Cinema Dates Are Boring: Here Are 3 Good Alternatives

Who doesn’t like going to the cinema? It’s a great time for the most part, and despite many of us grumbling about a lack of inventive films over the years, there are still hits coming out here and there. It’s been a good summer for movie-goers. However, there is one downside to attending your local multiplex (aside from the growing expense). It’s that dates to the cinema are usually quite boring. At least, for first dates.

That’s because sitting silently, not being able to talk, and only being able to continue the date later in real terms after isn’t a great first impression to have someone, even if the movie is awesome. Now, that’s not a prescription; if you like that, you should go for it! Maybe you’re both complete film buffs anyway. But if you can, enjoying a date outside of the usual cinema date can be a great idea, at least to start.

Here are three good alternatives we believe can get you going, and keep you excited in the best terms:

Theatre Dates

You may wonder why this is considered a massive alternative to cinema, surely you’re still sat down watching a show and not talking? That’s true, but live theatre puts you both in the same room with real people performing right there on stage, so it’s more intimate than a movie screen, and you get to experience something that’s happening just once in that exact way. The intermission is perfect for talking about what you’ve seen so far and perhaps having a small drink as well, which beats trying to whisper during a film and annoying everyone around you.

Most cities have community theatres or smaller venues doing interesting work so you can see something truly off the wall. You can even use broadway.com’s services to make certain you’re getting reliable tickets to the big show. Theatre is also known for breaking boundaries, so you can dress up a little if you want to, or just show up as you are, and be dazzled by the whole event.

Active Dates

Get active! Bowling is classic for a reason, mini golf gets you laughing at each other’s terrible shots, and walking through a farmers market gives you plenty to comment on and try together. Rock climbing gyms are surprisingly approachable for beginners (you don’t have to be great at it) and you end up cheering each other on too. You might feel insecure, but it’s a fantastic way to figure out if you can feel comfortable with someone else or not.

If the weather’s decent, hiking is good too, and often promotes real conversations without a weird pressure of staring at each other across a table. Cooking classes work well in that vein as well, because you’re both learning something new and probably making mistakes together. As you can see, the best thing about active dates is they’re entirely warts-and-all human, and great fun too..

Fun Competition Dates

Light competition shows you how someone handles themselves under a little pressure and if they’re a good sport. There’s loads of pop up places like this now, for example, arcade bars, as beating someone at air hockey or skee ball is weirdly satisfying. Pool halls work the same way, and most people are terrible at pool anyway so the playing field is pretty level.

Trivia nights at bars let you team up against other people, which can be more fun than competing against each other directly. Axe-throwing is good, and board game cafes have tons of options depending on whether you want to work together or try to crush each other at strategy games. Escape rooms force you to problem solve as well. All of this can be a blast, so don’t be afraid to be creative.

We hope you have a great first date. Just try to do something more than the movies, and have a great time!