Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the cinema is massively overrated?

273 replies

RagzRebooted · 26/02/2022 20:40

Took the family to the cinema today. First time in years and actually the first time all 5 of us have gone together (2 adults, 3 12-15yr olds). Only did it because of the £3 Cineworld offer and brought our own snacks because OMG, the price of food and drink there is even more insane than I remember.

I'd been looking forward to it all week. Sat down and was initially impressed as they have built a new one in the town we went to and it's a much better layout, steeper seating (so no need to worry about view blocking) and more leg room, no flip down seats but big ones with headrests. Huge screen.

Here are my problems -
The picture quality is a lot worse than our TV. Obviously, as it's projected.
The screen is so big it's actually quite hard to look at.
The seats looked and felt comfy at first but my back was killing by the end of it.
Stank of various foods people were eating.
Full of people (kind of a given, but still a downside) all making various noises.
Can't just pause it, get up and have a wee, make a cuppa etc.

It was supposed to be a treat, but DH and I agree that we won't be doing it again!

The film was good, but I hadn't even heard of it before looking up what was on and would have been quite happy watching it next year on a streaming service. I can understand going to watch something highly anticipated if it's something you're really into (like Marvel or some other big serial thing), especially for teens. I'm just not that into films and happy to watch then a year later.

I just don't get the appeal of sitting and watching a film crammed in with a load of strangers. I feel like it's something other people do all the time and I'm just being wierd not liking it!

OP posts:
123ZYX · 27/02/2022 08:44

I went to the cinema for the first time in years this week and it's was spoiled by mobile phones - the teenagers next to me were apparently incapable of just watching the film, so we're texting each other all the way through.

Worse than that was they had an app that made their screen flash and they were flashing at each other (and therefore me next to them).

Twice during the film the whole group left, with them not coming back in the second time - they must have missed 1/3 of the film.

With the amount of food they had, they must have spent £100 between them. I can't imagine wasting that amount of money when I was that age.

I used to love going to the cinema as a teenager when no one had anything more advanced than a 3310 and people had the attention span needed to watch a film all the way through.

I know what people are saying about going when it's empty at the end of the run, but I think I'd have been better going when the film was just out so that it was full of people who really wanted to be there. It depends on the film - I was seeing Spider-Man

megletthesecond · 27/02/2022 08:44

I only ever go when it's quiet, in the daytime and sit in the back row. I'd never go when it's busy.

Suzi888 · 27/02/2022 08:48

YABUGrin we love it! It’s pricey though, if you buy a drink, pop corn, snack. I took DD and we spent £25 in total. I don’t think your supposed to take your own snacks in. I’ve never noticed others doing this

RampantIvy · 27/02/2022 08:53

I find it so depressing when people are all 'cinemas are dead, you can see at home'. It's a totally different experience. And some people like to leave their homes

I agree. It makes seeing a film more of an occasion rather than sitting in front of the TV or laptop screen for yet another evening.

Our local cinema is lovely, and people travel from a quite a way to come to it. Part of the reason is that the demographic who watch films there tend not to be the kind who eat noisily, use their phones or talk through a film. This was said by a friend the other day, and I agree with her.

seriousandloyal · 27/02/2022 08:53

YABU I love the cinema, so many good memories over the years.

youdoyoutoday · 27/02/2022 08:54

I did used to love going to the cinema especially when a long awaited new release was out but I completely agree with your points. It's so expensive to buy snacks at the cinema on top of the ticket prices that I'm surprised they are still in business!

That said, I'll be taking my son again when the new buzz lightyear film comes out but will definitely stop off in the pound shop first for snacks this time!!

Chocomelon · 27/02/2022 08:58

I don't think it's overrated as such but I totally get what you mean and it's expensive, especially the food.

I have a DS under one and taking him to baby friendly screenings at our local cinema is one of my favourite things to do.

