I’m talking about when you’re in the multiplex, of course. You’d have to be a huge movie dork to refuse to pause a DVD if you’ve really, really gotta pee.
But I’m a huge enough movie dork to refuse to get up in the middle of a multiplex movie, even if I really, really have to pee. I can’t stand to miss a single moment, even of a terrible movie: what if the stuff I miss is the stuff that redeems all the other crap up to that point? And of course the necessity of not slipping out to the necessary during a good movie is even stronger: then I’m sure to miss something good.
(This is all prompted by my buddy Eric Snider, who today highlights, over at Cinematical, a new site called RunPee, which sounds like something the wags at The Onion would come up with, except it’s real.)
Do you get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of a movie?
(If you have a suggestion for a QOTD, feel free to email me.)
pre-Disqus comments
posted by Anne-Kari (Thu May 28 09, 10:39AM)
I always try to make sure I DON'T end up having to go to the bathroom during a movie by going before, not drinking a ton of soda during, etc. And yes I will sit there and wait until the end if I can.
But when I was pregnant? Forget about it. I always had to pee, no matter what - so when I did go to the movies I made sure I sat in an aisle seat in the most empty part of the theater. That way I could sneak out quickly and quietly and not piss off (no pun intended) the other moviegoers.
posted by Count Shrimpula (Thu May 28 09, 10:42AM)
I'm basically the same way. I always make sure to go to the bathroom right before I go in, no matter how little I have to go. I can count on one hand the number of times it's ever gotten bad enough that I actually had to get up. The last time I actually did have to do so was the (first) time I saw the first LOTR movie. Which was, ya know, a very long movie.
posted by Althea (Thu May 28 09, 10:44AM)
I got up to pee during "Ran". Just wasn't prepared for 3 hours, I guess. But also in that theater the restrooms were really close and easy to get in and out of, and no crowds in an art house, so it seemed like a fair bet. Otherwise no, it would take severe desperation to get me to take a potty break. Even if the movie wasn't that good, like you say.
posted by CoriAnn (Thu May 28 09, 11:15AM)
Sigh, I can't do it. I just can't make myself leave during a movie. Even now, I'm 6.5 months pregnant (and going to as many movies as I can before I have the baby and she cuts that experience out of my life for a few years), but I still can't leave during a film. Though I do make sure to make a trip before and beeline straight there after...
posted by Lanna Lee Maheux-Quinn (Thu May 28 09, 11:36AM)
I try to avoid it at all costs. However, I did when I saw Ishtar in the theatre - I had to go very badly, and the movie sucked, so I went. (I still watched the end of the movie because I paid for it, dammit!)
posted by Ryan H (Thu May 28 09, 12:15PM)
No, I don't. I also don't buy the two litre cup of pop to drink during the opening credits. I wonder, could the two be related?
posted by markyd (Thu May 28 09, 12:53PM)
never. I just hate to miss anything. I also tend to stay away from snacking or drinking. I'm just there to see a movie, not consume unhealthy, overpriced snacks and beverages.
I suppose this could be another question of the day. What do you buy at the movies besides a movie ticket? Do you have to have a coke and some whoppers? Are you the guy with the smelly nachos? ugh.
My wife has to at least get a diet coke. sometimes accompanied by a $4 box of candy.
She will get to go if she has to. It annoys me.
posted by bats :[ (Thu May 28 09, 1:49PM)
It has to be a real Potty Emergency for me to do this. I think the last time I ducked out was during a sneak preview of "Edward Scissorhands" (so that was pretty archaic pee...).
posted by Kenny (Thu May 28 09, 1:51PM)
I don't ever get up to pee in the middle of a movie. I went to see The Damned United recently, and basically needed to go from about a third of the way in... haha.. when then credits rolled I hobbled, praactically bent over double, to the toilets.
posted by Ryan (Thu May 28 09, 3:32PM)
I do not. And I don't get anyone else who do go to the bathroom during the movies (unless they are pregnant or have health issues of course). I mean there's no reason why you couldn't just go to the bathroom right before and then hold it in for at most 2 hours.
I usually go towards the end of the advertisements and right before the trailers.
posted by Rob (Thu May 28 09, 5:53PM)
I won't get up, unless it's a desperate situation. And sometimes even then, I won't. When I went to see Titanic, I had to pee terribly about halfway through, which, what with all the running water in that movie, made me extremely miserable. But I also couldn't bring myself to miss a moment. So I spent over an hour and a half in agony, listening to water rushing the whole time.
posted by Matt S. (Thu May 28 09, 6:10PM)
I hate having to, but if it's absolutely necessary, I'll get up and go rather than further disrupt my viewing experience by suffering with an angry bladder. I actually missed about three minutes of T4 last week. My buddy assured me all that happened was some Ironside scenery chewing, so I didn't feel that bad about it. It's not usually a problem, fortunately.
posted by Mel (Thu May 28 09, 6:21PM)
I have never ever gone out in the middle of a movie. Matter of pride. I always go immediately before, and immediately afterwards. I remember, though, once, I went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and five minutes in to the movie I had to go. I held it until the end :P.
posted by Oliver (Fri May 29 09, 3:09AM)
When I went to see Jurassic Park with my family when it was in the cinemas, my little sister, who was 4 at the time, suddenly had to pee. My mother took her to the toilet, meanwhile I was left alone in the cinema, 8 years old. While they were gone the sequence where the guy who stole those vials got eaten in his car played. My mother since watched the film and couldn't remember that sequence, so I told her she was out at the toilets with my sister. It really annoyed her, because that is one of the best scenes in the film.
posted by Drew Ryce (Fri May 29 09, 11:49AM)
(Sigh) As I get closer to 60 the choice is no longer mine to make. I regard it as a Karmic trade off for lower ticket prices for the elderly.
posted by Cate (Fri May 29 09, 4:44PM)
Not since I was 6 and really didn't want to watch the so-scary-what-were-my-parents-thinking mummy movie.
Like commenters above - I plan it out so I don't have to go during the movie.
posted by Victor Plenty (Fri May 29 09, 8:14PM)
Two words: Stadium Pal.
posted by SusanM (Fri May 29 09, 9:23PM)
I NEVER go to the toilet during a movie in the cinema. If it is going to be long one - eg. Return of the King - I will make sure I go right before the movie. In that situation I'll also drink my drink during the second half!
posted by Mathias (Sat May 30 09, 9:56AM)
I made the mistake of odering the extra large coke when i went to see The Matrix Reloaded. By the 1:40 min mark, i had to go badly. But the movie didn't finish for another 30 min. There was no way i was gonna miss witnessing the creator of the Martix just 'cuz i had to pee though.
I remember the moment the movie ended, the moment i saw TO BE CONTINUED.... i bolted for the door. I was in the back aisle and i reached the bottom before the first person in the first aisle.
I stood at the urnial for what seemed like an eternity, certain i had damaged my bladder beyond repair, grunted with effort to get it out. When i finally did, i witness for the first time what i would later come to know as "after-sex pee", with wild and uncontrolled distict streams somehow coming out of one hole. It felt REALLY good.
Sorry for the gory details, but i don't think i'll ever forget it. Now, i make sure to always go before the film starts and to never, ever order the largest size of coke again.