By Maya Bourne
As an avid movie-watcher, I love going to the movie theater. Instead of waiting for a movie to come out on streaming services, I love going to the theater and getting the special experience. The sense of community in a movie theater is truly one of a kind, and the entire experience is extremely underrated.
My movie experience takes around three hours each time, depending on the length of the movie. It usually starts around 7:00, because I love going to late movie showings: 7:30 or later on most days. My friend and I meet at the Pizza My Heart to have a nice dinner and chat about the upcoming movie, school, friends, and nothing at all. After that, we head into the theater and hand the worker our tickets. We get in line for snacks and order the exact same thing every time: a bag of sour patch watermelons, a large drink, and a large popcorn to share. Our bank accounts may be crying, but we sure aren’t! After securing the snacks, we finally head into the theater and enjoy the special experience of movie-watching.
Many people in our society today discount the truly unique experience of movie theaters. Every time I ask friends if they are going to see a movie in theaters, they shrug and say “I’ll probably just wait until it’s out on Netflix.” There are many reasons for this, mainly money-related, which I do understand. Movie theatres are incredibly expensive now, with tickets priced around $20 each and just a bag of candy costing $5. The movies have cost me more than many mall trips with friends or other activities I could be doing. That said, people with the financial means to go to the movies still choose not to, and it baffles me. The movie-going experience is truly something special. Every person in that enormous room is watching the exact same thing, laughing at the same jokes, and crying at the same deaths. The sense of community in a movie theatre is unmatched by any other activity, and going with friends makes it even better. Whispering jokes at a funny situation, fighting over the last piece of candy, and handing each other tissues when our favorite character dies is a bonding experience that everyone should have at least once.
Overall, movie theatres are extremely underrated and truly special. I personally would much rather go see a movie in a theater than the mall to buy a pair of shorts for $40 that I’ll never wear again. Movies in general are amazing, and the absolute best ones leave you staring at the blank screen for at least five minutes, processing the journey you just took from your cushioned seat. For those with the financial means to go, movies bring about an absolutely unmatched experience that everyone should have at least once in their lives.