# A Poll: How often do to go to a theater to see a movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811 "2011-05-13T18:22:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/1 "2011-05-13T18:22:55Z")
The title says it all ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/2 "2011-05-13T18:35:17Z")
Once or twice a year, but it really depends. Last year I was going every other weekend. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/3 "2011-05-13T18:38:27Z")
I’m a movie nerd so I go about once a week. I used to go more often (2-3 times per week frequently) but now that I am back in school (plus working full time) I don’t have the time. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/4 "2011-05-13T18:42:20Z")
Maybe once a year and that’s usually just for something loke Toy Story III where I don’t want my kid to have to wait. We have all the premium channels, Netflix, a media room, there’s just little reason to go out and the experience is often less favorable than staying at home. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/5 "2011-05-13T18:51:54Z")
I put once a week, as we usually go on Fridays - but sometimes, when there is nothing we really want to see, we might skip a week here and there. However, there have been weeks where we will go see two in a week, so I guess it almost averages out, but probably 48-50 weeks a year we will go see a movie. I used to work at a movie studio and got in the habit of seeing screenings every Friday (free at that studio), so the habit kind of stuck. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/6 "2011-05-13T18:53:45Z")
Once or twice a year, and usually because I’m finding something to do with one or both kids. I don’t mind going to the movies, but I’m not really a movie person. Sitting in the same spot for 2 hours is kinda boring. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/7 "2011-05-13T18:54:52Z")
Once or twice a year if I really want to see something. They’re too expensive and there’s nothing I wanna see anyway. I’m happy watching 80s movies at home on VHS. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/8 "2011-05-13T19:02:01Z")
The rate’s been falling for years. It’s not because I don’t want to see movies in the theater; I really do. I _would_ generally prefer theater screenings to home viewing, except I hate almost all current _theaters_. There’s only one place within reasonable distance (not even in my town) that I genuinely like–main street location with restaurants just down the block, old-fashioned marquee and box office and interior, single screen, fresh popcorn with real butter, and reasonable prices. It is _so much better_ as a total experience than the mall cineplexes, I really can’t stand to go to the latter any more. But of course that one little theater only occasionally has something I want to see, and sometimes I don’t get there quick enough when they do. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/9 "2011-05-13T19:22:30Z")
You need a “Several times a Day” option for **Equipoise**. But then she is unlikely to come to this thread because of all the usual whining about “ticket prices…blah, blah, blah…when I go out to the movies I have to hire a sitter or bring my 27 kids and buy each of them a large soda and popcorn and figure that into the price…sticky floors…rude kids texting…blah, blah, blah…”. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/10 "2011-05-13T19:36:44Z")
One thing I forgot to mention in my post above - at least here in Las Vegas, they have senior discounts (age 50, 55 or 60, depending on the theater and theater chain) where you can see a movie for quite a discount. I think the going rate for these senior tickets is $7.50 for a ticket, and at our local movie theater, all tickets for everyone is only $5 on Tuesdays! I mention this as we notice when we go see first-run, opening films early on Fridays (I have Friday off), the crowd is amazing! Lots and lots of people in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s going to see movies that you would not really expect that aged crowd to see! All I am saying is that there most certainly is an older demographic not being represented in movie attendance. Seriously, when these summer blockbusters come out, designed for the 18-24 year old audience, you would be quite surprised to see those early screenings half full with seniors. Maybe these are die-hard movie buffs like we are, but still - not your stereotypical audience for these kinds of films. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/11 "2011-05-13T19:36:49Z")
Last year, “Toy Story III” with my sister and her kid; this year so far, “The King’s Speech” with my sister and my mom. If it weren’t for my sister and my mom, I probably wouldn’t go to the theater at all. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/12 "2011-05-13T19:38:55Z")
**spark240** , I feel ya. Sometimes I like the modern cinemaplex-style theatres, but there’s just something about an old theatre. When I’m on my summer vacation, I have to see at least one movie. The smell of that theatre is awesome. I saw **Aliens in th Attic** just so I could sit in that place for a couple of hours. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/13 "2011-05-13T19:40:50Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I mention this as we notice when we go see first-run, opening films early on Fridays (I have Friday off), the crowd is amazing! Lots and lots of people in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s going to see movies that you would not really expect that aged crowd to see! Yeah, but them and their damn cell phones! ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/14 "2011-05-13T19:54:48Z")
Depends on what’s playing and the time of year really. In recent months, it’s been maybe once per month. Yet a couple years ago I was seeing maybe 2 or 3 movies every week. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/15 "2011-05-13T20:08:31Z")
I don’t see movies in theaters because I can’t just sit there and do nothing but watch a movie for that long. I’ll wait and watch it when it’s available on TV or Netflix so I can watch 15 minutes here and there. I have to say, though, that I’d go to **spark240’s** theater if it were close by. That sounds pretty damn cool. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/16 "2011-05-13T21:40:42Z")
I answered almost never. Not because I hate movies, but because I hate modern theaters, and I hate the modern culture. Yeah, I hate kids yapping or texting on their cells \. But I also hate people who LOOK like their adults, commenting on the movie. And the volume is never right. I used to go see movies about twice a week, because I got into the habit of it when I worked at a theater, and even after I quit, I enjoyed getting out. But I came to realize that I usually wasn’t enjoying the movies in the theater as much as I enjoyed them at home. So why should I pay as much to see the movie as the cost of buying the movie on VHS and later DVD? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/17 "2011-05-13T22:01:16Z")
about once every other year. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/18 "2011-05-13T22:27:24Z")
I chose the “half-dozen” option, but that’s only if you include the on-campus second-run theater. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/19 "2011-05-13T23:03:08Z")
Almost never, but not “because of Nexflix or cable or I hate movies”, but because I seem to be the only one who actually wants to watch the movie while there, and I’m easily disturbed. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811/20 "2011-05-13T23:12:31Z")
I love movies, but hate watching them in theaters. I usually have to get up to go to the men’s room once during the movie and I can’t pause it at the theater, so I miss part of the movie. If I try to tough it out, my attention gets divided between the screen and my bladder, which affects my enjoyment. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-how-often-do-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/581811.md?page=2)