I'm occasionally out on the road by myself and sometimes go to movie to pass the time. I either go a movie that my wife would never want to see (Mad Slasher III: A Little Off the Top), or see something she would like and keep my mouth shut about it. It doesn't happen often, though.

--Bob (who liked Julie & Julia)

I dream of going to the movies by myself ... does that count? 

I do sometimes go alone.  At first it kind of weirded me out and I felt like a loser, but I kind of like it now. The first time was when I wanted to see a Harry Potter movie (my husband is not a HP fan) so I went alone and liked it.  I like to go when I have a day off of work and see something I know my husband would never want to see.

I go alone all of the time. One of my friends said she went alone and felt like a loser. Why? It's dark and no one can see you! My husband and I do not have the same tastes in movies. We always try to pick one we both will like, but a lot of the time, we pick two different movies showing around the same time, so we are both there in different theaters. I don't think it's such a bad thing.

I guess I'm the opposite of most of you :)  I don't like going to the movies alone. I'll rent movies and watch them alone all the time, but for me part of going to a movie is that it's an evening out with my friends or my mom or my husband.  Otherwise, why pay the high prices to go by yourself?

You won't even find me in a fast food restaurant if I have no one to sit with... except for something like Panera and only if I have my laptop :)

vivasuzi said…

I guess I'm the opposite of most of you :)  I don't like going to the movies alone. I'll rent movies and watch them alone all the time, but for me part of going to a movie is that it's an evening out with my friends or my mom or my husband.  Otherwise, why pay the high prices to go by yourself?

You won't even find me in a fast food restaurant if I have no one to sit with... except for something like Panera and only if I have my laptop :)

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Oh now THAT I could never do!  I can't stand being in a restaurant alone.  If I travel for business and have to eat alone I'll always look for somewhere I can grab some take out, fast food, or even junk food from the nearest drugstore.  I can't stand sitting there eating alone.

Yeah i always wonder about those brave souls who can sit in a sit-down restaurant alone, when there are no TVs and they don't even have a book or newspaper!  Most people I see alone have a paper at least, but I do see somethat will go and sit for an hour at a restaurant, with no book, and no tvs, and no paper, and no laptop, and just sit and observe their surroundings.  That's not for me.

Though I rarely do it now, whenever I wanted to see a movie no one else in my circle of friends and family did (Black Hawk Down, Hot Dog...The Movie), I went on the bus to the nearest theater.  Heck, I walked to one theater which was 15 blocks away to watch Apocalypse Now.

I'm sort of independent, I guess.  Although I (usually) enjoy the company of others going to the movies, eating out, shopping, etc., I have no problem doing those things on my own.  The nice thing about doing something alone? -- you don't have to plan and coordinate everything to death.  Especially now that seniors can ride buses and trains for free around here, sometimes it is nice to just decide to go out and pick up something to eat or get something done without asking if someone else wants to do it too.  Joint ventures seem to take more planning.

I have enjoyed many fine movie theater experiences alone.  Alas, for some reason theaters seem to have the SOUND way too loud for me so I have cut back on going out to see movies.  I can eat alone at certain restaurants but I've gotten into the habit of buying stuff to bring home, as often as not because it's not really lunch (or supper) time yet when I buy it.  I think some people feel a little self-conscious about being alone but usually I'm okay.

When going to movies alone, I try to stick to places which are easy for me to get back from.  My range for getting to a theater is pretty far flung.  I have learned the hard way though that it is easier than you would think to miss the last bus back while watching the film.  Ten miles can be a long way to walk home, especially in the dark!

This was really an interesting thread!

Ask for it as a Christmas gift;)

vivasuzi said…

I guess I'm the opposite of most of you :)  I don't like going to the movies alone. I'll rent movies and watch them alone all the time, but for me part of going to a movie is that it's an evening out with my friends or my mom or my husband.  Otherwise, why pay the high prices to go by yourself?

You won't even find me in a fast food restaurant if I have no one to sit with... except for something like Panera and only if I have my laptop :)

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I am with you 100% on this!  Maybe I am co-dependant or I care too much of what others think and feel about me?  Who knows?  Just the thought of standing in line (alone), buying my ticket (alone), grabbing some popcorn (alone), and taking my seat (alone), causes me anxiety.  If I want to be alone, I can do that at home parked in front of my television.

I have gone to the movies a number of times by myself. It's more fun with someone else but alone has some advantages too (nobody trying to whisper to you all during the movie). I don't care what people who I have never seen before and will never see again think about me sitting alone.

I haven't lately, haven't seen too many movies recently at all. This summer, it's been only Star Trek and Julie and Julia, both of which I liked. Usually I go with my wife. However, she liked horror movies and I totally don't so on a couple of occasions we have gone to separate movies at the same theater.

