7 Comments
User's avatar
Sofi Jiménez's avatar

Sometimes we would watch movies with my whole class. That collective emotion will always be infinitely better than just watching a movie by yourself at home.

Expand full comment
Cheryl Bouvier's avatar

I go to the movies by myself constantly. it was like two years ago something clicked in my brain and I was like "oh yeah, I can do that!"

whenever anyone talks about the "ease" of streaming, how so many things are made to consume at home anymore, I think of that Kurt Vonnegut quote about buying envelopes. you ought to check it out if you hadn't seen it before-- it gets more applicable as the years go on.

Expand full comment
p.'s avatar

I'll have to look up that quote! But yeah, I think streaming is great for accessibility - or at least it was, the prices are getting crazy these days - but it's ultimately not the same experience. I always think back to the beginnings of cinema, films were quite literally meant to be seen on a big screen:)

Expand full comment
Lamar Ramos's avatar

I too for the longest time thought going to the movies alone was weird, but started going more often alone in the past year and loving it.

Certain films I still would rather see with friends (the substance in a packed theatre recently was an experience!), but per some I also like having the thought process to myself. Great read!

Expand full comment
p.'s avatar

It's so freeing when you realize you can go alone, and that it's not weird at all! One thing I do love on the occasion when I do go with friends is doing an afternoon screening and then dinner later to discuss the film. Works great if you have friends who are also film nerds:)

Thank you!

Expand full comment
Andrew Truong's avatar

I had invited a bunch of friends over to see The Idea of You, to at least be able to watch it with a communal experience. But there's a difference between seeing a movie with just your friends vs a group of strangers.

Not putting this in theaters is financial malpractice imo. Would have easily made a few million at the very least

Expand full comment
p.'s avatar

So true! There is definitely something special about a group of strangers laughing and crying - or the case of this film, literally shrieking - together!

Yup, thinking it could’ve done really well at the box office, especially coming off the success Anyone But You had earlier in the year. Plus, it's Anne Hathaway, I reckon just her name would have a pull even for people who are not super into romcoms.

Expand full comment