# Dinner and a movie...which do you do first?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [January 27, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711 "2007-01-27T12:45:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/1 "2007-01-27T12:45:41Z")
Mr. K and I are celebrating our anniversary today by doing dinner and a movie. He suggested doing dinner first. I think the movie has to come first so you can discuss it over dinner.
How do you do it?
Why?
What time do you usually do your “dinner and a movie” dates?
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### Author:  [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/2 "2007-01-27T12:47:37Z")
I’d do the movie first. Gives you something to discuss, as you note, and the dinner is also a more intimate way to end an evening, IMHO. I would normally think of a movie around 6ish and dinner around 8ish.
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### Author:  [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/3 "2007-01-27T12:51:56Z")
I’d definitely do the movie first for two reasons - it will give you something to kick off the conversation with when you get to your chosen restaurant, and it also means you don’t have to rush dinner if the service is slower than usual because you don’t want to miss the beginning of the film.
Enjoy your night out and happy anniversary!
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### Author:  [@foxymoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foxymoron)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/4 "2007-01-27T14:26:41Z")
My husband and I do dinner first, then the movie. If we did it the other way, he would fill up on popcorn (he has no dicipline in this regard) and have no room for real food afterward. Not quite as romantic, but it works for us.
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### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/5 "2007-01-27T14:43:16Z")
[QUOTE=foxymoron]
My husband and I do dinner first, then the movie. If we did it the other way, he would fill up on popcorn (he has no dicipline in this regard) and have no room for real food afterward. Not quite as romantic, but it works for us.
[/QUOTE]
I’m kinda like this, too. I have to either eat before I go to the movie or just nibble on something small. It’s kind of a drag, because movies automatically get an extra star if you eat popcorn while you watch it.
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### Author:  [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/6 "2007-01-27T15:50:44Z")
We usually go to dinner first. That way we’re eating dinner at the proper dinner hour. After to movie we’ll usually go for a cocktail or coffee, so we still have the chance to discuss the film.
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### Author:  [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/7 "2007-01-27T15:55:10Z")
Movie first if you’re going somewhere that doesn’t require reservations to get a table at a reasonable time… or plan dinner with plenty of extra time before.
I get anxious if I think we’ll be late, so I can’t enjoy the dinner as much if I’m worried we’ll miss the movie.
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### Author:  [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/8 "2007-01-27T16:08:52Z")
We like the movie first, because we like to talk and linger over dinner and I hate being rushed to end at a certain time so we can get to the theater. Movie at 6 or 7 and dinner at 8 or 9 … I should point out we are late dinner eaters _anyway_ so eating at 9 is pretty typical.
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/9 "2007-01-27T16:11:23Z")
Well, it’s not called Movie and a Dinner, is it?
Well, is it?
I’m just kidding. I usually do dinner first - because your food has time to settle and then the making out at the movie transitions nicely to the bedroom. 😃
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### Author:  [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/10 "2007-01-27T19:19:03Z")
Movie and then dinner. I dunno, it just seems more intimate to round the evening off with dinner. And playing footsie under the table can transition just as nicely **Doctor Who**. 😃
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### Author:  [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/11 "2007-01-27T19:36:30Z")
I’d do dinner first because I always eat too much popcorn at the movies and would ruin my appetite.
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### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinner-and-a-movie-which-do-you-do-first/389711/12 "2007-01-27T21:35:30Z")
If we went to a Movie first then Dinner, Mrs. P would turn into a pumpkin and would be waaay too tired to have dinner after a movie… So we always go to dinner before the movie, ths way I can fall asleep easily in the theater from food coma and not get yelled at\* 🙂
Obviously if the movie is good, I don’t fall asleep - recently seeing “happy feet” I was amazed I stayed awake…