Do you prefer watching movies at home or the theater?

@ivyoon (673)
United States
March 12, 2008 11:56pm CST
I haven't been to the movie theater since Cars came out. I usually use Netflix or Red Box and just rent. I like the idea of being in the comfort of my own home and being able to pause the movie for a bathroom break or a snack/drink run. I do like the experience of being in a movie theater though. I'd like to see a movie in an Imax Theater someday. What about you? Home or theater? What was the last thing you saw in the theater?
3 people like this
15 responses
@mnsrwt123 (2057)
• India
14 Mar 08
I prefer watching movies at Theatre, but i usually watching movies @ home, But you know watching movies at Hall is something special, Digital Video, surrounding Digital Sound... i love that... But as you know now a days DVD's are available on net in a few days, and also in the market too... so i better purchase it, Although its a piracy, that's why i recommend to watch movies on Theatre or buy some original DVD's. Thanks!!!
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I like watching movies online through Netflix too. I know people sometimes download DVDs that come from other countries and are marked by the movie owners, those aren't illegal to download but they cant be sold. I don't like to do that though, because then you don't have the original DVD case to go with the DVD. I also like being able to pick the movie I want to watch and not have to wait in line or choose from the movies that are currently in the theater. Thanks for your post!
@ayou82 (3450)
• Philippines
14 Mar 08
I always prefer watching movies at home not in the theaters because at home you have an unlimited drinks which will cost you nothing.. and you have popcorns and you wont deprive yourself to laugh out loudly and cry and more popcorns.. And if you go to the toilet you can pause it so you wont miss not a single action.. coz i bet in theaters you cant do that.. or even lie down ..slouch or put your feet high.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Isn't it great when you can just lay comfortably and watch a movie? You really can't even get comfortable in the movie theater. I also like that you can refill your drink any time you want, you don't miss a thing while you do it, and you can have any kind of snacks you want and go to the bathroom anytime you want without missing anything! I love watching movies at home too. In fact, the only reason I'd go to a movie in the theater is maybe because of the special effects in the movie so that I could experience them the way they were intended. Thanks for your post!
@brimia (6581)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Every once in a while it's nice to get the theater experience but most of the time I prefer watching at home. It's more comfortable to hang out on the couch, pause or rewind if you have to, and eat my healthy (and much cheaper) snacks at home. The last thing I saw in the theater was Jumper...it was just okay. We went because I had free passes.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I really liked the concept behind the movie Jumper. I haven't seen it yet and won't go to the theater to do so. I'm going to wait and rent it from Netflix or Red Box. I like what you said about snacks at home being healthy. A lot of the time I make air popped popcorn and we drink homemade iced tea or lemonade instead of soda. It really is a great way to monitor your diet and relax and have fun at the same time. Thanks for your post!
@michelyn (717)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I much prefer to watch movies at home than in the theater. It's gotten so expensive that with a family of four, the movie, the popcorn and the drinks end up running a hundred dollars. Should you have to go to the bathroom, well you get to miss out on whatever part of the movie might be playing during that time and if another movie has just let out, expect a line in the bathroom. At least, at home, I can have whatever food I might want without having to pay an arm and a leg for it. If I have to go to the bathroom, well then I just pause the movie and use the bathroom. No lines, empty toilet paper rolls, clogged up toilets. I can also decide what company I choose to watch the movie with, as some of you might realize, is a very rare experience at the theater.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Excellent response. I agree. I've got two kids and just between them, myself and my husband we spent nearly $60 just to get in and have snacks. It's a lot cheaper and more comfortable at home. Thanks for your post!
@duranv (516)
• Honduras
14 Mar 08
I prefer watching movies at home, but I sometimes go to a theatre with my daughter and I like it a lot, but when a movie gets boring I can't walk out because of my daughter, while at home I just stop seeing it.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
14 Mar 08
You've got a good point there. There have been a few times when I started watching something and just totally lost interest and stopped it. You can't do that in the theater when you're with someone. (and it costs so much to go to the theater these days you don't want to waste your money by leaving either). Thanks for your post!
@Alize997 (190)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I prefer watching movies at the theater. I love the huge screen. The last movie I saw was This Christmas.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I haven't seen that one yet, was it good? If you love huge screens, I've heard the IMAX screens are awesome. Have you seen any on IMAX yet? Thanks for your post!
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
13 Mar 08
As much as possible, I prefer to watch movies at home. I feel more comfortable there, plus, I can watch a movie whenever I want to. I also have to save some money, I could at least have some discounts on DVD movies when bought in special offers. The last movie I saw, if I'm not mistaking was TROY..
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I haven't seen TROY yet. I was never really a big Brad Pitt fan (call me crazy) but my brother's been trying to get me to see it for awhile now. I'll probably cave and watch it with him one of these days when he visits. I like that I can watch a movie any time I want too. Plus, if you just want to watch a certain part of a movie you can do that too. Sometimes I'll even throw a movie on in the background while I'm surfing the net or doing something else like cleaning up, etc.) It's nice to be able to do that. Thanks for your post!
