Movie Theaters

Watching a movie in a theater is like meditation to me. Whenever I sit in a movie theater, I focus on nothing but the movie and the myriad of emotions it evokes within me.

Many artists and filmmakers refer to movie theaters as a window for us to escape from the world of the mundane. But, there’s more to a movie theater. It puts us in touch with our true emotions. It lets us connect with our inner selves. It creates moments of self-realization. And, it makes us feel things, like looking back at lost love, or reminiscing good friendships, or even discovering newfound passion for things we never thought we’d enjoy.

If not for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, I would’ve never gotten interested in bioengineering. A radioactive spider biting Peter Parker decided what I studied in college. It’s absolutely bonkers! I didn’t end up working in Bioengineering, but I loved studying the subject. It was the best four years of my life, thanks to Spider-Man.

Movie theaters are one of the few places where strangers come together and share a collective emotional experience. This is rare, and the only other places where you get to experience this are religious sites and sports arenas.

I can think of several instances where I have felt this collective emotional experience. I remember watching “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” with OG Indy fanboys, and the time when I screamed my lungs out throughout Superstar’s “Sivaji: The Boss” with a random group. I can go on.

At some level, we all crave this serendipitous bond we share with strangers. Because sometimes, despite having friends and family around us, we still feel alone. And, experiencing a collective emotional experience with a bunch of strangers lifts our mood and makes us feel better.

This could be the reason people badly want to go to the first day first show (FDFS) of a new movie. The atmosphere is electric, and it gives them a dopamine rush.

Another reason we crave this experience is because as a society, we thrive on shared ideas, values, activities, and perspectives — be it religion, relationships, culture, cuisine, politics, etc.

Watching a movie can also be added to that list.

Hundreds of movies are getting released on OTT platforms every week. Good movies. Some even great! But, the recall value of these movies can never match the ones we’ve seen in a movie theater. That’s the power of movie theaters.

If you’ve never been to the movie theater alone, try it. Before I got married, people usually frowned upon when I mentioned I go to the movies alone. It’s not true. Nobody will judge you in a movie theater when you go alone. In fact, you’ll pass as a serious movie buff, and you’ll be respected.

The next time you’re feeling down and need to lift your mood, head down to a movie theater, take your seat and prepare yourself for a great experience.