this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2026
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Btw idk why I have anxiety the entire time... (no, not anxiety about the plot... like just random anxiety) but besides that....

Great experience (ish... I rather own a movie theater and have it all by myself so I don't have so much anxiety)

BIG SCREEN

My favorite sequence was when:

SPOILERSRocky risks his life to save Grace

I like the sequence of like the darkness and then a flash of light to show whats going on... that was so cool

I love the moments of silence...

So much different from just watching it on a 15.6 inch screen + headphones at home... (and also I'd have to wait for home release...)

(Put any spoilers in tags pls)

Edit: Also I was gonna take a photo of the theater and like the outside areas after you check in... and also like the mall area and stuff... but I kinda forgot due to anxiety... lol

Edit2: ALSO: I missed so much dialogue because my ears suck lol. I thought my English was good having arrived at 8 years old but apparantly not lmfao

Need a rewatch later at home (when home release comes out) WITH SUBTITLES

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[–] AceFuzzLord@lemmy.zip 2 points 17 hours ago

The last time I went to the theater was last summer and it was an amazing experience because I chose a good theater out of the ones I had a choice of.

I went to see the 3D rerelease of Laika Studio's Coraline and it was a blast! I don't have much to compare it to in terms of other 3D movies, but I absolutely LOVE how the use of 3D wasn't constant, but used sparingly instead.

If possible, it's a movie I do highly recommend seeing in 3D for that occasional pop of it.

Only thing I wish was that I had more money because they advertised Coraline merch I would have gone to the mall near where I live to pick up. At least I still have the 3D glasses I got with the movie.

[–] dkppunk@piefed.social 2 points 17 hours ago

Project Hail Mary was the first movie I went to watch in theaters since TMNT Mutant Mayhem and Barbie were out. I did a Ninja Barbie weekend because those were my favorite toys as a kid.

The first movie I remember seeing in theaters was the Muppets Treasure Island movie. I don’t remember much except thinking how fun the movie was and how much I enjoyed seeing it with friends.

[–] BennyTheExplorer@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I actually love going to the theater, I go there all the time. That's also because I have a subscription that allows me to go there as often as I want for a fixed monthly subscription.

I mostly go to smaller cinemas to watch indie films, that don't run in bigger theaters. The last movie I've seen was two days ago "Love me tender" which was really beautiful but also really sad. Before that, I watched "The chronlogy of water", which was also really well made and interesting but hella traumatic. Before that, I've watched Marty Surpreme, one day after it came out. I really liked the intensity of that one, it really reminded me of "uncut gems".

I think what I like about the cinema is that it's such a distinct "experience". It forces me to go outside, into the city, go to the cinema and watch the movie the whole way through, when I watch a movie at home, I often watch it in multiple sessions, which can ruin the experience. And on the way back, I have plenty of time to reflect about the movie.

I think I get the whole anxiety thing though. Until about a year ago, I only got to the theater with other people, because I thought it looked weird going there alone. The problem with that was, that I couldn't go there nearly as much as I wanted, because I don't know any other "cinephiles". That's why at some point I just tried going alone, which felt weird at first, but now is just normal to me.

[–] mrmaplebar@fedia.io 8 points 1 day ago

Congratulations dude!

Some people may not understand how debilitating anxiety can be. Good for you for overcoming your anxiety and going to a theater. I hope you had a nice time. 😌

I have mixed feelings about going to the theater these days because it's so relaxing and nice to watch stuff at home on my nice OLED TV (plus drinks and snacks are cheaper 😂). But it's certainly a good experience to go to a theater for the first time.

And now it'll be much easier for you to go again the in future. Or to go to other kinds of theater performances, like plays, musicals, opera, concerts or whatever.

I think some types of movies benefit more than others from having the huge screen, the immersive sound, and people to watch the movie with, and this is one of the movies that benefits a lot IMO.

I feel the same way about the dialogue being hard to understand. One of the reasons I don't go to the movies much is that I like having subtitles (and generally quieter speakers) but when I do go I enjoy the loudness of it. Wicked, for example: I liked experiencing that movie loud, but I still had to go back later and watch the subtitles. Movies don't feel resolved if I don't know what they're saying. or at least an [indistinct sounds] caption so I know I'm not supposed to understand it.

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

The first movie I saw in the theatre was Cinderella in the sixties. When I asked my mother what was for dinner she said green beans and stewed beef and I was SO disappointed because it completely ruined the vibe 🤣.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I prefer watching movies at home. It’s just so much cheaper and more convenient. But if I like a movie enough I’ll buy a ticket and not go like I did for Iron Lung.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

What's your "Watch at Home" Setup?

