A love letter to going to the cinema alone, from the woman who feared it all her life.

There are certain activities I love to do alone.

In my world, shopping is not a social activity. Doing weekend life admin and errands is something I'd prefer to do on my own. My commute to and from work is for me time and me time only.

If you ever see me on the train with headphones on — no, you didn't.

Then there are the kinds of activities that tend to be associated with a group or date, whether that's eating at a restaurant, going to see a gig or show, or playing a round of trivia at your local pub.

But I'd like to submit a third category of activity — the kind often done with a companion when, in fact, you should be alone.

I'm talking about going to the cinema.

Hear me out: why do we message friends, coordinate schedules and debate over movie titles and times, all just so we can sit in silence for two hours?

Watch the hosts of Mamamia Out Loud discuss the biggest movies of 2025. Post continues after video.

And honestly, who wants to split a medium popcorn and large drink when you can have one to yourself?

Now, I get it. There is a stigma that going to the cinema on your own is a little weird, antisocial or even just sad. I know this because it's a judgment that I once held within myself.

I was absolutely the kind of teenager who scoffed at the man sitting alone in an afternoon session of Double Jeopardy.

But now, I am that man.

It wasn't always this way.

I only started going to the cinema alone in my 30s. This is tragic in hindsight, looking back at all the movies I missed seeing at the cinema in my 20s simply because I 'couldn't find anyone' to go with.

During this era, I would associate being alone with being lonely. I was also single on and off throughout these years, which added a layer to whether I wanted to embrace being alone — or celebrate it in a public way.

A few birthdays ago, I didn't have any morning plans and desperately wanted to see the latest moody Robert Pattinson flick (naturally).

It was my birthday so I wanted to do something to treat myself — to me, that was sitting in an air-conditioned cinema with snacks, watching a movie.

I felt super weird the first time I went to the cinema alone. I even arrived late, so I wouldn't have to sit solo in the room under the bright lights, instead slinking in last minute just as the room darkened — as if no one could see I was alone if we were sitting in the dark.

But once the movie began, I didn't feel strange at all. In fact, I noticed that at least half the people in the cinema were alone like me.

With that one experience, I was addicted. I now relish the chance to spend any and every lazy weekend in the cinema on my own.

Embracing going to the cinema alone signified a shift in me. I've always known that I've enjoyed my own company, but now I was okay with making that known in a more public way without fear of judgment.

Despite societal pressure to always be in the company of friends, family, or a partner, I'm very comfortable in my own company – maybe even more so than in the company of others.

This thought struck me.

For years, I thought of the cinema as a social and communal activity, which doesn't make a lot of sense since, for the bulk of the time, you need to sit in silence.

It's not easy going to a public place alone, where people might be with friends or partners, without feeling self-conscious or worried.

It all comes back to thinking about how I'm being perceived by the people around me. But with age, I've realised that no one cares what I do, they're likely more concerned with their own lives — this was a huge step forward in finding inner peace.

It's taught me that prioritising my wants and needs is okay. When I'm watching a movie, I want to sit in all the emotions I'm feeling. I don't need someone there next to me.

In my 30s, I realised I didn't need a cinema companion to fill a social void. It's the ultimate treat for myself. 

To go to the cinema alone is to prove that your happiness is no longer dependent on anyone — you, and only, you can make yourself happy.

Sure, I still enjoy the odd rom-com with my sister, or a horror movie with a group of friends, but if there's a movie I want to see, I'm watching it with or without someone to see it with. Often, I'll prefer the latter.

And if you see me at the cinema alone — yes, you did. And I had a great time!

Feature image: Getty.