August 16, 2010
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Going to the movies… Alone.
After work on Friday, I decided to go to the movies, either to watch The Expendables or Salt. I’m an avid movie goer, but I’ve been busy since Toy Story 3. Karen was out of town to visit her mom in Boston, so I decided to go by myself right after work.
I wonder what feels worse, going to the movies alone or dining out alone. Neither are social taboos, but both tend to make people feel lonely. I’ve only watched two other movies alone, 2046 and My Blueberry Nights, both Wong Kar Wai movies where I had trouble finding people who actually wanted to see them.
It wasn’t really bad this time around. I guess usually after a movie, you’d want to talk to someone about it, but with the Expendables, what is there to talk about? It was an action movie that had a lot of action. Very linear. Very predictable. A lot of mindless action.
I think I might go to the movies by myself more often now, especially since any movie with too much killing and blood isn’t Karen’s cup of tea.
On a side note, what’s up with the trailers these days? Six previews and I did not see even one movie I was interested in.
Anyway, have you ever been to the movies alone? If you haven’t, would you?
Comments (49)
I watched MIB alone. I think I was 13 at the time, and I was waiting for my cousin to get off work. She gave me some cash and I ran across the street to watch it. I actually really loved it!
I think eating out alone is worse. At the theater it’s dark and no one looks at you in a take pity sort of way.
Eating out alone most people probably wonder…why didn’t he/she take the food to go?
I think if I were to go to the movie theatre alone, my friends would think I’m trying to be a loner or something. I hear that in other countries like France, it’s less awkward to enter the movie theatre by yourself. But over in America, if you’re not in a group it’s just… weird?
If there was a movie that I really wanted to see, but nobody would go to the movie theatre with me, I think I would just download the movie and watch it online at the end.
I don’t like previews show you too much important or “funny” scenes and then you expect a nice decent movie, but then when you watch the movie, you’ve already seen those scenes from the previews. T_T
not looking forward
I haven’t been to the movies alone yet. I haven’t dined out alone or gone travelling alone either. I’d fell hella self conscious, although chances are that no one gives a monkey haha.
i’d rather go to a movie alone rather than dine out alone. my husband has been to movies alone, if i was working late and there was a movie he was interested in that i definitely refuse to see.
I actually enjoy watching movies by myself. And on occasion, I do eat by myself, too. It’s not that I can’t find anybody to watch a movie or eat with, I choose to do these things by myself. And it’s not like I always do them alone. There’s always a time and place for everything. There’s a sort of satisfaction after completing these things alone. My experience is just to not look sorry for yourself. I’ve realized that here in New York, not a lot of people pay attention to who you’re with or who you’re not with…unless you’re making a huge scene.
I always go to the movies alone because I like catching the early Saturday/Sunday matinees. And I don’t really mind eating alone either but I’d bring a book or something to do at the restaurant rather than just sit idly waiting for the food to come.
movies alone? i probably can’t do that – mostly because i’m more frugal and i’d rather watch it at home than at the movies. the only movie i watched alone was sex and the city 2 because no one else wanted to see it and i am a fan who couldnt wait for the dvd.
eating alone is okay though. it allows me to people watch. in the theater, not so much and also, no company. texting all throughout the movie is kinda rude. lol
I don’t mind eating alone or going to the movies alone. I eat alone a lot, especially lunches because I don’t have a standard office job where I have work buddies, etc. Movies, though, who cares?
Wasn’t the Expendables awesome tho? Terry Crews and his ridiculous automatic shotgun!
i find that i enjoy going to the movies alone more than i do with people. because when you go to the movies alone, you can really focus and lose yourself in that movie. when i go to the movies with other people or dates, i’m usually the one who recommends the movie, so i focus most of my attention on them to see if they’re really enjoying the movie…
u can’t talk during a movie anyway so watching a movie solo is fine. but would i do it? no. my dad does it all the time though. as for dining alone, hell to the no.
going to the movies alone? no. I don’t know why though. But dining alone? No problem there..Done it a lot of times..
Ive thought about doing it..maybe going to see a matinee. not at night though when they’re so many pple.
i think i only get depressed doing things by myself if I feel like I have no other choice since no one else is free or wants to hang out with me lol = feeling alone. but if I do something alone by my own choice, I don’t feel depressed/lonely.
I’m more likely to see a movie with a companion, but I prefer seeing movies by myself. The problem with seeing movies by myself is finding the motivation to get off my duff and drive ten minutes to the theater; friends provide that motivation. Once I get there though, I’m more than happy to see a movie by myself. The fewer distractions the better. I don’t mind dining out alone either. It’s more awkward, sure. I just need to remember to take a book to read while I’m waiting for my meal. Usually my choice is between eating out alone or eating at home alone. I almost always prefer to eat out alone.