I don't have big screens 😭 (Edit: I mean besides a shitty tv my parents have that just has terrible colors... not even an oled)

At one point my laptop wasn't working and I didn't have one so during those times when I was bored, I'd watch in my phone 😭

I need to rewatch my favorite ones on big screen... idk if they re-show old movies tho...

I need to make myself a dark room

Or just watch at night and forget needing curtains

Also the sound would suck...

Either loud speakers equivant to the theater experience and then neighbors will complain about the sound...

Or just headphones... which is lame tbh

What is a reasonble budget setup that doesn't look crappy?

Like one below $1000

Oh yea I cant justify $1000 out of pocket right now lolz

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I just have a big TV with the built in speakers. I’m into movies for fun more than for spectacle.

The last two movies I watched were Bio-Dome and In The Army Now with Pauly Shore and it was perfect because I was naked, baked, and laughing out loud the whole time.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

How much money is your TV? How big? Oled?

Was it easy to get it inside your house?

Also how do you solve the lighting issue? Watch only at night time?

Only like $600 but that was almost five years ago. It’s just a 52” LED which I mainly got because it’s got Roku.

Super easy to move around, and I mainly watch at night but I have good blinds if I want to watch during the day

[–] noseatbelt@piefed.ca 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The most recent movie I saw in theatres was Scream 7. It was a really good time, considering I generally prefer to watch movies at home. It's an interesting experience being able to feed off the rest of the audiences emotions and reactions.

But at home I can go to the washroom whenever I want, I can announce to the room that

Tap for spoilerthat's Voldemort's dick! (28 Years Later: Bone Temple)

and I don't have to sneak in snacks and drinks in an oversized purse while trying not to crinkle and clank.

Going to the movies was like a quintessential part of being a teen when I was growing up. And once we could drive, going to the drive-in was fun too. Load up your parents' minivan with friends, chairs, and blankets, and go watch two or three movies back to back until the blankets are covered in dew at 2am. Replace "friends" with "partner", and "watching movies" with "making out" as needed. Good times.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Going to the movies was like a quintessential part of being a teen when I was growing up.

😭

Why was I born to Chinese parents?

But hey at least we sort of made up to it... a decade later...

Now I wont have to worry about "oh I never share an experience at a movie theater with parents" on their grave

I need more like "normal people fun activities" in my memories before they die...

Cuz if they do die and I don't have those share experiences... I'm gonna hate them for it...

[–] noseatbelt@piefed.ca 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Bro I was born to Chinese parents too. I stopped seeing movies with my parents when I started going with my friends instead.

Idk what young people do these days, but in my day, aside from movies, we did things like:

  • hang out at the mall
  • ice skating
  • laser tag
  • get ice cream and walk around the pier
  • bike riding
  • board games (also LAN parties)
  • hang out at the skate park (actually knowing how to skateboard is optional)

ETA bowling, but I don't actually like it. It's just that my friends went all the time so I did too.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Were you allowed/encouraged to go outside?

From age 0 to 8, I was mostly either:

  • at school
  • locked in their apartment in Guangzhou City
  • taken back to their village like 1-2 month during summer? did not know anyone there... were there even kids my age there? no clue... don't remember... but I mean we sort of were allow to play, but its always near adults... so never like actually "go outside and play alone"

then we immigrated to the US

then from age 8 to 12 I was either:

  • in school
  • in after school programs (runs to like 6PM)
  • at home
  • SUMMER SCHOOL 😭 (Google "Brooklyn Chinese-American Association" and "Chinese-American Planning Council" they ran those shitty programs I hate them)

cant go outside because big scary CPS (Child Protective Services) is gonna take you away

Going outside required parents

My self esteem plummetted because I got bullied in school... by ABCs (American-Born Chinese) because my English sucked at the time and I was deemed "weird"

I first started walking home in 6th grade...

inertia stayed with me... so used to not being alone, from then on being alone outside felt scary...

and...

Nobody wanna really be my friend...

And I was really scared by this point...

Then smartphones came along and I didn't have the latest iphone to be "cool"

Didn't have cool shoes... (offbrand shoes lol)

So yeah...

Like there are "friends" but not really friends... never hang out outside of school...

Like idk if I was even brave enough to do "hang out outside of school"

I mean I love being in the US, but immigration kinda caused a bit of stress and anxiety...

Wished I came earlier...

Or was born here...

Then I'd have a solid "sense of identity" cuz when I was a teen, my self identity was on shaky grounds and all over the place...

Didn't have the self confidence to explore in the world... + didn't have a chance to do so early childhood...

Edit: sorry for the downer traumadumping...

