Do You Still Go To The Movie Theater ?

I haven’t been to the movies since the early 2000’s, and even then I was amazed at how ticket prices had gone up. At the concession stand, a popcorn and soda now go for more than a restaurant dinner once did. So I mostly stream movies at home as it costs much less, and I’m much less likely to get shot.

When I think of going to movie theaters, I remember them fondly from the 1980’s-1990’s as a dating or couples social event. You could go to the mall back then, shop, eat in a food court, and maybe cap off your excursion with a movie, all without fear of killer diseases or gun nuts seeking random kills…
 
The last time we went to the cinema altogether, four of us, was for the very first "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". We saved money on the family tickets BUT we were charged £25 for a family bucket of real Popcorn and butter, plus four drinks. We swore never again...

Afterwards, we just waited for the next HP release on our satellite TV and/or came available on DVD. Got microwave popcorn bags and enjoy the film in superb quiet enjoyment. We could pause, rewind, discuss and all.

It has been the current trend since and only once, as we'd won free tickets, we saw "Night at the Museum" on a huge screen with 3D glasses up in Glasgow. We skipped the snacks and decided to have a Pizza Hut meal special instead.
 
I use to go to the movies with my movie buddy' Alexei way before COVID changed everything
Last yr we saw 1 movie together 'Mrs Harris Goes to Paris', haven't been back since
The organization where I'm a volunteer/member has started up again our monthly 'movie' day, next time will be in July. I'll have to wait&see what the movie is
 
I got into the habit of our local "Tightwad Tuesday Special" years ago, and I enjoyed having the place to myself, which happened often. I don't go much anymore. I got along without my weekly fix during Covid, and now when I go, I pick Wednesday early in the day at the regular price, because having the theater to myself is almost a certainty. Quite often the guys at the counter tell me I'm the only one in the whole complex of 16 theaters.
 
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Jackie23 said:
No...reasons...the lack of good movies, I'd have to drive an hour to get to a theater and the possibility of being shot, I don't even go to malls anymore.
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I think production during Covid was at a minimum, and what we are seeing now are the movies made during the lull. I think I've noticed a slight improvement in quality now that things are normalizing. But the Marvel Universe, which had set a new benchmark for box office records, has taken a very noticeable dive. I keep waiting for them to come back, but whatever magic was once there is gone. I think it's the writing, and possibily since Disney took them over, there's maybe too much Disney in them. Disney makes some good things, but Comic Book heroes of the Marvel type, aren't something they are skilled at. I'm wondering if we will ever see another box office phenomenon like the last 10 years of Marvel again.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
No, I haven't been I decades. First, theaters are expensive, and you have to get off your duff to go. But also, movies are designed for the movie going crowd -that's women under 40, and teenage boys. I'm neither. So, it's either a chic flick, or an "action"/ fantasy flick.
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Expensive for sure. I'm single so I can afford it, but for a family of four and two hours of entertainment, it is pricey. With today's large screen TVs and home theaters, it makes sense to wait for the movie to come out on DVD or streaming. For me there is nothing to be gained by sitting in a packed theater next to a stranger. And empty theater is doable, and the one thing the theater offers is a sound system that can blow the socks off of even the most serious audiophile.
 
Speaking of Covid lull, I agree and a few bits before that some potentially good films suffered from the infamous Writers' Strikes.

Stardust was one with the legendary actor Peter O'Toole (in I believe his last film) as well as The Golden Compass. Both amazing potential but falling short. Then to top it all The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones was never followed with the remaining books.

Add to this: Beautiful Creatures, another one that wasn't completed. Now with Covid and the lack of good writing and low revenues, will never see the long awaited wedding of Tina Goldstein and Newt Scamander. Sadly, from the views online, franchise Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them and the excellent Eddie Redmayne is now in limbo... I'm hopeful that the two or three films remaining will be written out into books. Rowling and co owes us that. We need to know how it concludes, yes?

So, we've got loads of reasons not to go, prices, film ratings and all. I scored off a Todo list gifts from hubby's last list in 2022, and I added Disney+ to my Sat package. It gets views daily.

