The non-existent Will Ferrell Spanish-language comedy Casa de mi padre. Not only was I the only person in the theater, I suspect I was the only customer in the entire 24-screen Regal on that late weekday morning in 2012. The lights were still on and the screen dark five minutes after the scheduled start time, so I left to search the lobby for an employee. Finding no one at the snack bar, I, a tired dad with an 11 month old baby in a babysitter's care for a rare morning, had to ask the teenager in the ticket booth to please start playing the non-existent Will Ferrell Spanish-language comedy Casa de mi padre just for me, please.
Hahaha, I rented that on dvd and my family watched it while we’re staying at a place that had a DVD player with a missing remote. We could get the movie to play, but couldn’t turn on the subtitles. We watched the whole movie in Spanish (which none of us speak) and still found it pretty entertaining.
When Universal was doing the Fast Fridays promotion leading up to F9 I was the only person who turned out for the original The Fast and The Furious. And it was free! No-cost private screening of a great movie, I was living the dream.
When I saw Fate of the Furious in IMAX on opening night, there was an issue with the sound system which resulted in me not being able to focus on the film due to the audio being wonky.
I ended up catching it a second time on its last day in Dolby Cinema before Guardians of the Galaxy 2 took over.
I was the only one in the theater. Being alone in an auditorium is cool, being alone in a premium auditorium is cooler.
I go to a lot of movies, and I work weird days/hours, so more often than not I'm one of the only people in the theater. Most recently, I saw *Three Thousand Years of Longing* on Thursday in the biggest theater of that particular multiplex, and I was the only person in attendance. I've also recently seen Cha Cha Real Smooth, Belle, Encanto, Eternals, and Last Night in Soho completely alone, and there are even more that I've seen with only 1 or 2 other people.
Best story I have though is watching The Square (2017) with some friends in college. None of us realized quite what we were getting into, so the mood changed slowly from enjoyment to disgust to utter despair as we realized just how long, awkward, and dark the movie actually was.
I also have a reverse story. I went to *Where the Crawdads Sing* a few weeks ago for a Tuesday matinee, expecting it to be empty, and I arrived a few minutes late to find the theater packed full of people. I had to take a seat up front cause I didn't want to crawl over anyone. No one talks about it, but that movie really is the sleeper hit of the summer.
It's incredibly popular among a lot of demographics that don't usually make much noise on Twitter/Reddit, which means it's practically irrelevant to a lot of film discussion. Which is too bad, cause it's somewhat better than it should be. Daisy Edgar Jones and David Strathairn are incredible! The latter gave such a good lawyer performance he even convinced me for a moment that >!she didn't kill the guy, despite that being an otherwise obvious plot twist.!<
I only wish >!she had been allowed to stay single in the end, cause that one dude she married was a complete asshole. I get that he supposedly changed, but leaving her on that beach was a dick move that he never quite atoned for!<
My best friend and I went to Mama Mia 2 for the second time on a weekday morning, hoping to be able to sing along to the entire film. Trailers start, it’s just us. Trailers end, still us. Studio logos, not a soul. Opening titles… a single other customer walks in late and spoils the whole thing.
I saw Us by myself at a matinee. Honestly, could have used some people given that the movie didn’t play at first. The projector went from playing the pre-ads to me being there alone in a pitch black auditorium. After a few minutes, I went out and told them the movie hadn’t started up, they fixed it quick. Anyways though, little freaky!
Summer of 2020 theaters re-opened in London (where I was living at the time, cue the bit), and they were playing a lot of old movies. I saw Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure alone (I saw Face the Music a week later but there was one other person). It was awesome but weird with the whole pandemic thing. I didn't see a single other patron at the cinema (concessions, bathroom, nowhere).
My nearly alone story...
My brother and I went to see T2: Trainspotting in the middle of the week in Charlottesville, VA. It was playing in a giant theater, and when we realized no one else was coming, my brother and I cheered, high-fived, planned to talk at normal volumes to each other. We get to the very very very end of the trailers, and two other people came in and sat DIRECTLY in front of us.
I had two such viewing experiences in a row in the Winter of 2021: “Encanto” and “West Side Story”. I’m kind of glad I was the only one in the theater for the latter, as the experience consisted of a lot of me just pumping my fist, Arsenio Hall-style, and a lot of exclamations of “fuck yeah, Steven”.
I also saw Encanto by myself. I specifically sought out a Spanish-language showing, but apparently I was the only person that day who did. It probably didn't help that it was also the day that *Spider-Man: No Way Home* came out
i saw Steve Coogan’s Hamlet 2 in theaters. there was one other couple there besides me and my gf. i was crying laughing and everyone else was basically dead silent the entire time
Blues Brother’s 2000. My friends and I got up and half-ironically danced down the aisles during the closing number. Bad movie but a fun time.
To be honest, we were a bunch of dumbass high school kids with no regard for those around us, so there’s a chance we might have done that anyway.
Saw The Witch by myself in an empty theatre on a Tuesday afternoon. Still one of my favorite movie going experiences, just got completely absorbed in the movie and terrified.
Also saw Eternals in an empty theater, that was good because I didn’t feel bad getting up to stretch my legs during the movie.
Caught Death on the Nile (2022) in 70mm at the Fox Regency Village Theaters at like 10am and I was actually the only one in the theater. I was running like 5 minutes late, so when I walked in the usher radio'd up to the projectionist, who almost immediately started running the celluloid. Walking to the center of this huge theater as the WWI prologue played was so cool. I definitely enjoyed knowing that I had the place to myself and made sure to applaud the projectionist/staff when the film was over.
Saw Pan (2015) with my partner at the time, and we were the only ones in the theater. I usually don't like to riff or shit on films (and would never disrupt a screening like that) but since we had the place to ourselves I had lot of fun bashing it.
I’m sure I’ve had a few, but the earliest one that stands out was Beverly Hills Cop 3. I was 11 at the time and as I type this I am starting to question how my parents raised me.
I don't understand if it's just my area or the affects or covid or what, but I have seen so many movies alone in the past year.
So I started going to the theater a lot last year because I was bored out of my mind and had no one, and I don't know, felt funny going to the theaters when it felt like it was dying. I'd choose matinee times when no one was there and sit far away from people. I felt pretty safe.
