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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:
Bornsloppy · 09/03/2022 17:04

I love it. I finally for my 1st mat leave about 6 weeks earlier than my due date because I was completely shattered and I'd go to the cinema every week in the afternoon. It was glorious.

HandlebarLadyTash · 09/03/2022 17:17

I love going alone in the afternoon, no people very relating.

neverbeenskiing · 09/03/2022 18:32

I love going to the cinema alone! Pure escapism. It's one of my favourite things to do to de-stress when life feels hectic.

Zimmumuk · 09/03/2022 18:35

This is something I love doing wish I could do it more frequently

Abracadabra12345 · 09/03/2022 18:42

@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.

I too prefer going to the cinema on my own and also wouldn’t tell my friends that 😁

The last film I saw, there were 5 others in the cinema all sitting singly plus one couple

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/03/2022 18:47

I love it. A lovely simple pleasure.

CookPassBabtridge · 09/03/2022 19:26

Sorry wasn't aiming it at you OP as you want to do it and are excited, I meant those people in life who wouldn't ever entertain it and think its weird. Same as people who can't dine alone or sit in a coffee shop alone, go away for the weekend alone etc etc.

DickVanDyke26 · 09/03/2022 19:40

This is definitely something I am considering doing soon. Everytime I go to the cinema it's to watch some crap kids film. It would be great to put my feet up with a film I actually want to watch and snacks all to myself.

ISpyCobraKai · 09/03/2022 22:08

Considering its only the beginning of March, I've been to two arena shows, the cinema around 12 times, a 4 night break, lunch and dinner out, museums, gallerys, a guided tour, a zoo, all on my own and have six more gigs and two musicals booked, plus whatever else that doesn't need to be arranged in advance.
My friends aren't free/don't want to go, my daughter is grown up and want to go out.
Admittedly the break was a bit of a last minute thing, I only went for two nights for a gig, that got cancelled but I went anyway, had so much fun, I stayed 4 and did the tourist thing.
Everywhere I went there were other people on their own, no one cares.
I can also do completely my own thing, make plans/change plans last minute.
The freedom is brilliant.

lakeswimmer · 09/03/2022 22:17

I go to the cinema on my own as often as I go with people. If there's a film I want to see that no-one in my family is interested in then I'll go. I love the freedom of doing things alone.

Original poster
AryaStarkWolf · 10/03/2022 10:24

@ISpyCobraKai

Considering its only the beginning of March, I've been to two arena shows, the cinema around 12 times, a 4 night break, lunch and dinner out, museums, gallerys, a guided tour, a zoo, all on my own and have six more gigs and two musicals booked, plus whatever else that doesn't need to be arranged in advance. My friends aren't free/don't want to go, my daughter is grown up and want to go out. Admittedly the break was a bit of a last minute thing, I only went for two nights for a gig, that got cancelled but I went anyway, had so much fun, I stayed 4 and did the tourist thing. Everywhere I went there were other people on their own, no one cares. I can also do completely my own thing, make plans/change plans last minute. The freedom is brilliant.
It's funny, when I was younger and single the thought of actually going on holiday/a mini break on my own would have been horrendous. Now that I'm married and older and don't get a lot of time to myself I would love to get away for a few days all by myself!
OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 10/03/2022 10:25

It’s lovely. Going to the cinema on my own is a huge pleasure.

VelvetChairGirl · 10/03/2022 10:30

I dont go much its expensive and it's just me and my son.

but years ago I did go on my own to watch The Raid as I love martial arts and wanted to support none hollywood film (its from Thailand) and it was on during the school hours.

I felt a bit odd going in alone but I found myself in a half empty theater full of lone men, it was very peaceful being on your own.

RedRobyn2021 · 10/03/2022 10:33

Omg I love going to the cinema alone. Haven't done it loads but I used to have a weekday off work. I have a baby now so probably won't for a while, but I've got to say it's really nice

3peassuit · 10/03/2022 10:39

I started going to the cinema and theatre alone when I was on maternity leave nearly 40 years ago. For the most part you’re watching a screen in the dark and even if you are with someone, you would not be talking through the show. Go and enjoy the experience, there’s nothing wrong or weird about it.

OldTinHat · 10/03/2022 10:47

I go all the time, several times a week, on my own. I can sit where I want and watch what I want, when I want. Have done for years!

No sharing snacks, no arguing over arm rests. Bliss! I hate, hate going with anyone now.

I would say it's 50/50 single people and couples or families when I go. Not unusual at all.

Have a great time OP!

DameHelena · 10/03/2022 10:54

YANBU! You just sit silently in the dark anyway; it's not weird at all to do it alone.
I am too busy these days, but in my early days of freelancing when things were quieter, I'd take myself off to the flicks quite a lot on random weekday afternoons. It's wonderful; you can watch the most obscure/embarrassingly cheesy things you want without having to negotiate or put up with piss-taking from anyone else.
In London at least, a fair number of people go alone and no one looks twice.
What are you seeing?

Flatandhappy · 10/03/2022 10:58

I love going to the cinema alone. One of my guilty secrets is the fact that I watched the last Twilight film by myself three times in three weeks - I never admitted that to anyone 😁

Dixiechickonhols · 10/03/2022 11:00

I’ve done it a couple of times, once I was only one in the cinema! Go for it.

DameHelena · 10/03/2022 11:01

@Flatandhappy

I love going to the cinema alone. One of my guilty secrets is the fact that I watched the last Twilight film by myself three times in three weeks - I never admitted that to anyone 😁
Ages ago I went to see a film with Benedict Cumberbatch twice on my own while in the throes of a big crush on him. I'd already seen it with a friend too Grin ( Third Star, btw; sad and rather lovely, although very obviously a director's first film).
incognitoforthisone · 10/03/2022 11:07

Going to the cinema is the ideal solo outing. You're just sitting quietly in the dark watching a film, so there's no boredom or loneliness involved.

I often go to the cinema on my own - I love horror films, which DP hates, and which none of my local friends are bothered about, so I take myself off to the cinema alone and consider it to be a proper little treat! I love it.

Original poster
AryaStarkWolf · 10/03/2022 11:29

@DameHelena

YANBU! You just sit silently in the dark anyway; it's not weird at all to do it alone. I am too busy these days, but in my early days of freelancing when things were quieter, I'd take myself off to the flicks quite a lot on random weekday afternoons. It's wonderful; you can watch the most obscure/embarrassingly cheesy things you want without having to negotiate or put up with piss-taking from anyone else. In London at least, a fair number of people go alone and no one looks twice. What are you seeing?
I didn't have a lot of choice because I'm going while my son is training, most of the earlier shows are kids films so the only non animated/not entirely a kids film was Dog with Channing Tatum in it, I like dogs and I like Channing Tatum so win/win? :p
OP posts:
Original poster
AryaStarkWolf · 10/03/2022 11:30

@Flatandhappy

I love going to the cinema alone. One of my guilty secrets is the fact that I watched the last Twilight film by myself three times in three weeks - I never admitted that to anyone 😁
This is a safe space Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
AryaStarkWolf · 10/03/2022 11:31

@incognitoforthisone

Going to the cinema is the ideal solo outing. You're just sitting quietly in the dark watching a film, so there's no boredom or loneliness involved.

I often go to the cinema on my own - I love horror films, which DP hates, and which none of my local friends are bothered about, so I take myself off to the cinema alone and consider it to be a proper little treat! I love it.

Watching a horror, alone in the dark, very brave! Grin
OP posts:
DameHelena · 10/03/2022 11:32

OP, I've never knowingly seen a Channing Tatum film but I do think Dog looks good. Enjoy it!