First In-theater, Big Blockbuster you ever saw...

[megabyteme]

Being born in 1971, I was exactly the right age to see the whole Star Wars saga (1977). From the start. Every episode from IV on.

As a kid, going to the theater for a movie experience should be one of the top 6-7 choices at that age. The fact that you are aged just right, is icing on the cake.

So, what others did you, or would you have liked to see first-run in the cinema? Especially if it was a movie targeted specifically to your age group.

[clocker]

The Vikings (1958)- Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Ernest Borgnine.

Maybe not the first but the first I remember semi-coherently. Some guy gets eaten by crabs, I think.

Going to the movies used to be a big deal.
Even our pet brontosaurus would get excited.

[Artemis]

It was still very much a big deal back when I was a youngin' Logan's Run (1976) was the first big feature I went to rather than just the kids movies like Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Sadly the Brontosaurus had died out by that stage, but I fondly remember riding our pet Sabretooth Cat around and using the hair from Woolly Mammoths to keep me warm.

[IdolEyes787]

I can't remember exactly but it had real actors instead of CGI aliens/intelligent apes and an actual plot so it had to have been something pre WWII .

[megabyteme]

You guys got my reason for posting right off- it used to be a much bigger deal to see a first-run blockbuster in the theater. What I am uncertain of is why. Is it my own age, the easy availability of DVDs within months (or watchable screeners within hours), the reasonable cost of building a home theater, or something that changed with the nature of cinema itself?



PS. I, too, miss the bronto...

[thebazzla]

my first film was the guns of navarone (1961)
i say first film i didn't see much of it as soon as the big guns started to go off. my nan said its to loud for her and dragged me out of the theater.

[teflon05]

You guys got my reason for posting right off- it used to be a much bigger deal to see a first-run blockbuster in the theater. What I am uncertain of is why. Is it my own age, the easy availability of DVDs within months (or watchable screeners within hours), the reasonable cost of building a home theater, or something that changed with the nature of cinema itself?



PS. I, too, miss the bronto...

I think it's all the reasons you listed. With large screen tv's being reasonably priced, the relatively quick availability of the movies, and the amount of money saved staying home (not to mention the convenience) there's hardly any reason to go to a theater anymore, other than socialization. And yes, the quality of many movies being made today is crap, & that's a factor. Seems that as long as they slap a 3D ad on it though, some people are still willing to shell out for it, even if it is dogshit.
I still really enjoy drive-in theaters though...There's no substitute for them.

As far as first runs go, I was lucky enough to see Star Wars (stood in line for an hour with my dad lol) Jaws, ET, and many others too numerous to list. Those were the days...

[Artemis]

I remember when you got dressed up to the cinema, it was a big event, and the intermission and finding your seat again. But one major thing for me is that so many Hollywood movies are simply variations on a formula these days, and with the cost of going to the cinema since I live rurally are the gas into town (not cheap at $2.05 per l), paying for parking ,the cost of the tickets ($11-$15 per person) and then the astronomically priced snacks, to watch the same crap packaged differently.
There are still some great movies being produced don't get me wrong, but if I had shelled out the rough end of $70 to watch Knight and Day or The Tourist, I think I would have physically assaulted a staff member at the theater afterwards.
Then also there is the convenience of Home Theater, I have a powerful system and also have a projector for the whole effect plus with a decent wireless N router with QOS I can stream media to the rest of the house and have other PC's connected to TV's as well.

[IdolEyes787]

I still go to the theater all the time because I like the feel of sticky split drinks on my feet. Plus with any luck I will sit near someone whose seen the movie before and then I can listen to him tell the whole story while I get to rest my eyes.

[Frankthetank1]

I think it was rocky 3. I remember cause i am half Italian and thought i could beat up everyone after i saw the movie. I think i was 8 or 9.