A Movie Theater Experience!!

What is the movie theater experience? Once, we used to stand in line to get tickets—actual printed tickets that granted us entry into the theater. Now, everything’s digital. We can buy tickets online, from the comfort of our homes, and have them sent straight to our phones. In doing so, we’ve already stripped away part of the experience of watching a movie in a theater.

I like to reach the theater early—very early. Whenever possible, I still prefer buying tickets on the spot. Waiting in the queue, inching forward, getting annoyed at the person ahead of me for taking too long, and finally reaching the counter—it’s all part of the ritual. I enjoy asking for tickets, choosing my seat, and paying in cash. Even the small act of setting my water bottle down on the counter to reach for my wallet, counting the notes, and receiving the change is satisfying.

We don’t get printed tickets anymore, but I still relish the act of standing in line to get my tickets checked, waiting in the common area until the screen doors open. There’s something oddly enjoyable about checking the prices of snacks and debating whether they’re worth it. And then, there’s the moment when someone yells, “Screen 3, Interstellar, 12:45 pm show!” The crowd begins to move as one.

Entering the screen, finding my seat, and finally sitting down feels fulfilling. I love watching every ad and trailer that plays before the movie, even the “Mukesh” anti-smoking ad. If it’s anything related to SRK, I’m all in. Those moments before the movie begins, when the lights dim and the film certificate with the movie’s title flashes on the screen, are magical to me. Even the intros of production houses feel like an integral part of the experience.

Of course, there are things I dislike: people arriving late, using their phone flashlights to find seats, chatting during the movie, or answering calls. But even those annoyances are part of the theater experience. It wouldn’t feel complete without them.

During intermission, I love discussing the movie with a friend—what just happened, the direction, the music, the performances—or sometimes just sitting quietly, reflecting on the film if I’m watching solo. Getting a beverage or snack adds to the charm. Sure, the bright red exit sign near the screen can be distracting, but even that’s part of the experience.

I never leave before the credits finish rolling. It’s not just about Marvel or DC’s post-credit scenes—it’s about savoring the whole movie, right from the first second to the last. The credits, accompanied by the soundtrack, feel like the perfect conclusion.

In the age of OTT platforms, we’ve lost the essence of these small but meaningful experiences. At home, we start movies whenever we want, pay extra to skip ads, pause the movie to check our phones, and often break longer films into chunks. Web series, OTT movies, and reels have made us forget the joy of watching a film uninterrupted.

That’s what I love about the theater: there’s no escape. You can’t rewind to rewatch a scene or pause to take a break. You’re fully immersed, completely focused on the film. That’s what makes the theater experience unique.

It’s not just about the big screen, the surround sound, or the visuals—it’s about the small moments, the rituals, and the patience it demands. So, let’s try to embrace the wholesome theater experience again. Let’s slow down in this fast-paced life and enjoy the movie—or should I say, cinema, as Scorsese would put it.