Regal Cinemas, Cinemark Theatres and AMC Theatres have banned children under age 6 from R-rated movies, even though the rating usually means that children under 17 can see a restricted film if they’re accompanied by a parent or an adult.
According to Fox 5 NY, most theaters around the country are now prohibiting children under the age of 6 from going to see an R-rated movie after 6 p.m. This is to improve the moviegoing experience for adults.
A representative of Cinemark told TheWrap that children under age 6 will no longer be permitted past 6 p.m. so that “R-rated movies may be enjoyed in a more adult atmosphere.”
A representative of AMC told TheWrap that they have had this policy in place for “several years.”
“We believe this helps better ensure a distraction-free environment for our guests,” the representative said.
While Regal has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment, Regal CEO Amy Miles spoke to the Independent about the chain’s plans to enforce the ban all day long.
“At Regal, it’s our job to provide the best moviegoing experience for our patrons, and we want to make sure there are minimal interruptions during R-rated movies,” she said. “We best achieve this through controlling the number of children in these films.”