Meredith Shamburger

I remember the first time I told my mother that I would be going to see a movie… alone. “Why would you do that?” She asked. “Don’t you have a friend you’d like to go with?”

Ok, so maybe those weren’t her exact words. It was some time ago, and I am not Sherlock Holmes. But it brings up a question: why do some people find it difficult to go see a movie alone?

It’s not like sitting in a restaurant by yourself, where all the other patrons will stare as you pick at your food and wonder why you didn’t bring a book to read. At the movies, everyone is looking at the screen. There’s no talking (hopefully). There’s no interaction with other people, save for the ticket guy, the concession workers and those people who prefer the aisle seats.

I don’t mind going to see a movie by myself (and it always makes me feel like a V.I.P. when I go to an early matinee and am the only person in the theater). So I put the question into Twitter’s capable hands: “I’m curious as to your opinion: Is it perfectly normal or just plain weird to go to the movies by yourself?” I received some great answers.

blueberrychica: I think it’s pretty fantastic if your comfortable enough with yourself to go to the movies by your self

rodgermclane: Oh yea, I would do it only if I was in a Longview size movie theater or bigger.

blueberrychica (after rodgermclane tweeted): yeah @rodgermclane does have a point. Alone in a small town theatre makes me think of pedophiles

newsjunkie365: Oddly, I think it depends on where you live. City like New York? Perfectly normal. The burbs? A little weird. Thems the rules.

samanthaurban: I do it all the time, but I find it’s less awkward for others during the day than at night.

It’s clear that the size of the theater (and the town it’s located in) matters to some. That’s not so hard to see. Bigger theaters lend more anonymity to its patrons. Were a person to go see a movie in a small town’s theater, such as the double screen theater in my hometown of Carthage, it might be awkward. Undoubtedly, you’d know everyone in that small town theater, and they’d probably be wondering why you’re alone.

I don’t think this is the definitive answer. Some people just like to go to the movies with other people. Others are more comfortable with the idea that you can go alone. One of the best things about the theater is that you’re seeing a movie with other people (some strangers, some familiar), but I don’t think we should think it’s weird for people to go to the movies by themselves. Most of the time, there’s going to be a lot of people watching the same movie anyways.