4 Horrendous Movie Theater Facts

A trip to the movie theater delights audiences both young and old. But have you ever thought about what disgusting secrets might be lurking in your local cinema? Let's take a look at four hidden "treasures" that might be waiting for you as the film starts to roll.

1. Would you like some popcorn with your filth?

Mmm popcorn — that delicious treat that elevates a mere movie to actual cinema. You likely view movie theater popcorn as either an absolute necessity or a VIP-like privilege, reserved for only extra-special occasions. But did you know that according to a number of movie theater employees, "cleaning" the popcorn machine means simply brushing off the oil residue? This leaves a nice layer of debris, old oil, and possibly even dead flies baked into the machine itself. What do you think of that "movie popcorn flavor" now?

2. Is that poo under my seat?

Let's say you bring a baby to a movie. The baby makes No. 2 in the diaper during said movie. You would think pretty much everyone would take the baby to the restroom and change the diaper — but you would be wrong. An alarmingly high number of parents and caregivers simply change the baby right there on the movie theater seats, but that's not the worst part. Some then actually leave the dirty diaper right under the seat, rather than throwing it in the trash on the way out of the theater! What a magical surprise for the cleaning staff.

3. Maybe he's just going for a swim.

Nothing washes down popcorn better than a refreshing movie-size soda. But what if I told you that you might just be sharing your soda with bugs! At some theaters, employees admit they almost never thoroughly clean the soda and ice machines, resulting in insects actually frozen right into the ice. Yum!

4. Is it my imagination, or is something crawling on me?

If scientists tested the seats in a movie theater for bacteria, what surprises would they find — or do you want to know? Actually, independent studies reveal movie theater seats may be a germaphobe's worst nightmare. Such tests have identified staph bacteria, fecal matter, and even lice infestations in the seats. So bottom line: You may be sharing more than you realize with the person who occupied the seat before you.

To be sure, unsanitary conditions vary widely from theater to theater — so continue to enjoy your movies, folks. Just be aware that when you buy a movie ticket, you may be signing up for more than just a matinee.

References: 'That's So Gross': Internet Debates 'Disgusting' Movie Theater 'Secrets' | 12 Movie Theater Secrets You Probably Haven't Thought About | A Look at Movie Theater (Non-)Cleanliness | 19 Fascinating Behind-The-Scenes Stories About What It's Really Like To Work At A Movie Theater, Straight From The Employees Themselves