I like going to the theatres alone and often prefer it. It’s my way of spending time with myself, if that makes any sense. haha. I don’t really discuss movies with people anyway, and it’s not like you’re talking to people when the movie’s playing, so I don’t see a problem with it. Eating out however, I see as a social activity, so I would feel awkward doing it alone.
I normally wouldn’t, but I’m the only one who likes action movies, and there’s a dollar movie theater down the street (sometimes they’ll run really old movies like Fight Club or The Crow) Right now they’re showing Karate Kid, Sex in the City etc. And…it’s only a $1. So, I might go if I have nothing to do in the afternoon.
(if you enjoyed 2046, may i suggest Dolls by Takeshi Kitano)
I love the movies alone. Less people to bother with who don’t want to see my taste in movies, then having to find multiple seats in good areas. That’s always the worst.
Oh, gosh! I am trying to pluck up the courage to go to the movie on my own. Never ever did anything on my own, part from going shopping for cosmetics and clothing. I envy those who can go to the picture on their own… Maybe, one day.
I have. It helps me to rest and focus. It may seem more odd to do in the boonies but in this city it’s fine. I think a lot of people do it.
I haven’t gone to the movies alone yet. It used to be a monthly if not weekly exercise with the partner. But now I tend to drag my female frds to go to movies with me. I guess I’m scared of being alone.
lol as an avid sci-fi fan, there are some movies that i dont dare tell people that i paid to go see.. so yeah, i sometimes go to the movies alone..
I go to the movies alone all of the time, unless my bf wants to see the same movies. I used to give reviews on here of the movies I’d seen alone. Honestly, in the last 2 yrs, 90% of the movies I’ve seen in theaters have been all by my lonesome and I LOVE IT! And I never go on opening weekend. I like the theater as empty as possible so there are no interruptions…it’s not b/c I have no one to go with, it’s by choice. Some say it’s weird of me but I don’t care. There’s nothing worse than a person that talks throughout a movie or a date that doesn’t like the movie that complains the entire time you’re there. That just ruins the experience!
I think I’ve only gone to one movie alone. Never again. It’s too depressing. Lol. On the other hand, I don’t mind eating alone as long as it’s not a fancy restaurant.
Yes, I have been to the movies alone. I’ve seen a lot of movies alone in my single days, but I didn’t mind it or feel alone. It only feels lonely because everyone else is with someone, but it’s really okay to go to the movies by yourself.
It’s eating alone that feels awkward. I could eat at a fast food place alone, but not a real restaurant where a waiter takes your order. It feels weird when they ask “Table for one?” I’ve done it a few times, but it feels too lonely. I need something to read while I eat if I go out to eat alone.
i really enjoy reading your posts, keep up the good work!
btw, i don’t think i would like to watch a movie alone, but if i have to choose i’d rather watch a movie alone than eat alone. it’s usually bc i like to talk about the movie right after.
Eating out alone is fine as long as the restaurant isn’t especially busy and you have a book handy.
I’ve never been to the movies alone & I probably wouldn’t ever go by myself. I don’t know, that’s just how I am I guess. It’s too uncomfortable and lonely!
I’ve done it once when I was out of town and once when I left work extremely early on a weekday…I think it’s okay and not too strange…but I guess I’m kind of a loner =T
I traveled the world for 13 years, and went to many movies. When I was in a town where I didn’t know anyone, like Pierre, SD or Sandy Hook, KY, I would go to the movies. I actually came to enjoy it, and it’s still sometimes a guilty pleasure when I want to be alone.
I’ve both gone to the cinema and dinner alone. Even though yes it can feel lonely sometimes, I still think it’s a beautiful feeling to absorb the world around you in such a populated place where everyone is coupled or in groups. It kind of resembles water curving around a stone in a stream to me, at least the way I see it…
I’m starting to do that more. If you think about it the activity should be more of an alone type of thing.
tried both but somehow ended up feeling like the weirdo loner.. food and laughter’s always best shared methinks..
i’ve eaten alone in public and watched movies alone…
i think it’s worse eating alone (since i’m not the type to start conversation) since i’d just spend the time waiting for my food looking… like a loser. like someone said, take the food to go if you’re by yourself.
i used to even feel lame eating by myself in the cafeteria in college that i’d eat in my car.
as for watching movies alone, it’s just kind of weird. i guess because it was a movie i forced myself to watch since no one wanted to go with me. it feels wrong walking out of the theater and not having someone to talk about the movie with as soon as i leave the theater.
if i have to watch a movie alone, it’d be at home. cheaper to rent than to buy a ticket.
I actually prefer sometimes to go it alone, my own company is all I can handle at times. If you go out with a large group of friends or even just a date…you have to compromise which row you sit in, and debate who is sitting on the outside!
