American things

"at the cinema" not "at cinema"

American English may be unique in referring to a movie house as a “theater.” Every other language I can think of uses a form of “cinema.”

obviously i'm pro-wins in this discussion -- i daren't be otherwise -- but the qualification in "the first time I saw it in theaters" might simply be impliying that he's since seen it in other theatres (or that he thinks it not impossible that one day he will)

This isn't quite convincing to me. You wouldn't say "The first time I ate at restaurants," you'd say "the first time I ate at a restaurant."

Yes, it probably is.

It's still at "the theatre" just like it is "at the cinema" here if you're talking about something you've seen yourself. These internet people are wrong.

I now believe some people say this but they're wrong and probably midwestern ;).

shorthand for "i saw it when it was being widely screened in theaters across the country." sounds normal to me and makes sense. i'm in the southeast US

so maybe it's southern

But so is Pleasant Plains so who knows

Here it means operating room btw and I work at a hospital so I actually use "in theatres" all the time when talking about surgeons etc and it still sort of sounds like they're acting at surgery to me.

You wouldn't say "The first time I ate at restaurants," you'd say "the first time I ate at a restaurant."

well, the distinction shd be between "The first time I ate in restaurants," you'd say "the first time I ate at a restaurant," and i think ppl sometimes would and do say the first, but it depends on the context: is this an anecdote just solely about that first time (second usage) or is it an anecdote contrasting or connecting the first time to subsequent times. i agree it;s a bit unusual but i don't think its actively odd in the wins sense (which seems to have an implied set of quotemarks round it)

This discussion has so confused me that now I’m not actually sure I’ve ever said “I saw it in theaters” or not. I have heard it for sure though and I don’t think I even would notice if someone said it.

surely “at cinema” is the british way of acknowledging being at a movie is a state of being, like being “in hospital”

― ɥɯ ︵ (°□°) (mh), Wednesday, November 22, 2023 9:48 AM (thirty minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

This was me trying to make a joke.

correct usage in the UK is "attended a magic lantern exhibition"

real hedz say "in phenakistiscopes"

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Prof._Stampfer%27s_Stroboscopische_Scheibe_No._X.gif/440px-Prof._Stampfer%27s_Stroboscopische_Scheibe_No._X.gif

thanks now i'm sat here fixated on the little men

I am pretty sure I say “I saw that in theatres”. The relevant distinction is seeing something in theatres vs seeing it at home

homes

American English may be unique in referring to a movie house as a “theater.” Every other language I can think of uses a form of “cinema.”

How many other variations of English did you think through?

Seeing a single movie more than one time in theaters might also be more common in America, but I don't have any data to support that

Silby - rather than "the theatre"? Are you from the West coast? I'm gonna figure this out.

theater oops

How many other variations of English did you think through?

Oh, hey there (again). I said "other languages," i.e., not English. The Romance languages with which I am familiar all use their form of "cinema." Russian and German, too. Even Japanese.

But I appreciate your jumping on me (again).

I was riffing on the “at cinema” joke but not well

ENBB I’m originally from northern VA

I've heard people from various parts of the country talk about "going to the movies."

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZjM4ZGNlZWEtOGUwNi00ZDAxLWIxZDktZWQ4NWViNGQ1NzA2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTIxMDUyOTI@._V1_.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDz4_AwfeaI

I said "other languages," i.e., not English

seems a pretty American thing to not consider non-American forms of things, good OT

"The movies" is completely different.

"The movies" is fine. It feels old timey but not wrong.

"I saw ET at the movies." Acceptable.
"I saw ET in theaters." Not acceptable unless you saw it in more than one movie theater.

"Only in theaters" means "It will be a while before it gets to Netflix, so get off your ass and drive over to the AMC / Regal / multiplex / whatever. Also, buy some popcorn and a bucket of Pepsi."

I usually say "I saw it in the theater", usual response is "who gives a fuck and also do I know you"

x-post yeah but it what it really means is that it is currently in many theatres at once!

seems a pretty American thing to not consider non-American forms of things, good OT

Seriously, WTF. I made an offhand post thinking mostly about the other languages with which I am familiar. But you do you.

When I have seen a movie in a theater (or when I want to) I am more likely to say "on a big screen" or "on the big screen" or maybe "in a theater."

I am unlikely to say "cinema" or even "film," Because the last four things I saw were Barbie, Paw Patrol, Mario, and Minions.

Calling those pieces of entertainment "film" or "cinema" seems a trifle pretentious.

I would never say “on the big screen” unless I were being ironic

"I saw it in the spheres"

totally say "on the big screen," it's fun and specifically informative

btw did you see the Cinerama is being brought back with a very stupid name

Seriously, WTF. I made an offhand post thinking mostly about the other languages with which I am familiar. But you do you.

very American thing to get mad when someone asks a genuine question and the answer suggests to oneself a vague degree of unconsideration, great OT

Where I'm from they say films not movies, and they see those "at the pictures".

so maybe it's southern

― Benson and the Jets (ENBB), Wednesday, November 22, 2023 9:06 AM bookmarkflaglink

But so is Pleasant Plains so who knows

― Benson and the Jets (ENBB), Wednesday, November 22, 2023 9:06 AM bookmarkflaglink

I reiterate I haven't heard "saw it in theatres," but who knows. I do live in the land of going to Krogers or to Walmarts.

Right I meant it might be a southern thing but maybe not since you are also a southern thing and had not heard it!

Omg Walmarts.

btw did you see the Cinerama is being brought back with a very stupid name

Yeah I think I saw they plan to come up with a better name in due course

It's actually "walmarks," but I don't have the energy right now.

Kmarts

I would probably say "I saw that in the theater" but I've definitely heard "in theaters" and it sounds perfectly normal to me.

"in theatres" is not an American thing because we don't spell it "theatres"

I didn’t correct my autocorrect because I’m talking to grownups, we’re aware of us/uk variant spellings and have had our whole lives to come to terms with them, it’s not really worth remarking on

wasn't implying that you aren't aware :)

"I saw ET in theaters." Not acceptable unless you saw it in more than one movie theater.

"I saw ET when it was first in theaters." I hope this is acceptable, because it's how I would say it!

the one I hear all the time is Aldi's, makes me so upset