In today’s post-COVID world, streaming is king. Many people opt out of going to the theaters to see a new movie in favor of waiting to watch the movie once it is on a streaming service. I completely understand why some people, especially those with families, wait to stream rather than going to the box office.

The cost of seeing a movie in theaters one time is higher than paying a streaming service for a month of its entire library, especially when factoring in things like concessions and merchandise that theaters sell. It is one thing to spend that kind of money when the movie is good, but even with reviews available to read it can be difficult to know if the movie will even be enjoyable. So, why do I think that it is still worth it to go to the movies?

Going to the movies is an experience. Production companies try to stress to audiences that there is nothing like seeing a movie on the big screen and while it might seem like they are simply chasing box office numbers, I couldn’t agree with their point more.

There really isn’t anything like seeing a movie on the massive screens that movie theaters have or as Jared Mattes of Cinemark in Moosic puts it, “[A] TV bigger than your house.” Those larger than life screens allow moviegoers to see an image that a TV could never provide, especially XD or IMAX screens that trounce even the regular-sized theater screens.

“Entertainment is such an interesting thing to witness on the big screen,” said Ray Hopkins, assistant manager of Cinemark in Moosic. “Of course you can have your 70-inch TV and your 7.1 surround sound, but there’s just something about physically going to the place.”

Going to the movie theater doesn’t just provide a treat for the eyes. Accompanying the big screens is an audio setup that no home surround sound system can compare to. Even in the littlest of theaters, the audio system makes moviegoers feel the bass in their chests and vibrations in their seats.

In upgraded theaters like XD or IMAX, the audio is even more amplified and crystal clear. While this might make it sound like a movie in the theaters is concert-level loud, it doesn’t reach those overwhelming levels. The audio doesn’t scream, it sings.

While those points might be obvious, there is something special about going to the movies that might not be as obvious, but I would say is the most impactful. Walking into the theater, the aroma of popcorn never fails to engulf me like a hug, even if sometimes I skip the popcorn in favor of candy or french fries. Combined with those aromas is the electrifying feeling of excitement and anticipation.

To me, walking into a movie theater is like walking into a sports stadium. The standees and movie posters stand tall like statues to the greats of a sports team, promising a fun time for anyone who buys a ticket to watch them. Most importantly, going to the movies provides a chance to get away from the world.

“Reality blurs here,” Mattes said and it really does. When I go to the movies, all of the stresses and worries of life fade away. I get to sit in a dark theater for approximately two hours and forget about my troubles, even if the movie ends up being exceptionally bad.

“You never know what someone’s got going on in their life so to be able to just get that two hour escape away from it and to get into a different environment.You come in and get your popcorn and feel happy. You go into this movie and get to escape into a different world that’s not yours so it’s a great way to just get away and decompress,” said Moosic Cinemark’s manager Leshaun Wilks.

“You get to eat some of the popcorn. You get the whole experience. You can make a day out of it,” continued Hopkins. “That’s just something you can’t do at home. There’s nothing that beats seeing it in person.”

With everything going on in the world, we all need an escape, and the kind of escape that going to the movie theater provides is an experience that simply cannot be recreated at home. It is a chance to get away and a chance to make lasting memories. That is why I think that it is still worth it to go to the movie theater.

Contact the writer: [email protected]