The TLDR is just I had a lot of elements of a "stereotypical" Asian American childhood lol... didn't have much fun... and afraid to ask my tiger mom for fun stuff... (love her tho... sort of...)

[–] noseatbelt@piefed.ca 2 points 20 hours ago

Yes, I'm Canadian so going outside was encouraged because you have to take advantage of good weather. There were woods behind my house that had trails so I spent a lot of time in there. There were bears in there so I never went alone.

Hanging out with other kids usually required a ride because I went to Catholic school and all the neighbourhood kids went to public school, so none of my friends lived within walking distance.

I wasn't cool in school either, but I had a bunch of friends just as weird as me. The good thing about having to wear a uniform is that since everyone is dressed the same, it's harder to bully kids for not wearing what's in style.

[–] P00ptart@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Does a 77" LG 4k and Klipsch audio count as a home theater if it's just got one couch in front of it? If so, I recently saw the running man, and holy crap! It blew away my expectations in story, message and action. I highly recommend!

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

77" 4K TV is better than my 15.6" oled monitor

My parents tv is so garbage... colors are so inaccurate lol I think its also a 1080p...

So for my situation, I think the movie theater was my best bet to experience that sound and big screen experience...

But dialogue comprehension is the tradeoff

(Lol your movie about dystopian futures lolol looks like our future 😭)

[–] Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

My parents tv is so garbage... colors are so inaccurate lol I think its also a 1080p...

Some of that may be fixable in settings if you have the patience and your parents aren't watching over your shoulder. 1080p is pretty solid for most content, though the lack of HDR is noticeable.

If you can find the model number you can try searching for "### TV Calibration" and see if anyone has posted anything that can send you in the right direction. https://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/how-to-calibrate-your-tv rtings has a lot of useful info.

You cant fix frugalness...

The tv was like $150 ish

They got it ESPECIALLY BECAUSE it was cheap...

(They're not poor btw (not currently at least), they make like over 100k per year together with their small bussiness, just go used to frugalness from early poverty days I guess)

[–] P00ptart@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah, how realistic that movie was and how close it feels to becoming real is what made me really feel engaged with it.

[–] JakoJakoJako13@piefed.social 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Too many movies to list them all so I'll give you my favorite movie experiences. The first few movies I remember seeing in theaters were actually in a drive in. Used to be a double feature drive in my parents would take me and my brothers to. Saw James and the Giant Peach/Men In Black in one viewing. Jurassic Park/Independence Day in another. Fell in love with Aliens and Dinosaurs because of those movies. Seeing Return of the King in theaters was a life altering experience. I was a huge fan of the first two films but didn't get to see them in theaters. Return of the King blew my mind. Again I was only 12. The Star Wars Prequel trilogy was a big deal because I saw all of those with friends. I'll be honest Barbenheimer was a blast. The juxtaposition between those two films was just too good.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

drive in

Had to google this term. TIL this type of "theater" existed

(btw: I find the idea of watching a screen from your car kinda weird... ngl)

[–] JakoJakoJako13@piefed.social 2 points 1 day ago

They were more popular in the 90s. Most of them closed down. I don't know if any of them are left in my area. Even still it was a good half hour to 45 minute drive to get to one. Watching through the car was definitely a thing but my dad usually parked the truck so we could all lounge in the back. It was a fun experience.

[–] makeshiftreaper@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I saw around 70 movies in theaters last year alone, I'm sure my lifetime number is in the hundreds. Here's a list I put together earlier this year:

https://lemmy.world/post/41059248

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I haven't been to a theater in many years. Maybe, just maybe Spaceballs II will get me there.

For this movie, I can't justify the expense and hassle of going to a theater to potentially have a poor experience. Especially with a popular movie, I expect the theater to be crowded, or at least more so than my living room. Also, everything else--can't pause the movie to go to the bathroom, can't rewind the movie to see or hear what I missed, snacks are ridiculously expensive, people sitting in front of me, people talking, and like you said, no subtitles, etc.

Nope, I'll wait. I read the book, I know what happens.

theater to be crowded

Actually it wasn't that crowded

Cuz its 3'o clock on weekday xD (also like a week late so that's also why, didnt find the time till now)

snacks are ridiculously expensive

The Asian experience is that you just eat before you go to the theaters lmfao fuck them overpriced popcorns and drinks that make you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the movie.

[insert taps head meme here]

[–] CubitOom 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Do things at your own pace, and try to enjoy the experience. There can be a great freedom when doing things alone, which makes me think of this manga/show called Kodoku no Gurume

I love to see films in theaters, but have been recently been watching at home. I was able to see the recent re-release of Princess Mononoke (1997) and it was worth it just to hear the soundtrack at the theatre.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Actually I ommitted it in the post cuz I was kinda embarassed to admit it, but I didn't have a drivers license and taxi/uber is kinda a waste of money, so I had my parents take me...

