How Often Do You Go to the Movies?

[Xavier Breath]

Even as the home electronics have evolved to give you an excellent presentation at home, and the obnoxious public and high concession prices seem to conspire to keep me away, I still love going to the movies. But, I don't seem to be going as much of late because there aren't as many good offerings anymore. Oh, the local Googleplex is stuffed to the rafters with offerings, mind you, but 90% of them seem to fall into these groups of (for me, anyway) little interest:

- A prequal/sequel/reboot-re-imagining of an existing property
- Original horror idea
- Original superhero idea
- Original kiddie idea

In other words, loud, repetitious dreck. I'll admit, I've seen my share of sequels in the past, but they used to be the exception and not the rule. Original content, especially dramas and comedies, seem to be a dying notion. Looking back at 2025, I think the only original comedy I saw all of last year was Fackam Hall. And maybe the only other comedy I saw period was the Naked Gun reboot.

As a result, I just don't seem to be going to the theater as much anymore. I'd go to more movies if the studios gave me a reason.

How about you? Have you altered your movie attendance habits in recent years?

[Skittles]

1. I used to go almost weekly

now it is hard for me to find anything of value - it's mostly Marvel shit, cartoony shit, action hero shit, just forgettable stuff

[Xavier Breath]

19. The industry is in a sad state of affairs, to be sure.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Not changed at all.

Last movie I saw in a cinema was The Black Swan.

[LisaM]

3. Four or five times a year.

The biggest reason I don't go to more is that the movies are all so bad. I live right by a movie theatre. Almost all the movies are horror, or violent, or sci-fi, or superhero, or dystopia. Very few, and I mean very few, star women. The recent remake of "Wuthering Heights" was an exception, but it came and went within days, before I could get to it. That happens a lot - the movies I want to see are only there for a week.

I am looking forward to the sequel to "The Devil Wears Prada". But movies like that, with strong women characters and not full of rape or violence, are very rare.

[vapor2]

4. Rarely, I am so easily distracted by those on their phone and/or chit chatting during the movie

[BigmanPigman]

5. The last movie I saw was the one about Queen/Freddy Mercury

And that was in 2018. I can not afford movies. I can't afford anything, including my health care, thanks to the fucking moron. I also do not like how you can buy a ticket on-line while other people who haven't are stuck in lines and eventually turned away if it's full.

I love films and took several classes while in art school. Going to the movies used to be a fun, happy experience for me. Now it is a disappointing pain in the ass!!!

[subterranean]

6. I've been to a theater exactly once since the start of Covid.

That was to see Top Gun: Maverick in 2022. Before Covid, I'd go maybe once a year, although some years not at all. So my movie-going habits haven't really changed drastically.

[Bluestocking]

7. The lat time I went to a movie theater was

Before Covid. I have also not watched television since before Covid so I am unusual. I do go to the ballet at least a few times a year to see my daughter dance.

I have read hundreds of books since Covid hit.

[3catwoman3]

8. Hardly ever, which is nothing new for us.

Put me in a recliner seat in the dark, and I'm likely to doze off, regardless of time of day.

Seeing as I'm a rom/com and musicals kind of girl, most of the story lines don't interest me. One the rare occasions that I do go, within 10-15 seconds of each trailer starting, I'm saying, "Nope, nah, pass on this one."

Pretty typically, when the Oscar nominations are announced, we've maybe been to one of the films under consideration.

[JBTaurus83]

9. Almost never

Same for concerts. The prices have become atrocious.

[msongs]

10. excessively loud, bombastic attempts at music, profanity and cheap sex. not for

me especially at those prices. and I do not care for reserved seating or the cell phone trash who are so important they cant stay off the phone for 90 minutes.

[True Dough]

11. We never got back into the habit after Covid

My wife and I are still sitting on about $75 worth of gift cards for movie theaters. We've only gone a couple of times in the past few years.

Like you, we find much of what's playing to be completely unappealing.

The last movie was watched was a cable rental: 'One Battle After Another.' It gets great ratings and reviews.

My wife thought it was okay. I checked out after about an hour, maybe 90 minutes. Just couldn't stick with it. And that's the Academy Award winner for Best Picture!

[2naSalit]

12. Never...

I hate theaters with their out of focus and overly loud presentations. Then I hate sitting so close to other people in a room full of people. And there aren't many movies that I feel I really need to watch at the outrageous prices they charge. I can have a lot more fun elsewhere for $30 than the misery I would endure in a movie theater.

Now live plays, that's different but I haven't been to one in some time.

[NewHendoLib]

13. Very very rarely - twice in the past 6 years

[buzzycrumbhunger]

14. 🤔

Damn. It's been a LONG time... I think it was the Sarasota Film Fest when Beowulf and Grendel played. Interesting chat by the director but alas, no Gerard Butler. 😕

So... like 2005-ish?

