Question: Do you prefer watching movies on your computer or in a theatre?
Today’s question revolves around your preferences of watching movies, and how much you value your computer compared to a theatre when it comes to movies. By a “computer“, I am referring to any device that you use as a computer: desktop, laptop, handheld device, etc. This question can also help you realize how you wish to relax, if you sometimes like using movies as a way to relax yourself. Do you prefer watching movies on your computer, or do you prefer watching movies in a movie theatre?
You can watch movies on your computer by either downloading them online, or by playing a CD or a DVD or something similar on your computer. There can be several benefits of watching movies on your computer compared to going to a movie theatre and paying to see a movie.
Benefits of watching movies on a computer instead of in a movie theatre
Following are 6 random benefits of watching movies on your computer:
- Ability to start or stop the movie at any time
- Cheaper
- No advertisements
- You can do other things on the computer while watching a movie
- You can relax at home and do other things at home while watching a movie at the computer
- You save time by not driving or walking to a theatre
Drawbacks of watching movies on a computer instead of in a movie theatre
Similar to benefits, following are 6 random drawbacks to watching movies on your computer:
- You are limited to staying around your computer
- Almost no interaction with others
- No trailers
- You become less active
- You miss the movie environment that the movie theatre offers you, like seating, surrounding enclosure, viewing screen size, sound, etc
- Compared to going to a movie theatre, staying at home can still give you stress or not set you free of the boring environment you may be around, including your computer itself
I prefer movie theatres to computers, when it comes to watching movies
I watch a lot of movies, and I prefer watching movies in a movie theatre. Usually, the only exception to that is when I have seen all the movies at the theatre or when it is past midnight and there are no more open movie theatres that I can go to that very night. In such exceptions, I watch some movie I have downloaded or rented on my computer.
So, do you prefer watching movies on the computer or offline?
As for the “Regal Cinemas” picture above, I took it in Garden Grove, Orange County on March 16th, 2006, because I found the fused light for the number “6” in th sign very interesting. You can see a bigger version of that picture titled “Regal Cinemas lights out on # 6” on my Eyeography site.
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( August 19th, 2007 at 6:49 am )
Theater. I would much rather watch a movie on my home theater than in the theater though. Much better sound and image at home. I guess I’ve never been to a really good theater, because I always think movies don’t look so great at the theater.
( August 19th, 2007 at 6:21 pm )
I have only watched a couple of movies on my computer. Once in the car on a long drive and once or twice with a downloaded one. I like going to the theater but I get frustrated with commercials and previews, why can’t they just play the danged movie? Not to mention I don’t like paying $7.50 to sit in an uncomfortable chair and be harassed by employees because I don’t want to throw my soda away, etc. So technically I prefer to watch a DVD on our TV. But when it comes down to computer vs. theater, I’d take the theater.
( August 19th, 2007 at 6:46 pm )
If those are my only 2 options I would choose to watch the movies on my computer because I don’t want to pay the unbelievably high price just to watch the movie let alone the outrageous prices of the food at the concession stand.
( August 19th, 2007 at 9:54 pm )
I prefer watching movies on my computer so I can turn subtitles on. I also use the “Watch Now” feature from Netflix, but sometimes I fall asleep while watching the movie and that counts against my time using the service.
( August 22nd, 2007 at 11:12 am )
Computer all the way. When I “go to a movie” (to call it something) I want to see, hear, and even smell the movie.
I can do all that at home, but at a theater i see the heads of those sitting in front of me, hear their chit-chat, and smell their nasty popcorn, AND I have to pay for all that. No thanks.
So you talk at the movies? If you want to interact, maybe try going to a pub?
( August 22nd, 2007 at 1:05 pm )
There are definitely pro’s and con’s but there is a different atmosphere to watching movies in the theater. I realzie you can buy a huge screen and surround sound but it still doesn’t compare.
( August 24th, 2007 at 1:55 pm )
For new blockbusters I prefer to go to theaters. Movies that I get occasionally and just want to check I usually watch on my second monitor at my desk. Good old movies from my collection I usually watch on DVD and my 40″ plazma screen…
Sleeping Dude
How to Wake Up Early
( August 25th, 2007 at 1:46 am )
mlankton, thank you for the comment.
That is interesting: you prefer movie theatre to the computer, and prefer the home theatre, which is not the computer, to the actual outside movie theatre.
