Headline: Movie nights offer a safe quarantine activity

Author: Mary Murphy; Lifestyles Editor 

mem6812@psu.edu

There is no doubt that being stuck at home for the past several months has caused many to feel stifled. It’s easy to feel despondent when former everyday activities are no longer accessible. While there may be no decisive remedy for that feeling, there is one at-home activity that may help alleviate its potency. 

The experience of movie-going is one that has been lost during the pandemic. Many movie theaters have been closed throughout quarantine. The theaters that are open have strict COVID guidelines, therefore limiting the number of patrons allowed in a theater, and regardless of the accessibility, many people want to avoid even the theaters that are open to lessen their potential COVID exposure. Therefore, going to a movie theater may not be an option. However, that doesn’t mean that a cinematic experience is out of reach–having an at-home movie night is a safe and enjoyable alternative. 

A movie night is one of the more accessible quarantine activities. It requires little preparation: simply a way to watch a movie, maybe a few snacks, and a few fellow quarantine family members are the only requirements. Taking a trip to the store to stock up on movie theater reminiscent snacks and drinks is a necessity. Another necessity is choosing the right movie. It’s advised that every movie night member agrees on which movie should be chosen, and if it’s too hard to narrow it down, the idea of multiple movie viewings isn’t off the table (no one has anywhere to be anyway). 

The joy of a movie night is the flexibility it offers. A movie night can happen pretty much anywhere and at any time. Plus, it’s a crowd-pleasing activity (who doesn’t like to watch movies?). Anyone that’s missing going out to the movies will appreciate this faux-theater experience.

Though it may seem modest, this activity is more entertaining than it appears (when the right movie is involved at least). It creates a much-welcomed respite from the troubling reality of the pandemic. Cinema has long been one of the favorite American escapist pastimes. After all, there’s no easier way to forget the outside world than to immerse oneself in a unique onscreen world. And certainly, given the current circumstances, everyone can use a brief escape. 

An added bonus of the movie night is that it allows everyone to bond and reconnect. Being locked in a house with the same people all day every day can be tedious and animosity inducing. So, it’s important to have an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company when at all possible. A movie night can bring a little excitement to dull quarantine routines in an attempt to keep relationships intact.  

One final recommendation–avoid any movies about pandemics and viral world-altering illnesses, they feel a little too close to home as of late.