Is going to the cinema alone a different level of lonely?

I've never felt a difference. The people I go to movies with tend to be absorbed in the movie just like myself so it's essentially the same as watching the movie on my own. Contrast this to watching movies at home where someone is always talking and I have to multitask instead of just concentrating on the movie cause I'm too nice to ask anyone to shut up so that I can watch in peace.
 
poodaddy said:
I don't think there's anything wrong with it whatsoever, I don't know why there's a stigma about it at all, but I will admit I've never done it. It's not that I've particularly avoided it on purpose, just that I suppose I only want to see things in theaters with friends or family. If it's just me, I'll watch on anything, no big deal.
Click to expand...
I think the same.

There are films that catch your attention, but they're not for everyone.

I go see them, sometimes films from Japan or arthouse films.
 
Used to go by myself quite a lot. Wouldn't have problems today as well but I've become way to patient to rush to see a movie. It's been gonna be on Prime in a barely a month or two anyway.
 
JimmyRustler said:
Used to go by myself quite a lot. Wouldn't have problems today as well but I've become way to patient to rush to see a movie. It's been gonna be on Prime in a barely a month or two anyway.
Click to expand...

Before the pandemic, I used to go to the theaters alot. 2020 is when I actually started to watch less and just wait. The more the years went by, I went to the theater less and less. I went and saw two movies last year in the theaters and loved them both. But I have felt no need to watch any movies coming out this year in the theaters. Yes there are movies I want to see that are coming out this year but I'm fine with waiting til they hit VOD/streaming.
 
Been on my own a couple of times. Thought it would be weird but it was just chill as hell. Not like I'm not really talking to anyone while I'm there anyways. Can't discuss the movie with anyone afterwards, but it wasn't a big deal. Will do it again if there is a movie that none of my friends can/want to see.
 
Yes, it can feel lonely, but that is only before and after the movie but I usually go to the matinee when barely a soul is in the theater and I'm usually too paranoid to be lonely since I'm thinking that while I'm alone in theater someone is hiding in the back waiting to end me when the lights go dark. Which is why I walk up and down the aisle half the time before I sit down.
 
MDSLKTR said:
What's the worst that could happen?

Click to expand...

Thought that was going to be about the cucumbers.

images
 
Last edited:
Nah, I think its fine. I have only ever done it 1 time, I had a late flight to catch and had the day to myself and the weather was shit so I decided to just watch a film (Tomb Raider 2018). Theres certain films what arnt for my wife so sometimes I plan to go watch it by myself (like Warfare that come out a few weeks back) if shes at work a weekend when Im off but so far I havnt actualy done it as when the chance comes Its at a point where its close to digital release.
 
Werewolf Jones said:
I was in a Sinners screen alone today. I was being dummy loud popcorn munching. Who the FUCK cares if you're alone? Unless you're watching slop like the Minecraft movie.
Click to expand...

Nah, seeing the Minecraft movie solo is based as long as you do the Tik Tok trend of slapping someone in the back of the head and calling them a chicken fucker..... Is that how it goes?
 
I probably lucked out going to see Attack of the Clones in the middle of the day by myself in an empty theater. Was alone for the cringe.

But yeah, it's an example of a movie coming out you want to see so you just go see it when you have time. Big deal.
 
Maybe for a comedy movie having company adds to the experience, but in general it's fine, when I go with my GF all I do it grab her thigh.
 
Nah. I prefer to go with people, but there's nothing wrong with going by yourself and I do so fairly often. I live close enough to my local cinema that I can leave home when the screening starts and be in my seat before the film begins. So that's pretty convenient, especially when I decide to see something on the spur of the moment.
 
I used to go alone all the time when I lived close to a movie theater.
Never really understood the "stigma". You are going to sit in a dark room to watch a movie, and it's polite and expected for you to be silent while doing so, it's not really a social activity.
 
I used to travel for work alone. I was in my twenties and had never in my life went out to eat or to a theater alone. Took me a while but I got over the hangup eventually and started going out to eat (usually the bar at a restaurant as getting a table still felt weird.)

It was fun and really kind of nice. Still never did that when I wasn't traveling alone but I also have not been single since I was a 9th grader.
 
Going alone you don't have to spend a bunch of money on snacks or anything. I tend to buy just a drink when I go. If my kids are going, they want slushes and popcorn.
 
I do it fairly regularly. Soloing movies is a way to recharge without having that social interaction continuously for that evening. In today's world, these moments matter.

What's truly lonely is when you are posting on NeoGAF, alone.

Ironically that's most of us so are you truly alone?

Food for thought. Or not. Go watch a movie instead.
 
I'll do it from time to time.. sometimes there's something I want to see that isn't suitable for my son.. is or my girlfriend is just busy so I sneak off and see something I really want to see that no one else around me cares about
 
I've done it a few times ( Ready Player 1 and Avengers Engame) would do it again if I really want to see a movie.
 
Nocty said:
I did it one time, to watch Moon. My wife wasn't feeling well so I just went on my own.