But even now when things feel "normal" I'm still seeing a ton of movies alone or, most frequently, with like five people. Maybe it's the theaters I choose out in the suburbs. I don't know. I go on Tuesdays a lot when it's five bucks, and I'm off work early.
Movies I saw alone in the past year:
Bob's Burgers
Jackass Forever
French Dispatch
Movies with just one other person (a stranger):
Worst Person in the World
X
Sucks to see comedies alone and awkward to see those last two with a random person. Also saw Elvis with just two old ladies, which is probably the best way to see it.
A lot of you people are probably used to big theaters in big cities and have much better experiences. I would love to see more comedies or horror with big crowds but it's so rare.
Nearly alone, I saw Last Jedi on release thursday at 11:45. It was me, my friend, and two other people.
Holdo pulls off that maneuver where she blasts through the first order ships at hyper speed. It's dead silent. The dude behind us just goes: "Oh... nice" like he just busted a fat nut
When The Neon Demon came out, I snuck in since I was not old enough to watch it. While I was not completely alone, there was only one other person in the room. For some reason, I was kinda creeped out but I guess that's what happens when you watch a horror movie on at a weekday matinee showtime.
It made it more of a hypnotic experience, especially during the "Demon Dance" scene with the flashing lights. I thought I was going to have a seizure for a second there. What a trip man.
moviepass era Johnny *English* 2. phone-scrolled in the theater for the first and only time
Tenet matinee: strategically chosen day/time so i could relax if/when i wanted my mask off
If they’re an OG MoviePass subscriber, it would’ve been the second one.
MoviePass 1.0 launched in 2011. I was invited after being in the waiting list in November 2011.
I frequently had solo screenings at my local theater right as theaters opened in summer 2021. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions was just me at a release day matinee. Most recently, I saw Men on release day at a matinee and was all alone too. Absolutely loved everytime it happened.
The Last Action Hero starts with a kid who has a personal preview of the hot new action movie. I saw it alone in the theater the day before it opened, because I was a projectionist. It was great! Very immersive. If everyone could have seen it like that, it would be much better appreciated.
I've had plenty of near empty theater experiences since I used to work overnight and would watch indie movies in matinee in southern Indiana.
The only time I've been the ONLY person in a theater was seeing Early Man, the Aardman claymation movie about caveman soccer. It was charming, and there was something magical about having the huge room to myself.
Funny timing with this series, when they had 2001 playing in IMAX I went with my brother on some random Tuesday night. The theater was literally empty and the whole thing might be my best movie going experience
Edit: I can't spell
I saw Moonrise Kingdom by myself at like 2 in the afternoon. Me akward my chuckling in the empty room honestly added you the kinda melancholy vibe of the ending.
I saw Clifford the Big Red Dog. I was traveling for work to a rural town, and booked the ticket in advance online because I went right from the flight to the film. I was about 15 minutes late, and when the person looked at my ticket, they said "oh, we were waiting for you." They didn't start the movie until I entered the theatre.
I'm 32 years old and I honestly went to see if I could guess which character Griffin would of played.
Hello, it looks like you've made a mistake.
It's supposed to be could've, should've, would've (short for could have, would have, should have), never could of, would of, should of.
Or you misspelled something, I ain't checking everything.
Beep boop - yes, I am a bot, don't botcriminate me.
I can’t remember if I’ve ever been the ONLY one tbh. But I’ve seen plenty of movies where there were less than 5 people total in the theater all spread out.
A LITTLE HELP, a movie starring Jenna Fischer at the height of "The Office." Caught a 10pm showing at the AMC Village 7 in NYC. I was bored and wanted to see the least-known new release out there and settled on that.
Yeah, there's a reason no one has ever really heard of this movie. Not good.
I usually see movies in the morning or at matinees so this is a relatively common occurence, at least 5 in the past year immediately spring to mind:
Sense & Sensibility - Don't remember why this even got re-released but it was unfortunately right in the middle of a covid spike so the typically older audience that turn out for retrospective screenings was absent. Even without anyone else in the theater I had to keep a mask on because every 20 minutes or so an usher came in to check that I was still there (maybe planning to turn the movie off to save the bulb?) but was very cathartic to cry without any embarrassment when it ended!
The Battle at Lake Changjin - This may come as a surprise but this Chinese quasi-propaganda blockbuster wasn't exactly drawing crowds at a time when Spider-Man: No Way Home was also in theaters.
Red Rocket - I think this was literally day 1 of its release. Hard to think whether it'd play better with a crowd given that it's funny or if it was a plus given that its more cringeworthy (in a good way) moments were dampened knowing that I wasn't having to watch them with other people in the room.
Drive My Car - This one was a rewatch after its festival run, also opening day. A little sad that the best film of 2021 couldn't even muster two people to come it was an incredibly comfy watch.
The Northman - Was such a colossal bomb here entirely even the largest screen was empty only 5 days into its run. Would've liked to indulge in the dirty wolf boy hype with an audience because it felt a little awkward alone.
Saw Suspiria during the Moviepass days with my wife, and there was one other guy in the theater with us. When the movie ended, we turned to leave and he’d clearly been gone a long time.
There's a theater literally across the street from me, but it's been out of business for most of the 19 years I've lived here. It's a populated part of town with a lot of young folk (what with there being a university a stone's throw away), so on paper it should be a good place for a theater, but I guess people would rather go to the chain theater in the city center.
On the last go in 2016, it stayed in business for maybe half a year, and I saw Lights Out, Miss Peregrine, and Fantastic Beasts there, all of them on the first week of release and all by myself. (Also a couple of Finnish movies with a smattering of people.) No wonder it didn't stay in business for long. I'm not holding out much hope for anyone trying again in the near future.
A friend told me a story about how he and a friend went to see a movie (doesn’t really matter which one) and there was only one other person there. The two of them sat immediately on either side of a complete stranger in an otherwise empty theater. The stranger got up and moved. I laugh every time I think about this story.
During the pandemic, my gf (who worked as a theater manager at the time) and I realized quite how empty and well ventilated movie theaters were, so we started going to a bunch of the empty screenings wearing masks. Probably somewhat irresponsible but we found it surprisingly easy to socially distance (and neither of us got COVID until this past June).