Mom never been to a movie theater either... Dad hasn't been to one for decades... never been to an American movie theater... so... eh... I guess we get to experience what an American Movie Theater looks like as a family... (they suck at English tho, but its fine I missed half of the dialogue anyways, since no subtitles, had to explain the plot to them afterwards)

I really need a driver license so I can be independent. I wanna do this alone next time... hopefully I wont be anxious by them

Like in America, I feel like you are never independent till you have a drivers license and have access to a car. (on top of financial independence)

(Actually I'll be real... first time going to new places, especially very strange and unfamiliar settings like this makes me anxious... that is the true reason why I asked them to come with me... I need emotional support... cuz I never got to play outside as a kid so its kinda their fault for raising me to become anxious af...)

[–] CubitOom 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Do what you can as you can.

You can totally enjoy time with your family, no shame in that.

Also if you want, consider a bike or ebike if public transport is not an option. (!micromobility@lemmy.world)

Oh hell naw, I aint biking 1 hour there then 1 hour back, ruins the experience of being a chill day.

(closest IMAX format theater btw)

bus is walking half a mile then take a bus, then you have to get off to transfer to another bus...

estimated one hour

aaah

I live in Philly and I've seen very scary behavior in public transit... dudes be looking high af and um... no offense... have awful smell... and I kinda always feel scared in public transit...

Also teens are extremely scary... they look like they're about to jump me and me being over 18 if I fight back the I risk getting an "Assaulting minors" charge... (I got charged once for a self-defence in a highschool fight)

I heard too many stories if Asians getting assaulted in public after Covid...

(I know I can't be living life in fear... but I see this as more of a reasonable precaution, cuz people aren't paying attention to your race when you're in a car...)

[–] thericofactor@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Ehm, how old are you to never have been to a movie theater? Surely people go with friends or family some time, especially as a child? And what kind of anxiety would trigger just sitting in the dark in a comfortable chair watching a film?

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I'm 23

It's cuz I have Immigrant Asian parents... 👀 (need more explaining? lol)

Also I never really made friends so there's that...

As a kid I was often at home... stranger danger and all that you know... didnt really play outside by myself often always with parents... like from birth to 12 I was mostly just either at home or school... never played outside ALONE... so I never even though of going alone (I mean how terrifying would it be if I was a teen going alone...)

I think I just have anxiety in general... like I fear like, oh what if look awkward especially being a first timer... or like its dark and I trip and fall and I look silly and then feel sad... Or drop something and cant find it... like oh shit I'm supposed to be happy watching a movie... what can go wrong now?

[–] themaninblack@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

You’re crushing it dude. Congrats on your first theatre movie, they can be incredibly fun. Happy for you.

[–] CubitOom 1 points 1 day ago

I used to feel this way, then I realized most people won't ever notice me or care, which was liberating.

[–] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Maybe the dude doesn't like being surrounded by endless strangers for hours at a time who are up to god knows what with no breaks.

Meanwhile being unable to relax, hear the dialogue or being able to pause the thing. Can't turn on subtitles or even take a puff without hiding it.

Cant tell a joke to your friend without wondering if you whispered too loud or not, and whether the drones will descend upon ye, or wondering when the drones will descend on the professional brainrot consumers in the back of the theatre laughing the whole way.

They probably spent the whole time wondering about timing toilet visits and whether they can really afford the snacks or not.

Thats why watching movies at home is so superior. None of those are issues, throw the movie on the monitor and veg out on the couch in private, dont need to be self conscious, wonder if your make up is okay or if you've gotten too sweaty and instead be consumed by the movie, actually immersed, puffing away freely, pausing whenever, and subtitles on the entire way with maybe an audio compressor plugin and the audio level cranked down to be comfortable while keeping dialogue audible.

it's why movie theatres are going the way of the dodo. Shit is just too uncomfortable compared to watching it at home.

Most people don't like being surrounded by endless strangers 24/7, they dont want to live in ze alley with le european al dente bug eating pod style, they want to be as far away from others as they can manage without losing the conveniences of civilization and for all social needs we have the internet which is much less echochamber-y than whatever yokels end up locals.

[–] lillardfair@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I love the theater experience. Even the pricy snacks and sticky floors are part of it for me, but I grew up with it, so that's likely 90% nostalgia. I go way less now because life gets busy, but there's still movies I prefer to see in theaters when I can