American things

I had guessed that the British meaning of "theatres" might be more strictly applied to the stage.

Solely applied.

Hmmmmm. I don't think saying "in theatres" like that is a US thing? It would be said on a trailer/movie poster because the movie in question is being shown in many theatres across the country but if talking about a movie I saw I wouldn't say theaters plural and can't say I've heard it. In this instance I'd say, for example, "I saw that one in the theater when it came out". Always singular.

I haven't heard the plural used like that either.

I have!

Did they spell it like that too?

"i saw that in theaters"

About 38,800 results (0.68 seconds)

I was just trying to keep the spelling consistent with wins' original post.

Jay - really? It sounds completely wrong and weird and genuinely I don't think I have ever heard anyone say that.

You can only say "I saw it in theaters" if you saw it more than once in more than one theater.

— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) December 13, 2019

You've heard people say I saw that in theatres? At "the movies" maybe but "in theatres"? Sounds weird. Maybe regional but I still think it's only mostly used in advertising.

But that person is right. Maybe if you saw one move multiple times you could say that but it still sounds wrong.

Multiple times in multiple theaters as opposed to at the movies then at home etc.

Yes I have heard that. Here is an example from a random message board a few months ago:

I saw it in theaters this past Sunday. It was a good film and made more money than they thought it was going to opening weekend.
 
"This past Sunday" strongly suggests a single viewing.

Weird.

Another one, from a blog:

Memorable not only the first the time I saw it in theaters, but also as one of the first art movies I showed Kira when we started dating (she loved it).

There's an extraneous "the" there, but it's clear he means "the first time I saw it in theaters," which again would mean a single viewing.

One of the last times I saw it in theaters was at my first-ever 4DX screening.

https://www.themarysue.com/so-you-want-to-know-more-about-seeing-a-movie-in-4dx/

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)

So strange. Maybe it is regional like I said. I've never heard it so it's not the norm at least in the northeast.

Do you mean, "at cinema"?

This sounds unbearably pretentious in the US.

Fwiw, I grew up in the western US and usually say “I saw it in the theater.”

But it sounds right to say “That movie is showing now in theaters.”

I’d buy the argument that it’s derived from the “now in theaters” tagline. I’ve said “I saw that in the theater” but I doubt even my seasoned pedantry would cringe if someone said “saw that in theaters”

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

Which would also sound silly or pretentious coming from an American.

Yeah, Americans might use "cinema" to refer to the art form (though even that is a bit hifalutin) but hardly ever to the venue.

one of the largest movie theater chains is Cinemark so I simply say I saw a movie “at Cinemark”

"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