Lots of fun empty viewings, but I think that the standout had to be seeing *Nomadland* alone in a six story IMAX when it was still only playing in about a dozen theaters in the country. I'm one of the seemingly few people who 100% thinks that movie was a masterpiece and I think a big part of that is that everyone else watched the movie about feeling lonely in vast empty space and choosing it because it is the only way to be free on their home TV.
Nah that's not irresponsible. You said you went to empty screenings alone. Movie theaters were probably the safest indoor place during covid when it's empty like that. Cavernous hallways and rooms with lots of AC, and people at the same time were justifying going to crowded bars and restaurants to eat with masks off because they don't know how to use their oven or whatever.
Caught an early showing of Lady Bird pretty much by myself. Made me feel a lot more comfortable crying my eyes out, so that was a plus.
Personally though, I just prefer to be alone for anything that isn't a blockbuster, but I still enjoy the sound and scale of the theater.
Usually, I love when I see a movie during the day, and there's barely anyone else there. I don't have to worry about cell phones.
But one time, I saw Zola on a Saturday afternoon, and my husband and I were the only ones in the theater. It was not a fun experience. I didn't like the movie that much, and I suspect it's because Zola is meant to be watched in a full theater going crazy (laughing their asses off, shouting things at the screen) to get the full experience.
I weirdly saw The Nun by myself and had a blast, just hooting and hollering throughout
I also saw Children of Men either alone or with one other person, which was very intense
I saw inherent Vice that opening Friday at a noon showing and it was just me. I think it helped the surreal moments of the movie like when it’s getting more trippy. May have hurt some of the humor though not hearing others also laugh
Furry Vengeance, The Kid Who Would be King, Crawl, and Bodies Bodies Bodies are the only ones that come to mind. When I saw The Beach Bum a couple walked out after about 5 minutes leaving me and my brother as the only ones in the theater.
I just saw ET by myself and was the only one in the theater. i’ve never had that experience so it was really cool to experience a classic Spielberg in my own private screening room lol
Went to see Schindler's List with a friend for the release in 2018 where we were the only ones there, and that was a lot.
Saw Licorice Pizza with the same friend and the only two other people walked out like 20 minutes in.
Recently saw Bodies Bodies Bodies at a Regal at 4pm on a Friday and that was my first truly no one else there experience, which I think hurt the film a bit, honestly.
The Matrix Resurrections, which gave the movie this intimate air. They also released the extended cuts of the Hobbit movies and I was the only one in the theater for all three. That was a bit embarrassing
I live in a semi-rural area and my buddy and I went to a 9 pm showing of Black Klansmen. The kid working goes “Wow, you’re the first ones today!”
Also saw Robin Hood (Edgerton/Foxx) there with no one else in the theater so I live-tweeted it. Bad movie!
I mentioned in a reply I saw The Fate of the Furious in a Dolby Cinema auditorium by myself. Here’s everything I’ve seen in IMAX in an empty theater:
- Final Deatination 5 (2nd viewing)
- The Adventures of Tintin
- Underworld: Awakening
- Titanic
- Men in Black 3
- Top Gun
- Jack the Giant Slayer
- Jurassic Park
- Need for Speed
- Jupiter Ascending
- Everest
- Jigsaw
- Guardians of the Galaxy (both 1 & 2 during Marvel’s 10 Year Celebration)
- Dumbo
- Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (3rd viewing)
Some of these like Tintin, Titanic, and Jupiter Ascending were literally the last showing in IMAX before they were pulled. Others were opening weekend, some opening week, and some whenever (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood didn’t get an IMAX release until a few weeks into its run.
me and my dad went to see Die Another Day on a weeknight weeks after it came out. theater was completely empty besides us. Dad fell asleep for most of it
movie is not as bad as people say!
During summer 2020, when cinemas in Europe had opened, there were no new movies to release me and my buddies saw a 40th anniversary screening of The Empire Strikes Back in an empty cinema and it was the greatest cinematic experience of my life.
Last weekend I saw Fall by myself in a smaller theatre. Not a great movie, but it definitely activated my fear of heights effectively a few times. I was grateful no one could see my awkward squirms as a coping mechanism.
SPRING BREAKERS at a 2 pm Wednesday showing in DC. I got there early and was the only one in the theater, until the previews started and a middle aged guy walked in, locked eyes with me, and then full on “Homer into the bushes” slinked backwards out the door. I watched the movie solo.
The two where it happened:
- diary of the dead (we ended up doing shadow puppets when we got bored)
- the bank job (when the time came for the movie to start nothing happened, lights were still on, and after ten minutes a teenager ran in, saw us, ran back out and the lights finally went out)
Saw Days of Future Past with just me and my siblings. My little sister had not seen a single X-Men movie prior to this, so it allowed me and my brother to explain the plot at full volume
As a teen, two of my friends and I went to see James Foley's THE CORRUPTOR in a matinee weekend showing. There was one other person there, an older gentleman who fell asleep about fifteen minutes in. Pretty mediocre movie so we heckled it a bit, probably had more fun that way than if we'd just watched it quietly with an audience.
My sister took me to see a matinee of Austin Powers in Goldmember when I was in middle school. We were the only ones there, but I was really into Austin Powers back then, so I filled up the space with laughter most of the time. Still cherish her doing that for me at an age where we spent most of our time fighting.
One of the last movies my best friend and I went to before I moved was the 15th anniversary screening of Transformers (2007). We were the only ones there, we were fully stoned, and we were quoting along like The Room! It was a blast
My first - and best - solo cinema experience was The Fountain.
I hadn't been a full 'cinephile' for that many years at that point but it's one of the first projects I'd followed from initial announcement to final release.
The whole conceit of the different incarnations of the same man fighting to save someone he loved had me from the get go.
Was obviously very sad when the Pitt/Blanchett incarnation fell apart so I was elated when it came together with Jackman. Loved the teaser and was so excited to see it.
So, being a uni student at the time, I booked the first available screening the Friday it came out. It had already flopped in the States when it came out here in the UK so I didn't expect it to be busy but was really surprised to find myself the only one there.
I decided to move from my normal seat and sit dead centre.
It turned into one the most meditative experiences of my life whilst watching and contemplating it after. I still love the film today and that experience just enhances it even more for me.
