Age for first trip to the movie theater?

[aristocatz]

Thank you! We are thinking of taking her to see Zootopia-don't know much about the movie, it's just the current Disney movie & seems pretty popular.

We would take her to a matinee. She is generally very well behaved & has the attention span of...well, a 3 year old Whispering would be a newer concept for her. At home when she watches movies (Frozen & Tangled are the only movies she seeks out), she definitely does not sit through the whole movie. We would be totally fine leaving if she was having a tough time. I just don't want to disrupt everyone else....I guess it would just be a theater filled with other little kids though, right?

 

[Snap Crackle Pop]

Thank you! We are thinking of taking her to see Zootopia-don't know much about the movie, it's just the current Disney movie & seems pretty popular.

We would take her to a matinee. She is generally very well behaved & has the attention span of...well, a 3 year old Whispering would be a newer concept for her. At home when she watches movies (Frozen & Tangled are the only movies she seeks out), she definitely does not sit through the whole movie. We would be totally fine leaving if she was having a tough time. I just don't want to disrupt everyone else....I guess it would just be a theater filled with other little kids though, right?

Even if its a movie theater full of kids there are people there who want to actually enjoy the movie and not have kids disrupt them. If you think your daughter can't handle it or is becoming antsy sit at the end of the row so you can leave with her. Maybe practice the whole whispering thing before you go to the movie theater.

 

[Caskett616]

I think it depends on the kid and on the movie, like others have said. I'd certainly check it out before I spent the money.

 

[tomatecerise]

3 Disney movie but i fall asleep and don't remember the title.

 

[low-key]

This doesnt really answer your question but the first movie I took my daughter to see was Pocahontas (Im guessing she was 4-5) the movie still has a warm place in my heart

 

[China Expat]

Thank you for asking this question. At the theater near my home, parents bring their kids of all ages (even under age 5) to see vile films filled with violence, gore, sex and foul language. No wonder so many young people are immune to violence.

 

[HM]

Three was too soon for my kids.
I took my son to Toy Story. We had to leave shortly after Sid, the bad kid next door, came on screen as he was frightening my son. We didn't know how that movie ended for months because back then movies didn't get to VHS tape until at 6-8 months later.
Our family went to see Hercules when my DD was three. She could not sit still long enough. We had to move to the back of the theater, so she could go up and down our aisle of seats and not disturb anyone. Luckily she was quiet. By the time Tarzan came out, she was ready to sit through a whole movie.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I think it's a good age to give it a try but be prepared to leave if it's too much for your DD to sit quietly through the movie.

That's what happened when I went with my sister to take her kids (almost 3 & 4 years old). It was an age appropriate movie (madagascar 3? they had seen the other ones) in small theater with not too many people so we sat away from them, the kids had snacks and were fine for a while but then the little one was getting too antsy so we left about half way through. We considered it a victory. After a few more tries, they were both fine.

 

[BLAZEY]

DD was 2 in 2011 when the Winnie the Pooh movie came out. We went to a matinee with my mum. She loved it. Now almost 7 she loves going to the movies.
Movie theatre doesn't charge until age 3, even then sometimes the didn't charge for her when we went even though we had planned on paying for her.

 

[L&Lfan]

We had been to drive-ins before, but the first time I went to the movie theater I was 6 and I still have memories of the experience.

 

[Planogirl]

DS was about that age but I was prepared to leave if he couldn't behave and sit still.

 

[strat68]

As long as the child can sit and watch QUIETLY without talking the while time. I took our oldest at age 4 to the Lion King, no problems. Years later at one of the Harry Potter movies some dad took 2 very (too) young girls who talked and yelled the first 10 minutes (reacting to some of the scary stuff) until most of the audience told him to take the kids out. He finally left.

 

[Kogo Shuko]

My city has something called "Stars and Strollers" which is a baby friendly environment.

https://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/StarsAndStrollers


I myself have never been in this situation (I am not a mother), but the Star and Strollers environment is a safe haven for parents who want to bring younger children. If they cry, they cry; it's to be expected. The lights aren't fully turned off, just dimmed. If I ever do have children, I plan on utilizing this service until my children are old enough and calm enough to sit quietly through a movie.


Zootopia MIGHT be a big scary... I wouldn't think of bringing my BF's 8 year old son to see it, as there were a few spots where he'd be terrified. Mind you, he scares extremely easy. I found Zootopia to be geared more toward adults, to be honest. With all the underlying messages it portrayed. I LOOOVED it though.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

5
It was a Disney movie
if I say the title -it dates me )

If it was the original run of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, then congratulations on being an internet user.

 

[powellrj]

Mine was also a Disney movie, Son of Flubber, but I don't remember it.

We took the grandkids to see Zootopia today ( 7 & 9) and they both loved it, but there were a couple of kids down from us that were too young and were disruptive.

 

[Madame]

My DS were 4 & DD 6. Our first movie was Frozen. No problems sitting through it.

We saw Zootopia this week-end & half way through I was wondering if it would hold my DS' attention at 6. They were fine, but this movie wouldn't be my choice for 3-5 year olds. Not a lot of music. Littles seem to like musical numbers in movies IME. 'Complicated' plotline. Some scary moments that made my DD almost 9 jump in the seat. YMMV.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I agree with previous posters that Zootopia might not be the best choice for a really little one. A few parts could be very scary. It's an excellent film, but probably best for older kids and adults.

My first time to the movie theater was when I was three, to see The Little Mermaid. I don't remember the experience, but my mom tells me I was terrified of Ursula.

 

[puffkin]

We go to the movies quite a bit, we see most of the kids movies and some others as well. Both kids were about 2 or just shy of it for their first movie...older DS was Wall-E and younger was Planes Rescue and Fire. My youngest gets drug to a lot more movies that might be a bit more questionable because of having an older brother. We did see Goosebumps and he had just turned 3 and he did great at that one. We did see Zootopia last weekend and both kids did get kind of bored at it towards the end. It wasn't really what I expected, it was just ok.

 

[HM]

Movie theatre doesn't charge until age 3, even then sometimes the didn't charge for her when we went even though we had planned on paying for her.

That is not the case at any theater in my area.