Do you still go out to the movies? Rent them or what?

United States
May 29, 2009 1:42am CST
I used to go to the movies, years ago, fairly regularly, but the last time was 2 years ago when I took my granddaughter to one. For a while, I rented them from the video store, and bought my favorites second hand. Then I had Dish Network. Since the economy has tumbled though, movies are a luxury that had to go. Now, I watch the occasional one they have or network TV or I borrow them for free from the library. Have your movie watching habits changed? In what way?
8 people like this
32 responses
@csrobins (1120)
• United States
30 May 09
I go to the movies a good bit still, in fact I am going tonight. But it doesn't count really because I only go to the cheap theater. Where I live I have a very cheap theater that shows movies ofr only three dollars after they have left the normal theater. They also have dollar wednesay night for all movies and dollar candy night for all the candy there on Mondays. It's pretty nice and I hope it doesn't go out of business. Otherwise I would not be going to the normal ones because I can't afford to spend nine dollars on a movie right now.
1 person likes this
@csrobins (1120)
• United States
31 May 09
Yeah that i sa great thing to have for kids and mothers. My mom used to take me to those, I wish more things were still free and convenient in life...sigh
• United States
30 May 09
The regular prices really are much higher now than a few years ago. How great that you have the dollar night and dollar snacks in your area! I would love that. Here, there is a free matinee on Saturdays for kids, which is wonderful family entertainment. Karen
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
30 May 09
hi peacefulWmn! ^^ i used to go to the movies regularly when my work assignment was in the city. i used to go at least once a week or twice a month depending if there's a good movie to watch. i have always liked watching movies in the theaters. even before when i was in college, whenever we go to the city, we try to watch a good movie. but it all changed when i got transferred here in the province. the movie theater here isn't good and i don't like watching there because i feel like i would be wasting my money. i now watch movies by downloading them from the internet or buying bootleg dvds in the streets. there's a good movie theater in the next town but its kind of a hassle to go there. there's always traffic there. but if there's a good movie theater here in our town, i'd surely be watching movies there regularly.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
31 May 09
i don't know about being a movie critic. i'm just a humble movie lover. ^^
• United States
30 May 09
You'd be a wonderful candidate to become a "movie critic." I love movies, too, but like you have had to change how I obtain and watch them. : ) Thank you for contributing to this little survey. Have a happy weekend. Karen
2 people like this
• Philippines
30 May 09
I rented VCD or DVD. I often go to the movies since I have always this second thought that for me it is not important to watch it now as I will see it on our cable channel. I rather wait for it to be shown on cable tv instead of watching in the movie house spending money and I agree it is a luxury.
• United States
30 May 09
Yes, it seems the theater is a luxury for many of us, and like you, we find less expensive ways to watch the movies we like : ) Karen
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 May 09
I used to belong to a DVD movie club, PeacefulWmn9, but it got to be quite expensive so I canceled my membership. Then I didn't do anything for awhile. Recently I decided to try Netflix, and I find it is very much to my liking. I can rent any movie I want and keep it for as long as I want for a nominal monthly fee. The real beauty of it for me, though, is the ease of returning the movies to them. You just pop it into the prepaid envelope and drop it in the mail. How cool is that!
1 person likes this
• United States
30 May 09
My oldest daughter and her family really love Netflix, too, for the same reasons you do. I really need to give that a try! Happy weekend to you. Karen
1 person likes this
@dismalgrin (2604)
• United States
30 May 09
I rent a redbox movie when they have their free codes. But, more often than not I just go to walmart and buy a 5 dollar movie. It's worth it to me because usually it's a movie that I love and can watch over and over and over again. Plus, I have a lot of favorites that I want to share with my children as well, and children really wear out movies so again this is worth it for me!
1 person likes this
• United States
30 May 09
I also take advantage of sales and previously viewed movies when it's one I love to watch over and over or something I know my grandbabies would like : ) Karen
1 person likes this
@russso (1693)
• Philippines
30 May 09
I do both. In general, I prefer watching a movie at the Cinemas. However, there are times when I get too busy with things that I do not have time to watch a movie at the Cinemas anymore - so I just wait for the release of the DVD.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 May 09
The cinema definitely has an atmosphere that can't be topped. And nothing shows the details of a movie quite like the big screen : ) Thank you for commenting on this discussion. Karen
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
29 May 09
we seldom go to the movies because for a family of 4 its pretty expensive. we do however, rent movies, not that often, but we do, if we want to see something that has just come out. more often than not though, we get movies for free from the library.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 09
It would indeed be very expensive these days for a family of four to go to the movies. I also like getting the free movies at the library : ) Thank you for your input. Karen
1 person likes this
• India
29 May 09
i used to rent movies.but now a days i download them and watch.actually life has become so much busy that i cant even watch for so many days.whenever i hear or read about a good movie i download it and watch or watch it online.its the best that i can do in short time.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 09
Watching a movie online sounds like a great alternative for those trying to save money. Thank you for mentioning it. Karen
1 person likes this
@wakinsey (141)
• United States
30 May 09
Our movie habits changed when we had my son. He's not old enough to sit quiet in a movie theater.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 May 09
Aww, but he will be before you know it, and it is such fun to go as a family : ) Happy mylotting! Karen
1 person likes this
@jugsjugs (12967)
30 May 09
I do not go to the movies anymore i used to about twenty years ago.I used to rent them and found out that nine times out of ten i did not watch them or i was late in returning them there for it would cost me alot of money.Now i wait until they come on tv that way i am saving money.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 May 09
That would be the ultimate money saver. : ) Happy watching! Karen
1 person likes this
@vekstr (179)
• Sweden
29 May 09
I go to the movies a couple of times a year. But it was a while ago since last, I can't recall when it was. I think it was the newest Fast and the Furious. Renting movies is less often, but it acutally happens. But now a days I almost download all the movies I watch.