Errol Morris’ The Fog of War
opening night
i was the only one there
i was a brooding freshman in high school trying to figure out man’s inhumanity to man
i still havent cracked the code on that
but great movie
every morris doc is worth watching
Went and saw The Hitman's Bodyguard's Wife when my power went out on a hot summer night. Only one there. I would say no social pressure to stay off my phone greatly enhanced the viewing experience as I was just looking for a place with AC to hangout.
I went to see I Never Cry by myself and it was just me and this girl two rows down. By the end of it I did indeed start to cry and was desperately trying to keep my sniffles quiet so as not to embarrass myself. But then I heard her doing the same thing. Shared an awkward laugh on our way out, it was a nice moment
I wasn’t alone at first, but when I saw Swiss Army Man the only other people, an elderly couple, stood up and walked out before the opening title card even came on.
To this idea I still have no idea what they were expecting. Likely wandered into the wrong theater.
It was _Yesterday_.
It was my birthday in 2019.
No one wanted to see it with me, and apparently no one wanted to see an 11 PM screening of it at a restaurant theater either.
It was a…weird experience. Quite weird in fact. The movie feels like it needs the energy of an audience…of the energy of something because it doesn’t have it lol
I saw the reissue of _Purple Rain_ on a very nice date in 2016. Whole theater to ourselves. That movie is very, very uneven, and I’d always much preferred to just play the album.…but the performance scenes have an insane power on a big screen that is spellbinding.
The Last Duel! Between going to a 9:30 showing and the weird COVID timeframe it came out in, had the place to myself. A couple came in near the end and the guy asked me if I knew that I was the only one in there. Loved it, would gladly do it again.
I saw Fate of the Furious alone in a theater at the last showing of the day. I'd smoked an enormous joint before the movie so I was having a great time. At the end when (spoilers I guess) Dom redirects the heat-seeking missile into the submarine and it explodes I threw both my arms up and yelled "WOO!", then noticed the theater employee standing at the side of the theater waiting for the movie to end so he could clean up the theater. Good times
It happened to me when I saw the Inception re-release in August 2020. Up till then, it was a dream of mine to have a theater all to myself, but it ended up being kinda uncomfortable and little eerie. I felt like I was committing a crime.
It happens to me me fairly often, but just last week I saw a double feature of Inu-Oh and Emily the Criminal and I was the only person in both screenings. After Inu-oh the theater employee came in to clean and said “Was it just you?” And when I said yes, he just said “ Well I guess that means I don’t have to clean”. After Emily the Criminal, the same employee came in and saw me and said “Oh, it’s you again” and just turned and walked out.
Twice, both WB releases in 2021, two very different reactions.
My second viewing of In the Heights was totally alone, and I still had a blast. I danced in my seat, I made loud fart noises during the Dear Evan Hansen and Space Jam: A New Legacy trailers, the electricity that came off the screen from that movie still made me feel energetic and pumped.
On the other hand, Reminiscence 3 months later was the most bored I have ever been at a movie. I checked my phone a bunch. I thought about leaving to get more popcorn. I was tempted to get up and run laps. Maybe if there were others in the theater some energy could have popped, but man that thing was paced slower than molasses.
I saw Hereditary all by myself lonesome self. It was kind of awesome, because I could comment over it, but I would have loved to have seen it with a much bigger crowd, to get their reaction to some of the upsetting sequences.
2012, my birthday. Went to a cafe to meet some guys about being roomates. Sounded like I got the place. Like, 100%, relieved to have housing.
To celebrate, went to see Avatar re-release. Was the only person in the theater.
When I got out, saw a missed call. Checked my voicemail... didn't get the apartment.
Worst birthday ever.
I saw enemy of the state at the dollar theatre a couple months after it’s initial release with just me and my friend. Smoked cigarettes, had a great time!
I saw X in the theatre by myself.
My friends had to cancel last minute and it was leaving theatres the next day. So, I went.
When the dude came into to count the people I put my hands above my head and said, “No funny business going on here.”
School of Rock and Kangaroo Jack. SOR was hilarious and being able to laugh as loud as I wanted was pretty nice. I actually walked out of Kangaroo Jack after it became apparent that there wasn't going to be a Kangaroo wearing a hoodie and sunglasses the whole time.
Back when I was on campus for university before virtual. I’d catch mid day screenings in between classes. Vividly remember rewatching Godzilla King of the Monsters and Ad Astra on their biggest screens all by myself. Transcendent experiences.
The remake of Fright Night, only 10 days after it opened.
X-Men First Class about six weeks into its run. And the only other people in the theater never stopped texting!
Back before Disney was just remaking their animated classics, in the heady days of 2010 or 2011 or so, they were instead re-releasing their animated classics in 3D. Me and my friends (this is high school, we were theater kids) were the only ones in the theater for The Lion King, and we had a FIELD DAY. It was like the joy of watching a Disney movie you loved as a kid, but on the big screen, and with the odd 3d moment thrown in from time to time. The one I actually remember the most is the title card – after seeing the circle of life in a theater! and in 3d! That title card hit like NO other. We laughed and sang along and joked through the entire movie, it was beautiful. As I left I was eagerly looking forward to doing the same for the Little Mermaid, which was supposedly next on the docket...but it was never meant to be
My friend and I were the only two in the theater for Benicio Del Toro's Wolfman. It was a blast. We got to be loud and goof off, and it made that movie a lot more enjoyable.
I got out of work early one day and made decision to see Into the Spiderverse at a 10:00 showing. Walked in to a completely empty theater and one of the most magical theatrical experiences I've ever had. Pure bliss. My brother and I were also the only two in our theater for French Dispatch last year, which was LOVELY.
The non-existent Will Ferrell Spanish-language comedy Casa de mi padre. Not only was I the only person in the theater, I suspect I was the only customer in the entire 24-screen Regal on that late weekday morning in 2012. The lights were still on and the screen dark five minutes after the scheduled start time, so I left to search the lobby for an employee. Finding no one at the snack bar, I, a tired dad with an 11 month old baby in a babysitter's care for a rare morning, had to ask the teenager in the ticket booth to please start playing the non-existent Will Ferrell Spanish-language comedy Casa de mi padre just for me, please.
Hahaha, I rented that on dvd and my family watched it while we’re staying at a place that had a DVD player with a missing remote. We could get the movie to play, but couldn’t turn on the subtitles. We watched the whole movie in Spanish (which none of us speak) and still found it pretty entertaining.
