http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=154282
I saw this thread and thought it very relevant to many Cafe Society members. I think that, if that thread isn’t going to be here, people here should know that it’s over there (if they feel like answering the questions).
I never once, EVER, thought going to the movies alone was weird, and it never dawned on me that there were other people who did. Man, you learn something new about people every day!
95% of the time, I go to movies all by my lonesome. I don’t have to cater to anyone else’s taste in movies, I don’t have to wait for my companion to get in the car, get their munchies, get to the seating and just watch the darn movie. It’s torture going to the movies with my older sister, because she’s late to everything.
For a time, I used to be self-conscious about attending a movie by myself. As a result, I missed a lot of films I wanted to see and ended up waiting for them to be shown on cable. I’ve mostly gotten over that now and don’t really care what people may think if I show up at a theater by myself.
However, if it’s a “Harry Potter” or a “Monsters, Inc.” kid-oriented type of movie, I definitely wouldn’t go by myself because it would look like I’m a some sort of perv. Fortunately, I’m not really interested in having to see those types of movies in the theater.
Actually, when I saw The Two Towers, it was the first time I EVER went to a movie alone. Around my high school, the lowest and most uncool thing a person could ever do is go to a movie alone (even worse than going to a movie with your parents). Infact, if anyone tried discussing a movie, the first question most students would ask is “who did you go with?” … yeah, I know…I shouldn’t give in to standards, but it was kind of forced into me (which really wasn’t a problem since I didn’t get my driver’s license until my senior year so I couldn’t go to movies alone anyway). I guess I kept that rule into college…although I could always find somebody who wanted to go with me there. But two weeks ago…nobody had the time to go to a 3 hour movie with me, or they saw it at midnight the night it opened and didn’t want to go back so soon, and my coupon was going to expire soon, so I said FUCK IT and just went. I felt REALLY self concious since I was the only person in the theater who was sitting alone…but…you know what…I REALLY enjoyed watching the movie. Not having people getting up to go to the bathroom or asking “what did he say?” was a huge improvement. I’ll do it again, gladly!
(and thank god I didn’t run into anybody I knew)
About half of the movies I go to see, I see alone. Never thought there was anything strange about it. I see many others alone at the theater and think nothing of it.
Most of my activities (dining, travel, shopping) I do alone. I would hate to miss out on something just because I could not find someone with whom to do it.
I almost always go alone. Seeing a movie is essentially a private experience. Once the lights go down, if the movie’s any good, you’ll be focused on it pretty much to the exclusion of everything else.
Until I read this thread, it had never occurred to me that anyone might have a problem going to a movie alone or would think it strange that someone else did. Why should anyone else care what I do when I’m by myself? Who could possibly be so small minded that they’d think someone was strange for doing this alone?
I used to have a big problem with the idea of going to the movies by myself–particularly when I was in high school. I didn’t have many friends, and honestly when I went by myself I spent most of the movie feeling depressed and looking around the theatre to see people talking with each other and wishing I had someone, too.
Then college and grad school came around, I opened up and gathered all sorts of friends, acquaintances, etc, and we still see movies together all the time. But I also feel very comfortable going to a movie by myself now, and sometimes make a point of doing it as a way of getting in some personal time.
fusoya’s post was me 25 years ago.
These days, seeing a movie alone is the rule rather than the exception, and I do enjoy the ‘down’ time.
As aramis says, seeing a movie is essentially a private experience.
However, there are so many people who act as if watching a movie in a theater is the same thing as watching TV in their living room, they converse out loud and act insulted when shushed by someone like myself, who they probably consider an anti-social weirdo. 
This is another reason why, if my work schedule allows, I will tend to try to get to a weekday matinee. I notice more alone type people at these quieter afternoon showings.
i go to movies alone. as many others have mentioned, it isn’t polite to talk while the movie is playing.
the only advantage with seeing movies with another person (s) is having someone you can discuss the movie with, when sipping milkshakes.
If you do choose to go to the movies alone, however, you really should leave the hat and the soiled raincoat at home.
I go to movies alone all the time. The main reason is that I haven’t had a girlfriend for many years (I’m single). Even if I did go with someone, I would never engage in conversation during a movie. It is, as aramis states, a personal experience. Rocking Chair gives the best reason to have someone to go with.
I go alone so nobody will see me when I pick my seat.
I remember being burned so many times as a kid because I felt compelled to wait until I could see a movie with friends/family. I remember an especially irritating time, when I was supposed to see a much-anticipated film with a friend (who had a car—I didn’t). We kept on talking about it, I kept on waiting for her to say that it was a good time for her to see the movie. It never happened. I asked her about the movie a while later, and she casually said that, “Oh, I saw that with Doris last week.” ARGGH! (I think this friend enjoyed playing power trip games.)
It was such a liberating feeling when I finally realized that yes, it really WAS possible to see a movie when it is still in the “good” theatres, rather than waiting and hoping that my procrastinating friends/family would eventually get off their asses. I cannot tell you how many movies I missed out on because I’d wait and hope and wait and hope and nag. It’s just not worth it.
And then there’s the fact that I sometimes have weird tastes, and want to see movies that no one else I know wants to see. I’ve seen some really obscure movies that I didn’t even know if I’d like or not. I just was curious about some facet of them (or maybe my favorite star was in them). Why would I want to drag someone else along to see it with me? It might really suck and they’d just bitch to me because I dragged them along.
I don’t think it’s weird, but I would find it “not as fun”. I’m a VERY social person and a BIG part of the fun, for me, of going to the movies is laughing, or gasping, or crying, or being amazed (you get the pic) WITH someone.
That being said, if there were “big screen” movie I REALLY wanted to see, I would go see it alone.
I see movies alone too, and enjoy it. But this may be the only message board in the Alpha Quadrant where solo movie goers are the rule rather than the exception! And we should probably be aware of two things: 1) We are Geeks. and 2) That is a good thing!..Timmy
I did not like seeing movies by myself. Tried not to, really.
But when X-Men came out I HAD to see it. Couldn’t find anyone to go with me, so I went by my lonesome.
It was uncomfortable. I felt silly.
But it is nice not having to explain parts missed when the person you came with has to run to the bathroom or buy more Goobers.
Now when a flick comes out that I HAVE to see, I will see it by myself first, THEN I will bring someone else with.
One of my girlfriendsgoes to the movies alone on a regular basis. However, once there were only 3 people in the theater and she was very creeped out after the house lights went down.
Mr. Ruby and I enjoy each other’s company and enjoy experiencing a new movie together. I would feel strange going to the theater without him.
We have, however, become victims of the small screen. The cost of going to the theater has gotten out of hand so we’ve opted for digital cable instead.
About half the movies I watch I see alone. Most movies that a teenage boy will enjoy I see with my son but sometimes he sees them with friends. The rest I see alone or with a friend.
I also sometimes like dining alone. Just last night I was reading restaurant reviews in the paper and suddenly had the urge for Thai food. So I grabbed a book to read and headed out. No discussion required about who wants what and no idle chitchat while waiting.
I’ve only been to one movie by myself (third viewing of FOTR). However, because of my weird reactions to stimuli, I would far rather see movies alone. I cry a lot, and it’s embarrassing, and I hate having to explain that, yes, I did cry when Darth Vader died, because I just did, okay, and that’s all there is to it.
So, when I’m all growed up, I’ll probably see most movies by myself (with the possible exception of animation movies because it’s fun to see them with my animationerd friends), and the only thing that’s stopping me now is that my mom thinks it’s really weird and gives me trouble when I say I want to see a movie by myself. Sigh. One would think she’d have recognised by now that it’s too late for her daughter to be normal.