Theater Dispute Leads to Arrest After Pepper Spray Incident

WHO:

Los Angeles Times - Matthew Ware, a 34-year-old man from Los Angeles, was arrested.

NY Post - The incident involved a man using his phone during a movie showing.

WHAT:

Los Angeles Times - Ware was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery after allegedly pepper-spraying another moviegoer.

NY Post - The pepper spray attack occurred during a showing of the new Andrew Garfield movie, Uprising.

Los Angeles Times - At least two other moviegoers were treated at a hospital for exposure to the pepper spray.

WHERE:

Los Angeles Times - The incident took place at the AMC 16 theater in Burbank, California.

NY Post - The theater is located in Burbank.

WHEN:

Los Angeles Times - Police were summoned at about 5:30 p.m. on a Tuesday.

Los Angeles Times - Ware was booked into the Burbank Jail and released the following morning.

WHY:

Los Angeles Times - The altercation was prompted by a fellow moviegoer using a cellphone during the film, violating an unwritten rule among serious filmgoers.

HOW:

Los Angeles Times - Ware allegedly used an aerosol spray to pepper-spray the other moviegoer.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 07:56 UTC)

Matthew Ware, a 34-year-old man from Los Angeles, was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery after allegedly pepper-spraying another moviegoer during a showing of the new Andrew Garfield film, Uprising, at the AMC 16 theater in Burbank, California. The incident reportedly began when a fellow moviegoer used a cellphone, leading to the altercation that resulted in at least two other attendees being treated at a hospital for exposure to the pepper spray. Ware was booked into the Burbank Jail and released the following morning after police were called to the scene around 5:30 p.m. on a Tuesday.