The Case for Going to the Movies

Recently I posted on my Facebook account how distressed I was at learning that the average American only goes to see six movies a year.  I don't expect everyone to love movies as much as I do, or even as much as an average movie buff, but I would have guessed most people would see at least one a month.  From the feedback on that post, and other conversations I've had with friends, this is my response to many a myth people have built their reasons for not going to movies on.

1) It's Too Expensive
Yes, it is.  I agree with you.  If you're not creative.  Many movie theaters offer promotional time slots when you can see a movie at a lower price.  For instance, if you live near an AMC movie theater, any movie shown before noon is only $5, $6, or $7 a ticket (depending on the theater) - including all of the new releases.  If you live near a National Amusements theater, many of them have a discount day where it is also only $6 to see any movie playing.  If you are a AAA member, you can buy passes that let you in at the matinée or senior rate for any showing.  Also, avoid going in the evening if you have to as the rates are almost always cheaper during the day.

Let's just say for the sake of argument that the average movie with trailers is two hours long.  You don't need to be eating or drinking during that time period.  Movie snack and drink prices are practically criminal, and if less people bought them, the prices would go down.  Most theater chains make more money from snacks than they do from ticket profits, and while I don't want theaters going under, there is no case in my mind where soda is worth $6, and popcorn is worth $8.  Save yourself that expense by waiting to eat until after the movie.

And as far as those 3D glasses go, most of the time I'd say just skip them.  Many theaters show 3D movies in 2D as well, and that's fine.  The only ones you really want to pay the up charge for are the ones that say the film was "shot in 3D."  Most movies, at this point anyway, are converted after the movie is made.  The conversion is usually shoddy (The Green Hornet was one of the worst) and done for cheap "wow" moments instead of Avatar style impressiveness.

One other money saving tip, which many of you probably won't have the guts to listen to but it's true none-the-less, is this:  If your movie malfunctions in the least, you can get a free ticket or your money back.  Say the framing is off, or the audio cuts out.  All you need to do is tell the manager you aren't satisfied and most of them are more than ready to give you a ticket to come back and see something else for free.  As we mentioned above, the theaters are making more off of the food, so they will sacrifice a little to get you to come back and, in theory, buy the food again.  And did you know that if during the movie you simply don't like it or get offended by something you see, you can walk out, go to the service desk, and most theaters will give you your money back.  It's true.

Finally, if you compare the amount you spend on other recreational activities, movie watching is easily one of the cheapest ways to have a good time for an extended period without breaking the bank.  Even if you spend $12 a ticket and buy $14 worth of food and shell out $4 for 3D glasses, $30 for two plus hours of entertainment is cheaper than a concert, play, drinks and dinner out, and many other excursions.  And since that $30 could easily be reduced to $6 or $8 dollars as illustrated above, the money excuse is really the myth lazy movie goers make it.

2) I Don't Have Time
Stop it.  Of course you do.  This is one of the dumbest excuses I've ever heard.  I'm a very busy person, and I get tired like the rest of you.  But if you can't find a few hours over the course of a week or two to get to a theater, it just means you're not trying hard enough.  I work with someone who when you lend her a DVD, it takes her literally six months or more to watch it.  When I pester her about it (all in fun), she'll say something like "Well I can't watch it tomorrow because I work."  You work huh?  You work 24 hours a day, seven days a week?!  How hard is it to put in a nine-to-five day at the office, and then go home and relax with a movie?  The same principle applies to going to a movie theater.  You just need to schedule a time to see one -it's worth the effort.

3)  I Don't Have Anyone to Go With
I'm single.  Lonely.  The whole bit.  Movies aren't the enemy, they're the band-aid to loneliness (the cure is a good girlfriend or boyfriend, depending on who is lonely).  You don't need someone next to you in a dark room to enjoy the experience.  Movie watching is an individual experience, this is why some people love certain movies, and other people hate the same one.  Get over yourself and have a good time.

4)  There's Nothing Worth Paying to See
'Nothing' is a very strong word.  Many movies aren't worth the film they're shot on, I'll agree with you.  But there is never a time where there isn't at least one or two good movies playing.  Maybe you won't see an Oscar caliber film every time you check the listings of your local theater, but there are always plenty of passable at worst movies that are worth investing the time in.  If you live near a big city, usually there are art house theaters that offer more alternative film selections which can be really fun.  Use sites like RottenTomatoes (professional movie reviews from across the country are compiled to generate one score on a 1%-100% scale) to help narrow the field of what films to see, or of course, this blog!  And for people who use the "I don't agree with the critics" excuse, give me a break.  Some critics are insane, but typically the overall consensus is pretty close to popular opinion.  I don't always agree with it, and you won't either, but odds are most of the time you'll be safe.  What you could do on RottenTomatoes is find a critic that has your taste in movies and just follow their reviews.  You don't (or shouldn't) make a big purchase without doing your research, and you should apply the same responsibility to movie selections.

5)  Why Pay Now When I Can Get it Later On DVD?
This is one of the strongest arguments, but of course I have a response.  Going to the movies is not just incredible because of the size of the screen.  It's the whole experience.  It's smelling the popcorn (but not buying it), it's finding the perfect seat, it's listening to crowd react (appropriately) to the scares, laughs, and other turns in any given movie.  It's putting your attention into the full movie, instead of watching at home while surfing the web, talking to friends/family, or falling asleep in bed.  It's getting the sense of seeing something new, exciting, and being able to talk about it with other people you see throughout the week.  It's like going to a Red Sox game opposed to watching it on TV.  There is nothing that compares to the magic of walking into Fenway Park and cheering with the crowd.  Same with going to the movies.  You need to be there to fully experience the process of movie watching.  This especially applies to the big blockbuster films - you can't honestly tell me Avatar would have the same impact on a home television opposed to on a giant screen.

Going to the movies is a privilege we shouldn't take for granted.  I love looking down the hall of a movie theater at all of the doors that open into different rooms - each one containing a different story, a different set of characters just waiting to be loved or hated by you the viewer.  I love thinking that if you go through one set of doors, you will leave thrilled, while if you go into another room, you might leave laughing.  Movies stimulate the imagination and provoke discussion.  I love going to movies, which should be evident to all of you by now.   I really think you should go more.  Did I miss any of your excuses?  Let me know - I'm more than willing to play more defense.  I could write for days about this, but I'm actually off to the movies now...