I had the opportunity to go to the movies alone, and I don’t regret it. It’s an experience I 100% recommend. It’s just you and the movie; you don’t have to worry about anything else. There are almost no distractions, and, at least in my case, I end up fully understanding what the movie wanted to convey, its essence. Plus, you have freedom of choice; you can see the movie you want at the time and day you decide, and it’s cheaper because you can take advantage of the various promotions and discounts. I think it’s a very reflective and introspective experience that everyone should try. It’s like giving yourself a hug.
In contrast, when you go to the movies with friends, you have to plan the day and time in advance, you don’t have freedom of choice, and you almost always end up watching a movie you don’t like as much, but your friends do. There are definitely more distractions; your friends talk, laugh, make distracting noises, and in the end, you don’t understand the essence of the movie. There’s a slight concern about whether your friends enjoy the movie as much as you do, or vice versa. There is no room for reflection or introspection after the film, since when you leave the cinema you have to be talking to them, and often the conversations are silly and not at all reflective.
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Museums too, I only go alone bc I’m never on the same speed as my friends
Movies alone is great.
Movies with friends followed by dinner or drinks is even better.
I think your friends are probably just annoying.
I agree! The couple times I went to the movies alone I enjoyed it more than all the other times.
Movies, museums and shopping alone!!
Depends on the movie. I’d want to watch a cerebral film alone and a comedy movie with friends.
I’ve been debating trying this out lately
Not going against your opinion. Only thing id say is you probably think doing specific things with your friends, brings some sort of inconvenience lol.
That’s why you should just take initiative for example, if you ever go with them, just how you did when you went alone. Do the same shit, and if they don’t follow suit. That’s on them.
Once the movie starts I don’t notice a difference because I’m focused on the film. But being with friends before and after the movie is very fun!
So you’re the person that the Odeon Limitless advert is targeted towards…
I agree, if the movie is like A Minecraft Movie where doesnt ask you to think
Solo movies are great, but your friends sound a little annoying if that’s your most common communal viewing experience. Seeing a movie as a group and then discussing it after with an engaged crew is sublime.
It sounds like you go to movies with the wrong people.
haha yes I love doing everything alone :,)
I prefer going to the movies alone. Have been doing it for a long time. I realize there is no difference in going out to a restaurant, but for some reason, I feel too uncomfortable to even try that.
It depends on how much of a crowd there is at the cinema. Too much of one and you feel cramped, too little of one and you don’t get as big a sample of everyone else’s reactions to the movie.
I prefer a semi-big crowd, so on second viewing I feel like an outside observer reacting to the crowd’s reaction.
I stopped going with friends years ago and I gotta say, it’s fantastic. I can pick whatever time I want to go. No arguments about what to see or which showing or anything like that. No need to make a whole day out of it (let’s go out to a bar before/after, let’s grab some dinner, etc.). Also, I can decide whether or not I care enough to stay for the post credit scene.
For some reason I can’t sit through a movie by myself at home. I’ve never tried in a theater, which is weird as I’m middle aged and have probably been to hundreds of movies at this point. Was always just a group activity.
No judgement though, I think I could see the appeal.
Depends on the movie. If its something myself and my dad are really into, we go together. It saves us from making two different trips, we can get excited together when the movie starts and we can also slightly discuss stuff while the movie is going or get excited when neat things happen.
Its fun to experience our favorite movies together
However if its just a random movie I rather go by myself during the day when there is less people there.
Not knocking solo-movies, it’s great, and I recommend it as well. But if you’re “almost always” seeing a movie you don’t want to see, you either have different tastes than your friends, or need to be a little more assertive every now & then. When shouldn’t you get to pick sometimes?
Most of the time I go to the movies, it’s alone. It’s just too much of a hassle to try to coordinate something like that with friends. Half the time they cancel at the last minute, or worse they don’t even show up. Or they want to watch a movie that I would rather chew glass than sit through. You’re just more likely to have a good time if you go by yourself.
> There are definitely more distractions; your friends talk, laugh, make distracting noises, and in the end, you don’t understand the essence of the movie.
This isn’t a going with friends vs going alone thing in general, it sounds like you’re friends are just disrespectful and immature. Any decent person knows to be quite and not distract others around them in a public movie theater.