Does the sound and video system at home play a big role in your preference of where to watch movies?
Valerie, thanks for the comment.
I guess when one is traveling, watching movies on the computer while not driving can be a good way to pass time in many situations.
More and more advertisements are indeed making it to the theatres, even when you are paying for it. Also, being “harassed” by employees over bringing outside food is something I do not appreciate either. Sure, movie theatres say they make money through their concession stands, but AMC movie theatres, one of the largest chains in the world, allows me to bring in outside food at many of their theatres. It helps build a business brand, loyalty, and gives users a choice.
So if I understand you correctly, you prefer DVD on TV over DVD or something on the computer, and theater over computer. Thanks for sharing.
Michael, thank you for the comment.
Yes, for this specific question those 2 are the options, and I see that you prefer watching movies on your computer.
What if the movie theatre allowed you to bring in outside food, as I told Valerie above? Would you go to movie theatres more than watching a movie on your computer then?
Ronald Huereca, thanks for the comment.
That is interesting; so while watching a movie, do you prefer subtitles so that you can learn another language, or do you prefer watching foreign movies a lot and thus those movies do not play at theatres nearby so far?
How many hours does NetFlix give you to watch a movie through their “Watch Now” feature?
Vidar, thanks for the comment.
I would love to smell a movie too, though I can such technology is still being developed.
Having other people around and hearing their reaction does influence one’s view and observation of the movie, and many people turn out to be incosiderate to other people.
Also, by interaction, I was referring to meeting people along the way, talking to the box office counter staff, the concession staff, other people while going/walking to the movie, etc, and not talking while a movie is playing: basically, interacting on any level with others, verbal or non-verbal while ending up in the movie theatre seat, while one is in the seat, and then ending up back home.
Music Reviews, thanks for the comment.
So you prefer the movie theater, correct? Do you consider any other element besides the huge screen and the surround sound system, when choosing the movie theatre over a computer?
Also, do you think it would be possible to change your username to something more unique? With more and more commentors leaving different comments with general keywords, many comments appear to be from the same person when they are not.
How To Wake Up Early, thanks for the comment.
So for new big movies, you prefer the theatres. If I understand it correctly, you prefer the big TV screen for your old DVD collection, and movies you want to check on your second computer monitor.
Also, your username shows your url too, so you can usually leave the signature url out, since that may be the same as repeating things.
Thanks for sharing. I really appreciate it.
( August 25th, 2007 at 6:51 am )
I love the theater. I always force my boyfriend to watch any latest movie with me but he is a computer guy and somehow, it always ends up with either: a) we don’t watch the movie or b) him watching it on the computer.
I just go with my family in the end.
But for movies which I would want to re-watch all over again, I watch them on the computer (unless they are on TV).
( August 26th, 2007 at 12:03 pm )
Thank you for the comment Sara.
So if I understand correctly, you prefer new movies at the theatre, and you prefer watching already-seen movies on the computer. Do you think your boyfriend’s computer has a very good monitor and sound system, and thus it is adequate enough to serve as a mini home theatre system?
Being on the computer does allow a person to temporarily stop the movie [where possible] and do some other things like check e-mail or go get water or something.
Thanks for sharing.
( September 22nd, 2007 at 10:17 am )
Hi Bes! Yes that is right - I do prefer to watch already-seen-movies in my computer. I don’t think my boyfriend has a good sound system on his computer
But I think it is the fun in going out
( October 24th, 2007 at 8:59 pm )
Hi again Sara. Sorry for the late reply; I was fixing/upgrading several things and am now catching up.
I love watching movies I have already seen if they are good. I like going out too. I look forward to Thursday nights or Fridays, so I can go watch movies that come out at midnight [Thursday] or on Fridays.
What movies have you watched recently, and eagerly, in a theater? I am looking forward to “I am Legend”, by the way, and will see it in a theater when it comes out, regardless of the day and time.
( May 7th, 2008 at 1:35 am )
I prefer watching movies on computer, it is relaxing, I can do it with sleep
( August 15th, 2008 at 1:22 am )
both, depends on the time i have
( December 27th, 2008 at 12:37 am )
I agree with the comment about being able to do other things while watching a movie on a computer. I guess it just depends on how engrossed you want to be into the movie. If the movie is really good, you might want to watch it in a theater so that you do not get distracted. I like all formats!