t think of any recent horror movies that weren’t morality tales.

Horror movie bad guys may get “punished” in the end, but too often they come back for sequels anyway, which means they weren’t really “punished” after all. Yes, some of the malicious people in horror movies get what’s coming to them, but they always maim and destroy innocent ones in the process. And in the interim we are exposed to a lot of graphic stomach-wrenching gore intended to shock our senses.

In the sequels, the producers and directors compete to be even more graphic, even more shocking, and even more gut-wrenching than the movies made before.

There’s no morality in that.

I asked a producer of such movies why they make horror/slasher films instead of morally uplifting dramatic films. The answer: “There’s quick money in it.” They’re motivated by greed for money and attention. It’s that simple.

 

[DexUK]

I bought a ticket for one movie but ended up seeing another. The other theater where I watched the other movie was only about 1/4 full. It didn’t bother my conscience one bit.

Just because it didn’t bother your conscience doesn’t make it a good thing to do. It just means you’re wilfully rejecting what is right.

I suggest you seek out a priest and talk it through with him in order to understand what sin is. You may not consider it the biggest thing you could do wrong - indeed you don’t seem to recognise anything wrong in it at all - but I can assure you that it IS wrong.

 

[Catholic1954]

Movie theaters make money from concession, not tickets, so they really don’t care what theater you go into and I agree it’s not theft. However, it is definitely sinful to ignore theater policy for selfish reasons - did you realize you’re putting the theater at risk for fire hazard, etc., if you enter a “sold out” theater? - and potentially ruin the movie for someone in the theater. (I hate it when people climb over me to get to a seat after the movie started.) So, I’m not sure how much sympathy you’ll find to your question.

Actually, the theatre will make some money off the ticket sales for that film (it is a negotiated amount with the company), so you are stealing money from them and the studio who made the movie. You are also taking some else’s seat (who paid for the ticket and waited in the line) so you are stealing from them too. It’s true we are only talking pennies on the dollar, but stealing is stealing, and sooner or later one has to give an account for one’s actions. I managed a movie theatre for nine years and it always amazed me how people thought they were the only ones entitled to see a sold out movie just because they showed up, usually 10 minutes before it went on the screen!

 

[ThomasToo]

How about a bit more of a practical answer… If the movie is sold out and you sneak(ed) in where is/was there to sit? In the aisle? On the stairs? Meet a nice fellow and sit on his lap?

 

[didymus]

I bought a ticket for one movie but ended up seeing another. The other theater where I watched the other movie was only about 1/4 full. It didn’t bother my conscience one bit.

Okay, try this.
You did one deceptive thing. No one was injured.
But doing one wrong thing makes it easier to do the next wrong thing (believe me) without your conscience bothering you a bit.

 

[catholicjames29]

It is not my intention to hijack your thread but i have a question. This week I just remembered from my HS days that me and my friends would sneak into movies without paying sometimes and I went to confession today to confess this and the rest of my sins but honestly forgot to confess this one. Can I receive communion tomorrow since I plan on confessing it at my next confession? Thanks!

 

[LilyM]

It is not my intention to hijack your thread but i have a question. This week I just remembered from my HS days that me and my friends would sneak into movies without paying sometimes and I went to confession today to confess this and the rest of my sins but honestly forgot to confess this one. Can I receive communion tomorrow since I plan on confessing it at my next confession? Thanks!

Of course.

 

[DexUK]

If you honestly forget to mention a sin, it’s not a problem. It’s forgiven anyway.

You might bring it up at your next confession, but you need not miss Communion in the meantime. Your absolution and your State of Grace is safe.

 

[wjp984]

I haven’t had to do this for several years but this reminds me when I would buy tickets to a PG-13 movie with the intent of seeing an R rated movie. I did this many times and never had my ticket checked. My favorite example was the movie South Park. Practically the entire theater was filled with kids and no one had an actual ticket to the movie. This fact made that movie so much more hilarious since kids seeing an R rated film was a major part of the South Park movie as well. In fact, I remember hearing how another movie did quite well at the same time time, can’t remember what it was, but I’m assuming it was in part because all the kids did the same thing as I did and bought a movie for the other one and went to see South Park.

Oh, to the UK guy, we generally call cinemas theaters in the US and I think you guys get luckier where you only need to be 15 to see the films that are rated R in the US. We have to be 17.

