As someone who heavily consumes film and TV shows from the comfort of their own home, I have to say I’m biased when it comes to the decision of a theater or my couch.

That being said, the joy that sparks in my gut from watching something for the first time has been snuffed out by everything being at my own disposal.

I can check my phone, rewind, pause, and process the content without a problem—but the media loses my focus as soon as I have the ability to control my watch experience.

Watching Marvel‘s Infinity War in deafening silence without accompaniment of the audience’s ferocious roars as hundreds of beloved characters pour out of portals and into our line of view is quite frankly, depressing.

The surround sound that drowns out distractions and other systems is unrivaled, while my living room features my family arguing about what the name of the onscreen actor’s spouse is.

I haven’t set foot into a movie theater since 2019, so the surreal cinematic feeling is almost foreign. 

As much as I love the convenience of never leaving to find something good to watch, I feel it derails the romantic aspect of watching such a beautiful work.