Buzz
Tales of individuals fainting at the sight of terrifying scenes in newly released films are widely known (and true), while the myth of audiences fleeing in panic at the first cinematic train rushing toward the screen is equally familiar (though false). When crowds gather for shared experiences—be it a religious gathering, a movie screening, or even a courtroom trial—unpredictable reactions can occur. This list explores ten instances where audiences responded in extraordinary ways to various events.
10. Halloween, 1978
Halloween marked the beginning of the golden era of slasher films. Unlike many in its genre, it earned critical acclaim, won awards, and remains beloved four decades after its release. Its success was largely driven by word-of-mouth, making it an early example of viral popularity. As shown in the video clip above, audiences unfamiliar with slasher films reacted with far more intensity than modern viewers. Honestly, if I were in that crowd, I might have been tempted to channel Michael Myers to quiet the noisiest attendees!
A fascinating tidbit about the film is that John Carpenter, the director, composed the entire musical score in just three days. Drawing inspiration from horror classics like The Exorcist and Suspiria, he crafted a memorable soundtrack. The Halloween franchise now boasts eleven films, with the latest released in 2018 as a direct sequel to the original, disregarding the others. Two more installments are slated for release in October 2020 and 2021.
9. Saw III
While this list isn’t solely about movies, the three films included here have earned their spots. Saw III, released in 2006, was anticipated to be gruesome, but its opening night in Hertfordshire, UK, saw ambulances called three times for audience members who fainted. A man in another town also reportedly collapsed the same evening, proving it wasn’t just Hertfordshire residents who found the film overwhelming.
Saw III is polarizing, with fans either loving or hating it, making it unique in the franchise. Filmed in just 28 days, production began without a finished script. Interestingly, the iconic bathroom set was borrowed from Scary Movie 4, which itself replicated the bathroom from the original Saw. This creates a bizarre meta connection. If you’re brave enough, watch the infamous pig scene above—it’s not for the faint of heart.
8. Playboy of the Western World, 1907
Playboy of the Western World, penned by Irish playwright John Millington Synge, debuted in 1907 at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre. Written controversially in Irish English instead of Gaelic, the play stirred debate even before its premiere. Its plot, featuring a man who tries to kill his father twice while mingling with women of questionable morals, was considered scandalous for its time.
Riots erupted during the play’s debut, spilling beyond the theater and requiring police intervention. The playwright wrote to the lead actress, stating, “It’s far better to have the uproar we experienced last night than to see your play fade into polite, half-hearted applause. Now we’re the talk of the town—a landmark moment in Irish theater history.” An audio recording of the play is available above for those who can decipher the challenging accent.
7. Miracle Of The Sun, 1917
In 1917, three children in Fatima, Portugal, reported visions of the Virgin Mary. Their claims were met with skepticism in a nation then in its early, staunchly anti-religious republican phase. Despite this, the local Bishop conducted an investigation, offering tentative approval, and the children continued to experience visions. News spread rapidly, making the children and Fatima a hotly debated topic between believers and skeptics.
The children later announced that the Virgin Mary would appear in October and perform miracles to prove their visions were genuine. On the appointed day, 70,000 people, including skeptical journalists, gathered to witness the event. According to all present, including the media, a miracle indeed occurred:
“The sun’s disc began to move violently, spinning wildly in a frenzied whirl. Suddenly, a collective cry of terror rose from the crowd. The sun appeared to detach from the sky, hurtling toward the earth as if to engulf it in a fiery apocalypse.”
Journalists who had once mocked the events at Fatima underwent a dramatic change of heart. They described the experience as utterly terrifying, believing the world was on the brink of destruction. Two of the three children, who passed away in 1919 and 1920, were canonized as Saints in 2017. The third child, who died in 2005, was declared a Servant of God, setting the stage for her future sainthood.
6. OJ Simpson Verdict, 1995
In 1995, the United States paused as the nation awaited the verdict in the 11-month trial of O. J. Simpson, accused of the brutal murder of his wife, Nicole Simpson. The video above captures the immediate reactions of a crowd in Times Square watching the announcement on a large screen. Reactions were sharply divided along racial lines, reflecting the trial’s deeply polarizing nature, where the defense leveraged accusations of racism. While many Black Americans believed justice was served, white and Hispanic Americans largely disagreed.
In a strange turn of events unique to the U.S. legal system, Simpson was found liable for the crimes in a civil court two years later and ordered to pay $41 million in damages. Adding to the absurdity, Simpson later published a book titled If I Did It, which he described as a hypothetical confession. Ultimately, O.J. served nine years in prison for unrelated charges, including robbery, and was released in 2017.
