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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to the cinema on my own?

79 replies

AryaStarkWolf · 09/03/2022 16:06

I'm in my 40's and in all those years I don't think I've ever gone to the cinema on my own. I don't know why, I've just never done it and I know some people think it's a bit odd. So anyway this weekend I've got a few hours to kill while I wait around for my son during an activity of his and I've booked myself a cinema ticket and I'm really excited about it for some unknown reason (I guess at my age there's not a lot of "firsts" left in ordinary life)

So....

YABU - Going to the cinema alone is sad and lonely
YANBU - Going to the cinema alone is peaceful and therapeutic

OP posts:
DeadButDelicious · 09/03/2022 16:23

Do it! I really enjoy going to the pictures by myself, don't have to share snacks, I know it's a film I want to see, a couple of hours alone in the dark with no one saying mummy is just golden! 😂

marmitegirl01 · 09/03/2022 16:23

Love love love going to the cinema solo. Love a morning show 11am. Can get my coffee & croissant and settle in. Never many people there but I don’t care if there is.
Like going with other people too but just do it. You’ll love it!! 😁

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 09/03/2022 16:24

I've only done it a few times but I've always wondered why going to the cinema on your own isn't a much more common thing. It's not like it's a particularly sociable activity.

When our DC were small, DH and I always planned to go and see the same film individually on consecutive nights while the other 'babysat' then we could have talked about it when we'd both seen it. We were always too busy/lazy but I still think it's a good idea.

LampLighter414 · 09/03/2022 16:24

I often go to the cinema on my own. I have seen a number of MCU movies and other things on my own as I struggle to find friends who are also interested and the ones that are typically go with their partners

It is nice and peaceful. Even in fully packed screenings nobody seems to notice or indeed care that you have turned up on your own.

CapMarvel · 09/03/2022 16:27

Going to the cinema by myself is one of my favourite things.

Nobody cares. Just go.

Anonymous48 · 09/03/2022 16:27

The only thing you're being unreasonable about is questioning whether this would be a reasonable thing to do. It's hard to believe that you've reached your 40's and never gone by yourself to the cinema. It's even harder to believe that you think there might be something strange in it!

"I know some people think it's a bit odd"

Who thinks that? Have you ever heard anyone say that?

ISpyCobraKai · 09/03/2022 16:30

There's places online to talk about the films you saw solo anyway, one on here for a start!

Original poster
AryaStarkWolf · 09/03/2022 16:30

@guineapigs

I don't understand why would you go to cinema with a friend? Very non social way to meet up with friends.
I don't really go with friends, the very very odd time if we both wanted to go see a particular film. Mostly I would go with my DH and/or kids(teen/adults)
OP posts:
bleachblondemom · 09/03/2022 16:31

I love going to the cinema on my own. No one else can see my and all my snacks in the dark.

MorganSeventh · 09/03/2022 16:32

My local cinema has a trailer with the line 'maybe you'll go with your family, maybe you'll go with your friends; maybe you'll go on your own' so it's definitely a recognised audience segment.

Saturday afternoons when the weather's bad my favourite thing to do is get a coffee and some snacks, put the recliner back and my feet up and sit in a nice warm cinema watching a film on my own for a few hours. I prefer it to going with other people, although I would tell them that.

Original poster
AryaStarkWolf · 09/03/2022 16:33

@Anonymous48

The only thing you're being unreasonable about is questioning whether this would be a reasonable thing to do. It's hard to believe that you've reached your 40's and never gone by yourself to the cinema. It's even harder to believe that you think there might be something strange in it!

"I know some people think it's a bit odd"

Who thinks that? Have you ever heard anyone say that?

haha not in real life no i suppose not, I have seen people say they think it is online though
OP posts:
PigeonLittle · 09/03/2022 16:33

Yanbu! Have done it occasionally for an action romp like Mission Impossible. Is a great escape!

MorganSeventh · 09/03/2022 16:34

@MorganSeventh

My local cinema has a trailer with the line 'maybe you'll go with your family, maybe you'll go with your friends; maybe you'll go on your own' so it's definitely a recognised audience segment.

Saturday afternoons when the weather's bad my favourite thing to do is get a coffee and some snacks, put the recliner back and my feet up and sit in a nice warm cinema watching a film on my own for a few hours. I prefer it to going with other people, although I would tell them that.

Never tell them that Grin I do have some social graces!
Nanny67 · 09/03/2022 16:34

I always go to the cinema alone and there's always other singles in there too. It's not weird! I have a Cineworld card and go at least once a week

Babdoc · 09/03/2022 16:35

I’ve been widowed for 30 years. I’d have missed a hell of a lot of good films if I hadn’t gone on my own!
I’m actually going alone to live stand up tonight at the concert hall - it’s Ed Byrne, and I always find him hilarious.

piglet81 · 09/03/2022 16:35

Love solo cinema-ing, especially with popcorn and wine.

I have a fairly antisocial streak though!

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 09/03/2022 16:36

I love going to the cinema on my own!

Don't have to share snacks (none rustly with wrappers etc) do not ever be in a cinema with me behind someone with rusty snacks) and no-one to see you ugly-cry during the sad bits.

Have fun!

Original poster
AryaStarkWolf · 09/03/2022 16:37

@Babdoc

I’ve been widowed for 30 years. I’d have missed a hell of a lot of good films if I hadn’t gone on my own! I’m actually going alone to live stand up tonight at the concert hall - it’s Ed Byrne, and I always find him hilarious.
Oh love Ed Bryne too, enjoy
OP posts:
HomeHomeInTheRange · 09/03/2022 16:37

Oh, LOVE going to the cinema on my own, in the afternoon , it is an absolute luxury!

V few people, almost never any idiots with phones, noisy snacks etc. Just you and the big screen to immerse yourself in.

Original poster
AryaStarkWolf · 09/03/2022 16:38

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

I love going to the cinema on my own!

Don't have to share snacks (none rustly with wrappers etc) do not ever be in a cinema with me behind someone with rusty snacks) and no-one to see you ugly-cry during the sad bits.

Have fun!

I will thank you, I might even make it a regular habit
OP posts:
Oldh · 09/03/2022 16:54

I asked something similar on here a while back, when I was daring myself to go to an event on my own. Everyone was supportive and pretty unanimous that I should just do it. So glad I did - thanks MN. I now really enjoy going alone (better than taking people with me) and it's boosted my confidence to do other things too. Once you get over the initial doubts, it makes you realise how much more you can do instead of having to rely on other people, as in if they don't want to go, then you miss out.

thisplaceisweird · 09/03/2022 16:56

@CapMarvel

Going to the cinema by myself is one of my favourite things.

Nobody cares. Just go.

Same! I absolutely love it.

Nobody wants to see arty foreign films with me.

No one will think you are weird, if they do, who cares???

AmbushedByCake · 09/03/2022 16:58

I wish my local cinema had screenings earlier in the day. If they had ones starting at 11 I'd get an Unlimited card and go every week, but the earliest ones start at 12.30 and with trailers they finish too late for me to do the school pick up on time.

Leggingslife · 09/03/2022 16:59

Love going on my own

Fairislefandango · 09/03/2022 17:03

YANBU. I'm 50 and I don't think I've ever been on my own, but if there were something I wanted to see and dh didn't, I would certainly happily go on my own. But we mostly like the same kinds of films, and we only tend to bother going to the cinema at all if it's a big release that we're pretty excited about and which will look amazing on a big screen. Otherwise we just wait until it's streamed.