Yeah I actually rarely do much of anything alone - except shopping for clothes, that's the only time I'm better off alone.  When I take people shopping, I rush myself because I don't want to bore them.  I hate shopping, but when I do, I like to concentrate and make sure I saw everything in the store so that i don't have to come back for awhile :)

But for movies, restaurants, even groceries, I like to bring my husband or friend along.  When I go grocery shopping alone, I tend to lose my train of thought and day dream and forget stuff :)

I've gone alone many, many times.  That's because I'm a movie freak and I'm not gonna miss a movie I want to see just because no one wants to go.  I'm fine with  just me, the big tub o' popcorn and a huge diet coke...In fact.....I may just go tomorrow!!!!

MikeMaroon said…

I've gone alone many, many times.  That's because I'm a movie freak and I'm not gonna miss a movie I want to see just because no one wants to go.  I'm fine with  just me, the big tub o' popcorn and a huge diet coke...In fact.....I may just go tomorrow!!!!

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OK, yay, there's another person like me on here! I was thinking that it didn't matter because I was in the dark, so I didn't think anyone noticed anyway.... when the mister joined the Army, I just got used to doing everything alone anyway. If you are going to a newly released crazy popular show and you are alone - you can probably get there and get a good seat without waiting in line too long. There's lots of good single seats everywhere right up until show time!

I LOVE going to the movies by myself--it is my escape from the world and time for myself!

GreatMartin said…

I LOVE going to the movies by myself--it is my escape from the world and time for myself!

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EXACTLY!  I feel the same way.

I've gone to the movies alone, maybe once or twice. I didn't particularly enjoy it (the experience, rather than the movie).

I've went to the movies alone several times...I actually liked it.....nobody with me to talk and interupt....and I get ALL the popcorn.  Don't get me wrong, I also love going with my family, too.   As for doing other things, I will dine alone at lunch during the work week simply because I REFUSE to eat in my car, and if I get a take-out and go back to work to eat, I'll get interrupted alot by phone calls, etc....doing stuff alone takes practice if its something you don't do very much.  Try it and get used to it...its actually like getting time for yourself to chill out.

Hey, I like the way you think...I feel the same way !

i've never gone to a movie alone, but i don't see any reason why i wouldn't.

I watch science fiction movies alone because my wife does not like the genre.

I've gone to movies alone in the past if there was something I wanted to see and no one else was interested. But now movie prices are so high, I can wait until they're on Cable or DVD. (Besides, the best scenes are usually in the commercials already! When people are talking about the latest movie, I usually know all about it from the reviews and the attractions, unless there's a really complex plot.)

I don't like the idea of going alone, but I can recall a couple of times when I gave in and visited the theater by myself. Why would I do this? You guessed it- for the purpose of writing a review. 

I don't ever remember doing this, but I think I would if it was a movie I was dying to see and no one else wanted to go see it. My husband has gone alone a couple times to see things I had no interest in. Movies are expensive and babysitters are too. In order for us to see a movie we have to facter in an extra 40 bucks for a sitter on top of tickets. Forget about popcorn and soda! 

MikeMaroon said…

I've gone alone many, many times.  That's because I'm a movie freak and I'm not gonna miss a movie I want to see just because no one wants to go.  I'm fine with  just me, the big tub o' popcorn and a huge diet coke...In fact.....I may just go tomorrow!!!!

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While there were times when I wanted others to be there with me but no one wanted to go with me, as when I went to see Star Wars for the first time in 1977, there's been plenty of others when I have preferred to go by myself.  That way, if the person with me doesn't like the genre of movie I've chosen, I don't have to deal with the inevitable negative comments or inappropriately-timed questions.

I love to go to the movies alone. First of all I get to pick the movie without considering anyone else's opinions. There are some movies my husband simply won't go to. If I go alone I don't have to feel guilty about dragging him to it. Once there I enjoy the "alone' time. It's dark & comfortable and oddly intimate.

I've gone to the movies by myself before in the past.  Seriously, once the lights go down and the movie starts, does it really matter if you are by yourself or with 10 people?

I've seen several movies solo and I didn't feel strange at all.  Hey, if you can't enjoy your own company, then you are in big trouble!!!!

I think I went alone once. I didn't feel weird about being alone, but I didn't enjoy it. I guess I think of seeing a movie in the theater as a shared experience, something to enjoy with someone and then talk about it after. Especially now with the ridiculously expensive ticket prices, I'd rather wait until it's available as a rental. It's a huge, rare treat if Hubby and I decide to go to a movie, and even then we will only go to a bargain-priced showing on a weekend.

Restaurants? I'm only comfortable alone if I have a book or I'm writing something. Otherwise it's carryout.