I know I did the LOTR movies in the theatre but at that time, everyone had chopped the theatres into such small bits to run more movies at a time and it was always a letdown. The last straw was when a guy kept standing in the open door (broom in hand), letting light in to ruin the show. Repeatedly.

I'm afraid going to the movies just isn't worth the prices and aggravation for a long damned time. I can't remember the last time I even saw an ad for a film that interested me. Kind of shocked the Oscars even garner interest anymore.

[mwmisses4289]

15. Last time I went it was with friends to see the Downton Abbey movie.

the only reason we could afford it is we are all senior citizens and we went to a Monday afternoon matinee, where we were four of about ten people in the theatre.

I usually just wait until they come out on streaming. The last few times before the downton movie, the music was too loud and if it was played in a scene where there was conversation, the music drowned out what the characters were saying. The actors seemed to whisper, mumble or sound like they were talking with their mouths full, rendering them unintelegible. And it's just to expensive.

[Xavier Breath]

20. I usually attend on bargain days, where for about $14 I can get a ticket and a fairly large soda.

Not the cheapest experience to be sure, but low enough that I can justify it on occasion. I always marvel at the family of four that drops $30+ on sodas and popcorn.

[Wonder Why]

16. Last movie I saw in the theater was a silent film.

[RainCaster]

17. Once this year- Project Hail Mary

Maybe two movies last year. My home theater is better then many theaters.

[Xavier Breath]

21. I saw that at the theater as well a few weeks back.

Despite some kids/families being in attendance, the crowd was well-behaved and it was nice seeing it on a large screen.

[Bristlecone]

18. I used to go all the time when I was young

But very rarely now . My wife can’t take the volume levels and although I am not opposed to going alone, I don’t.

I travel for work, and at my last job there was a movie theatre that basically shared the parking lot with my hotel. I’d go sometimes when at that spot.

My sons go a fair amount.

I like my Home Screen and the pause button.

[Xavier Breath]

22. It's amazing how much you miss that pause button when you're in a theater.

I swear on one or two occasions I've found myself reaching for the remote

[doc03]

23. One time in several years. It cost too damn much

and most movies suck.

[hunter]

24. Somewhere around eight times a year.

My wife and I are back to our pre-covid pattern.

[ms liberty]

25. In the last year and a half, twice, both kids movies, with our neice after we took custody of her

She had never been to the movies, so we went to Moana2 and the Zootopia2? I think it was. Both were pretty good for kid movies.The last movie mr liberty and I went to was Oppenheimer. I don't even remember the last one before that.
We used to go to the movies regularly, but that was 15-20 years ago now.

[NoRethugFriends]

26. Maybe four or five times a month

If you're anywhere near a decent size city you should be able to find some good movies. By AMC 24 usually has a few good movies.
To respond to somebody below, no I don't want to pause button when I'm in the theater I like to be immersed in what's going on on the screen

[fierywoman]

27. Last time was about 20 + years ago: director's cut of Lawrence of Arabia at that

fancy movie theater west side Los Angeles.

[Tikki]

28. My grandson and I go to the walk in movies average 2 times a month.

Tikki

[LPBBEAR]

29. Never

The last time we went we had a pair of dipshits a few rows back of us making all kinds of noise. I looked over my shoulder at them and one of them threatened to punch me out or some such crap. I got up and found the theater manager out in the lobby and asked him to do something about the pair of aholes making all the noise. Instead of doing anything about it he took the "both sides do it" approach and threatened to throw us all out if we didn't quit arguing (bothering him the manager). I said screw it. asked for a refund and we left.
Theaters have lost any semblance of quality and instead have become places where noisy shitty people gather to talk and use their brightly lit noisy ringer cell phones without any sort of respect for others who paid too much for the shitty experience.

My big screen, pair of wireless ear phones, and my nearby fridge give me a much better experience at a much lower cost. I'll never go to a theater again.

[mwmisses4289]

30. Lol, that's the one upside (or maybe downside, depending on your view)

is your kitchen being nearby. You can make your own theatre snacks, and they are probably way tastier than anything at the theatre.

[LPBBEAR]

31. Yep

Not only better but a whole lot cheaper and not served up to me by a bratty high school kid who hates his/her job. Oh, and the popcorn doesn't taste like its been sitting in a storage room for ten years.

[mwmisses4289]

32. And your not limited to popcorn, candy, soda and maybe hotdogs.

Movie themed cupcakes? Charcuterie board? Oysters on the half shell? Served with whatever drink you have in your fridge.
Ok, now I have made myself hungry, lol.

[Xavier Breath]

33. That sounds like a frustrating experience.

I usually go with a buddy or by myself to the bargain matinee showings on Tuesday. The crowd, if there is any, are usually older folks. I avoid going to the PG-13 movies unless school is in session, and I never go on the weekends or at night. It's probably been a decade or two since I went to a Saturday evening showing. I wouldn't even think of doing something like that again.

[MustLoveBeagles]

34. Two or three movies a month

I'm on the AMC A list. The last movie I saw was Project Hail Mary a few weeks ago with a friend.