TabithaHazel · 27/02/2022 08:59

We go once a month as we get free tickets with our life insurance. The DC absolutely love going and it's nice to share that experience with them, but we couldn't afford to go regularly if we needed to pay for tickets.

Newnormal99 · 27/02/2022 08:59

We go sometimes but I generally choose the recliners which are back row. Loads of space and the heads of the row in front are level with the floor pretty much.

I made the mistake of booking normal seats time before last and spent it with some kid kicking the back of my seat constantly even after his dad spoke to him (only a after I asked him too!)

However at £40 full price for 3 i generally go for the juniors a month or so later unless it's something they desperately want to see.

We also go to Wilko for a drink and sweets first!

Barbie222 · 27/02/2022 09:01

I don't like the cinema, it's the noise / smell / proximity to others. It's always the last thing on my list of things we could do. Plus as you say you have better picture quality on your own TV now.

Lyricallie · 27/02/2022 09:02

I love the cinema! However ours is a wee local one as I live in the arse end of nowhere. Never had issues with people talking or phones or anything. Also they've just done it up so got new seats etc. Also very reasonably priced and have midweek deals etc.

mogsrus · 27/02/2022 09:03

@Suzi888

YABUGrin we love it! It’s pricey though, if you buy a drink, pop corn, snack. I took DD and we spent £25 in total. I don’t think your supposed to take your own snacks in. I’ve never noticed others doing this
Oh yes they do. To absolutely put the price in perspective. I joined the industry when I was 20. at that time I was being paid 34£ a week believe me no one does cinema work for the money. Ok, now our admission price was 90p. A drink was over 1£ etc etc. Now I earn 300£ per week and the cost of admission is for me £6.80. Drinks are only over 2£ so in reality it’s still cheap by comparison. You can’t keep going back to, when I last went,etc etc All costs have gone up.all wages have gone up but it still works out cheap. 4 of us went out for a meal the other week cost to me was £120 £30 a head give or take for 2 hours possibly, .....cinema £6 for 2 hours give or take
User135644 · 27/02/2022 09:03

I think the advent of big screen TV's and the like have led to a more home cinema experience, therefore why spend a fair amount of money (tickets/food/drink) plus the travel to get there to be packed in among loads of other people. That just wasn't the case in the 70s and 80s (or before). Plus it was the only way to see a film until it came out on video or shown on TV. Nowadays you can download a film and watch it.

I still like going to the cinema now and then as an experience but only when it's quiet. Therefore i'll be there with 5 other people at 2pm on a Tuesday afternoon or something, rather than a packed out show on a Saturday night.

Lincslady53 · 27/02/2022 09:08

Haven't been since Covid, but love going. We go on a Tuesday or Weds afternoon, and with Meerkat Movies would get 2 tickets for £6.00. It was never busy in the afternoon, so we could sit wherever we liked. I find it difficult to concentrate on a long film at home with the distractions of phones, someone getting up mid film, even if it is to make a brew. 2 to 3 hours with nothing to do but watch a film is bliss. I used to buy one days travel insurance for about £3 and it would give me a years meerkat movie membership, but I think they have closed that loophole now. Looking forward to getting back to our afternoons at the cinema.

RampantIvy · 27/02/2022 09:08

It's so expensive to buy snacks at the cinema

You don't have to buy snacks.

Our cinema has recently been done up with new seats as well @Lyricallie. Are you in South Yorkshire?

LynetteScavo · 27/02/2022 09:10

I really like going to the cinema, but lately it's been virtually empty when I've been.

I recently went to the RSC to see Much Ado About Nothing and while I was sitting in the rather uncomfortable, and expensive (£50) seat I decided I prefer the cinema. It's cheaper, more comfortable and much closer to my house so easier to regularly access. That probably makes me a philistine.

I do really like staying at home to watch a film on Netflix though. Staying at home is underrated.

