Over spring break, I went to the movies for the first time in a while. I was excited. Big screen, popcorn, that whole vibe, but honestly? The whole experience kind of sucked.

Someone behind me kept talking during the trailers, a phone kept on lighting up in the row in front of me mid-movie, and I could hear a baby crying in the theater next door. I’m not even exaggerating.

And this wasn’t some once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was just a chill movie I thought would be fun to see on a random afternoon with my friends. But sitting there halfway through, I couldn’t help but think: why didn’t I just wait a few weeks and watch this at home?

That’s the thing. With streaming now, everything ends up online super fast. You can literally watch a brand new movie from your couch, in pajamas, with whatever snacks you already have at home. No loud strangers. No awkward small talk when you accidentally make eye contact with the person across the aisle. No standing around waiting for the lights to come back on so you can awkwardly shuffle out.

Don’t get me wrong—there’s still something cool about the theater experience. The huge screen, surround sound, the way people cheer or gasp during big scenes… it can be fun. But when you’re dealing with distractions and feeling kind of stuck in your seat, it’s hard to say it’s worth it.

Movie theaters used to feel like an event. Now they feel like a hassle. Maybe for something really exciting I’ll go again. But for most movies? I think I’m sticking with my couch, a blanket, and the “Skip Intro” button.