Cinema Experiences That Enhanced My Appreciation for Movies

For me, there’s nothing better than seeing the premiere of a film at the cinema, accompanied by surround sound and buttery popcorn. Regardless of the genre, you’ll find me in line at the theatre, patiently watching for my ticket and ensuring I get the best seat for the ultimate viewing experience. Even though the pandemic shifted the habits of many movie lovers towards watching new releases at home, I couldn’t wait to get back to my local movie theatre.

I missed so much about the theatre experience, from the moments of laughter to sneakily stealing my friends’ movie snacks. My triumphant return to the cinema got me thinking about how I came to love them so much, so I put together a list of recent movie experiences that enhanced my admiration for the artistry of motion pictures.  Here’s what I came up with!  

The Meg (2018)

Dir: Ben Wheatley

The Meg is your typical shark movie featuring jump scares and bloody moments that’ll make you want to spend the rest of your life on solid ground…which is ironic for someone like me living on a Caribbean island!. Nevertheless, my fellow Bajans and I packed the theater, our eyes affixed to the screen as we tried to collectively decipher who would become the shark’s next meal.

On the surface, there was nothing about the movie itself that would have made my theater experience so remarkable, until one of the movie’s best jumpscares caused an unsuspecting viewer behind us to spill all of their food all over the floor. Nary a nacho remained. All of us, including the now snack-less moviegoer, had to laugh. It got me thinking that, even though I felt for the theater staff and don’t particularly enjoy food projectiles, this is what we came here for. Especially for horror movies, the collective shock is what makes the film more than just a movie – it becomes an experience. 

Black Panther (2018) 

Dir: Ryan Coogler

Fans of the Marvel cinematic universe were ecstatic when Black Panther finally arrived as evidenced by sold-out tickets and a packed theatre. One thing about us Bajans: we always show out for superhero films, and Black Panther was no exception. What did make it special, though, was the celebration of Black/African culture that is all too rare in Hollywood films. To this end, many moviegoers arrived for the premier in African attire and took pictures to commemorate the occasion. The experience of seeing Black Panther in the theater became legendary before the trailers even started rolling. I remember seeing all those big smiles and camera flashes and thinking the ticket price was already worth it. The fact that the movie was so awesome just felt like a bonus. I loved what this movie represented for Marvel fans and the Black community, and of course, there were plenty of memorable moments in the movie itself. As the story glided seamlessly from comedy to action to tender moments of Black love, we all slowly became Wakandans. And as a proud Wakandan citizen, I am now obliged to say WAKANDA FOREVER! But also…MOVIE THEATERS FOREVER!! 

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Director: Jon Watts

As the legendary Stan Lee once said: “What I like about the costume is that anybody reading Spider-Man in any part of the world can imagine that they themselves are under the costume. And that’s a good thing”. And it was definitely a good thing when we all had to practically climb tall buildings to avoid spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home – no doubt a diabolical plan enacted by Doc Oc himself. To my surprise, and to the chagrin of superspoilers everywhere, the theater still packed the house for weeks on end. Thanks to the adversity, there was a collective sense of triumph when the house lights dimmed and we breathed a big sigh of relief. We’re here. Octavius can’t spoil it now.

For those who have seen this movie, we all know that there’s a particular moment that was not only shocking, but also brought back a sense of nostalgia, especially for those of us who watched Spiderman during our childhood. At that moment, applause and shouts filled the theatre as we couldn’t believe what our eyes were witnessing. For many of us, it was a moment we’d been begging for for years, and we were all thankful to have so many witnesses to the payoff. Even though this film was available on streaming services, I can’t imagine seeing it for the first time at home. Who was I going to high-five? Myself???

Don’t get me wrong; I’m very thankful for the prevalence of streaming services when I’m feeling sick, lazy, or just trying to watch a less popular film that wouldn’t usually make it to my local theater. But without a doubt, going to the cinema will always be my first choice. It just doesn’t get better than surround sound, a large screen, and people coming together for a shared viewing experience. And every now and then, I have an experience like the ones above that give me pause and make me savor just how thankful I am that movie theaters exist. Let’s just do our part to make sure it stays that way.