DANBURY, Conn. — Connecticut moviegoers took to social media to share their sticky movie theater experience at the Danbury AMC.
The movie patrons said what was supposed to be a fun night at the movies turned into a real-life horror film.
“This theater in particular is embarrassing,” Stacey Ambrose of Danbury said.
The IMAX in Danbury failed to meet minimum expectations.
“I didn’t expect to see what I saw because it used to be such a great theater,” Jeanne Yusko of Danbury said.
For the patrons, plans for a relaxing, fun-filled night at the movies was anything but.
“Outside of every single movie theater was piled high with trash,” Adam Dean of Brookfield added. “The floor was sticky and there was popcorn and wrappers all over the seats.”
For Dean, his experience reaffirmed why he created his theater at home.
“You can take care of yourself and sit at home with your family and have a much cleaner environment to sit in and watch a movie with your family,” he said.
Some big box office titles graced the screen post-Thanksgiving, such as "Gladiator II" and "Moana." The buzz, however, wasn’t about movies like "Wicked," but about the wicked-gross conditions of the viewing venue.
“To the point where there was another woman in the bathroom who yelled to me through her stall, 'isn’t this disgusting in here,'” Ambrose said.
Ambrose paid a premium for the experience and now she is reconsidering.
“Actually, I’m an AMC A-list member so I pay $20 a month to go see movies there, and it’s really not the greatest of experiences. I was supposed to take my mother to a movie yesterday and I canceled because she’s 85 years old and I didn’t want her to have to deal with trash everywhere and a disgusting experience," Ambrose said.
Patrons reported a lack of food, clogged sinks, overflowing trash, unattended spills, sticky surfaces and even a leaky roof.
“There was no caution tape. There was water all over the floor. Just a rag thrown on the floor. No tape. Nothing. That’s a slip hazard,” Ambrose noted.
“I think the Board of Health should get involved and do an inspection,” Yusko added.
Inside the theater, a Health Department inspection was in progress. The inspector said they conducted three recent visits.
In a statement, the Health Department said AMC "passed today's inspection and are currently working on a few recommendations."
Ryan Noonan, AMC corporate VP of communications, added, “Based on guest photos and accounts, we fell short of providing our guests a proper experience as the theatre experienced its second-biggest weekend attendance of all time. We are in close contact with the theatre team, and an action plan has been put into place…”
AMC didn’t specify what that action plan entails, but noted that they pride themselves on a clean and comfortable movie-watching experience.
People said they do not believe the conditions are the fault of the staff. The young adults working inside are making minimum wage and doing the best they can in an overworked and understaffed environment.
Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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