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I would much rather watch movies at home. We can relax and watch all or part of it at one time. We alos rent Netflix movies and they are delivered right to my mailbox. It is alot cheaper than going to the movies and you can get alot of movies each month also.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
13 Mar 08
Netflix is my favorite thing ever! I have a list of movies in my queue that's like 200 and some movies! It is cheaper, and I love that there's no due date. I recently got the Sesame Street Old School (from the 70's and 80's) for my kids and they actually like the older Sesame Street better than the current one! I like that you can go through and pick TV shows that you haven't seen in years and rent them. I also like that you can see what movies will be coming out before you see the trailers on TV. Sometimes people will ask me how I know so much about what's coming out in the movies and it's just because of Netflix! Thanks for you post!
@zenmachado (1617)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I usually prefer to watch films at home, it cost less and its private. Yet films that are from my favorite film makers, I feel more compelled to viewing them on the big screen. Also, when a film is of high action quality and special visual effects that can only be appreciated on the big screen... those I like to catch at the local cine box. But typical dramas or biopics that are full of delicious dialog but lowfi on visuals... those I prefer to appreciate in the privacy of my own home.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I have to agree with you there. I started another discussion yesterday about the new Indiana Jones movie that's coming out May 22nd, and I do think that the only way to see an Indiana Jones movie for the first time is on the big screen if you really want to get the full effect that the director is going for. I also like to watch a lot of foreign films and independent films, which sometimes don't come out in the local theater, so I do watch them at home and am able to go back if I missed or didn't understand something in the movie. Thanks for your post!
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I prefer to watch movies from. Theater prices are just way out of our family budget. At home we can pause for bathroom breaks and the popcorn is alot cheaper.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
14 Mar 08
A lot of others have mentioned the price of movies... I think it's gotten ridiculous myself. Others have also mention being more comfortable at home and I think that's the main reason why I stay at home and watch movies (other than the price issue). Thanks for your post!
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
13 Mar 08
It's been years since I've been to a theater. The cost is ridiculous when I can rent one at Shaws for $1 a night or on directv which I'm paying for anyway. My son downloads a lot of current movies too. I always found the seats in the cinemas too uncomfortable and my couch is sooooo much better.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I have to agree that the prices are outrageous these days. I've got a gift card, or I probably wouldn't be going to see Indiana Jones in May. I also agree that home is way more comfortable that those movie theater seats! Thanks for you post!
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
13 Mar 08
The last thing I saw in a theater was right after my daughter was born. We saw X-men 3. I haven't been to the movies since. We haven't been brave enough to take her yet since she is not yet even 2 years old. We prefer watching movies at home on our own projector anyway. Don't have to worry about interruptions or expensive snacks or even getting dressed! We have surround sound, so in our opinion watching at home is the way to go! We saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on IMAX and it was really cool.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I haven't seen Goblet of Fire yet... I bet it was excellent on IMAX! I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. I agree that watching at home allows you to relax and kick back more. I have two kids, and I think we waited until our daughter was six or seven before taking her to the theater, however, we were never really big on going out to the movies before she was born either. Thanks for your post!
• United States
13 Mar 08
it is cheaper if you just watch at home, more comfortable as well. However, the experience of watching a movie in the big screen is really different. It gives you a better feel of the movie you're watching, no distractions (usually) unlike if you're at home, there's the phone, your kids or parents, etc.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
13 Mar 08
Yes, it can be distracting watching movies at home. I do like that you can hit pause though... but I do think that some movies are just meant to be seen on the big screen. The visual effects are just way better that way... like in Transformers, etc. I'd have to say that I prefer to watch movies at home, unless they're BIG in effects... then I really like to go watch them in the theater... the sound is just something you can't really recreate in your home too. Thanks for your post!
13 Mar 08
watching movies in the theater or home with friends its always gonna be best.in theater u can lee huge amount of crowds.but sometimes in home u r the only one who is watching the movie. so always prefer to be with friends in theater or home
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I agree that watching movies with friends and family is always a lot of fun. There are some times that I really like to watch movies alone, but a lot of movies... especially funny ones... are better with friends to share the experience. Thanks for your post!
@rockvixen (894)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I love doing both. Usually we go see a new movie every two weeks. The last one we saw was The Spiderwick Chronicles. Such a beautiful movie and it made me cry. At home I enjoy them because most movies have subtitles and you can read what the actors say, which is sometimes hard to understand when seeing a movie at the theater. So I'd say I like a little of both.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I can't wait to see The Spiderwick Chronicles. It looks like it's going to be great. I hadn't thought of the subtitles... that will help me with a couple of movies I'd missed lines on in the past, thanks for that tip! :)