I usually go alone now, since most of my friends are in Illinois or Missouri, and i am stuck in Cali. When i am home in Rock Island i usually go with two-three people.
I agree with this post 100%, including the milkshakes.
I see almost all my movies by myself. It felt weird the first few times I did it - maybe even a little dirty - but now I say it with pride: “I’m a moviegoing hermit!”
Part of the reason is my work schedule. I’ve worked nights for years and years now, and nowadays I only work every other week. And I’m telling you, the absolute BEST movie time is the middle of the week, at the earliest matinee. It’s half price, there are no lines, and the theatre’s empty, so you can show up 20 minutes late, get popcorn, and still get a good seat before the actual show starts. It’s great. But, for the same basic reasons, it makes it hard to find anyone to go with you.
Shoot, there isn’t anything wrong with going to the movies by yourself. I’ve done it lots of times. In fact, just yesterday my husband and I went in to separate movies because he’s already went to see the one I wanted to see.
I love going to the movies by myself! See this thread for the reason…http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=155224
Quasi
I have seen lots of movies with others in the past, but for the past two years, being single for a lot of that time, I’ve enjoyed seeing films alone, for the reasons most people give. A particular factor for me is that I don’t have to feel apologetic if I decide that I really must see Jason X. The only person whacking me on the back of the head is myself, and I can’t do it with much force 
I went to see LOTR:TTT with my BIL and a bunch of his friends recently, and although I really enjoyed it, I started to feel self consious about how I was responding to it - I tend to get involved in the movie and not noticing if I’m leaning forwards and backwards, and constantly grabbing my oversize diluted syrup cup to take sips. When I’m alone (and I usually end up without someone next to me, if I can help it), this doesn’t matter as much.
I’ve never had a problem seeing a film on my own, although I have rarely done so since meeting DH 6 years ago. The most recent solitary exposure was The Two Towers a week or so ago.
A couple of funny cinema experiences involved lonesome people in theatres though. Back in my early university days, two movies came out around the same time (maybe a year between or something), and when friends and I went to matinee sessions there was an overwhelming population of lonesome male movie goers in the cinema - all sitting discretely apart.
The movies? Basic Instinct and Body of Evidence.
Friends and I had quite a chuckle over that 
I rather like going to movies by myself. It is nice to go with others, but sometimes the best way is by myself.
When FotR came out I went on opening night with a couple of friends, and we had a blast. I enjoyed it on so many levels but one thing messed it up a little for me. When Elrond first appeared on screen… one fiend leaned over and whispered to me two words which ruined Elrond completely. “Agent Smith”. Yep, I couldn’t look at Elrond after that without thinking of the Matrix. Drove me nuts.
Sometimes it’s good to go with a friend though. I actually went on Satuday night to go see Ghost Ship at the cheap theatre as I had gift certificates. That one really grossed me out, but my friend afterwards put it all in perspective by telling me that it would make a wonderful premise for a Wraith game.
It’s just a toss up for me whether I go alone. If I can get someone to come along, great! If not well I’ll see it when I can. sometimes it’s better to go by myself though because I can pick a time best suited to me. When Chamber of Secrets came out I went right after school to a matinee. Everyone else I knew were going other times or didn’t want to see it. Plus the theatre was mostly empty so I got a great seat. Same with TTT, I was only able to go right after work. Around 9:45, most of the people whom I knew wanted to see it were going with others or had to work early the next day. So I went and had a blast.
I prefer going to the movies alone. I am paying ~15.00 for a ticket and jumbo popcorn and Coke; I do not want to talk to anyone during the movie, so why bring them along?
Movies are not (should not be) social events. The only thing you should ever say in a movie theater is, “Oh my God, I am dying. Please call an ambulence”. Other then that, you are wasting my, and other movie-goers money.
But then again, I go to the theater at 1pm-ish on Weds., so my non-night shift friends and SO don’t even get the option
Nowadays, I’m dependant on friends with cars if I want to see movies in theatres, so going alone is not an option. Back during high school, I occasionaly went alone if I couldn’t find friends or family members who were interested. Of course, this usually happened only with movies like Wild Wild West and others of similar quality.
I’ve always gone to movies alone, and I don’t see why anyone would think that’s strange- I watch TV and read books alone, too.
What I’ve noticed is that at my Giant MegaSuperPlex, people are usually in couples or groups. But at my Friendly Neighborhood Independant and Foreign-type Theater, there are lots of people there by themselves.
The conclusion I’ve drawn is that people who go to the movies as a social activity go to the big theater, while people who go because they like movies are more likely to go see little obscure movies.
I started going to movies alone when all my high school friends went out of state for college and I was left in Va Beach. since I was the only person I knew who enjoyed indie films, I ended up seeing them on my own. It didn’t occur to me that this was strange until I went on a date acouple of years later and it came up in the conversation. I’m pretty sure that’s why there wasn’t a second date.
Ha I saw you!
I don’t mind going to a movie by myself, though lately I have been renting them more since Blockbuster had a number of deals. I don’t like paying for the movies anymore so I goto the cheap theaters where it’s $3 to go. I don’t mind people talking during some types of movies if it’s at the movie and not just talking.
Wow, how do you pull that one off? I have no problems with going to the movies by myself, but would never go to a restaurant by myself. Heck, I won’t even eat at my college’s dining hall unless I have the newspaper or something to read with me. I guess because I have to serve myself there–the last thing I’d need is to go to a restaurant and have the host/ess and waiter/tress all give me crap about “Dining alone tonight?”
Whoa, ElwoodCuse,
I dine out alone all the time. I’ve been doing it for years and years because I don’t have a girlfriend. Granted, I think I’ve become immune to the extreme awkwardness of it (as well as the social stigma) and I do bring something to read but it’s getting to be a bit much.
I don’t go to movies alone, but that’s because, to me, going to the movies is something I do on a social basis, not an entertainment basis. It’s one of the few things I actually LIKE doing with people (I prefer to shop alone, I don’t like just “hanging out”, and, if I rent a movie, I want to watch it alone). Most of the fun for me lies not in seeing the movie, but in going with my friends.
Plus my SO is a movie geek, so during certain movies, I can derive great amusement from his reactions :).
I’d say I go to the movies with other people about 80% of the time. However, I’ve never thought there was anything weird about going alone. I’ve done it many a time(though usually only for matinees). I mean, come on, it’s not like you can interact with others during the movie(at least you’re not supposed to!), so I don’t see why it would be weird.
I never thought of going to a movie by myself until I was in my mid 20’s. Then I started traveling a lot with work, and it was either spend the night in a hotel room, or go out and do something. Seeing a movie seemed like a safe, easy thing to do.
Now I go all the time if there’s something I want to see but no one else does (which happens to me all the time since I have different tastes from most of my friends).
I also go out to dinner and sight seeing by myself. Again, when I started traveling with work I realized that I was in a lot of really interesting places and, since no one I knew was around to hang out with, it was either get out and do things or spend the evening with hotel HBO.
So many people. . . just like me. . . .loners. . . .
Gimme a hug, friends.
Well, I’m not really a loner or a recluse…but I used to go to the movies alone cause my friends only watch action flicks. They don’t like anything that has lots of dialogue.
I used to dine out alone as well. I don’t mean eating at Mickey D’s or the local chicken franchise. I’m talking about restaurants with waiters and six-page menus. Didn’t find eating alone awkward at all. Hey, when you’re hungry you’re oblivious to everything else. I usually bring something to read while waiting for my order to arrive.
I say “used to” 'cause I’m married now.