# What's the highest number of times you've seen a movie in the theater? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709 "2014-01-13T21:21:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/81 "2014-01-15T19:02:00Z")
3 is my record/limit. For both Independence Day and Fellowship of the Ring. On a side note, Mortal Kombat was the first movie I saw twice in the theaters. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/82 "2014-01-15T19:44:53Z")
I’ve seen each of the original Star Wars trilogy in the theater at least three times - once each when they were released, once each when the Special Editions came out, and all three back-to-back at a special 20th anniversary showing of the entire trilogy. I know I saw the Star Wars Special Edition at least twice, so that’s up to four there, and while I don’t have any direct recollection of going to the theater, it’s almost unthinkable that I wouldn’t have made my mom take me to see the re-release before _Empire_ came out. So, probably five for _Star Wars_. Wouldn’t be surprised if there were one or two other theater viewings in there that I’ve completely forgotten about. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/83 "2014-01-15T19:53:06Z")
I spent $24 to see _Dances with Wolves_ … eight times. Much like \*\*steveroo \*\*and _Star Wars_, I was a college student, and $3 wasn’t much to spend on three hours of entertainment that, at the time, I really enjoyed. I like the movie less now. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/84 "2014-01-15T19:53:29Z")
Five times. Back in 1983 I won a ticket to all the theaters in town, for a year. If I liked a film I could see it again and again and again. So I did. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/85 "2014-01-15T20:30:21Z")
Probably saw “Pink Floyd - The Wall” about a dozen times when I was in high school in the 80s. It was the go to midnight movie for my social group. I’ve also seen “The Godfather” a handful of times in theaters over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/86 "2014-01-17T00:08:26Z")
James Cameron’s _ **Aliens** _ back in '86. Counting watching both of one of a drive-in’s double showings, I saw it **nine** times in the theater. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/87 "2014-01-17T00:19:15Z")
“This Is Spinal Tap” - probably a couple dozen, when it was in theaters 30 years ago (yes, it’s been that long). My brother worked at the theater, and got me in free. 🙂 By the time it left that theater, senior citizens were going to see it, and saying, “We’ve got to find out if this movie really is as funny as everyone says it is!” And as for the “choking on vomit” scene, the first time I saw it, the audience nearly blew the roof off the building going “EWWWWWWW!!!” All the newspaper reviewer would say that that the drummer had died “in a manner too revolting to relate”, so we had no idea what to expect. I never heard a movie audience howl that loud until I saw “About Schmidt” on opening weekend, and got to see KATHY BATES in all her full-frontal glory! :eek: (In an NPR interview, she was asked if she knew she was doing a nude scene, and she replied, “It was in the script!”) BTW, Scotland Yard still doesn’t have any way to find out whose vomit it was. You can’t get DNA from stomach contents (i.e. “dust for vomit”). 😛 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/88 "2014-01-17T00:24:36Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Five times. Back in 1983 I won a ticket to all the theaters in town, for a year. If I liked a film I could see it again and again and again. So I did. And what was the movie? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/89 "2014-01-17T00:51:34Z")
I’m lucky enough to remember when movies were shown in theaters again and again, so long as they continued to attract audiences. And I went to the movies **a lot** , especially with my dad and older brother in the summertime. Back in the '60s, I saw all of the following anywhere from five to **at least** ten times: \*\*\*Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Journey to the Seventh Planet Guns of Navarone 101 Dalmatians The Parent Trap Nikky, Wild Dog of the North The Great Escape It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World Mary Poppins The Great Race.\*\*\* Since then, I know I saw _ **Star Wars** _ at least ten times and _ **Titanic** _ four times in theaters. When I lived in Czechoslovakia, they would show English-language movies all weekend at the local cinema. I’m pretty sure I saw _ **Die Hard** _, _ **Backfire** _, _ **Backdraft** _, _ **Silence of the Lambs** _, _ **See No Evil** _, and _ **Naked Gun 2 1/2** _ three times each. I also saw the Soviet version of _ **War and Peace** _ four times at midnight showings when I was living in England. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/90 "2014-01-17T01:38:16Z")
I’ve seen _2001: A Space Odyssey_ five times (all five times in 70mm!!). I’ve seen _Gone With the Wind_ four times. There are dozens that I’ve seen two or three times. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/91 "2014-01-17T01:54:19Z")
In the theater, it’s probably Jurassic Park. It played at the dollar theater for a long time and I saw it a few times in the regular movie house before that. I think I saw it over a dozen times in the theater. Tombstone is a close second. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/92 "2014-01-17T02:07:00Z")
Oh maybe Rocky Horror, though most of those were at a convention. I saw Serenity five times in the theater. I saw Man of Steel three times on the big screen. Avatar at least three. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/93 "2014-01-17T03:09:52Z")
And again, like with that other “Movies Watched the Most Times” thread, I assume we’re not talking porn. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/94 "2014-01-17T14:04:31Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > And again, like with that other “Movies Watched the Most Times” thread, I assume we’re not talking porn. No, that’s the “Movies I never finished” thread. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/95 "2014-01-17T15:34:01Z")
Cinderella, three nights in a row. Cost a total of 42 cents back then. Pure magic at the time, for an 8 year old kid. Today, not many folks would bother to see movies more than once in a theater, would they? Mama pointed out yesterday that some places charge more than $12 for a ticket now. Lordy! I’ll just be patient and pay $4.99 and let 20 family members watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/96 "2014-01-17T17:51:15Z")
_Fantasia_ - about 14 times. I really like that movie, and found it when I was in college. _Rocky Horror Picture Show_ - maybe 25 times. Used to go every weekend. ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/97 "2014-01-17T20:39:13Z")
Besides musicals, I have never understood why people want to see the same movie multiple times (and paying), when presumably there are other movies that they have not seen that might interest them. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/98 "2014-01-17T21:36:40Z")
I may have seen one or two twice back in the days when they didn’t clear out the theater after each showing, but the only one I have seen in theaters where I paid multiple times to see it is _The Simpsons Movie_. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/99 "2014-01-18T00:41:28Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > Besides musicals, I have never understood why people want to see the same movie multiple times (and paying), when presumably there are other movies that they have not seen that might interest them. That’s more true nowadays than it used to be. _Star Wars_ came out before the days of video rental. I’m not sure I would have watched it in the theater 19 times if I’d had access to more than just what was on in the other theaters even if it did blow me away at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709/100 "2014-01-18T02:36:16Z")
Pulp Fiction - 5 times. I found myself strangely compelled by it more and more each time, so I kept taking different friends to it. Independence Day - 5 times. Yeah, yeah, I know. But the 10-year-old in me freaking loved it. (Of course, I was 29 at the time.) Toy Story - maybe 5 times, not sure (many more at home). I still consider it (nearly) a perfect movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-highest-number-of-times-youve-seen-a-movie-in-the-theater/678709.md?page=6)