Has anyone ever been to the cinema solo?

I go alone to the cinema often. I can feel self conscious while I'm waiting for it to start, knowing that I'm probably the only one not with someone else, and I do wish I could be with another person. But once it has started I forget all that since you can't talk to who's next to you for the next couple of hours anyway. Plus I'm in control so I can arrive in time and not worry other people will be late.

I go all the time when I can aford it. I find it hugely relaxing. The local cinema staff just thinks I'm a cinema buff, which I guess I am? They are really friendly about it.

Those deffo help! I've annoyingly misplaced mine recently and the serach continues... as well as the savings for new ones...

Try wearing flare calmer and arriving just as the film starts to avoid the adverts. Then by choosing the type of film you can really have better control over sound. It's a massive panic inducing issue for me too. Flare Calmer earplugs really help cos they just calm the noise and don't block it out. 

The sound levels in most cinemas now are crazy... everything turned up to 11. Arthouse cinemas tend to be a little more sympathetic to the autistic esardrum.

Some of my fondest memories of cinema trips are from solo ones. Not having the pressure of 'I suggested this, hope they enjoy it' is luxurious, as is being able to sit through the full credits for the music, as is the absence of the 'well...? what did you think?' mutual obligation as the lights come up. Then wandering out, still pondering/emotionally digesting the last 100 mins, the real world  still feeling a little detached from oneself... wonderful. 

Yes, I've mostly been on my own. I prefer it, I can eat what I like and take whatever fidget toy I like with me. Lot's of people go alone. I suppose you could try the autism friendly days the cinema's have though to me they sound harder. I think the best thing to do is remember, you can just leave whenever you like. Also, if you can go on a weekday morning and it'll be quieter. 

I’ve been plenty of times on my own. I can say I thoroughly enjoy it. I do like my own company but it helped that the cinema was very quiet as I went in the day. Not sure I’d do it in the evening when it’s busy though. 

Yes, I've been a few times to one of our local independent cinemas on weekdays I've had off work. I found there tended to be a lot of people on their own and I quite enjoyed it, even went alone on my birthday because everyone was working!

I get anxious and nervous even going to the Cinema with my Mum, the last film I went to see was Deadpool and Wolverine, that was a long time ago. I just don’t like being around loads of people. I always wait for the film to be out for a while so that most people would have gone to see it, that way when I go with my mum it’s usually not too bad. I still feel anxious though. I don’t really go to the cinema anymore

Yeah, I’ve got loop earplugs that I always use in noisy situations; they’re pretty good. 

But most people are probably not dealing with this https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd/symptoms-of-pmdd/ and I am right now. There’s very limited time for me to see the film so unfortunately I can’t wait another couple of weeks for example because it won’t be showing then. This disorder above everything else, makes life unbearable. 

Over 8 million people live alone in the UK, something like 30% of all households.

Many people are out on their own. If you watch cars on the road you'll notice most have only 1 person in them.
People go to the shops, gym, coffee shop alone, also museums, art galleries, etc. Are there are holiday companies single people.

Many people on business trips travel alone, either sales people in the UK or for foreign trips. They then stay in hotels on their own and go out to restaurants, bars or sightseeing alone.

The point is that doing things alone is not that unusual. You tend to notice people in groups or families and miss the other people.
Nobody will judge you or think you are an idiot and most will not even notice. It is not that unusual for people to go to the cinema alone, especially if you like non-mainstream films.

If you want to do something, then go and do it and don't hold yourself back. You may feel feel self conscious, but really it's fine.

Please go and see the film and report back on how it went.
You may feel tired when you get back, but you will feel a sense of achievement and proud of yourself if you do, which will help build confidence for next time.

If you like the cinema, there are memberships so you can go and see as many films as you like, including obscure ones and multiple screenings so you can see things more than once, all for a monthly fee. If you can do it multiple times, the fear of the unknown will go and it will feel safer.

If you are worried about sitting there looking lost before it starts, take a phone and play game on it or read things, or take a magazine to look at. Other people will often be looking at their phones scrolling through social media.

You will just blend in, won't have to look at anyone, will look occupied so other people will leave you alone and can distract yourself.

I've done it once. I was very very anxious walking in and waiting for the film to start. Mostly because I have a real fear of bumping into people unexpectedly/didn't want them to judge me for being alone if I did. But it was fine, I didn't see anyone and once the lights went down and the film started, my anxiety settled. I went for a morning showing because I figured less people go to the cinema in a morning.

I’ve been to the cinema on my own before. I was very anxious but I still managed to enjoy the film. The amount of people wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, in fact, the biggest difficulty for me was how loud the film actually was. I wasn’t expecting it to be that loud.

Don’t worry about people noticing you, I was really anxious and not one person paid me any attention. They were there to watch the film, not me, so I think you will be fine on that front.

Something you might like to do is to take a comfort item, something you can hold maybe? I did/do this and it makes me feel less anxious. Another thing I do and recommend is taking ear pods to help lessen the noise in the cinema. This was crucial for me as I am hyper sensitive to noise.

If you do decide on going I hope you enjoy seeing the new David Attenborough film.

Hi

I've went to the cinema alone a few times if it's a film I've been really desperate to see but no one in my circle of family and friends are interested in. And honestly I actually find it rather relaxing as that way I'm actually able to focus on the film without any annoying distractions 

Believe me I had the same fears you do but then I realised that I'm not the one whi does it plus no one's really going to bother as your in dark.

I guess my point is, if you prefer going in and watching it yourself try not to focus on what others may or may not think in fact I bet they wouldn't bat an eyelid

Haven’t been to the cinema since before the pandemic. These days, I don’t think I’d go on my own but once upon a time I would occasionally go to morning showings (when the cinema was virtually empty).

In the past, yes. I preferred to go on my own. 

Going to the cinema would be a trek where I am now, but in principle I'd still do it. 

It's been thirty years since I visited a cinema. So things have probably changed.  But in my youth I went alone dozens of times with no stress or worry.

I recently saw the Bob Dylan biopic 'A Complete Unknown' four times in two different cinemas on my own. I don't like crowds and now I am retired I can go to weekday afternoon showings. I was in one showing at 1:30 pm and there were 3 other people watching. I didn't feel like an idiot, I felt like someone who wanted to see a film. As my wife works full time I often go to restaurants for lunch on my own - it's a lot cheaper than going with the rest of the family!