With all of the advances in technology and the different streaming services available, it leads me to wonder if movie theaters are losing their relevance. Some services like Paramount and HBO Max allow you to watch movies the day they come out by paying a monthly fee.
Some people feel paying this fee once a month, and being able to watch as many movies as they want, is worth the price. When going to the movies, tickets are typically around 16 dollars, and the price of snacks are obscenely high.
I might be weird and different from all the tech friendly people of my generation, but I would prefer to go to the movies rather than stream. When I watch movies at home, I end up missing half the movie because I am distracted by my phone or family members. Or, I end up walking away only to return later. When I go to a theater, I can watch the whole movie without losing focus, escape from the real world, and enjoy a night without expectations or obligations.
Going to the movies for me is about treating myself and enjoying the luxury of doing something I don’t often do. During the summer, my friend and I go to the movies every Tuesday. Where we live, tickets on Tuesdays are only five dollars and snacks are at a discounted price. We can go to the movies and only spend 20 dollars. There are ways to go to the movies without spending an arm and a leg.
One of my favorite aspects about going to the movies is doing things I don’t normally get to do. I love to soak my popcorn in butter, and I love the thrill of sneaking in outside candy when I know I am not supposed to. I love the quietness of the theater and that I can sip on a Coke Slurpee. These are all things I do not do often. I believe allowing myself to indulge in these simple things every once in a while is what matters.
So, when people ask me why I go through the hassle of going to the movies when I can just sit in my pajamas and enjoy the movie at home, I tell them I just do. I might just be old fashioned, but this is something I will always enjoy doing, and unless all movie theaters close forever, I will continue to do it this way.
I will bring my children to the movie theaters, too, just as I do with my nieces and nephews, and make sure a new generation can see the importance of indulging in simple pleasures every once in a while.
