As we find ourselves in the age of Netflix, PrimeTV, and iTunes, actually attending a physical movie theater seems to be a dying fad. However, while watching a movie from the comfort of your bed may seem ideal, I still argue that there is a unique luxury about attending the movie theater. Below, I have outlined five reasons why going to the movie theater should take up a slot of your calendar in the coming weeks.
1. Accomplishment
If you spend the day lying on the couch and watching movies, and are later asked what you did that day, your response would most likely go along the lines of “nothing, really”. However, go see a movie at a theater and all of the sudden you’ve accomplished something. The simple task of driving to the theater, sitting amongst others, and enjoying a new and exciting movie, provides you with an adventure worth talking about and a sense of achievement.
2. A Conversation Starter
If you’ve just watched a movie on your laptop, chances are, so have many of the other people you will talk with. However, since going to the movies is no longer a common hobby, your attendance at recently-released movie makes you instantly interesting. Chances are, most of the people you’re talking to haven’t yet made it to the theater to the see the movie and will begin asking you for information and review of the movie.
3. Movie Snacks
Growing up, the best part about going to see a movie was always the snacks, and some things never change. Movie theater popcorn will always trump microwavable kernels, and eating Twizzlers, Mike & Ikes, Raisinets, and BunchaCrunch always tastes better when it’s in front of the big screen. Plus, the memories that these snacks cause to come flooding back are sure to fill you with a bit of nostalgia.
4. Quality Time
It may be a bit ironic, but there seems to be no better way to spend time with another person than silently watching a movie. Why else has it been the date-of-choice for so many years? There’s a certain shared connection that two people have while watching a movie with one another; they’re willing to show their emotions and share the experience with another human. So, if it’s been a while since you’ve spent quality time with someone, be it a parent, grandparent, friend, or partner, go see a movie and enjoy the time spent afterwards debating theories and reminiscing on favorite parts.
5. Previews
Rather than formulating a calculation something along the lines of “movie time listed plus average commercial time equals time I should arrive at theater to avoid the previews”, just go and enjoy the previews. I can’t tell you how many times I have been so entranced by previews that by the time the title flicks up on the screen I have forgotten that it was not in fact the movie I was there to see. Previews on the TV just don’t have the same quality or duration to truly get an audience excited for a movie in this way. Plus, it’s an enticement to keep going back to your local movie theater.
This article was written by Courtney Pierre.