> There is no room for reflection or introspection after the film, since when you leave the cinema you have to be talking to them, and often the conversations are silly and not at all reflective.
Again this is specific to your friends it’s not a compliant about going to the movies with other people in general. I went with some friends to see the re-release of star wars episode 3 last month. The first thing we did after walking out of the theater was reflect on how different it was watching the movie now compared to when we were kids and how much worse the writing and acting seems today.
It sounds to me like your friends are just too immature for you.
It depends on the movie
I like going to the movies alone, but also with friends. That’s just not something I ever cared to compare, tbh
Scary or comedy movies – with friends. Sci-fi movies or anything that may seem to require deep focus – alone.
I don’t like the cinema at all, I am a frequent restroom user and it frustrates me a lot to be in there, so with friends or without, watching movies in that setting is just not for me… I loved watching some lighthearted movies with my friends though, not the very thought or emotional inducing ones. I don’t like having people see me cry like a child 😀
I dont really go to the movies anymore because it’s too expensive but yeah I dont like going with others as much as by myself. The best is when you go and pretty much the only person in there. Someone always want to talk turning the movie, or there’s someone I have to explain something to. Going alone I just get to enjoy the movie.
I dont really go to the movies anymore because it’s too expensive but yeah I dont like going with others as much as by myself. The best is when you go and pretty much the only person in there. Someone always want to talk turning the movie, or there’s someone I have to explain something to. Going alone I just get to enjoy the movie.
IDK about “better”, but I definitely enjoy both experiences! Shout out to the time I went to see “Longlegs” at like 1 PM on a Wednesday – I was the ONLY person in that horror movie haha! It was great.
About 15 years ago, I was in an argument with my fiancé (now wife). her sister was visiting and I knew I couldn’t ‘win’ the argument. so I was like ‘have fun together girls, I’m going to get out of your hair for the day’… and I just found myself at a movie theater, and thought ‘what the fuck? i don’t talk to anyone during the movie anyway’ and went in.
I loved it. and for the next few years, this became part of my routine. My wife and I don’t usually enjoy the same movies. So, in the summer, I would wake up early, and go to the gym, and back in the day, movies were playing as early as like 9am on the weekends. So I’d come home at like noon, and feel so relaxed. My wife has always never been a morning person, so this worked out amazingly.
when my son was born, I couldn’t do this anymore. but I still find myself going to the movies by myself often. Now it’s usually like a Tuesday at like 9pm, when he’s asleep, and the house has been straightened up – I’ll just be like ‘cool, let’s go see that new movie in IMAX’. it takes basically no planning other than ‘well, everything
I still like going with friends now and then. and I’ll always like going with my wife and/or son the most. but, going by myself is also great. and much more affordable.
Sounds like the people you see movies with suck sir. Me and one of my best friends are HUGE horror fans and see almost all new horror movies that come out together and it’s a lovely experience that I enjoy every time and we don’t really talk during it (except a whisper comment or arm grab here and there). I LOVE going to movies alone but you gotta find a pal that likes a certain genre as you do and go together.
This sounds like a “your friends” thing vs most people.
I don’t think you understand movies regardless
Only true movie lovers will agree with you, I have 0 desire to ever go to movies with someone else as well, whereas people that don’t really give much shit about movies and see it only as a social affair won’t understand this.
All of these can be resolved. Just tell your friend you want to on the cheap night lol. Also if you want to talk about the movie and reflect on it after the film just say that to your friend. I love dissecting a movie so I always suggest we grab a beer after and discuss.
Also I don’t like sitting next to strangers so I’d rather sit next to a buddy.
Why would I want to go to the movies with friends? Literally no opportunity to talk and catch up. That’s why I think dates are dumb at the movies too.
Either are fun. Going with someone is more fun because you can discuss the movie directly after while things are more fresh in your head. Also, spending time with your feiends is nice and if it’s not, you need new freiends
Depends. I like going alone if it’s a film I really want to see. With friends, we usually go for food before or after the film so much more of a social aspect, also like a debrief after. The last one we saw i felt validated when I said I just didn’t get it and they didn’t either!