5. First “Talkie” Films
When filmmakers introduced spoken dialogue into movies, they likely didn’t anticipate the universal reaction: laughter—and not for comedies. At the premiere of the 1930 talkie drama War Nurse by Edgar Selwyn, audiences responded unexpectedly during emotional scenes. For instance, when a woman in childbirth cried out, “I want my mother!” the crowd erupted in laughter. This pattern repeated throughout the film, with audiences laughing every time an actor spoke.
The laughter wasn’t due to poor acting or silly voices. Instead, audiences accustomed to silent films found the sudden verbosity in self-explanatory scenes absurd. Dialogue stripped away the need for imagination, making mundane comments seem unnecessary. As one critic aptly noted, “When the screen gained sound, silence became the essence of cinematic art.”
4. Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle is perhaps the most iconic example of an audience reaction that transcended physical boundaries. Her audition for season 3 of Britain’s Got Talent went viral on the Internet, turning her into a global sensation.
She initially appeared as a modest, unemployed 47-year-old from Scotland. The introduction to her performance was predictably mocking—a media tactic to heighten the contrast between her unassuming appearance and her extraordinary talent. While her fame was partly orchestrated, there’s no denying her incredible voice.
Her audition garnered 2.5 million YouTube views within the first 72 hours, quickly landing on the front pages of Digg and Reddit—platforms not typically associated with adoring middle-aged, cat-loving, grey-haired Scottish women. She later competed in America’s Got Talent: The Champions, reaching the top 12 but ultimately not winning.
3. The Rite Of Spring, 1913
The premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring sparked an unexpected reaction: riots. The chaos was so intense that the performance was halted, and the orchestra fled. Stravinsky, a pioneer of modern classical music, aimed to depict the spring season in an unprecedented way, focusing on pagan rituals to symbolize the pain of rebirth.
This debut was extraordinary. The music, composed by one of the 20th century’s greatest composers, was paired with costumes and sets designed by Nicholas Roerich, known for the Roerich Pact, which prioritizes cultural preservation over military needs. The choreography, by the legendary Vaslav Nijinsky (though disliked by Stravinsky), made this event a monumental moment for classical art enthusiasts.
For audiences at the time, it was overwhelming. This was two years before World War I desensitized the world to horror. Stravinsky’s score initially drew mocking laughter during the bassoon solo, but amusement turned to outrage by the first movement, The Augurs of Spring. The vibrant costumes, bizarre choreography, and thunderous music proved too much for the crowd, leading to outright rioting.
Today, the piece is celebrated as one of the 20th century’s greatest classical compositions. The video above begins at the point where the rioting would have erupted. Try to view it through the lens of someone familiar only with ballets like Swan Lake—it’s truly shocking.
2. The Exorcist, 1973
The Exorcist was produced during a tumultuous period for the Roman Catholic Faith, following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The film subtly references this through Father Karras, who counsels priests losing their faith while grappling with his own doubts. The desecration of churches under Pope Paul VI, where altars were dismantled and statues destroyed, is metaphorically mirrored in the film’s infamous desecration scene.
This was the backdrop for one of the most terrifying depictions of evil ever created. The head-spinning and crucifix-stabbing scenes are unforgettable. Remarkably, Linda Blair, who played Regan, had no understanding of the film’s darker themes during filming.
Audiences reacted as expected: fainting, crying, and fleeing theaters. The reactions were so widespread that ambulances were stationed outside some cinemas. Word spread, leading to unprecedented lines for tickets. Similar reactions occurred during the film’s 2000s re-release. The video above captures real footage of these intense responses.
1. Cleansed, 2016
Cleansed, written by English playwright Sarah Kane, who tragically took her own life in 1999, is a harrowing tale set in a university controlled by a sadistic tyrant. The play features graphic scenes, including violent sodomy with a metal rod, a character having their tongue torn out, and forced gender reassignment surgery. Additional elements include force-feeding, throat slashing, and suicide.
Unsurprisingly, when the play was performed in 2016 at London’s National Theatre, it caused five audience members to faint and over forty to leave in disgust. Unlike other entries on this list, the cast also reported experiencing intense nightmares filled with extreme and disturbing events.
Theatre critic John Gross remarked sarcastically, “The play is dismal—though, given current trends, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sarah Kane achieves great success.” And indeed, she might just overshadow even Shakespeare.
+ JFK Assassination Announced, 1963
A special thanks to reader HM8432, who suggested this video in the comments as a bonus addition. “On November 22nd, 1963, during a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance, conductor Erich Leinsdorf informed the audience of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. He then announced the orchestra would perform the Funeral March from Beethoven’s Third Symphony.”
The audience’s gasps are haunting, and the orchestra’s rendition of Beethoven’s Funeral March is profoundly dignified and emotional. It was a tragic moment not only for the United States but for the entire free world.
