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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:
liveforsummer · 27/02/2022 09:47

Our local vue is fantastic. The recliner chairs are huge and means even if you're beside a stranger you aren't really and they are very comfortable. They are standard now there are no basic seats. It's under a fiver for any ticket even at weekends and £2.75 for the mini mornings. We always go to M&S or the pound shop for snacks

Branleuse · 27/02/2022 09:51

The behaviour thing can be an issue at teen friendly blockbuster films at peak times. I remember getting really annoyed at a group of teens when watching twilight (lol), but i didnt know it was a YA film when we went and obv it was a bit shit anyway.
I dont usually get round to seeing stuff as soon as it comes out anyway.
We have 3 cinemas here. One is a screen in an art gallery so they sometimes show cult films or foreign language or arty ones. The odeon for the blockbusters and the curzon for a more luxurious experience.
I sometimes go to the arthouse cinema in a nearby town for some really obscure weird films too.

If i watch films at home im usually distracted too much to get immersed in it. I have adhd, pets and kids always making noises and smells. The ability for me to pause it and get up and down to get stuff or check my phone just means it never flows and its just not the same.
We used to have a projector and watch films that way which was good, but def not on the telly, and never on a small tv

mycatisannoying · 27/02/2022 10:35

So you pay £15 for a family visit to the cinema - an offer which presumably others have taken advantage of too - and then moan that it's too busy Hmm

CathyorClaire · 27/02/2022 11:21

MyGPsurgeryisUseless

Shock

We've endured five year olds running up,around and down the aisles (then drowning out the sound of the film screaming at the spiders in Harry Potter they were in theory too young to see Hmm) and we've had a parent loudly assure Grandma that the bored three year old whining all through the film would 'settle' and it wasn't necessary to take her out Hmm but changing a shitty nappy in the aisle takes entitlement to a whole new level!

HelloDulling · 27/02/2022 14:20

@BigSandyBalls2015

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.
All part of the night out! How odd, indeed.
ChocolateIsAlwaysTheAnswer · 27/02/2022 14:22

I really dislike it as well. Prices are ridiculous also.

dottydodah · 27/02/2022 14:30

We hadnt been for years and went a few months back to see No time to die ,The new James bond movie .Cost us about £30 .00 (Good seats though,Recliners in new cinema) lots of people rustling ,fidgeting and eating,not just snacks ,but hot dog /chips! Also quite short so seem to get the tall guys in front! Film was good but quite loud .Not rushing back I must say!

dottydodah · 27/02/2022 14:33

Recently Jenny Murray complained of her familys enjoyment of the film Belfast being spoilt by a gang of youths making silly comments .

ImInStealthMode · 27/02/2022 14:49

We have Cineworld cards, go often and always enjoy it, each to their own.

YABU to be put out that it was full of people who'd done the exact same as you and taken advantage of the £3 day though - there's no way we'd have gone yesterday, far too many people.

Abracadabra12345 · 27/02/2022 14:58

@Classica

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.
Yup. Work from home. Watch from home. Stay home.

Like other pp, I love the cinema and always have. If I watch a film at home, lights have to be off but there’s always someone having a quick phone screen flash. We don’t need to pause the film to go to the loo or make a cup of tea though.

I have been to the cinema when it’s been busy and I do agree there’s a higher chance of people being disruptive. You can’t judge the cinema experience by a very cheap deal to see a newly-released film which is bound to attract hordes, and not everyone will particularly want to be there.

I’ve only just seen Spider-Man and there were just a few of us there, all clearly very invested in the film. I saw Casablanca the other day and it was fantastic seeing it on the big screen. There was only one other couple there. There are so many films I want to see: West Side Story was great on a big screen and I plan to see Cyrano in the early afternoon and hope there won’t be many having the same idea!

Our Vue is under a fiver so a cheap trip out.

OP you are not being unreasonable to have hated your cinema experience but don’t think they’re all like that!

CounsellorTroi · 27/02/2022 15:03

I ruined a handbag once by putting it down on a food container containing some sort of horrible barbecue sauce that someone had thoughtfully left under the seat. Thankfully it was a cheap ish one.

rubytubeytubes · 27/02/2022 15:05

I love the cinema too. Nothing better to me than watching a film on a really big screen, many films just are not the same impact on a tv. Plus I can sit at home at any point and watch Netflix.
It’s like saying don’t go to a pub as you can drink at home 😊

mogsrus · 27/02/2022 15:32

Prices are ridiculously high? As opposed to what?

CrimbleCrumble1 · 27/02/2022 15:37

I love the cinema, it’s my happy place, I go about five or six times a month. I totally relax as I literally can’t do anything but watch the film. I go on my own, with my adult DC, my friend or my DH.

Florenz · 27/02/2022 15:43

People just don't know how to behave in the cinema nowadays (or at the theatre going by other threads). We sometimes go and watch old films at the cinema as the people there tend to be there to actually watch the film.

IMO advertising is partly to blame as a lot of people are taken in by adverts saying they "have to watch" the latest Marvel/Star Wars/Fast and Furious movie and they forget they don't actually like watching films and just get bored and end up talking, looking at their phone etc.

walkersareback · 27/02/2022 18:00

@RagzRebooted

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!

Honestly- if you prefer watching films at home I would do that. I LOVE going to the cinema- I am going this evening- but it's not for everyone- and it IS expensive so if you don't enjoy it don't go. My bil loves film but hates the cinema - too many people, noises etc - whereas I love the shared experience of watching a film - neither is right or wrong.
Momicrone · 27/02/2022 18:02

I love the cinema, completely disagree, it's an amazing way to watch movies

Momicrone · 27/02/2022 18:04

Do you want to pause theatre productions as well so you can have a wee and make a cuppa

prettyteapotsplease · 27/02/2022 18:07

Yes, I've also gone off the cinema for all the reasons previously mentioned.

It's more comfortable at home, I can get a cuppa as and when I want, etc, etc. It's rare that a modern film will appeal to me at my great age anyway and I can wait for it to appear on telly. If it doesn't, it's no great shakes. Sorry to say that the same goes for concerts too.

RampantIvy · 27/02/2022 18:18

You can get a cuppa or a drink at our local cinema. The only crunchy food you can buy is popcorn, and not having small children I tend to watch films where there are no children in the audience as I go in the evening.

Gowithme · 27/02/2022 18:22

During lockdown we got a projector for not much over £100 from amazon and now watch films on it at home. So much nicer than the cinema IMO and with the price of the cinema it soon paid for itself.

Momicrone · 27/02/2022 18:25

So you've got a nice big room with big soft tiered seats as well? I mean why bother going out at all, restaurants, pubs, clubs, they can all be recreated at home

RampantIvy · 27/02/2022 18:27

Where are people going where it costs so much? Vue is £4.99 and our local cinema is £6.50.

doadeer · 27/02/2022 18:28

Oh I love it! But I live near an everyman so have a glass of wine and it's on big sofas and small ish screens so not many people.

ISpyCobraKai · 27/02/2022 18:31

@RampantIvy

Where are people going where it costs so much? Vue is £4.99 and our local cinema is £6.50.
Showcase, near Glasgow but I use a discount card and get 10% rewards on everything I spend. Even then the most I pay is still less than £11. I think its fine once a week but then its just me and I don't buy anything extra there.
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