Is it rude to fall asleep during a movie your partner picked?
Not guilty
The short answer
No, if the movie was long and started late. The partner who chooses a three-hour film at bedtime accepts the risk.
The ruling
From the public record. Names are replaced with roles.
Small claims division
Case no.PC-2026-06037
The partner who chose the movie v. The partner who fell asleep
Filed 10/19/2026
- Plaintiff
- The partner who chose the movie
- Defendant
- The partner who fell asleep
Statement of claim
I picked a three-hour movie about a war in space and started it at 11. She was asleep in 20 minutes. She woke up at the credits and asked if it was good. I had to explain all three hours.
Charge
Falling asleep 20 minutes into a feature film selected by the other partner
Judgment
Not guilty
Partner found not guilty of sleeping through a three-hour film started at 11
Sentence
No sentence. Movies longer than two hours will start before 9, and the plaintiff will not summarize them afterwards unless asked.
How the court usually rules on this
The court considers the start time and the running time before anything else. Falling asleep during a short film early in the evening can be rude, especially after asking to watch it. Falling asleep during a long film that began near midnight is treated as a natural event. Snoring during the ending is judged separately.
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