We all miss going to the movies right now. Wow, do we all miss going to the movies. Lockdown has been great for movies in some ways. It’s given people time to catch up on recent movies they missed in theaters, to finally get around to watching all the classic Hollywood films they’ve been meaning to watch for years, or even to jump into a different medium and give some great movie-related podcasts a try.

But, still, there’s nothing quite like seeing a movie in a theater. Streaming is great and convenient, but it can’t recreate the energy of an enthusiastic audience or the shared, communal experience of bonding with a bunch of strangers over epic movie moments. If you’re anything like me, it’s likely one of your most cherished memories is from something that happened in a movie theater.

The excellent Bright Wall/Dark Room was feeling nostalgic for those moments and asked their Twitter followers to share their favorite movie theater memories.

The answers were great, and reminded us of just why we love and will always love going to the movies. Here are some of the best.

(Note: I tried to use screenshots when possible to cut down on a hundred duplicates of the original tweet. And yes, I use night mode. Why don’t you, you heathens?)

For Some, It Was A Reveal Or Moment That Made Them Gasp

Some of the best moments are when a movie blows your mind with an unexpected twist or reveal.

I know I’ve certainly ranked Cap lifting Mjölnir as one of the greatest movie scenes in the last few decades. What a moment and what a payoff, truly.

For Others, It Was Being In A Rowdy Crowd

With the right kind of movie, seeing it in a crowd can be incredible. The energy, the vibe, everyone reacting en masse to what’s happening on the screen. There’s honestly nothing quite like it.

Seriously, bravo to that young projectionist. He did the Lord’s work that day.

While Others Love It When They’re Alone With No Distractions

For some cinephiles, being able to get absorbed in a movie and what’s happening on screen without the distractions of a crowd has proved a transcendent experience for them. Details they might have missed when turning to a friend to gauge their reaction were right there to absorb and appreciate to the fullest extent.

On a personal note, two of my favorite movie experiences were when I went to a movie alone. A few years ago, I watched a matinee of Hereditary. I already knew what to expect, but the handful of strangers in the theater that day did not. The collective gasp during the scene when she’s crouched in the shadows on the ceiling and everyone finally noticed almost made me laugh aloud.

The second memory is when I was 18 and I randomly went to the movies by myself for the first time ever to see The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. I discovered that day how cool it could be to watch a movie alone and experience it without any external input.

Or Appreciating The Movies That Come Along At The Perfect Moment In One’s Life

Movies are tied to memory. Sometimes, a film comes along at the exact time you need it most and it’s cathartic and healing. And at others, you see a movie at a pivotal, formative time in your life and you’re never quite the same after.

For me, that movie was Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, and I’ve written about that experience before.

Sometimes, It’s Not About The Movie At All But The Other People In The Audience

Some people prefer to see their movies alone. Some in a crowd. But there’s no denying that people-watching at a movie can be a highly entertaining experience.

As the wise philosopher Keanu Reeves once said, “I love movies. Gosh, I love movies.”

So do we, man. So do we.