During the midst of the hardest time in my life, the place I would constantly find myself was at the movies. It’s dark, quiet, and forces you to pay attention to one sole thing for two hours. The only thing you have to worry about at the movies is if Coke versus Pepsi consumption in America is skewed by Coke being the main beverage sold in most movie theater chains--okay maybe I’m the only person who worries about that. Anyway, during the years since I could drive, I’ve had a lot of experiences at movie theaters. Not trying to brag but just to give some background, I’m a diamond level Regal Crown Club Rewards cardholder, which means I go to Regal Cinemas at least twenty times a year. I go to other theaters too depending on what’s playing where, so it’s time a college girl with barely any formal film education, but a salt tooth (is that a thing?) for popcorn to make her opinions surrounding theaters known.
Regal Cinemas
Because of my status at Regal, you can tell which theaters are my favorite. They’re classic, they have recliner seats, the tickets aren’t too expensive (even on weekends!) and one of the concession stand cashiers at my favorite Regal looks like Joni Mitchell, which makes me feel strangely comforted. If you start earning points here, it takes no time to earn free popcorn and tickets, which makes me feel special and valued, unlike most rewards programs (I’m looking at you, Sephora).
The Rialto
This is a local favorite spot in Raleigh, but I hope everyone gets to experience it, or something like it, at some point. Because it’s a single-room theater with a fancy ceiling, coming here is more of a treat. This is somewhere I plan to go, whereas I go to most theaters after a long day in a spur-of-the-moment situation. They play movies you can’t always find everywhere else and the sodas come in glass bottles. Also, and this is a big also, on every first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, there is a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show that starts at 12 am and is just a good, gritty, n loud time.
Cinemark
Much like at my favorite local Regal cinema, there’s a cool woman who works at my favorite local Cinemark as well. Her name is Mary, she’s always reading a book, she’s patient when I’m fumbling for my ticket to be ripped, and I know nothing about her, but I just have this feeling we have the same taste in movies. The reason Cinemark is lower down on my list is that their loyalty program, called Connections, honestly just has worse rewards than Regal. Also, their kid popcorn pack isn’t as filling as Regal’s. I don’t mean to be picky--just well-informed. This is a completely personal thing that is going to be cool to some, but not for me, but I have a vendetta against their Movie Club. It sounds awesome in theory, with one ticket each month for $8.99 and 20% off concessions, but it reminds me too much of MoviePass, which allegedly needs to iron out some kinks. The personal part is really this: When I was a freshman in college, I went on a date with a guy eight years my senior. Afterward, he ghosted me. A year later, we went out again and he was singing the praises of MoviePass. Following our second date, I was ghosted AGAIN. Months later, he tried to contact me through LinkedIn (of all places?!) and I’ve had a bad taste in my mouth about MoviePass ever since. Therefore, I have a bad taste about Cinemark’s Movie Club, which deducts points from Cinemark as a whole. My mind is a weird place to be, but let’s keep this rolling.
The Alamo Drafthouse
Oh, the Alamo. You suck us in with your free rentals, sugarcane soda, cute little t-shirts, and ninja staff, but you know what you are? Cool, alright, you’re kinda cool, but your popcorn sucks. I’m sorry. I just can’t support that. Maybe my tastebuds are too unrefined for your “real clarified butter,” but I need my butter to come out of a little machine with a red button or I don’t want it.
AMC
AMC bought out Carmike Cinemas and changed all the theaters that screened old movies for under $3 into normal-priced places. Seventeen-year-old-Micah who picked up every abandoned shift at the YMCA pool as a lifeguard and spent most of her money going to these cheap theaters is sad, and for that, I say, “Shame on you, AMC.”
No matter where you go, movie theaters are a sanctuary. While I’m neither gay or a man, I felt Elio’s pain during the crying-at-the-fireplace scene in Call Me by Your Name. While I’m not an older mother with perfectly blended highlights, I felt Gloria’s loneliness as she danced alone in the wedding scene of Gloria Bell. Movies have the power to focus your eyes on other person’s point of view, whether you’re being served a milkshake during your movie at the Alamo or spraying that delicious golden fake butter on your perfectly portioned popcorn at Regal. So go ahead, get on Fandango, and pick your seat.