My husband loves watching movies, so he thinks movies make great dates. I’m frequently unimpressed by movies, so I’m not so sure.
Let’s look at some advantages and disadvantages associated with movie dates, as well as some things that can be done to enhance this classic date idea.
Advantages of movie dates
- Movies can spark conversations about topics you’ve not addressed previously. When you view movies about novel, controversial, and/or difficult-to-discuss topics, it can open the door to meaningful conversation with your spouse.
- It doesn’t take much energy to watch a movie. Sometimes it is hard to have energy for a date night because everyday tasks are so draining. You don’t have to invest much energy into watching a movie. You can just sit back and unwind with your spouse while being entertained.
- You can watch movies at home or go out to watch them. It can be nice to get out of the house and enjoy a movie on the big screen. However, if you don’t feel like going out, you can choose to hang out at home while watching a movie. Services like redbox and Amazon Instant Video provide affordable options for viewing movies at home.
Disadvantages of movie dates
- You’re watching a screen instead of talking. You generally don’t engage in conversation with your spouse during a movie. (If you dare talk while watching one in a movie theater you’ll no doubt draw the ire of everyone around you!) This means you may not discuss pressing issues or connect as deeply as you might if you were engaged in some other activity.
- It can be difficult to find a suitable movie. Many movies are so laden with sex, foul language, and violence that it can be challenging to find options that are both entertaining and wholesome.
- Seeing movies can be expensive. If you go to a theater, it’ll likely cost $20 or more for the two of you to see a movie. That’s just for the tickets—if you decide you want snacks it’ll cost even more!
Tips for enhancing movie dates
If you’ve grown bored with movie dates because they are accompanied by a “been there, done that” feeling, consider trying some of these fun strategies to enhance movie dates.
- Visit the nearest drive-in movie theater. When the weather is nice, catch a show at a nearby drive-in theater.
- Spend a couple of weeks reading a book together and then watch a move that’s based off of the book. Examples include The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (book/movie), The Scarlet Pimpernel (book/movie), the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (books/movies), and Pride & Prejudice (book/movie).
- When watching movies at home, do something nontraditional. Watch a movie outside on the back porch while roasting marshmallows. Don comfy PJs and sprawl out on sleeping bags on the living room floor while watching a movie. Change into attractive sleepwear and watch a romantic movie by candlelight.
- Have theme nights. Eat foods and engage in activities that relate to the movie you’ll be watching. Check out some ideas on the Dating Divas website. Some of the ideas sound really fun!
Whether you see a movie or not, find some time to step away from the busy activities of life and go on a date with your husband!
Do you think movies make good dates? If so, which movies do you recommend as good date movies? If not, what sort of activities do you prefer for dates?
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What a great post! I’ve been thinking a lot about this exact topic. 🙂
I grew up not watching many movies at all – my parents just weren’t movie-watching types! While I have a handful of favorites that I’ve seen over the years, overall I don’t see the appeal of watching a movie as a way to connect. I’d rather go for a walk or go mini-golfing or sit in the middle of a field & star gaze…but with three small ones, this is just not a good season for those kinds of dates!
However, my husband really (really) enjoys trying out new movies and critiquing them (he’s an artist and appreciates well-made movies and likes to talk about what he would do to improve upon poorly-made ones!). It is an affordable “date-night” in for us (especially when we splurge & get the appropriate movie-watching snacks!), and it does make for lively conversation afterwards.
Our favorite movie to watch together is Remember the Titans, because we went to the theater to see it on our very first date 🙂 We generally try to alternate who gets to pick the movies, since I prefer Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals and he likes blow-em-up action flicks!
I’m your neighbor this week at the Living Proverbs 31 link-up! Thanks for sharing!
~Lisha 🙂
How fun to reminisce about your first date when watching the movie you went to see! 🙂
Alternating who gets to pick the movie sounds like a good system.
I love the movie date enhancers! (: Those really do sound like fun alternatives! Thanks for sharing! Blessings to you & have a wonderful week!
xoxo,
Allie @ Framed by God
http://framedbygod.blogspot.com/
Oh, my husband is a huge movie buff! We do tend to watch movies together at home as a way to relax (first of all, we live in the middle of nowhere, so going “out” to a movie entails a 60+ mile drive ONE WAY, second of all, it’s just cheaper) so, we are able to pause and talk about things. We do that a lot…. so it sparks lots of conversations.
Using Netflix streaming to our TV means it’s just about $9/month and we both check to see reviews on what is streaming to find the “best” stuff to watch together. (It also gives us a chance to double check on some movies we’ve had recommended for the kids to make sure they fit OUR definition of “kid friendly”.)
We do occasionally go out and to a movie (maybe 2 or 3 times a year) and it’s kind of fun to share a popcorn and feel like teenagers! I wouldn’t want it to be our only kind of “date” but it’s fun every now and then!
We prefer streaming movies at home, too. It sounds like this is a really helpful option given where you live! Being able to double check movies to make sure they are kid friendly is a great benefit!
Great ideas! I love the roasted marshmallow idea and also the sleeping bag idea!
Personally, I almost never go to the movie theater. I think I’ve been to two movies in the last 7-8 years. I just wait for the dvd, although my hubby and kids like to go out to the $2 theater.
But I used to think a movie made a great first date, because you didn’t have to talk to the person very long. You could talk in the car and in line (and at the restaurant if you ate out) but I found the movie a bit relaxing from the first date “stress.” Hahaha! Thanks for linking up to Making Your Home Sing Monday.
How nice to have a $2 theater near you!
We don’t go to the theater very often either (I believe it’s been about two years since I’ve been), so we think the at home options are great!