I should point out that the cinema experience used to be better. People have become more selfish.

Also, it heavily depends on the kind of movies you're watching. Trash attracts trash.

Modern cinema is an elongated television episode. The era where it made sense for many people to congregate to watch a film like a theater play ended long ago. Now TV is best seen alone or with friends (or family)

All very valid things, but at least the parts that are people related can be reduced (I personally find that my friends and I are much worse about using phones when at a house). Going in the afternoon on a weekday (and not opening week) means fewer people in general. Also tends to mean older folks are more likely to be there based on my experience working at a cinema (albeit was over a decade ago so maybe boomers are also bad about phones these days). Could even luck-out and be mostly empty and help with the special extra loud candy packaging made for cinemas. Might save a few bucks of course, but doesn't help with the pre-roll stuff.

You're right, that was my understanding too.

Why pay $15 a ticket just for that shit?