Going on a date with yourself is actually quite peaceful and gives you a chance to get the candy of your choice this time! And you only have to worry about making yourself comfortable and YOU get to choose the movie! I will go alone or with my acquaintances though, depends on my mood!
2046. love that movie.
u should see perhaps love. http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/perhaps_love.htm
hmm never been to the movies alone, i rather stay at home watch something.
I’ve done both watching movies alone and eating alone. For the movies, I watched 2 movies back-to-back for a University English course. I believe it was a romance (The Breakup) and a sci-fi (Click) that I watched as part of the assignment. I recall I had procrastinated and saved it for the last minute, so I had to get it done and no one else was available/wanted to watch that combination.
As for dining alone, I often do it now when I’m on the road for work. I’ve only dined alone once out of choice (not part of a workday). I was hungry and craved pho, so I pulled in to a random plaza that had pho.
I have to say, I’m indifferent to what’s worse, I think it has more to do with the state of mind. When I watched the back-to-back movies alone, I had just gone through a breakup myself and I was forced to see the movies for the assignment, so the experience was not entirely pleasant. When I dined alone, I was more complete as a person, and just happy that I satisfied my craving.
If I had to choose, though, I’d pick to dine alone – eating is a necessity of life, after all, whether you’re alone or not.
Definitely not as bad as dining alone! At least you’re in the dark and no one really looks at you.
i just went to watch at AMC 34 and it was $17/person!!!! NUTS!! Thank GOD for those AMC vouchers!
i used to feel self-conscious, going to a movie or dinner alone. seemed like another way strangers could make me feel “inadequate,” even though i knew i wasn’t. i guess one of the good things about getting older is that you realize how silly it is to worry about things like that.
New reader here, compliments for a well-kept blog for so many years and a great readership base~
Started typing my comments and realised it got too long and began to look more like a mini blog entry!
You have inspired me to post a blog entry on the same subject…thanks.
Will just leave the beginnings of my rant here:
I have been watching movies by myself since my early teens. Prior to that, movies had been a family affair or a special father-daughter outing with dad (think James Bond movies). Since migrating to Australia when I was 13, I’ve made it a ritual to watch a movie by myself on my birthday and never had any problems with it.
On non-birthdays, sometimes I’ll watch movies with friends or sibling/s or family…mostly because they wanted my company or it was a gathering. Most (if not all) of the time, my movie companions tend to disturb my paying-full-attention to the movie. Most of them like to make comments during the movie or ask questions….some turn to me just to watch my reaction to a scene and I feel obligated to turn to them and give one (my peripheral vision is too good to pretend and ignore the persons sitting next to me)
So for a person who likes to concentrate on watching a movie, perhaps I may even conclude I prefer to watch movies by myself. There are pros and cons, I suppose. The flip side is you can’t discuss it with anyone right after the movie. To have the best of both worlds, I would need a movie companion who shares the same movie etiquette as me!
Over the past few years things changed… to be cont’d…
@lfespock - You’re talking about 3-D right? Can’t be a regular movie costing that much.
-ray leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
@jigg - Regular price is $13 + $4-5 (for 3D) (we watched Despicable Me). On a Tuesday night! Nuts!!
Fortunately I bought a few books of those Weekday passes about 4 years ago. Spent a few thousand on them. Most of my friends thought I was nuts. Thank God they don’t expire!
I would prefer dining alone then going to the movies alone. It’s nice to look at someone next to you at the theatres to smile or laugh or look at eachother like what the fuck was that.
I find it interesting the people hold such a stigma to alone. I love being social, but I also admire the times I get to spend alone, and many of my favorite moments in life have happened alone.
Movies alone – all the time.
Dinner alone – not often, but it has never bothered me.
It isn’t like being alone is a state of automatic mopeyness.
I don’t like doing anything alone. Whether it’s shopping, going to class, or even going for a walk. What does this say about me?
If it’s a choice of being home alone, and going to the movies for entertainment, I choose movies. I’m use to going to movies on my own, I agree with pinksoda, it’s dark and no one’s paying attention to you.
I’m single and spend most of my time alone. I don’t like being alone, but I’m in a city and state different from where I grew up. I’m very cautious of people (hint, the screen name), because of the hurt and pain that I’ve experienced in the past, so I guess you could say that I’m an introvert. Therefore, I do a lot of things by myself and it’s not exciting or fun for me. If I’m at a movie or in a restaurant I find myself looking around at families and couples enjoying themselves and wish to feel the emotions which are sparked by the company of someone.
If going to the movies alone is not something that you have to do because of the absence of a special someone, friends or family, going places alone is sometimes needed in order to gain a good clear perspective on things, everyone needs occasional alone time. It’s just being alone all the time that is really depressing.