6 Rules To Movie Hopping

Movie-hopping: The art of seeing more than the one movie that you paid for.

Anybody who knows me knows how much I enjoy going to the movies, that is when there aren’t rude people in the theatre, but I’ll talk about that on another post. Being that movies don’t stay in town for all that long anymore, and that some movies are essential viewing in theatres only, it is only natural that I would movie-hop. Plus, why pay $30 for 3 movies, when I can pay $6 for all 3? If you are going to movie-hop, do it safely and be sure to keep these 6 rules in mind.

Rule 1: Come early and check your schedule times prior to entering the multiplex and know all your possible movie paths, like how much time you have until the next movie starts.

Rule 2: Once in the multiplex, if having arrived early, be sure to take a stroll around and see what films are playing in what theatres. You don’t want to be wandering around the halls in between movies, trying to figure out what theatre to enter. You run the risk of drawing attention to yourself and potentially being busted.

Rule 3: While hopping from film to film, do not speak too loud about the film you just saw to draw attention to yourself. You want to blend in with your surroundings. I find that seeing a spy flick first helps me get into that state of mind.

Rule 4: In between films you should go to the bathroom, even if you don’t have to. This is key for 2 reasons:
1. If a security guard or Cineplex employee spots you leaving the bathroom and briskly walking or trotting to the next theatre they will probably assume that you don’t want to miss the start of the film. If they see you walking briskly or trotting from a direction other than the entrance or bathroom, than consider yourself busted!
2. For the obvious reason that even though you don’t have to go now, you probably will at a crucial point of the film, which will also be around the time that your energy drink is readied to be recycled. That brings me to rule number

Rule 5: Pack your own lunch and plenty of hydrated liquid beverages. Being that you are movie-hopping in order to save money, packing your own lunch and snacks should be a no-brainer. It should also be a no-brainer to carry this stuff in a purse or back-pack. If you’re foolish enough to have your food in a paper bag or a lunch box, then consider yourself busted!

Rule 6: Never hop into a movie that has the potential to be sold out. It wouldn’t be wise to say hop into Avatar or Inception on opening day. If you insist on hopping into one of these films, I recommend waiting until the theatre fills up before entering. Be prepared to either sit in the very first row or even possibly the aisle. Not an aisle seat, but the actual aisle.