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The 10 Most Horrific Incidents of Off-Screen Movie Theater Violence

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | February 21, 2011 |

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | February 21, 2011 |


Over the weekend, during a screening of Black Swan in Latvia, a disgruntled man — who has both a law degree and a Police Academy certicate — become so incensed with another man who was eating his popcorn too loudly, that he pulled out a gun and shot him dead while the closing credits were playing. Yet, as horrible as it was, the event only ranks as number three among The 10 Most Horrific Incidents of Off-Screen Movie Violence.

My Bloody Valentine: In 2009, after a screening of My Bloody Valentine, a security guard stabbed a 16-year-old boy in the stomach for refusing to leave the movie theater.

Benjamin Button: On Christmas Day 2008, a Philadelphia man shot another man because his family was being too loud during a screening of the Brad Pitt flick. He was charged with attempted murder.

The Signal: In 2008, two men were stabbed in a movie theater screening the independent film, The Signal. The film, weirdly, was paused during the investigation. After the film resumed, a stabbing immediately occurred onscreen.

Notorious: During a screening of Notorious in 2009, one man shot another in the abdomen twice during an altercation.

The Watchmen: In 2009, a 24-year-old Oregon man shot and killed himself during a screening of The Watchmen.

X-Men: During a screening of The X-Men in 2006, a 24-year-old Baltimore man ordered everyone on to the floor and then shot the man nearest him, killing him (the shooter was later found not criminal responsible due to mental illness).

Shutter Island: Early last year, after a man complained to a woman about talking on her cell phone during a screening, the woman’s two male friends left, returned, and stabbed the complaining man in the neck with a meat thermometer.

Black Swan: 27-year-old Latvian man shoots a 42-year-old to death for munching on popcorn too loudly.

The Warriors: In 1979, The Warriors and its promotional materials was linked to three gang-related killings — two in California and one in Boston — as well as a series of movie-related brawls between gang members during screenings.

Severance: This one didn’t take place in a movie theater, nor was it directly tied to the release of a film, but it’s so brutal, it’s merits top spot. After seeing the Danny Dyer British horror movie, a British teenager and his two friends murdered an ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend by tying him up, pouring gasoline down his throat, and setting him on fire.