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Original poster

Cinema alone- 13 year old

33 replies

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 22/12/2025 16:28

DS who is 13 wants to see the new Avatar. DH and I can’t face it (3hrs 20!)
It’s a 12A so he’s old enough.
He won’t be scared, he’s seen the first 2 and also all of Stranger Things etc.
DH could drop him at the cinema for 9am and it’s on at 9.30. I can collect straight after it finishes (1.15pm). I finish work at 12.30. The cinema has an earlier showing that day at 8.30 (SpongeBob) so I know the foyer is open.
So is this ok or is he too young to be alone for that length of time?
He’s a sensible child, has a phone and Life360. DH will be at work 10 minutes walk away.
We would be ok leaving him at home alone for that length of time and he independently travels to school and back on the train.
WWYD?

OP posts:

ilovepixie · 22/12/2025 16:32

I think he would be fine!

Blueskiesnotgrey · 22/12/2025 16:32

does he not have a friend he could ask to go with? Age wise fine I think but seems a bit sad to go alone at his age and strength in numbers on off chance any issues (my 14y old had someone attempt to mug him for his phone in the toilets at our local cinema while I was outside).

NerrSnerr · 22/12/2025 16:36

His age is not an issue and he’ll be fine but if he didn’t have a friend to go with I’d suck it up and go with him.

Sarah2891 · 22/12/2025 16:38

He's definitely old enough. But if he'd rather go with you or your DH then I think one of you should go.

Natsku · 22/12/2025 16:39

Absolutely fine, he's not a small child.

AngelofIslington · 22/12/2025 16:39

I’d go with him even if it’s not up my street.
Seeing him enjoying something would be enough for me but I’d imagine he’d probably want to go with a friend rather than his mum

Kittylicker · 22/12/2025 16:46

He will be fine,

Bitzee · 22/12/2025 16:49

Obviously he’d be fine on his own but I’d feel a bit sad for him having no one to go with and no one talk about afterwards with so if he couldn’t find a mate then I think I’d suck it up and go with him.

Coldiron · 22/12/2025 16:50

I went to the cinema on my own when I was 11 and it was fine, although to be fair that was in the 80s when we were all practically feral anyway.

DD16 regularly goes on her own and has been doing for the past couple of years, she reckons it doesn’t make sense to need someone to go with as you’re not going to be speaking to each other during the film anyway.

I think a daytime showing is completely fine, I’d do a drop off and pick up for a later showing.

CurlewKate · 22/12/2025 16:52

Absolutely fine. Lots of people (me included!) love the cinema on their own.

Pepperedpickles · 22/12/2025 16:52

Sarah2891 · 22/12/2025 16:38

He's definitely old enough. But if he'd rather go with you or your DH then I think one of you should go.

This.

I have no desire to see it whatsoever but if Ds (also 13) wanted to go there’s no way I’d let him go alone - in a few years time he won’t want anything to do with you (judging by my dd aged 22) so I’d jump at the chance!

Clearinguptheclutter · 22/12/2025 16:54

Been having this discussion re DS who is 12 and a half

it’s fine I think but I’d rather he wasn’t on his own. I’m trying to persuade him to take a friend and I’ll pick up and drop off but none of his friends can face 3h of it either!

APatternGrammar · 22/12/2025 16:55

CurlewKate · 22/12/2025 16:52

Absolutely fine. Lots of people (me included!) love the cinema on their own.

I also think it’s a great habit to train. I know so many people who won’t go to the cinema or theatre or to a restaurant alone because they feel like they can’t, even if it means missing the film in the cinema completely.

SingingSands · 22/12/2025 17:18

Presumably he's at high school now? If this is something he wants to do, then there's no issue? Less chance of silliness occurring if he's on his own too, sometimes going with friends at that age can result in teenage-boy-brained-behaviour!

Iloveagoodnap · 22/12/2025 17:23

I would encourage him to ask a friend to go. As much as I’m sure he would be totally safe, when I was that age and started going to the cinema with friends I was always a bit wary if I saw an adult in there by themselves. I probably would have sat quietly panicking if I was there by myself.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/12/2025 17:29

I think it sounds sad- he’d be fine- however does the cinema have signal- one of ours does but one doesn’t.

Endofyear · 22/12/2025 17:46

Goodness, he's 13! Of course he's old enough! Would any of his mates like to go and see the film? That might be more fun for him than going alone. But if he's happy to go by himself, of course he will be fine 🙂

Flowerslamp · 22/12/2025 17:51

He'll be fine, and I like going to the cinema alone, but if I had a 13yo who had no one else to go with, I'd absolutely be going with him.

SheelaNaGigYouExhibitionist · 22/12/2025 17:54

I've got an almost 13 year old desperate to see it. I'd be totally comfortable with him going alone but I'd feel sorry for him. We've said if he can't find a friend to go with then DH will go with him.

somanychristmaslights · 22/12/2025 17:58

What does he actually think? I’d pay for a mate to go, or I’d just suck it up and go with him. Not because he can’t go by himself, but you’ll be sad when he doesn’t want you to go with him to stuff.

OffToSeaInABlizzard · 22/12/2025 18:03

Goodness, if I counted the number of hours I’ve spent in auditoriums alongside a child watching Pirates or Avengers or God knows what, it would add up to a couple of years of my life! So forgive me if I think it’s a bit mean that neither of his parents will suck it up and sit through it.

I have a cinema membership and almost always go alone to things I want to see, as an adult. But I’d want a 13 year old to have some company in a cinema - as much to share the fun as for back-up in case of trouble.

Go - you might enjoy it. And you’ll be able to talk about it afterwards - which is the best bit!

blankcanvas3 · 22/12/2025 18:04

He’s old enough to go but does he not have a friend he can go with? I’ve seen a million films i don’t care about over the years with my kids, I just look at it as a nice chance to spend time together, and go for some food etc first

Fundays12 · 22/12/2025 18:11

He will be fine but personally I would say one of you go with him. He probably wont want a parent going along much longer with him so take the chance while you can.

CurlewKate · 22/12/2025 22:44

Fundays12 · 22/12/2025 18:11

He will be fine but personally I would say one of you go with him. He probably wont want a parent going along much longer with him so take the chance while you can.

It’s not about you though is it?

Tillow4ever · 22/12/2025 22:55

No issue that age going alone if he’s happy to. If he’d rather have company, I’d encourage him to invite a friend, even if it means you paying for them and picking them up/dropping them off. If he doesn’t have any friends that can go, and he doesn’t want to go alone, I’d say one of you should go with him.

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