“One Please!” The Delightful Act of Going to the Movies Alone
The movie-going experience was made for one.
The movie-going experience was made for one.
The first time is awkward.
You’re not really sure where to look or how to act. Do I make small talk or just stay silent? Everything should feel familiar, but it all seems so foreign. Is there any way I’m going to be able to last for over an hour?
I’m talking, of course, about going to the movies by yourself. And like many of life’s greatest pleasures, it gets easier with a little bit of practice.
The first time you set foot in a theatre alone, it’s almost impossible not to start doubting what you are doing. The feeling of eyeballs following your every move. Whispers about, “the awkward person sitting alone.” I say, screw them all! The movie theatres were built for the lone enthusiast.
Although you will have feelings of being out of place the first time you utter the words, “one please”, the most important thing to remember is that people are not that interested in what you are doing. Everyone is wrapped up in their own thing, that the thought of you being alone in the theatre never even crosses their mind. Even though you know this, you will feel awkward, but that’s just because you’ve been brainwashed.
For some reason, going to the movies became a social event. A place to take a date or meet up with friends. Now, there is something fantastic about discussing your favorite parts of a film as soon as the credits finish rolling, but if we really think about it, the movie theatre is a perfect place for one.
First of all, there’s the gluttonous act of devouring popcorn and giant sodas. The only thing better than overindulging is doing so without the judgment of well-meaning friends and family.
Then, there’s the fact that a movie theatre is a dark room, with the sound cranked to eleven, where your focus is supposed to be directed straight ahead. By yourself, there is no distraction from the entertainment onscreen. No explaining plot points to uninterested attendees. Just you and whatever emotional journey you’ve chosen.
After I experienced my first solo movie, I was hooked. It’s the perfect escape. A couple of hours where you can completely engage in something fantastical, whimsical, hilarious, or even tear-inducing. Rarely do I ever ask friends or family to join me at the theatre anymore. There are other venues, like a bowling alley or a bar, better suited for the exchange of pleasantries with fellow humans.
I’d be lying if I told you that it didn’t take a lot of convincing myself to go to that first solo flick. I was embarrassed that I couldn’t find anyone to go with, but I had just moved to a new city and didn’t really know anyone yet. And “The Dark Knight Rises” was one I didn’t want to miss seeing on the big screen. So I bit the bullet, purchased my ticket, and forever changed the way I experience the movie theatre.
Don’t let this magical experience for one pass you by out of fear of being mocked. Proudly purchase that solo ticket. Take your single seat amongst the first-daters, the girls-nighters, and the best-frienders. Grab that giant tub of popcorn, sit back, and experience the movies for the first time. And if you see me there with an open seat on both sides, feel free to come site down. They are most definitely open.
Bonus points if you can get to a movie during the middle of a weekday. Just give it a try and thank me later.