The Big Screen VS. Home Cinema

Would you rather watch every new movie you discover in a cinema, or at home? This is an age old question, followed by other classics such as “would you rather have super-speed or invisibility?” Today, however, I hope to answer this hypothetical. Backed up with personal analysis, combined with several of the public’s opinions, we shall soon see if seeing movies in theatres is truly all that worth it.

One of the first things my peers and I notice when we enter a theatre is the space that it takes up. Whether your movie is crowded or not, the size of your room enhances the sound and immersion significantly. Many would argue that this could make or break a decent chunk of the others’ movie outing. While a large room is nice, you could be let down significantly if seated in a smaller room, taking away from the immersion. Another thing to take into consideration is how snacks improve the experience at a movie theatre. I mean, sure, movie snacks are generally more expensive, but snacks are snacks! You can also buy some ready to go, ice cold drinks while you’re at it. This flaw in this argument should be considered as it has been a fairly common experience for myself; when people seated around you fiddle with candy wrappers are other distracting food items.

When you make the choice to watch a movie at home, you have the choice to watch a movie that has already come out, or you could wait until that golden film gets to a streaming website. The latter could be a bit annoying if you’re trying to avoid spoilers, but those who are dedicated to watching from the comfort of their homes likely do not see how unsavory this has the potential to be.

Watching from home gives you a much more comfortable experience, and is more likely to be preferred by couples who would prefer to enjoy cinema privately with their partner. It could also be preferred by those who simply don’t care as much about the additional immersive sounds or video, and would rather enjoy a film from somewhere more calm and consistent.

I sent out a simple, one question poll to eleven of my friends, which they all responded to. It should be taken into account that college students are probably more likely to enjoy a film in a theatre due to their age when compared to, lets say a father who could be too busy to leave the house.

Seven of the eleven students I selected chose theatre, while four of them choose that they would prefer to see a movie from the comfort of their own living spaces.

In conclusion, whether it’s better to see a movie in theatres versus in person is very much up for debate. It boils down to personal preference, but at least from the poll I conducted with college students, young adults are much more likely to enjoy a trip to the cinema than from the couches of their lounges.