 

[tabsie3210]

Here’s another one for you along the same lines -

Suppose you purchased a ticket to see a movie well ahead of time, but due to a traffic accident, you were held up until your movie was half over. You don’t think it through and do the sensible thing, wich is go talk to the manager or the ticket booth guy and tell him the situation, so you can get into a later showing, and instead slip in with your old ticket to see the next showing in a different theater. The theater is not sold out, so you’re not depriving anyone of a seat.

And a variation on that theme -

You were held up by the same accident and couldn’t make it in time. You talk to the manager, who’s new and isn’t willing to compromise the rules, so he won’t let you exchange your ticket for a later one. You slip in when nobody’s looking because you paid for the movie and feel like you’re entitled to get what you paid for, expecially since you weren’t late of your own accord.

In the first senario, I’d say that you’re probably just being thoughtless and silly, and you should confess it because it’s a sin, despite the fact that you’re not hindering anyone.

What’s everyone’s opinion of the second case?

 

[Nan_S]

You were held up by the same accident and couldn’t make it in time. You talk to the manager, who’s new and isn’t willing to compromise the rules, so he won’t let you exchange your ticket for a later one. You slip in when nobody’s looking because you paid for the movie and feel like you’re entitled to get what you paid for, expecially since you weren’t late of your own accord.

You paid to see the movie at 7:25 and couldn’t make it for whatever reason, so that justifies sneaking in like a common thief?

I don’t think so.

The manager is just the manager. He doesn’t own the theater. What I would do is write a polite letter or e-mail to the theater’s corporate Customer Relations Office, explain why you couldn’t make the show, and express how disappointed you were that the new manager refused to exchange your tickets. Name names if you can, and include copies of the unused tickets. Tell them how much you have enjoyed patronizing their theater - until now.

You’ll probably get a nice apology with free passes and coupons worth twice as much as you originally paid.

 

[Purple_Junebug]

How would you feel if a bunch of people bought tickets to one movie and snuck into yours, leaving you with a really bad seat in the middle of noisy people where you couldn’t enjoy the movie? I don’t think thats very nice. I don’t think it is a mortal sin, but don’t do it again. Try to be courteous to others please

 

[GodLovesTheSpek]

Questioning the reasons for “switching movies” should be examined. Trying to “get away” with seeing an inappropriate or a morally eroding flick? If something Fair, Just and Lawful can be negotiated with the theater manager FIRST (and OK with parents, if applicable, that is, “get permission”) it’s probably OK. Otherwise:

It’s a Lie - each and every time.

Lied to the seller of the ticket who sold it.

Lied to the theater owners (ever read the back of a ticket?).

Lied to movie studios.

(If applicable) Lied to parents about which movie is being watched.

Lied to oneself because Truth was rejected.

Lied to God because He is Truth.

 

[havana1]

Questioning the reasons for “switching movies” should be examined. Trying to “get away” with seeing an inappropriate or a morally eroding flick?

Nothing peeves me more, in this day and age, than people not knowing BEFORE buying the ticket that a movie will - not “might,” but will - contain material they find morally eroding. The Bishops Conference is not the most reliable (they still don’t review that many indie and art-house movies…“The Kids Are All Right” - still unreviewed)… filmguide.org is usually the most reliable tip-off: if they go absolutely ballistic on a title, which is the norm for them, and you think it’s a “morally eroding” title, DON’T BUY THE TICKET. It’s that simple. Nothing to “examine”: simply find the info and make an informed decision from the info you find. Not rocket science.

 

[GodLovesTheSpek]

The point was directed to those where age restrictions and/or parental consent might apply. That is, children trying to do something they know is bad. The point wasn’t clear. Apologies.

 

[vz71]

Nothing peeves me more, in this day and age, than people not knowing BEFORE buying the ticket that a movie will - not “might,” but will - contain material they find morally eroding.

It is bigger then people not doing the research, it is people not engaging their brain.

I remember a lady at work describing a horrible movie that apparently caught her by surprise. She had never seen such violence. She was absolutely shocked within the first few minutes of the movie and left the theatre demanding her money back.

So I asked the name of the movie.

Ready for this…
“Kill Bill”

But back to the topic at hand…

Suppose you purchased a ticket to see a movie well ahead of time, but due to a traffic accident, you were held up until your movie was half over. You don’t think it through and do the sensible thing, wich is go talk to the manager or the ticket booth guy and tell him the situation, so you can get into a later showing, and instead slip in with your old ticket to see the next showing in a different theater. The theater is not sold out, so you’re not depriving anyone of a seat.

I bolded the appropriate part.
It sounds reasonable, and if you went to the manager you likely would be given permission.
But instead we are sneaking about? Why do you need to sneak in?
Are we perhaps doing something wrong?