Midnight Movie Madness

Written by Julia Seiden

Teens all around the world have wanted to have the opportunity to stay up late and be the “first” to see a newly anticipated movie. It may seem like a good idea that night, but is it really worth the terrible tired feeling the next day?

Big midnight movie premiers were usually books before like Twilight, Harry Potter, and now the Hunger Games. Having the movie be book before means that most everyone knows what is going to happen in the 2 hours version of the 300 paged book. So why are people so excited to go see what they already know? “I think it is the anticipation of seeing how the director makes it play out.” sophomore Cecilia Kurlbaum said.

In most cases the anticipated midnight movie premier is one a Thursday night, meaning there is school the next day, making a tricky or for some, and easy choice for the opportunity to see it “first”.

The movie theater on the plaza by Noodles in Company is filled with both teenage boys and girls waiting in line to get the best seat for “The Hunger Games”. Some even dared to dress up as people of the “Capital”, which is basically just a lot of colors and makeup. The doors open and hundreds of teens go racing up the stairs to reserve entire rows of seats for their friends. Some were frantically calling or texting there friends telling them to get in the theater fast if they want a chance to see every centimeter of the screen.

“I don’t really think it matters if there is school the next day, if it is planned to be a good movie, I’m going,” sophomore Emily Tilden said as she waited in line for the Hunger Games premier.
Parents usually play a large role for the decision if their child is allowed to go see a movie so late, especially on a school night.

“If I know about a week in advanced and my daughter can get all of her work and other responsibilities figured out before then, it’s not that big of a deal. They’re young kids, they can deal with being a bit tired the next day,” Chris Bell said.
Some parents don’t see the necessity of seeing the movie at such a late time, “you can see the movie anytime this weekend and be able to pay more attention in school the next day, instead of being tired and useless the day after the midnight movie.” father Doug Seiden said.

Without having school the next day for a three day weekend, going to a movie is something to do on a Thursday night for teenage students.

Tilden may have a swim practice or an algebra test the next day, but after reading the Hunger Games or as she would put it “the best book ever,” her algebra test can be a low B and her Friday swim practice couldn’t be less important at this moment while standing in the aroma of buttery popcorn.

“If I can get my sleep back the next day it’s not that big of a deal, I don’t know why some parents think it is,” Tilden said.

Most teens could care less if they are out of it mentally the next day because of a late night.

“If it is a really important movie I would try to make a point of seeing it for the premier, but if it’s just some average movie it could wait.” Tilden says. “But if we don’t have school the next day I would be more willing to see the movie that night, even for not as anticipated movies such as “The Vow”. I saw that because we didn’t have school the next day.”
More students are saying it is a normal teenage thing to do.

“High school is the time where you actually know actors and movies well, if you don’t have a big test or anything the next day I don’t see any harm in losing a few hours of sleep for some high school fun,” sophomore Liz Orr said.

All in all, it depends on your view, and your parents view, if the movie is really worth being tired the next day. Most teens would rather have the thrill of seeing the movie late at night with a whole bunch of friends than waiting until the weekend when everyone has different weekend plans.

“It’s easier for schedules because most people aren’t busy on Thursday nights at midnight” Kurlbaum said while twirling her deep strawberry blond hair the same way she does daydreaming in class, but now it is being twirled while staring at a poster of Josh Hutcherson or as the Hunger Games would call him “Peeta Mellark”.

Students now a days are heavily influenced on what movie genre it is or what teen pop sensation will be gracing on the screen that night in order to decide if the late night extravaganza is really necessary.

“If it’s supposed to be an awesome movie, I would definitely go to a movie than waste my time sleeping,” sophomore Shaina Stasi said.