Sep 28, 2010
Why I don’t like movie theaters
When I posted about True Grit yesterday, I realized I might actually be willing to go to a theater to watch it, despite the fact that this means I’d have to pay money to watch a movie…
- …sitting upright…
- …in the dark…
- …without being allowed to talk…
- …or pause to savor and probably replay my favorite parts…
- …or pour my own drinks…
- And all this while huddled together—like we’re on public transit—with a couple hundred strangers…
- …slurping gallons of soda, noshing bushels of popcorn, and smacking Sourpatch Kids…
- …in my ear.
Other than that stuff, though, I don’t mind movie theaters, I suppose.
Do you feel this way, too, or does none of that stuff bother you enough to keep you away from the cineplex?
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Those are the very things that I enjoy about the cinema. Communal experience, and atmosphere. Can’t get that at home. Besides, the movies were made to be watched that way. Some jokes are funnier because everyone is laughing together. Some bits are creepier because everyone shudders at the same time.
What bothers me is the cost…
Communal experience?
I find it anti-communal.
It’s considered rude and disturbing to talk to one another in the movie theater.
Our local movie theaters are so empty, at least when I attend, that I feel like I’ve rented the place out for myself ala ‘Annie.’ The emptiness eliminates several of your dislikes from the list.
Don’t forget the ridiculous and rising prices. Netflix is far more economical.
The only movies we see in theaters are the ones that we feel will absolutely not be as good a the small screen. We maybe see 2-3 a year, tops. We have friends that see 2-3 a week! Too expensive for graduate students.
Don’t forget the hoards of rude teens who when they aren’t kicking your seat from behind are horsing around among themselves and blabbing into their mobile phones, ruining the experience you just paid 12 bucks to enjoy.
What dislike about theaters is the price of tickets, and obnoxious people that talk and/or chew loudly. Apart from tat, I quite enjoy it
I love going to see movies in the theater, but I never see the blockbuster movies on opening weekends. I like to go on random Tuesdays for the 5:00 matinee.
Not to mention that I have to sell a kidney to pay for tickets and refreshments.
I don’t mind most of those things, and I actually appreciate the “sitting up” part, because I tend to fall asleep WAY too easily when I’m watching a movie lying down. I also LOVE the smell of popcorn, even though I never really eat it.
The #1 Reason I Prefer Watching Movies At Home: I can pause what I’m watching so I can go pee.
If you do find yourself in a movie theater, there’s always runpee.com to help you.
Abraham — have you heard of this theater in St. Louis Park? http://www.kerasotes.com/Showtimes.aspx?OptionTheater=Go&TheaterSearch=8863
A couple of the highlights (which relate to your peeves):
Covered, free parking with direct access from the parking deck.
VIP Premium Seating for guests 21+ with custom-designed oversized loveseats separated by personal tables.
The Lobby Lounge for guests 21+ to enjoy cocktails, wine, or beer with savory food made from fresh ingredients.
Reserved seating with print at home ticketing powered by Fandango.com.
But you do pay for it — in fact, if you bring the babies, they are ticketed at adult price!!?!
Infants are ticketed at adult price in the evenings.
I have young children (like you) and I rarely get to go to movie theaters. My wife and I cannot randomly just decide to go to a movie without arranging for someone to watch the kids. So maybe when I can just go to a movie, I might agree with you. But now, since I can’t go to movie theaters very often, I like them.
I dislike movie theaters. My Husband LOVES the movies, and he is always trying to get me to go with him. Lots of times I do.
Denita hit one of my two top reasons! The other being I can control the volume at home, super loud action scenes mixed in with inaudible dialog scenes I come away with a headache asking my husband what did they say? And we will just leave the sticky floors for another day, another discussion!
I currently have $60.00 of movie dollars on my desk that will become gifts for someone eventually I received them at work and will never use them. So it appears I won’t even go to the movies if they are free! :D
I rarely go to see new movies at the theater unless it’s for social reasons (a big group of friends wants to go together for fun, mainly) or in 3D. More often I go to the $1.50 theater and see the movies that are past the opening rush.
But I do like the “communal” aspect of theaters as ED mentioned. I saw the Passion of the Christ in the theater when it first came out, and the group’s reactions made it all the more realistic. Including the girl that screamed “Hallelujah” at the Resurrection!
I see maybe a dozen movies a year at the theater, and most of those are the unpopular showings at the local dollar theater. The few that I really want to see as soon as they are released, I’ll go to the first showing of the day.
When I go, I don’t want to hear people eating or telling whoever all the unpleasant details of their lives. The last movie I went to, my brother really wanted to go the first night, and we were literally surrounded by the reasons I don’t usually go in the evening. The row behind us was was full of drunks; the guy next to me seemed to have bought nachos and popcorn for his entire family before he remembered they weren’t there; the woman on the other side of my brother explained the movie to someone over the phone; and the folks in front of us had babies who obviously didn’t enjoy science fiction.
I don’t let my girls go anymore after we spent most of the summer dealing with a stubborn case of headlice. There is no better way to invite these evil creatures into your home than to have your kids sit with their heads resting against the seat where another infested child just sat with their head resting for a good hour and a half.
Sorry if you’re reading this at lunch. :)
I have a habit of spewing out a non-stop analytical dialogue of the movie that is being played, to no one in particular, which means, of course to everyone who’s watching. Hence, home movies are preferred. On top of it, movies from our culture are generally garbage in my opinion, so I dislike paying 6-10$ to see one.
Abraham, your list reminds me of why i miss drive-ins: most of these ailments are alleviated in context. Plus, being able to have a pipe and belt of mothers milk certainly ads to the allure. It’s a shame these became unpopular, though a few still exist.
I have a fondness for seeing large scale blockbusters on opening weekend with all the diehards. The energy from the crowd is akin to being at a solid rock show. Case in point the last standing ovation I’ve seen post screening was for the recent Rambo flick. I’ll be at opening for Tron Legacy this December, a film which seems particularly suited for IMAX 3D.
Drive-in movies were a family tradition when I was growing up. I miss that!
Have you been to the Vali-Hi Drive-in in Lake Elmo? It’s great!
wow… you guys are a fun crew!! =D I am with Ed. I love going to the movies. Other than the cost, all of that other stuff is fun. After a day at the movies I can decide if I want to watch it again at home =D
I love seeing movies at the theater; to me, there’s something magical about it that you just can’t get at home, something that takes me back to when I was growing up. But when “bargain matinee” prices (only before 2pm in some places) are still 8 bucks, and people who can’t find a sitter bring their understandably upset newborns to a loud movie, and my fellow theatergoers of ALL ages are so inconsiderate with the phones and the talking and the crunch/slurp/smack-ing… it’s usually just not worth it anymore.
As a stay at home mom of young children, getting to sit in the dark while not being allowed to talk sounds absolutely heavenly. I really don’t care where it is.
I HATE watching movies in the theatre for all the reasons you described PLUSSSSS:
1. kids texting and talking on their cells
2. middle-schoolers pounding up and down the stairs exiting and entering the theatre multiple times during the movie
3. people tapping the back of my chair with their feet
4. people putting their feet on the top of my chair
5. not being able to rewind it because i couldn’t hear what the actor said
6. super loud previews–why is the volume like cranked to ear-shattering levels for previews?
7. the smell of movie seats–yes, there’s a smell
8. sticky floors from spilled soda
9. lots of other reasons
YIKES. maybe i need to write my own post. this topic has me FIRED UP!
I’m in absolute agreement.