The Phenomenon of "Going to the Movies"

Whether it's Regal, AMC, or an Oldham theater, you can't go wrong with a classic.

Nicole Kidman in her prime.

My fiancé and I like to ask each other different questions throughout our road trips to learn about each other and to also pass the time. A fan favorite is “What’s your favorite kind of date that we go on?” and more often than not, our consensus is going to see a movie together. We have a lot of Regal theaters in our area, so most of the time we have been Team Regal, but recently we took a little trip to Asheville, NC, to celebrate our 2-year dating anniversary (AKA the last dating anniversary before we get married!!!!!). The closest one in our area was an AMC which we rarely choose. But it was convenient and had the movie we wanted to see, so we went for it.

When we arrived to our designated theater room 5, we realized that I must’ve purchased the room with the reclining seats. But for some reason, it felt even more intoxicating than the Regal Cinebarre experience we’ve had at our mall back home. It felt much more spaced out, and maybe just having less pressure of a waiter checking in on you at the movie was kind of nice, too. And while the theater felt fairly revamped, the red velvet curtains on the sides with the dimmed lighting felt extremely cozy. It made me almost not hate waiting 40 minutes until our film finally started and my fiancé and I chowed down through most of the popcorn by then.

When we left the theater, we continued to talk about how we were so shocked about our experience. It was really relaxing. Having seats the reclined further back than the Cinebarre’s was a game changer for back support. Having the extra room kind of felt like you were in your own little world when you wanted to whisper back and forth to each other about the movie. Everything felt much more private like an at-home theater. Perhaps that was the appeal they were going for.

Well AMC, we can give you a few points towards that one theater in Asheville. I may not still fully understand what it was that made it feel so spectacular, but I can admit that I’ll be on the lookout for a local AMC that provides those chairs…

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We come to this place… for magic.
We come to AMC theaters to laugh, to cry, to care.
Because we need that, all of us,
that indescribable feeling we get when the lights begin to dim.
And we go somewhere we've never been before;
not just entertained, but somehow reborn.
Together.
Dazzling images, on a huge silver screen.
Sound that I can feel.
Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place likе this.
Our heroes feel like thе best part of us, and stories feel perfect and powerful.
Because here, they are.
AMC theaters,
We make movies better.

Nicole Kidman, AMC Theaters

This quote encompassed a moment in history. While it has been memed on tirelessly and some have created a fanbase over this advertisement, like it or not, the script has a point.

Originally released circa. 2021, this script was made to evoke a craving for the movie theaters again after being locked up in a pandemic the previous year. And while AMC recently changed the infamous build up in the ad to a newer version that has cut the time in half, the statement still remains — Why go to the movies? Because it’s a special feeling.

Sure we love streaming movies at home all the time, but being able to see something new before any reviews or memes come from it feels like an exclusive feeling. Going to the movies was one of our first dates and it became a staple ever since. If we strip away the cheesiness of Nicole Kidman’s delivery, the script actually sums up the significance of movie watching. There will always be a larger excitement when going to the movies, especially when you’re sitting with dozens of other people looking forward for what’s to come. Similar to attending a play, a live audience tends to add the group mentality of wanting to applaud together or get hyped together.

Lots of people tend to think about the sensationalism of when Avengers: Endgame released back in 2019. This was the moment Marvel fans had been waiting for after a 21-film-journey. There was no way people were just going to wait until it came out on streaming. So when people went to see it on the big screen, most theaters were packed and had high emotions for this film. The closure felt even larger surrounded by numerous other fans that had also grown up with these characters. You could feel the significance of the film and the decade-long saga finally coming to a close, and I don’t think people’s memory of the ending of this franchise would have felt as cathartic or satisfactory if they had just watched it at home.

It’s not just the giant screen. It’s the anticipation, the experience. I may start sounding like Nicole Kidman, myself, but believe me when I say that I don’t think the act of “going to the movies” for a date will ever truly die out so long as there are film enthusiasts and people that want something fun to do in their town. There will always be new movies coming out whether it’s another tireless sequel or some indie film company trying their hand in the business. Because no matter what, “Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.”