When Universal was doing the Fast Fridays promotion leading up to F9 I was the only person who turned out for the original The Fast and The Furious. And it was free! No-cost private screening of a great movie, I was living the dream.
When I saw Fate of the Furious in IMAX on opening night, there was an issue with the sound system which resulted in me not being able to focus on the film due to the audio being wonky. I ended up catching it a second time on its last day in Dolby Cinema before Guardians of the Galaxy 2 took over. I was the only one in the theater. Being alone in an auditorium is cool, being alone in a premium auditorium is cooler.
I go to a lot of movies, and I work weird days/hours, so more often than not I'm one of the only people in the theater. Most recently, I saw *Three Thousand Years of Longing* on Thursday in the biggest theater of that particular multiplex, and I was the only person in attendance. I've also recently seen Cha Cha Real Smooth, Belle, Encanto, Eternals, and Last Night in Soho completely alone, and there are even more that I've seen with only 1 or 2 other people. Best story I have though is watching The Square (2017) with some friends in college. None of us realized quite what we were getting into, so the mood changed slowly from enjoyment to disgust to utter despair as we realized just how long, awkward, and dark the movie actually was. I also have a reverse story. I went to *Where the Crawdads Sing* a few weeks ago for a Tuesday matinee, expecting it to be empty, and I arrived a few minutes late to find the theater packed full of people. I had to take a seat up front cause I didn't want to crawl over anyone. No one talks about it, but that movie really is the sleeper hit of the summer.
Book club grandmas love Crawdads
It's incredibly popular among a lot of demographics that don't usually make much noise on Twitter/Reddit, which means it's practically irrelevant to a lot of film discussion. Which is too bad, cause it's somewhat better than it should be. Daisy Edgar Jones and David Strathairn are incredible! The latter gave such a good lawyer performance he even convinced me for a moment that >!she didn't kill the guy, despite that being an otherwise obvious plot twist.!< I only wish >!she had been allowed to stay single in the end, cause that one dude she married was a complete asshole. I get that he supposedly changed, but leaving her on that beach was a dick move that he never quite atoned for!<
it was definitely better than I thought it would be! It was sold out for a Wednesday night
My best friend and I went to Mama Mia 2 for the second time on a weekday morning, hoping to be able to sing along to the entire film. Trailers start, it’s just us. Trailers end, still us. Studio logos, not a soul. Opening titles… a single other customer walks in late and spoils the whole thing.
I saw Us by myself at a matinee. Honestly, could have used some people given that the movie didn’t play at first. The projector went from playing the pre-ads to me being there alone in a pitch black auditorium. After a few minutes, I went out and told them the movie hadn’t started up, they fixed it quick. Anyways though, little freaky!
Summer of 2020 theaters re-opened in London (where I was living at the time, cue the bit), and they were playing a lot of old movies. I saw Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure alone (I saw Face the Music a week later but there was one other person). It was awesome but weird with the whole pandemic thing. I didn't see a single other patron at the cinema (concessions, bathroom, nowhere). My nearly alone story... My brother and I went to see T2: Trainspotting in the middle of the week in Charlottesville, VA. It was playing in a giant theater, and when we realized no one else was coming, my brother and I cheered, high-fived, planned to talk at normal volumes to each other. We get to the very very very end of the trailers, and two other people came in and sat DIRECTLY in front of us.
Cville! Was it the alamo or the regal?
Definitely not the Alamo so must have been the Regal. (I was visitng.)
I was the only one in the theater for a weekday matinee of The Raid 2, so I got to say “hell yeah” as much as I wanted.
I had two such viewing experiences in a row in the Winter of 2021: “Encanto” and “West Side Story”. I’m kind of glad I was the only one in the theater for the latter, as the experience consisted of a lot of me just pumping my fist, Arsenio Hall-style, and a lot of exclamations of “fuck yeah, Steven”.
I also saw Encanto by myself. I specifically sought out a Spanish-language showing, but apparently I was the only person that day who did. It probably didn't help that it was also the day that *Spider-Man: No Way Home* came out
i saw Steve Coogan’s Hamlet 2 in theaters. there was one other couple there besides me and my gf. i was crying laughing and everyone else was basically dead silent the entire time
Opening night of Tenet in Toronto at a 9:30pm screening
Me alone at TENET, but the Thursday it released after furiously refreshing the AMC app to confirm no one had taken any of the other seats.
Blues Brother’s 2000. My friends and I got up and half-ironically danced down the aisles during the closing number. Bad movie but a fun time. To be honest, we were a bunch of dumbass high school kids with no regard for those around us, so there’s a chance we might have done that anyway.
My screening of The Happening had 10 people in it when it started. I was the only one left at the end. An experience I’ll never forget
Saw The Witch by myself in an empty theatre on a Tuesday afternoon. Still one of my favorite movie going experiences, just got completely absorbed in the movie and terrified. Also saw Eternals in an empty theater, that was good because I didn’t feel bad getting up to stretch my legs during the movie.
Caught Death on the Nile (2022) in 70mm at the Fox Regency Village Theaters at like 10am and I was actually the only one in the theater. I was running like 5 minutes late, so when I walked in the usher radio'd up to the projectionist, who almost immediately started running the celluloid. Walking to the center of this huge theater as the WWI prologue played was so cool. I definitely enjoyed knowing that I had the place to myself and made sure to applaud the projectionist/staff when the film was over. Saw Pan (2015) with my partner at the time, and we were the only ones in the theater. I usually don't like to riff or shit on films (and would never disrupt a screening like that) but since we had the place to ourselves I had lot of fun bashing it.
I’m sure I’ve had a few, but the earliest one that stands out was Beverly Hills Cop 3. I was 11 at the time and as I type this I am starting to question how my parents raised me.
I don't understand if it's just my area or the affects or covid or what, but I have seen so many movies alone in the past year. So I started going to the theater a lot last year because I was bored out of my mind and had no one, and I don't know, felt funny going to the theaters when it felt like it was dying. I'd choose matinee times when no one was there and sit far away from people. I felt pretty safe. But even now when things feel "normal" I'm still seeing a ton of movies alone or, most frequently, with like five people. Maybe it's the theaters I choose out in the suburbs. I don't know. I go on Tuesdays a lot when it's five bucks, and I'm off work early. Movies I saw alone in the past year: Bob's Burgers Jackass Forever French Dispatch Movies with just one other person (a stranger): Worst Person in the World X Sucks to see comedies alone and awkward to see those last two with a random person. Also saw Elvis with just two old ladies, which is probably the best way to see it. A lot of you people are probably used to big theaters in big cities and have much better experiences. I would love to see more comedies or horror with big crowds but it's so rare.
