With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingering in our lives, it’s fair to say that the movie and entertainment industry has taken a large leap away from physical viewings and into at-home virtual screenings. But are you really ready to say goodbye to the bittersweet feelings of finding your seat in a dark auditorium, paying $10 for a soda, or shushing the chatty couple above you? The answer is simple: yes. We’ve listed out the top movie theatre pros and cons to put this debate to an end once and for all. Let’s get right into it! Movie theatre PROS: Buttery movie-theatre-style popcorn, baby! Ravioli ravioli give me the formuoli… alright, we’ll give it to them this time, but it’s fair to say that the irreplaceable, irrefutable theatre popcorn is what keeps 90% of movie-goers coming back for more. While the taste of this magical concoction is undeniably loved by all, let’s admit it… the dreaded price tag is not! AVX, IMAX, 3D, 4D, and D-BOX: Okay, so it might be a little difficult to recreate the 57 by 72-foot screen IMAX experience on your 13-inch MacBook Pro… Movie theatre CONS: The dreaded bathroom break… Picture this: you’re half an hour into a two-and-a-half-hour movie when mother nature decides that it’s time to go. Caught between missing the tragic backstory of the movie’s heroine and a potentially tragic accident of your own, you begin to panic. We’ve all been there. Whether it’s reading the synopsis ahead of the show and strategically planning your 30-second bathroom break, or begging your friends to fill you in on the last two minutes of the grand fight, our inability to control the playback of movies definitely deserves number 1 on the movie theatre cons list. Unruly neighbors… Be it Suzie Seatkicker, Harvey Hogger, Tammy Texter, or Sally Soundtrack, we’ve all experienced our fair share of movie-theatre annoyances. Non-gourmet foods at gourmet price points… I love my movie snacks as much as the next person but $10 for a bag of m&ms and $20 for a regular popcorn and drink combo? Something’s not right here… While some decide to bite the expensive bullet and splurge on their bi-weekly movie theatre trips, sneaking snacks into movie theatres should qualify as an official Olympic sport if you ask me. Unwarranted trailers… We get it, movie trailers are a great way to get audiences excited for their films and upcoming releases, but is it really necessary to play a trailer of The Nun right before my Saturday afternoon viewing of Peter Rabbit? The Verdict: As much as we loved our time at the theatres as kids, growing up has helped us realize two things: 1) technology has evolved like crazy, and 2) our tolerance for others has probably decreased collectively throughout the years. While COVID-19 created a push away from movie theatres, virtual online viewing platforms have taken the world by storm. With higher quality resolution and top films available at our fingertips, the demand for movie theatres has undeniably gone down. Watch parties have gone virtual, allowing friends and family to get together and enjoy content without leaving their own homes. Homebodies can remain homebodies, movie lovers can continue to indulge in the latest films, and meaningful connections can continue to be made.