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Pros and cons of a first date at the movie theater, from personal experience Credits: Social Media
By Chris Weston

Pros and cons of a first date at the movie theater, from personal experience

By Chris Weston

Speaking from both incredibly good and incredibly awkward personal experiences, here’s my break down the pros and cons of going on a first date at the movie theater.

Jetting off to ski in the French Alps or embarking on an elaborate skydiving expedition may be dream first dates for some (and nightmares for others), but that just isn’t on the cards for the vast majority of us this Valentine’s Day.

For you singles out there, coming up with fun dating ideas that don’t break the bank can be a Herculean task. However, dinner and a movie have long locked lips as an ideal date pairing. Heading out to a movie theater on a first-time date may seem the perfect solution, but I’ve come to accept some problems may or may not pop up&

A couple sat watching a film in the movie theater
Photo by Felipe Bustillo on Unsplash

Pro – A nervous dater’s lifesaver

Dating isn’t always easy, and those who suffer from anxiety can be particularly daunted by heading out on a first date. I personally suffer from it and am guilty of turning what should be something enjoyable into a challenge at times.

Having the date at the movie theater, on the other hand, can be something to help calm your nerves. It can take the pressure off because by the time the film’s finished you’ve been around the other person for a couple of hours, building an unspoken comfortability – if all goes well.

Opening up after this time together can feel easier, and I myself have been on numerous dates where I’ve been tense and on edge, only to come out of the theater feeling more refreshed. Maybe it’s just a movie fan thing?

Con – Time disappears

I remember going on a date one afternoon and, after coming out of the theater, I was happy to find we had even more in common than I thought. Talking was effortless, but I had to wait a few more days to do it again because their evening was spoken for.

“We should have left the film,” I remember saying, and as somebody who loves films as deeply as I do, I’m certain I haven’t said anything of the sort before or since then.

If you find a connection with somebody, you may regret watching John Wick rack up a cartoonish body count instead of spending another couple of hours talking to your date.

Pro – Something to discuss

You can tell a lot about how people see the world by talking about movies, along with what makes them smile, cry, laugh, hurt. You get the picture.

Not only can an interesting movie provide a great topic of discussion from the film itself, but it can also help you branch off into talking about meaningful things you may not have thought to bring up on a first date otherwise.

Movies can provide an ‘In’ into genuinely important conversations, and discussing them can really help show someone’s true colors.

Con – Arguments incoming

On the flip side of finding out you really like a person through discussing cinema, you can also find out that you can’t stand each other. Believe me, it happens.

Whether you’re arguing about the movie you’ve seen or a topic that the film’s story helped raise, nobody wants to get into a heated debate on a first date. Actually, I’ve definitely dated some people who’ve seemed to, my bad.

That’s just the way it turns out sometimes. Movies can make us very passionate, and that passion can slip into disdain in a worst-case scenario. Let’s face it, every one of us has argued about a movie only to realize it’s caused a rift. If you haven’t, hopefully it’s not your turn this Valentine’s Day!

Pro – Sharing a personal experience

If you’re single, most of the movies you watch are probably enjoyed or endured alone. Sad but true, Netflix crew.

If films are important to you, then having a chance at sharing the cinemagoing experience with somebody that you’re hoping to see a future with can be such a beautiful feeling.

I for one really love being able to share something I’m so passionate about when I go on a movie date. And if it’s an old movie you’ve seen before, you love, and you’ve chosen, it can be a window into your soul.

Con – Junk food crash

Now hear me out& when you’re at the theater, there are too many tempting food and drinks on offer that it’s hard to turn away from them. Chocolate, sweets, ice cream, popcorn, but most infamously, the huge silos of fizzy drinks.

If you’re somebody who finds it hard to resist temptation, you’ll be taking your date into the theater with any number of these cradled in your arms. These foods and drinks taste great, it’s a shame they don’t make you feel that way.

I’ve made the mistake of going on a date before and having ice cream, a giant coke, and popcorn, and if I told you I felt like going to a bar and being chatty after that I’d be lying. If you can’t resist the concessions, be sensible! An unspoken date-ruiner that, when it creeps up on you, it’s too late.

Pro – A movie you’ll never forget

If things go just right, who knows? You could be watching this very same movie every year on your anniversary, reminiscing about that lovely first date.

The movie can serve as a landmark experience in your relationship, and rewatching it can transport you back in time to that pivotal day. When seen with the right person, a great or even terrible movie can prove impossible to forget.

Con – Stood up with nowhere to go

You’ve brought the tickets, you’re excited, you’re at the theater& and then that text comes. “I’m so sorry, I can’t make it&”

If you’ve never had this happen it’s a reason to be thankful, because if it was a first date this scenario feels awful in action. Not wishing to waste the tickets but too late to call a friend, you head in, and if the movie’s bad you feel so alone, looking around at other couples.

However, I am glad to tell you that despite ending this list with a ‘Con’, I’m not letting it end on a down note. The first time I was stood up for a movie was seeing The Dark Knight Rises. I was just a young teenager and I felt crushed, but I went anyway. It made me realize it’s okay to go to the theaters alone and have a great time, and I’ve been doing it almost weekly ever since. Thankfully I’ve not been stood up as often as that though!