Honestly It was a great time. Had the place almost entirely to myself and that movie was great.
Click to expand...
Im jealous, Moon is such a great movie. I watched Ad Astra on my own in a movie theater, it was a surreal great experience.
I guess what Im trying to say is watching thrillers or scifi movies, this is something that I enjoy on my own in movie theaters, I think I wouldnt neccessarily go to a comedy movie on my own
 
Reminds me the time in college where a girl was saying « I want to go to the movies but I don't wanna go alone » and I was like « well don't go then »

Way later she told me she would've expected me to invite her to go with her
 
I dropped off going to the cinema years ago and only one time I went to the cinema alone. It was in a city and I didn't even know anyone. It was for The Joker (2019) because the hype was real and I really wanted to see it.

Seems like appropriate movie to watch alone in the cinema in a city where you don't know anyone for the vibe.
 
Last edited:
I like going to the movies with friends.
I like going to the movies by myself.

I just like going to the movies.
 
I'm very introverted and need my own space to recharge. Even when I'm doing things I like with people I like there's about 20% of me that can't wait for it to be over so I can go sit by myself and vegetate in an effort to recover.

Yet I've genuinely never been to the movies by myself. The cinema has always been an "event" thing to me, where I go to see big stuff and that's something I always do with others. The bulk of the time it's been with my father.

But, I'm gonna have to give it a go sometime.

Probably doesn't help that I went to London to the BFI IMAX and saw The Dark Knight Trilogy all-nighter in IMAX 15/70 10yrs back and all the theatres near me suck arse, so everything just pales in comparison and I'm kinda less inclined to go unless someone else is into it. No one has projectionists anymore that keep the technical presentation up to par, the actually venues just feel like office buildings, the staff are all NPCs and the snack prices are ridiculous. I've got a 65" 4K OLED & UHD Blu-ray player at home, so I'll usually just wait for most stuff; and if it's a big film at the cinema, someone else will probably wanna go.

There's a more classical, little cinema a little ways away that plays older films and is a bit more of a theatrical experience, so maybe that'll be a good one to go to. Maybe cycle up and check it out by myself.
 
Last edited:
Seems like a good way to miss out on life if you aren't willing to do things you want to do alone.

I regret not seeing a band last time they were in town because no one else I knew was interested. I'll go by myself next time, not give a fuck about being alone and go early to buy some merch, drink and enjoy the show.
 
I rarely go to the cinema anymore, so when I do it's for something I want to give my full attention. Going solo is perfect for that.

Maybe more importantly, if I can I like to see a daytime showing in the middle of the week a couple weeks after opening. When you can count the number of people in the showing on one hand I find you tend to all have the same mindset: shut up and watch the film.

The more people in the cinema the higher chance there's going to be some twat whose phone goes off, talks, or makes other excessive noise.
 
I went to Dune 2 on my own, I had a great time.

People have to get over the idea of what is seen as the social norm or whatever people call it.
I even went on a couple of holidays on my own. Granted I also traveled to meet people I met online, but I go for long walks and visit cultural and historical sights and/or museum. Especially when I'm somewhere away from home.
Most of my friends aren't into that, so I do it myself.

I do have to admit that I don't like going out for dinner on my own. But everything else I can do perfectly fine and happily by myself.
 
Last edited:
I've never been to the cinema alone, but I have friends and family who do. There's nothing wrong with it, and if you think there is, that's a you problem stemming from your own insecurities. Personally, I'd love to go to the cinema alone someday, and I will if the opportunity arises.
 
I saw Godzilla Minus one and Dune 1 on my Larry lonesome

It was Epic.

Empty cinema too. Didn't have to break dance for people wanting a piss every two seconds.

Would do it again.
 
It's perfectly fine unless it's a 50 Shades movie and you're a guy. ;) You don't have to do everything together even when you have a partner. Besides many movies offer the best experience with as little people in the cinema is possible - less possible distractions from the noises they'll make.
 
Man, it has been awhile for me. But, 10-12 years ago, i used to love it, i would drop my kids at their friends when they were little and only staying a few hours. I would just stay in the area and go see a movie and pick them up. It worked great.

Very relaxing time, to go to the movie yourself.
 
jason10mm said:
I suppose, he'll have the "I'm not a homo seat" to either side.

Hey, it was the 1980's when we said that, a different time, don't get all riled up about it :P
Click to expand...

We just called it Straight guy formation.

but cinema seats are huge now so it really doesn't matter.
 
AJUMP23 said:
We just called it Straight guy formation.

but cinema seats are huge now so it really doesn't matter.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but a lot of them have that fold down armrest between seats. So if you forget to lower it and some rando dude sits next to you, you gotta have that awkward moment when you lower it down :P
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Brad Pitt one of the best actors in cinema
2
98
633
MayauMiao replied
  • Locked
What the hell is going on with the ads here?
13
326
EviLore replied
A Different Man (2024)
7
851
RagnarokIV replied
Own a piece of cinema history with Aliens auctions
21
2K
Mr1999 replied
Solo Leveling wins Anime of the Year at the Anime Awards 2025
2
74
2K
Brakum replied
Top Bottom