Finally, I dearly miss the experience of drive-ins with hubby throughout the 80s and 90s, now without even a vehicle to drive (thanks again to costs and lack of facilities here in UK).

C O S T S overall is killing that entertainment industry. Currently awaiting release on Sat for last installment of Indiana Jones franchise. The sixth one will be out soon.
 
I don't know how long it's been since I have. I can't even tell you the last movie I saw at one. I may go again someday but usually now I view movies at home. Also at the theaters there's always some kind of obnoxious people doing stupid stuff so I haven't missed going.
 
Ruthanne said:
I don't know how long it's been since I have. I can't even tell you the last movie I saw at one. I may go again someday but usually now I view movies at home. Also at the theaters there's always some kind of obnoxious people doing stupid stuff so I haven't missed going.
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So true, regarding obnoxious ones ruining it for everyone...
 
Oops, I forgot about an early experience with cinema totally out of the ordinary. A huge ship berth at our main pier back around 1965. It contained a cinema for about 50 people.

There was a contract with the educational department whereas students from Primary schools, would compete for tickets once a week. That was my introduction to the Wonderful World of Disney's Animated Kids series.

To this day, the one film seen on that ship, that I've never watched ever again... Bambi! Way too sad. The ship sailed away after 2-3 years but what an experience. I treasure those memories and after getting married and even before we began our family, we got the collection on VHS tapes.

Yes, I did get Bambi and I gave our Munchkins the choice to watch it or not. The tape disappeared shortly after, I guess they felt the same way...
 
Supernatural said:
Speaking of Covid lull, I agree and a few bits before that some potentially good films suffered from the infamous Writers' Strikes.

Stardust was one with the legendary actor Peter O'Toole (in I believe his last film) as well as The Golden Compass. Both amazing potential but falling short. Then to top it all The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones was never followed with the remaining books.

Add to this: Beautiful Creatures, another one that wasn't completed. Now with Covid and the lack of good writing and low revenues, will never see the long awaited wedding of Tina Goldstein and Newt Scamander. Sadly, from the views online, franchise Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them and the excellent Eddie Redmayne is now in limbo... I'm hopeful that the two or three films remaining will be written out into books. Rowling and co owes us that. We need to know how it concludes, yes?

So, we've got loads of reasons not to go, prices, film ratings and all. I scored off a Todo list gifts from hubby's last list in 2022, and I added Disney+ to my Sat package. It gets views daily.

Finally, I dearly miss the experience of drive-ins with hubby throughout the 80s and 90s, now without even a vehicle to drive (thanks again to costs and lack of facilities here in UK).

C O S T S overall is killing that entertainment industry. Currently awaiting release on Sat for last installment of Indiana Jones franchise. The sixth one will be out soon.
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Supernatural..I know you're living in Scotland, but are you British or American....did you live in the States... ?
 
Thinking about it going back, we only went to see Brigitte Bardot or Snog the current girlfriend and I think the last remaining flea-pit still has the same double passion seats for the latter. Off now to get my pacemaker checked, how excitement has changed with time.
 
I love going to the movies! Most of the theaters now have reclining seats which makes the whole experience so much better.

I always bring a sweater because as a couple folks mentioned, it’s cold in there. I also never buy concessions, they’re ridiculously expensive! And I’m not going there to eat, I’m going to watch!

I’m sad though because the theater closest to me, just a couple miles away, closed down. 😢 Not enough business I’m sure. I’m these days of streaming and the various premium channels, moviegoing is becoming obsolete.

I think Covid was the death knell of movie theaters.
 
Ronni said:
I love going to the movies! .... I also never buy concessions, they’re ridiculously expensive! And I’m not going there to eat, I’m going to watch!
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I almost always stop at the concession stand for a large popcorn, unless it's on a day where I have an unusual amount of self control. I never make popcorn at home, so when I enter the theater, it's like a visit to Popcorn Heaven. Don't ask me to explain that. I can't. But I might meditate about it sometime.
 
No theater for several years. We have a spare bedroom. Before we retired I acquired a digital projector and got a deal on on a motorized 106” screen. Using a DVD player fed to the projector, one that can also access the Internet, we watch Prime movies and I have a thing for thrift shops where movie disks can be picked up for a Buck.
 

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