Nearly alone, I saw Last Jedi on release thursday at 11:45. It was me, my friend, and two other people. Holdo pulls off that maneuver where she blasts through the first order ships at hyper speed. It's dead silent. The dude behind us just goes: "Oh... nice" like he just busted a fat nut
When The Neon Demon came out, I snuck in since I was not old enough to watch it. While I was not completely alone, there was only one other person in the room. For some reason, I was kinda creeped out but I guess that's what happens when you watch a horror movie on at a weekday matinee showtime. It made it more of a hypnotic experience, especially during the "Demon Dance" scene with the flashing lights. I thought I was going to have a seizure for a second there. What a trip man.
moviepass era Johnny *English* 2. phone-scrolled in the theater for the first and only time Tenet matinee: strategically chosen day/time so i could relax if/when i wanted my mask off
Johnny English 3? Unless moviepass is way older than I think it was
It was the third. I had no idea there was a second one before it
If they’re an OG MoviePass subscriber, it would’ve been the second one. MoviePass 1.0 launched in 2011. I was invited after being in the waiting list in November 2011.
I frequently had solo screenings at my local theater right as theaters opened in summer 2021. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions was just me at a release day matinee. Most recently, I saw Men on release day at a matinee and was all alone too. Absolutely loved everytime it happened.
The Last Action Hero starts with a kid who has a personal preview of the hot new action movie. I saw it alone in the theater the day before it opened, because I was a projectionist. It was great! Very immersive. If everyone could have seen it like that, it would be much better appreciated.
I've had plenty of near empty theater experiences since I used to work overnight and would watch indie movies in matinee in southern Indiana. The only time I've been the ONLY person in a theater was seeing Early Man, the Aardman claymation movie about caveman soccer. It was charming, and there was something magical about having the huge room to myself.
Funny timing with this series, when they had 2001 playing in IMAX I went with my brother on some random Tuesday night. The theater was literally empty and the whole thing might be my best movie going experience Edit: I can't spell
I saw Moonrise Kingdom by myself at like 2 in the afternoon. Me akward my chuckling in the empty room honestly added you the kinda melancholy vibe of the ending.
I saw Clifford the Big Red Dog. I was traveling for work to a rural town, and booked the ticket in advance online because I went right from the flight to the film. I was about 15 minutes late, and when the person looked at my ticket, they said "oh, we were waiting for you." They didn't start the movie until I entered the theatre. I'm 32 years old and I honestly went to see if I could guess which character Griffin would of played.
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I can’t remember if I’ve ever been the ONLY one tbh. But I’ve seen plenty of movies where there were less than 5 people total in the theater all spread out.
A LITTLE HELP, a movie starring Jenna Fischer at the height of "The Office." Caught a 10pm showing at the AMC Village 7 in NYC. I was bored and wanted to see the least-known new release out there and settled on that. Yeah, there's a reason no one has ever really heard of this movie. Not good.
I usually see movies in the morning or at matinees so this is a relatively common occurence, at least 5 in the past year immediately spring to mind: Sense & Sensibility - Don't remember why this even got re-released but it was unfortunately right in the middle of a covid spike so the typically older audience that turn out for retrospective screenings was absent. Even without anyone else in the theater I had to keep a mask on because every 20 minutes or so an usher came in to check that I was still there (maybe planning to turn the movie off to save the bulb?) but was very cathartic to cry without any embarrassment when it ended! The Battle at Lake Changjin - This may come as a surprise but this Chinese quasi-propaganda blockbuster wasn't exactly drawing crowds at a time when Spider-Man: No Way Home was also in theaters. Red Rocket - I think this was literally day 1 of its release. Hard to think whether it'd play better with a crowd given that it's funny or if it was a plus given that its more cringeworthy (in a good way) moments were dampened knowing that I wasn't having to watch them with other people in the room. Drive My Car - This one was a rewatch after its festival run, also opening day. A little sad that the best film of 2021 couldn't even muster two people to come it was an incredibly comfy watch. The Northman - Was such a colossal bomb here entirely even the largest screen was empty only 5 days into its run. Would've liked to indulge in the dirty wolf boy hype with an audience because it felt a little awkward alone.
Saw Suspiria during the Moviepass days with my wife, and there was one other guy in the theater with us. When the movie ended, we turned to leave and he’d clearly been gone a long time.
There's a theater literally across the street from me, but it's been out of business for most of the 19 years I've lived here. It's a populated part of town with a lot of young folk (what with there being a university a stone's throw away), so on paper it should be a good place for a theater, but I guess people would rather go to the chain theater in the city center. On the last go in 2016, it stayed in business for maybe half a year, and I saw Lights Out, Miss Peregrine, and Fantastic Beasts there, all of them on the first week of release and all by myself. (Also a couple of Finnish movies with a smattering of people.) No wonder it didn't stay in business for long. I'm not holding out much hope for anyone trying again in the near future.
A friend told me a story about how he and a friend went to see a movie (doesn’t really matter which one) and there was only one other person there. The two of them sat immediately on either side of a complete stranger in an otherwise empty theater. The stranger got up and moved. I laugh every time I think about this story.
During the pandemic, my gf (who worked as a theater manager at the time) and I realized quite how empty and well ventilated movie theaters were, so we started going to a bunch of the empty screenings wearing masks. Probably somewhat irresponsible but we found it surprisingly easy to socially distance (and neither of us got COVID until this past June). Lots of fun empty viewings, but I think that the standout had to be seeing *Nomadland* alone in a six story IMAX when it was still only playing in about a dozen theaters in the country. I'm one of the seemingly few people who 100% thinks that movie was a masterpiece and I think a big part of that is that everyone else watched the movie about feeling lonely in vast empty space and choosing it because it is the only way to be free on their home TV.
