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Movie watching

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

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  1. Skip watching movie trailers for films you are already certain you will watch to preserve the surprise of big moments and plot twists.

    Trailers often showcase the best scenes or majority of the arc, which can make the actual viewing feel like you have already seen it; avoiding them allows action scenes and twists to be a complete surprise.

    • Some studies suggest spoilers can increase enjoyment of media.
    • Some people enjoy predicting plot details based on trailers.

    7 people, independently

    • Watch only the first half or start of a trailer (such as the first 30 seconds) to gauge the style while minimizing spoilers.2
    • Watch only one trailer for a movie to stay aware of options without overexposing yourself to spoilers.1
    • Avoid reading reviews after seeing a trailer, as they often reveal significant plot details the trailer omitted.1

  2. Be wary of trailers that show scenes or jokes not present in the actual movie, as this can create false expectations.

    Misleading trailers can ruin the movie by leading to false expectations.

    3 people, independently

  3. Block out sound, shut your eyes, or exit the theater during pre-show trailers to prevent spoilers.

    • People may think this behavior is odd.

    4 people, independently

  4. Be aware that trailers often string together separate clips to seem funny.

    When watching the film, these clips are separate and less funny.

    one person who lived it

  1. Accept that some trailers, particularly for comedies, give away too much of the humor.

    Comedy trailers often use the best jokes, making the film less funny when seen later.

    2 people, independently

  2. Ignore opinions from friends about a movie before watching it to maintain an open mind.

    Hearing that a friend with similar tastes hates a movie clouds your perception, even without spoilers.

    one person who lived it

  3. Accept that watching a director's cut involves minimal risk if you dislike it.

    You haven't lost anything by watching it.

    one person who lived it

  4. View movies as a curated journey of cinematography and atmosphere rather than just plot points to reduce the fear of spoilers.

    Knowing plot details does not ruin the experience unless you are conditioned to think it does; some find understanding characters beforehand improves the movie.

    one person who lived it

1 more on this

  1. Do not read or view movie ratings before watching to avoid subconscious bias affecting your expectations.

    Ratings subconsciously affect expectations instead of allowing an open mind.

    one person who lived it

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