Like all serious filmgoers, I place a high premium on the cinematic experience. I like my movie theaters quiet as an Egyptian tomb. Cell phones? Put ‘em in your pocket. Making fun of the movie like you’re at MST3K fantasy camp? No thank you. I’d even prefer all food and drink consumption banned during movies. After all, there’s no worse way to spoil that big Third Act twist than to have the revelation of Kylo Ren’s roots drowned out by the crinkly cellophane being torn from a jumbo-sized box of Red Vines.

But let’s be honest. Being annoyed by your fellow moviegoers is a two-way street. Annoyance requires the participation of at least two parties: the person being annoying and the person listening who consents to being annoyed.

Luckily, there’s one thing that, in my anecdotal experience, is all but guaranteed to quiet down a rowdy theater—a good movie.

Movies that really work have the remarkable ability to capture the attention of both parties along the Annoyance Spectrum. A film that’s successful in casting a spell works to both still the hand of the inconsiderate moviegoer reaching for the licorice, as well as divert the attention of persnickety watchers such as myself away from epicenters of distraction.

I say all this to say: the last really great moviegoing experience I had that seemed to be an example of this was the 70mm roadshow presentation of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, which despite its three-plus hour runtime had my audience staring straight ahead, docile as Hindu cows.

Hateful’s analog-only 70mm-presented roadshow version of Tarantino’s newest talky, ultraviolent Western was an essential component of the film’s early rollout and publicity. And while I’m generally a “celluloid only” skeptic when it comes to presentation, it’s hard to argue with results. Consider my skepticism null and void.

From the moment the blood-red title card emblazoned with the word “OVERTURE” faded in, accompanied by Ennio Morricone’s ominous original score, our sold-out audience was captive prey. And the audience’s focus only intensified throughout the next three hours.

Deadline.com’s Pete Hammond recently corralled Tarantino and fellow 70mm evangelist Paul Thomas Anderson (Anderson’s The Master was released in widescreen 70mm back in 2012) to talk about The Hateful Eight’s roadshow release, film’s future format and share a few of their own transcendent movie-going experiences.

Check out the nearly hour-long conversation here…

Interesting stuff. But The Hateful Eight’s road to this unique theatrical experience began with a one of our very own Film Independent Live Reads way back in December of 2014, before shooting on the film even began.

Relive the excitement leading up to the Tarantino-directed event by rereading our blog post about the announcement or watch our promo video below…

Have you seen The Hateful Eight roadshow yet? Let us know in the comments below, and tell us any other stories you may have about your best-ever moviegoing experience.

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Matt Warren / Film Independent Digital Content Manager