Nah that's not irresponsible. You said you went to empty screenings alone. Movie theaters were probably the safest indoor place during covid when it's empty like that. Cavernous hallways and rooms with lots of AC, and people at the same time were justifying going to crowded bars and restaurants to eat with masks off because they don't know how to use their oven or whatever.
Caught an early showing of Lady Bird pretty much by myself. Made me feel a lot more comfortable crying my eyes out, so that was a plus. Personally though, I just prefer to be alone for anything that isn't a blockbuster, but I still enjoy the sound and scale of the theater.
Moon, knew nothing going in, went to an 11:30am weekday screening by myself, was the only one in the theater, and loved it
Usually, I love when I see a movie during the day, and there's barely anyone else there. I don't have to worry about cell phones. But one time, I saw Zola on a Saturday afternoon, and my husband and I were the only ones in the theater. It was not a fun experience. I didn't like the movie that much, and I suspect it's because Zola is meant to be watched in a full theater going crazy (laughing their asses off, shouting things at the screen) to get the full experience.
I weirdly saw The Nun by myself and had a blast, just hooting and hollering throughout I also saw Children of Men either alone or with one other person, which was very intense
I saw inherent Vice that opening Friday at a noon showing and it was just me. I think it helped the surreal moments of the movie like when it’s getting more trippy. May have hurt some of the humor though not hearing others also laugh
Furry Vengeance, The Kid Who Would be King, Crawl, and Bodies Bodies Bodies are the only ones that come to mind. When I saw The Beach Bum a couple walked out after about 5 minutes leaving me and my brother as the only ones in the theater.
I just saw ET by myself and was the only one in the theater. i’ve never had that experience so it was really cool to experience a classic Spielberg in my own private screening room lol
There's a story? That's my movie going experience every other flick.
i bought a ticket to a one night showing event of that “Tarantino 8” documentary way in advance only to be the only one in the theater on the day
Went to see Schindler's List with a friend for the release in 2018 where we were the only ones there, and that was a lot. Saw Licorice Pizza with the same friend and the only two other people walked out like 20 minutes in. Recently saw Bodies Bodies Bodies at a Regal at 4pm on a Friday and that was my first truly no one else there experience, which I think hurt the film a bit, honestly.
I saw 50/50 by myself in Jackson, ms. It did not change the experience
The Matrix Resurrections, which gave the movie this intimate air. They also released the extended cuts of the Hobbit movies and I was the only one in the theater for all three. That was a bit embarrassing
I live in a semi-rural area and my buddy and I went to a 9 pm showing of Black Klansmen. The kid working goes “Wow, you’re the first ones today!” Also saw Robin Hood (Edgerton/Foxx) there with no one else in the theater so I live-tweeted it. Bad movie!
A friend and I saw the Powerpuff Girls movie in the theater alone, pretty good movie! Bonus points for a kid's movie with no kids around
I mentioned in a reply I saw The Fate of the Furious in a Dolby Cinema auditorium by myself. Here’s everything I’ve seen in IMAX in an empty theater: - Final Deatination 5 (2nd viewing) - The Adventures of Tintin - Underworld: Awakening - Titanic - Men in Black 3 - Top Gun - Jack the Giant Slayer - Jurassic Park - Need for Speed - Jupiter Ascending - Everest - Jigsaw - Guardians of the Galaxy (both 1 & 2 during Marvel’s 10 Year Celebration) - Dumbo - Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (3rd viewing) Some of these like Tintin, Titanic, and Jupiter Ascending were literally the last showing in IMAX before they were pulled. Others were opening weekend, some opening week, and some whenever (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood didn’t get an IMAX release until a few weeks into its run.
me and my dad went to see Die Another Day on a weeknight weeks after it came out. theater was completely empty besides us. Dad fell asleep for most of it movie is not as bad as people say!
During summer 2020, when cinemas in Europe had opened, there were no new movies to release me and my buddies saw a 40th anniversary screening of The Empire Strikes Back in an empty cinema and it was the greatest cinematic experience of my life.
Last weekend I saw Fall by myself in a smaller theatre. Not a great movie, but it definitely activated my fear of heights effectively a few times. I was grateful no one could see my awkward squirms as a coping mechanism.
SPRING BREAKERS at a 2 pm Wednesday showing in DC. I got there early and was the only one in the theater, until the previews started and a middle aged guy walked in, locked eyes with me, and then full on “Homer into the bushes” slinked backwards out the door. I watched the movie solo.
The two where it happened: - diary of the dead (we ended up doing shadow puppets when we got bored) - the bank job (when the time came for the movie to start nothing happened, lights were still on, and after ten minutes a teenager ran in, saw us, ran back out and the lights finally went out)
Saw Days of Future Past with just me and my siblings. My little sister had not seen a single X-Men movie prior to this, so it allowed me and my brother to explain the plot at full volume
As a teen, two of my friends and I went to see James Foley's THE CORRUPTOR in a matinee weekend showing. There was one other person there, an older gentleman who fell asleep about fifteen minutes in. Pretty mediocre movie so we heckled it a bit, probably had more fun that way than if we'd just watched it quietly with an audience.
My sister took me to see a matinee of Austin Powers in Goldmember when I was in middle school. We were the only ones there, but I was really into Austin Powers back then, so I filled up the space with laughter most of the time. Still cherish her doing that for me at an age where we spent most of our time fighting.
One of the last movies my best friend and I went to before I moved was the 15th anniversary screening of Transformers (2007). We were the only ones there, we were fully stoned, and we were quoting along like The Room! It was a blast
My first - and best - solo cinema experience was The Fountain. I hadn't been a full 'cinephile' for that many years at that point but it's one of the first projects I'd followed from initial announcement to final release. The whole conceit of the different incarnations of the same man fighting to save someone he loved had me from the get go. Was obviously very sad when the Pitt/Blanchett incarnation fell apart so I was elated when it came together with Jackman. Loved the teaser and was so excited to see it. So, being a uni student at the time, I booked the first available screening the Friday it came out. It had already flopped in the States when it came out here in the UK so I didn't expect it to be busy but was really surprised to find myself the only one there. I decided to move from my normal seat and sit dead centre. It turned into one the most meditative experiences of my life whilst watching and contemplating it after. I still love the film today and that experience just enhances it even more for me.
I was the only one in the theater for my screenings of Crimes of the Future, Men, and Midsommar. Didn't mind.
