Ah the cinema, that famously social activity where you enter a dark room and sit in complete silence for a couple of hours. People are afraid to do a lot of things alone, and the cinema seems to sit high on that list for many. It is reductive to say that there aren’t social benefits of going with others, but going to the cinema alone can be its own special treat, even a ritual for some, and the communal experience of watching a film means you’re never actually alone. Why let your friends’ lack of interest in seeing a film mean that you should miss out?

Two things prompted this feature: the first, that I realised last month marked 10 years since I started going to the cinema solo, and second, that last week I finally went to see a horror film alone for the first time (big brave girl). Going to the cinema alone is so second nature to me at this point that it isn’t even something that enters my psyche as being notable, until the afternoon I spent debating whether I was brave enough to go to a The Silence of the Lambs screening alone with the memory of the fear struck into me by Hannibal Lector and the night vision scene when I was 16.

The summer of 2015 was when I first actually ventured out to the cinema alone, only to bump into some friends and end up sitting with them (so it doesn’t really count). The film was Boyhood and none of my close friends wanted to see it but I just had to see the new Richard Linklater film, especially the wonder that took 12 years to make and was being raved about in every corner of the film world. I had gotten seriously into films by then and was starting to get a little frustrated if I felt like I had to miss something because no one was around to come with me. Fast forward to January 2016 and the other factor that got me to go alone was the fact I got my first ever Unlimited card (best Christmas present ever) so it cost me nothing to go to see a film, taking the financial risk out of the unknown experience of going to the cinema alone. I was bored one afternoon off school and went to see the Tina Fey – Amy Poehler comedy Sisters, just because I could. What did end up happening was that not only did I go alone, but I ended up being the only person in my screening. It was a weird experience that has not happened to me since; I was very glad it was a comedy I was seeing as the vibes of sitting in a big, dark, empty room are strange (and probably creepy with a darker film) but I made the most of it. And after that first trip I was off, never again was other people’s lack of interest going to stop me from seeing something (unless it was a horror movie…maybe until now). For a cinephile with no other friends into movies and some that I dragged to one too many offbeat indies, I would have missed out on a lot had I assumed no company meant not going.

Even the first time I went alone, I don’t remember feeling any trepidation or weirdness, and I started to realise that if you looked around, many others were there alone too. I hadn’t noticed before because really no one cares who else anyone at the cinema is there with. A fear of judgement is what holds a lot of people back and really there is nothing to worry about: not only does nobody care, very few will even notice. Now, when I see people alone, more often than not I assume them to be fellow movie lovers, not there just because they were meeting up with someone and had to find an activity to do, but because they genuinely just want to see the film. If you can just get over the mental barrier of getting there, you’ll likely find any anxiety subsides, especially when the lights go down and no one can see you anyway. Let that fear of being perceived go and you’ll find endless cinematic experiences on the other side.

The number one benefit of going alone is, obviously, you can see whatever you want. You have complete freedom and aren’t restricted by anything other than your own taste. If there’s a film you want to see and no one you know happens to want to see it (or timings don’t work out), why miss out? When going alone, you also don’t have the feeling of picking the film and it becoming obvious when watching that your mates aren’t into it, which can take away from your own experience. You can fully immerse yourself in a film with no distractions and just give yourself fully over to the filmmakers. You can also sit with your thoughts after the film and even physically sit for as long as you need through the credits to absorb what you’ve just seen. Depending on the film, it can allow for a deeper experience; just you and the big screen. I do think more generally it is important to do things on your own and taking yourself out to the cinema can be a fun little treat; you can go and pick your snacks, choose your film, sit back and relax. It is a different experience. You are also never (rarely) actually alone. You still get that communal watching experience with your fellow cinemagoers, even if you don’t talk to them; there’s still the atmosphere in the room and the audible reactions that make the big screen so great.

Where you gain some things, you do miss others. Sometimes the wider experience can be more fun with others – the chatting before, the odd well-timed (whispered) joke in a fun film and screaming together in a horror film can really add to the experience.  You also miss the debrief afterwards, but nowadays you can share your thoughts online (which isn’t the same) or the next time you catch up with others who have seen it, but really if no one you know wanted to see the film anyway you aren’t missing anything. Then there are horror films which, personally, are a whole other kettle of fish. I hadn’t seen any horror films on my own at the cinema before The Silence of the Lambs because, honestly, sitting in the dark alone (even with strangers, though not necessarily right next to you) without the ability to pause sounded a bit too scary for me. I’d even seen The Silence of the Lambs a couple of times before and it still took me a while to pluck up the courage to book my ticket. So, no judgement from me if you’re scared to go on your own because you’re worried about actually getting scared. Even at home, in my opinion, horror films are more fun to watch with friends to tease each other and laugh. I did find though, when at the cinema, I was actually the least scared I’ve been watching The Silence of the Lambs and really, I think that’s down to the fact there were about 40 other people there, when I’d only ever watched it on my own at home (and too late at night). If you are a hardcore horror fan, maybe going solo is the way to go – there’s no one next to you to console you, leaving you alone with the monsters on screen.

Going to the cinema alone is a different experience but it can be a great way to spend time with just yourself and a film and not miss out on things you want to see. No one cares you’re there alone, if anything other people wish they could do it. If you’ve never gone alone, give it a go – you might just find your cinematic possibilities completely open up. And hey, if for some reason you don’t like it, that’s okay too, but don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it.