‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Star Sadie Sink Urges Theatergoers to Put Away Phones

Sadie Sink has a clear message for those who use their phones during live theater performances: put them away and enjoy the show.

In a recent interview with Nylon, the ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ star expressed her frustration with audience members who reach for their phones instead of focusing on the performance. Sink noted that it can be disheartening to see people distracted by their devices.

She elaborated that the issue often begins before the play concludes. “The lights go off, and then I just see all these faces in the audience because everyone is turning their phone on,” Sink told Nylon. “I’m like, ‘Guys, give it a minute. Take it in for a second!’”

According to Sink, the situation becomes even more frustrating when audience members start recording before the performance ends. “I am filled with so much rage when I see, like, three iPhones in the audience,” she said.

Despite her disdain for phone usage during live shows, Sink understands why some people seek out recordings of theater productions online. She admitted that bootleg videos were significant for her growing up in Texas, where access to live theater was limited.

“They raised me, those bootlegs, and inspired me so much. That’s why we need to make theater very accessible, so that everyone can go in and see it, but also people from all over the world. That wasn’t accessible to me in Texas, so I get it, but wait for the pro-shot,” Sink explained.

Sink isn’t the only performer voicing concerns about phone usage during live performances. Entertainment Weekly reported that several Broadway stars have shared similar sentiments. At the 2026 Tony Awards, Julia Louis-Dreyfus humorously urged theatergoers to “get the f— off their phones,” while actor and comedian Matt Rogers also encouraged audiences to switch off their devices before the show starts.

As Sink continues her stage performances, she is also gearing up for one of the most significant movie releases of her career. After gaining fame as Max Mayfield in Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’, she is set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. The details of her role in the film remain under wraps. Speaking to Nylon, Sink shared that joining a Marvel film felt much more significant than she anticipated.

“I knew that Marvel was a big deal and had a big brand, especially Spider-Man,” she said. “I know there’s a huge fan base, but it feels really big. I think these blockbuster movies are a whole different beast.”

She also commended her co-star Tom Holland for making her feel welcomed during filming. Sink noted that stepping into such a major franchise could have been daunting, but Holland helped ease the transition.

“It was interesting stepping into that space and being a little bit of an outsider in that way, but he could not have been more welcoming, and just the whole crew in general,” Sink said. “He was just so relaxed and open, and I felt very at ease.”

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is set to hit theaters on July 31. As Sink embarks on this new chapter with Marvel while continuing her theater career, she hopes audiences will remember one essential thing: live performances deserve full attention, and sometimes the best way to savor the moment is by keeping phones in their pockets.

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