• United States
29 May 09
The internet is so good for many things, including movies. Thank you for your input on this discussion. Karen
1 person likes this
• India
29 May 09
I go to theater regularly. Because the experience of theater is unique. The picture, the sound, you cannot get that at home. You can if you have a separate home theater room. But I dont have that and the price is also not high here. In Metros the price could be upto 700 INR but in small cities and towns it is about 15 to 25 INR. So I go to the theater to watch movies.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 09
You are right about the theater experience being unique and unbeatable. How great that the movie tickets are reasonable in your area. I do miss the theater! Karen
1 person likes this
• United States
30 May 09
My movie watching habits have changed. I used to go to the movies at least every other week (but usually once a week), but now I don't go at all. It's been about four months since I last went. I feel like I'm in rehab. I calculated this and I've saved about $80-$100 per month by not going to the movies because when I go I like to go all out and get all kinds of snacks and food for everybody. Now I just watch DVDs at home and movies on television while I eat leftovers for free. However, I might relapse and go see Transformers 2.
• United States
30 May 09
LOL, so you are having movie theater withdrawals? That is a big savings, but I would think it wouldn't do it much damage to go once in a while : ) Karen
1 person likes this
• India
30 May 09
While i was in college and in the early days of my career i used to watch almost every movie "first day first show". But over a period of time this habit has changed and now i really dont remember which was the last movie that i saw in a theater. It must have been more than 6-7 months now. Now a days most of the movie DVD's are available in the market quite soon and so i prefer watching them at home in the comfort of my home. But even i miss the fun & joy of the theatre.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 May 09
I do think our viewing habits change over time, but most of us still, as you do, love and watch our movies in some way : ) Thank you for responding. Karen
1 person likes this
• Philippines
29 May 09
Well, I can say sometimes I still go to movies because the ambiance is still different when watching at home and in theaters.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 09
You're right...the ambience and seeing a movie on the big screen is special! I do miss that. Thank you for your response. Karen
1 person likes this
@amyrun (29)
• China
29 May 09
i haven't seen a film in the moves.because i like to watch it with my family,but not the strangers.especially.when it is in this economy,it can save a lot of expenses.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 09
When my children were young, we loved to watch together at home as a family, too, and yes, the expense is one thing that keeps me out of the theaters these days. Thank you for responding : ) Karen
1 person likes this
@agv0419 (3022)
• Philippines
29 May 09
No I don't go to the movie theater I prefer to rent movies. The economy is not good I agree that watching movies in theater is a luxury. I think it is been 6 yrs the last time I went to movie theater with my friend. I'm not comfortable there I still prefer to watch movie in the comfort of our house.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 09
I do think watching videos at home had become very popular even before the economy had such serious problems. Many people, myself included, love to be able to do that at home now. : ) Karen
1 person likes this
@geniustiger (1694)
• Philippines
29 May 09
I prefer to rent than watch movies. It can serve much cash if we just rent anyway the importance is you can see it. The whole family can watch the movies and you can save much of it. The extra would be the budget for snacks in watching but but to go movies is better than a small screen at home.
• United States
29 May 09
Watching movies at home can be a wonderful thing to do together as a family. I know I have heard that at the movie theaters now the snacks add up to more than the tickets. Thank you for adding to this conversation : ) Karen
1 person likes this
@lowres (45)
29 May 09
Yes, I still go to the cinema quite a lot but it has to be to watch a film that I think is going to be really good. It's just too expensive to go all the time when you might end up paying to watch something that is rubbish. Another annoyance of the cinema is the fact that only te big mainstream films get shown where I am, anything remotely arthouse/foreign doens't get a look in so I don't get the chance to watch them there sadly.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 09
In my small city, it is the same as far as foreign or artistic films...they never make it here. And it is awful to have to pay the prices for something that turns out to be a bad movie. Thank you for you input! Karen
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 09
I still go to the movie theater maybe 1 or 2 times a month. I go to first showing of the day because the tickets are only $6 bucks. I don't rent movies I just usually end up buying them on Blu-ray so I can watch them whenever I want to.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 09
There is something special about seeing a movie on the big screen, yes? I haven't heard of Blu-ray, but I will have to check it out. Thank you for responding. Karen
1 person likes this