I Haven't Been to a Theater in Ages
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (185292)
Boise, Idaho
February 9, 2026 5:48pm CST
I have social anxiety. As things with Trump, ICE and as the horror he has made of this country all gets worse, I just want to stay in that much more. My daughter, grandson and I used to go to the more epic movies. The ones that you just wanted to see on the big screen. We always got popcorn, maybe a treat if we had extra, and a drink. For us it is a part of the entire theater experience. Can't afford that anymore. It would probably cost us about $60 now for the three of us to see a movie.
I think the last time I went to the movie theater was 2017 to see one of the Thor movies. It was well worth it. That's nearly 9 years ago! I like my ROKU and am happy I don't have to go out. At this point I will tell you all a quick little story:
My mom and I went to the movies when we were living in Pocatello, Idaho. (This was back in the early to mid 60s.) My mom was a stickler for cleanliness and the floors in this place were so sticky I feet stuck in some places. Really! We were so disgusted. I will never forget that experience. How can a place stay in business when conditions like that? Did they even know what a mop is? It was awful.
9 people like this
9 responses
@LindaOHio (213463)
• United States
10 Feb
I remember sticky floors in the theaters back in the 60s. I haven't been to a theater in about 40 years.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (185292)
• Boise, Idaho
15h
It used to be fun but with crowds nowadays I couldn't do it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (213463)
• United States
2h
@celticeagle I like to watch a movie in my recliner with my blanket on. lol
@MommyOfEli2013 (86837)
• Rupert, Idaho
10 Feb
I have social anxiety too, so I feel that....and the prices have just become outrageous. In my life I have probably only gone a handful of times because they are so expensive. The roku is very helpful for entertainment.
That does sound like an awful experience going to one with the floors sticky and all that.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (185292)
• Boise, Idaho
15h
Way too expensive. I figure I pay monthly for the apps we have about the same as one outing to the theater would cost for all three of us to go. And we can eat whatever we like.
Yea, the sticky floor was awful.
@MommyOfEli2013 (86837)
• Rupert, Idaho
15h
@celticeagle The only trouble with the apps is if you can't watch the new movies out in a theater, other wise there are loads of options to watch...but then if you have better apps that show the new movies then that could work.
@toniganzon (73160)
• Philippines
10 Feb
Went to the movies last month because of Avatar Fire and Ash and we went to see it not a regular theater but on IMAX because that movie is much appreciated on a premium 3D screen. The experience was amazing just like how it was in the first Avatar movie.
I also remember the movie theaters in this country in the 80s and 90s. Most of ht movie theaters then were stand alone which means they weren't inside the mall. But nowadays, especially in my city, there's no stand alone theater. All movie theaters are inside the malls.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (185292)
• Boise, Idaho
15h
I can understand where seeing the Avatar movies on the big screen would be entertaining indeed. So having the theaters inside a mall make it nicer or.....?
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (73160)
• Philippines
13h
@celticeagle Much more convenient. The malls here have everything, all sorts of restaurants, bookstores, fun houses, etc.
One American who came here as a tourist I chatted with at the mall, told me that the malls here are awesome than in his country And he has been traveling everywhere.
@DaddyEvil (167568)
• United States
10 Feb
We haven't been in a theater in 20 years, probably... We can watch the same movies almost as soon as they start showing in theaters now at home and be more comfortable and don't have to hear other people talking to each other or yelling at the people in the film. (I never understood why people would yell or talk to people in the movie. It's not like they can hear them or something.)
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (185292)
• Boise, Idaho
15h
Yes, things have changed a lot over the last few years where movies are concerned. I think the crowds and money spent are the two things I dislike the most about theaters. Like you say it's so nice to view them in the comfort of your own home why pay money to go see them? Seems like a no-brainer to me.
And people don't seem to know how to act when in public. One more reason I don't go anymore.
And people don't seem to know how to act when in public. One more reason I don't go anymore.1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (167568)
• United States
15h
@celticeagle Younger people aren't taught good manners anymore or, if they were taught, they ignore what they were taught.
@DianneN (248599)
• United States
10 Feb
There’s nothing worse than a sticky floor in a theater, except maybe a bad movie. lol
There are really nice theaters now and even a few mom and pop type theaters around that are taken care of.
I stopped going to theaters before the pandemic hit.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (185292)
• Boise, Idaho
15h
Our last outing to one was just before the pandemic. I think it's silly to spend money to go see a movie now when you can see it almost immediately after it is released on one of the apps.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (248599)
• United States
13h
@celticeagle I agree, and here in Florida they only have valet parking. Another cost. Can you imagine everyone getting out of the theater at the same time waiting for their car???
@wolfgirl569 (129354)
• Marion, Ohio
22h
I sometimes miss going to the theater. But it is way to expensive and also so nice to watch them at home
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (185292)
• Boise, Idaho
15h
Movies get to the apps so quickly now that I don't have to wait that long to be able to see them.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (12481)
• United States
10 Feb
Before we moved from the other town, we went to the theater on their matinee day. Even with my son costing $10, me $8 (senior), and my two granddaughters, $6 each, it still wound up close to $50 once the popcorn, drinks and extras were purchased. We usually sneak some in but didn't that day. It's just so expensive now.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (185292)
• Boise, Idaho
15h
We used to do that too. We had a theater with about four locations in the city and we could see a lot of movies very cheaply. The kids loved it. The price here was about what you've listed. Nice when you had several kids. And, as I recall, they had some cheaper priced snack items too.
@celticeagle (185292)
• Boise, Idaho
15h
Yes, they are but with the larger TVs it's about the same. I still enjoy them.
1 person likes this
