Going to the movies alone...

[Nerys Myk]

I think the last time I went to the movies alone was in 1971. Probably 2001 A Space Odyssey. Movies have always been a group thing for me. Either with family or friends. In college it was usually six or more of us hitting the theater. Then a discussion of the film in the parking lot or a restaurant if it was an early show for an hour or two. Don't do that these days as the wives and children have little patience for me and my best friend yammering on and on.

 

[Saul]

Sometimes going alone is a good way to get away from people for a while.
I don't mind going alone. Since I watch a lot of movies it's natural that it happens at times. If it's a a busy house you still have that audience experience. I think it depends where you live and the culture. Sometimes it's more common for people to go in groups or with someone as they have some kind of social anxiety of been seen by themselves. In Ireland people might point out the guy on his own. In Hong Kong I rarely see anyone go alone, usually it's couples. In Japan it doesn't really matter if you go alone or not although they say it's more of a couples thing there I notice lots of people by themselves.

 

[MacLeod]

It's about 50-50 for me for going alone or not. Then again I only usually see 2-4 per year at the cinema. It's to expensive to go too often.

 

[CmdrAJD]

I love going to the movies alone, but I haven't been able to do it for years now. Usually I'm with my wife and kids, or, on the rare times we find child care, with just my wife. Now I appreciate the time with her, don't get me wrong, but she is completely incapable of getting through a movie without leaning over and whispering something to me at least once...usually multiple times. I'm sure it sounds obnoxious of me, but I really don't like being disturbed during a film. I'll be more than willing to talk about it afterwards.

 

[Starkers]

Going to the movies with people was a lot more fun back when they had quiet music and trivia slides before the movie. Now that we're getting blasted by loud pre-ads before the ads and trailers, it's now fully pointless as you can't hear a word anybody's saying.

And unless the other person/people really want to see the movie, it's not worth it to drag them along. I'd much rather go alone so I can focus on the movie and not worry about whether or not somebody else is being entertained.

Just had an experience where I saw the Hunger Games with somebody who hated it so much she walked out 30 minutes before the ending. Her complaint was it was "too violent". WTF. Needless to say, that totally ruined the movie for me.

Weird, my probblem with that film was the reverse!

I did once have a female friend of mine walk out during Derailed whilst Jennifer Anniston was

Spoiler: Derailed spoiler

being raped

. Of course the amusing thing after was pointing out to her that

Spoiler: Derailed spoiler

it was all a swindle and Anniston's character was in on it.

I've never walked out of a cinema, although I came close with T4 (I was bored and went to the loo and did consider just keeping walking!)

Back to the topic...this year I've probably gone by myself about half the time. Sometimes that's because no one else is interested in a film (Why I saw The Artist alone) but often its scheduling. Most of my friends have seen The Avengers but did say they'd go again next week, but I wanted to see it now, and I wanted to get to a 2D showing before they all vanished so I went last night.

Of course the two films previously were Lockout and the cabin in the woods, both of which I saw as part of a group.

There does seem to be a growing trend for me going alone this year though.

 

[TJinLOCA]

I see movies alone, and I see movies with other people. Doesn't bother me which way, as long as I get to see the movies I want!

We also have a second run movie theater/drafthouse nearby, so I can see movies AND drink alone simultaneously.

 

[23skidoo]

I always see movies alone, because I have no social life. I don't even see movies anymore - the move to 3-D with so many films I like (and the substandard way 2-D versions are being shown in many theatres) has basically destroyed any interest I have in seeing theatrical showings. Even of 2-D films. I was honestly in the line-up to buy tickets for the Hunger Games a couple weeks ago and I decided I had better things to do with my time. At that moment I realized going to the movies was dead for me.

Based on that, the only movie I fully intend to see in the theatre this year is the new Bond film. And even then that assumes it's not being shown exclusively in 3-D. If it is, it'll be the first Bond film since The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977 that I haven't seen first-run in the cinema.

Alex

 

[Beagleman]

I've started doing it more and more. It used to give me the creeps because during my childhood and teenage years I would ALWAYS go to the movies with friends or family. I'm now 27, it's really not all that long ago I was that person. It's only recently that i've gotten comfortable with the idea. I like it but it is nice also to have a friend to compare notes with, providing that person loves movies in the way I do beyond acting and production.

I'm kind of the same with music concerts. I actually prefer to go with someone since almost everyone at the shows I go to will be in groups or pairs. Going to concerts alone still irks me somewhat, but music is such a more subjective medium than film, so it's hard to find someone to go with (depending on the act). Besides, I just don't want to miss the artists I love.

I think we are the same person. I'm 27 and just started going to see movies alone, took me some time to get used to. I'still prefer company but if scheduling won't work or noone wants to see it I won't let that keep me from seeing a movie.

With concerts I prefer to go with someone too, and feel kinda weird when I'm alone but I don't wan't to miss artists I want to see. I actually deliberately went to the last two gigs of my favourite band alone, when they came around here. Because none of my friends either know them or they wouldn't enjoy it as much as I do which, I fear, would lessen my enjoyment...

 

[tomalak301]

I definitely prefer going with someone else, if only for the weirdness of sitting there by yourself before the movie starts.

There is this. But as I say it's usually pretty empty anyway when I go. But generally I'll time it anyway so by the time I walk in the trailers are starting (lights are lowered by then,) and I don't have to sit there twiddling my thumbs watching all the ads.

Right now when I go to the movies the thing I see before the movies are people on their phones, so is that "weirdness" no longer weird?

 

[Icemizer]

The best thing would be seeing the movie really alone, as in the only one in the theater. No open mouth eaters, cellphones, babies, laughing, etc. That would be heaven.

 

[captcalhoun]

it is. saw The Kingdom and (iirc) John Carter that way.

 

[Kelthaz]

I almost had that with the Toy Story 1 & 2 re-releases two years ago. I was the only one in the theater until about 5 minutes before the film started. At least I got to watch the previews in total silence.

 

[Admiral2]

That only happens to me when I see obscure movies. I saw Avengers on Friday at noon and the theater was half full by the time the trailers ended.

 

[captcalhoun]

i saw Cars with 2 other people, a young mum of about 25/26 and her little boy of about 3 or 4. he was very well behaved, barely a peep out of him all movie.