LuckySantangelo35 · 27/02/2022 09:11

Agree it’s always bloody freezing as well

User135644 · 27/02/2022 09:11

@bonfireheart

I hate the cinema. we went to watch spiderman recently. It was all full. People sat in our seats wouldn't get up had to go get a member of staff, took ages before they agreed to move. A lady in very front row was filming the entire movie so you could see her phone screen lit up. Lady in front of me was on WhatsApp entire time. Another lady kept getting up and using torch on her phone to find her way out. The lad next to us didn't stop eating the entire time and he was so noisy. Give me netflix any day.
I can't be doing with being sat around the annoying general public for 2+ hours. I still enjoy going when I know it's going to be quiet.

Tips:
Avoid weekends
Give the film a few weeks first (i.e. don't go when it's first released)
Go midweek, preferably early/afternoon time

It's much better when you're not having to put up with other people being annoying. It's probably worse now than back in the day because in a full cinema you can guarantee half the people in there can't sit still/won't be able to leave their phone off for 2 hours.

LuckySantangelo35 · 27/02/2022 09:12

@LynetteScavo

I really like going to the cinema, but lately it's been virtually empty when I've been.

I recently went to the RSC to see Much Ado About Nothing and while I was sitting in the rather uncomfortable, and expensive (£50) seat I decided I prefer the cinema. It's cheaper, more comfortable and much closer to my house so easier to regularly access. That probably makes me a philistine.

I do really like staying at home to watch a film on Netflix though. Staying at home is underrated.

@LynetteScavo Think after the last couple of years though lots of us are a bit sick of staying at home!
User135644 · 27/02/2022 09:12

@Lincslady53

Haven't been since Covid, but love going. We go on a Tuesday or Weds afternoon, and with Meerkat Movies would get 2 tickets for £6.00. It was never busy in the afternoon, so we could sit wherever we liked. I find it difficult to concentrate on a long film at home with the distractions of phones, someone getting up mid film, even if it is to make a brew. 2 to 3 hours with nothing to do but watch a film is bliss. I used to buy one days travel insurance for about £3 and it would give me a years meerkat movie membership, but I think they have closed that loophole now. Looking forward to getting back to our afternoons at the cinema.
Agree. It's one of the reasons I like to go. I get distracted at home. Going to see a film at the cinema when its quiet allows me to just concentrate on the film for 2-3 hours and switch off.
User135644 · 27/02/2022 09:14

Added to the above regarding go in the afternoon when it's quiet. Less so if it's half term/school holidays (unless it's an 18).

middleager · 27/02/2022 09:22

I've always been a huge cinema fan and have gone regularly all my life.

However, I have to admit that my love is waning.
The last few times we've had so much noise and disruption from others, coupled with escalating prices, that I'm reluctant to go unless it's a massive experience type film.

We bought a 65 inch Oled screen and sound system, created a cinema room, and have lots of streaming. Now this I enjoy. We also have a very good 3D TV too, which is fab.

However, if it's a big film like Avengers Endgame, then we saw that 5 times at the cinema. During the first viewing (Imax 3D arrived early so excited) some late arrivals insisted we were in their seats (we weren't!) and I bloody missed a key moment in the film.

Cinema is great. Other people are the issue.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 27/02/2022 09:26

People saying behaviour has deteriorated …. I remember going to the cinema in my teens and they’d regularly be a punch up in the aisle. When the film started they’d sit down like nothing had happened Grin. I had forgotten that until this thread. How odd.

MyGPsurgeryisUseless · 27/02/2022 09:29

We went yesterday as well.

A lady changed her small child's shitty nappy in the middle of the film on the floor in front of me, which made the entire place stink.

A family with a small baby (3/4 months) both parents and 2 other children the baby screamed through a good 45 mins ruining most of the film.

Was an absolute disaster I said to dh we should have saved the £15, closed the curtains and made pop corn and pizza at home.

The level of entitlement and gross behaviour reminds me why I don’t go.

dementedma · 27/02/2022 09:29

Finally found my people. Hate it. Too expensive, too loud and too many people eating and talking and on their phones. Stopped going years ago