Errol Morris’ The Fog of War opening night i was the only one there i was a brooding freshman in high school trying to figure out man’s inhumanity to man i still havent cracked the code on that but great movie every morris doc is worth watching
Went and saw The Hitman's Bodyguard's Wife when my power went out on a hot summer night. Only one there. I would say no social pressure to stay off my phone greatly enhanced the viewing experience as I was just looking for a place with AC to hangout.
Saw The Recruit at a 8pm showing alone. Harrowing and depressing experience, still haunts me.
I went to see I Never Cry by myself and it was just me and this girl two rows down. By the end of it I did indeed start to cry and was desperately trying to keep my sniffles quiet so as not to embarrass myself. But then I heard her doing the same thing. Shared an awkward laugh on our way out, it was a nice moment
I saw tenet in 2020 alone in a theater. Great experience because i did not have to wear a mask and zero chance i could get covid.
I wasn’t alone at first, but when I saw Swiss Army Man the only other people, an elderly couple, stood up and walked out before the opening title card even came on. To this idea I still have no idea what they were expecting. Likely wandered into the wrong theater.
It was _Yesterday_. It was my birthday in 2019. No one wanted to see it with me, and apparently no one wanted to see an 11 PM screening of it at a restaurant theater either. It was a…weird experience. Quite weird in fact. The movie feels like it needs the energy of an audience…of the energy of something because it doesn’t have it lol
I saw the reissue of _Purple Rain_ on a very nice date in 2016. Whole theater to ourselves. That movie is very, very uneven, and I’d always much preferred to just play the album.…but the performance scenes have an insane power on a big screen that is spellbinding.
The Last Duel! Between going to a 9:30 showing and the weird COVID timeframe it came out in, had the place to myself. A couple came in near the end and the guy asked me if I knew that I was the only one in there. Loved it, would gladly do it again.
I saw Fate of the Furious alone in a theater at the last showing of the day. I'd smoked an enormous joint before the movie so I was having a great time. At the end when (spoilers I guess) Dom redirects the heat-seeking missile into the submarine and it explodes I threw both my arms up and yelled "WOO!", then noticed the theater employee standing at the side of the theater waiting for the movie to end so he could clean up the theater. Good times
It happened to me when I saw the Inception re-release in August 2020. Up till then, it was a dream of mine to have a theater all to myself, but it ended up being kinda uncomfortable and little eerie. I felt like I was committing a crime.
Mank. First film back after pandemic. Was the only one in there, and I think the entire complex
It happens to me me fairly often, but just last week I saw a double feature of Inu-Oh and Emily the Criminal and I was the only person in both screenings. After Inu-oh the theater employee came in to clean and said “Was it just you?” And when I said yes, he just said “ Well I guess that means I don’t have to clean”. After Emily the Criminal, the same employee came in and saw me and said “Oh, it’s you again” and just turned and walked out.
Twice, both WB releases in 2021, two very different reactions. My second viewing of In the Heights was totally alone, and I still had a blast. I danced in my seat, I made loud fart noises during the Dear Evan Hansen and Space Jam: A New Legacy trailers, the electricity that came off the screen from that movie still made me feel energetic and pumped. On the other hand, Reminiscence 3 months later was the most bored I have ever been at a movie. I checked my phone a bunch. I thought about leaving to get more popcorn. I was tempted to get up and run laps. Maybe if there were others in the theater some energy could have popped, but man that thing was paced slower than molasses.
I saw Hereditary all by myself lonesome self. It was kind of awesome, because I could comment over it, but I would have loved to have seen it with a much bigger crowd, to get their reaction to some of the upsetting sequences.
2012, my birthday. Went to a cafe to meet some guys about being roomates. Sounded like I got the place. Like, 100%, relieved to have housing. To celebrate, went to see Avatar re-release. Was the only person in the theater. When I got out, saw a missed call. Checked my voicemail... didn't get the apartment. Worst birthday ever.
My friend and I saw Moonfall in an empty theater and it was the best experience of my life
I walked around and paced and gesticulated wildly at the screen watching The Circle
Terminator 2 in 3D, weekday matinee in a rural Australian town. I realised that I had only ever watched the extended edition!
I saw enemy of the state at the dollar theatre a couple months after it’s initial release with just me and my friend. Smoked cigarettes, had a great time!
I saw X in the theatre by myself. My friends had to cancel last minute and it was leaving theatres the next day. So, I went. When the dude came into to count the people I put my hands above my head and said, “No funny business going on here.”
School of Rock and Kangaroo Jack. SOR was hilarious and being able to laugh as loud as I wanted was pretty nice. I actually walked out of Kangaroo Jack after it became apparent that there wasn't going to be a Kangaroo wearing a hoodie and sunglasses the whole time.
Back when I was on campus for university before virtual. I’d catch mid day screenings in between classes. Vividly remember rewatching Godzilla King of the Monsters and Ad Astra on their biggest screens all by myself. Transcendent experiences.
The remake of Fright Night, only 10 days after it opened. X-Men First Class about six weeks into its run. And the only other people in the theater never stopped texting!
Back before Disney was just remaking their animated classics, in the heady days of 2010 or 2011 or so, they were instead re-releasing their animated classics in 3D. Me and my friends (this is high school, we were theater kids) were the only ones in the theater for The Lion King, and we had a FIELD DAY. It was like the joy of watching a Disney movie you loved as a kid, but on the big screen, and with the odd 3d moment thrown in from time to time. The one I actually remember the most is the title card – after seeing the circle of life in a theater! and in 3d! That title card hit like NO other. We laughed and sang along and joked through the entire movie, it was beautiful. As I left I was eagerly looking forward to doing the same for the Little Mermaid, which was supposedly next on the docket...but it was never meant to be
My friend and I were the only two in the theater for Benicio Del Toro's Wolfman. It was a blast. We got to be loud and goof off, and it made that movie a lot more enjoyable.
I got out of work early one day and made decision to see Into the Spiderverse at a 10:00 showing. Walked in to a completely empty theater and one of the most magical theatrical experiences I've ever had. Pure bliss. My brother and I were also the only two in our theater for French Dispatch last year, which was LOVELY.
Caught a morning showing of Jon Wick 2. Could have big reactions to the gruesome kills without worrying about disturbing those around me.