The effect of watching a movie in a theater on me

I'm not quite sure how to describe this, but I'll try...

Does anyone else become somewhat catatonic or have trouble interacting with people after seeing a movie in a movie theater? My imagination seems to become so vivid that I disconnect from the real world for a short time and apparently it's disturbing to other people. It's only movies in movie theaters though, probably because they're so intense. Maybe it's just 3-D movies because I don't remember it being quite as bad before 3-D movies became a really common thing, but I don't know. I don't watch movies that often in the theater. It's probably been happening since I was a kid, just no one worried about it before.

Does anyone relate or have any idea why this happens? Or how I could explain this issue without people assuming I never want to see a movie in the theater again?

Yes, possibly because of the scenes changing so fast(if you're watching an action type movie)and along with that the screen being so large it can affect you. I've heard of the same happening with certain TV shows.

Sometimes I get so into the movie it's like I'm there living it & it takes time to get back into my real world I'm living in. That's when I know a movie has been an outstanding distraction for me.

I find my senses are numb when I re-enter the real world - sound and sight in particular. I don't like the feeling at all.

I have another problem with movie theatres. I get very riled up because of my anxiety about other viewers' poor ettiquette. Everytime I see a cell phone light up I get very angry; and, once a person's has gone off once I spend the entire film convinced it will go off again. I am like that with people who talk through the movies, children not sitting down, etc. The worse for me is people who leave their seats interrupting me in my own (if you had no effing intention of staying in your seat why would you choose the middle?). Anyway, the movie theatre is a major source of irritability and anxiety for me.

How does this relate to being out-of-it following the film? I am just so wound up like a top that the sudden release and wave of the uptight emotion seems to only compound the sense that everything isn't quite real.

I've never heard it described that way but I think that one thing that makes a theater viewing of a movie so much better than a home viewing is that you've come together with others for a specific purpose and, usually, somewhat similar expectations and you're in a dark room with theater-specific sensory experiences. The ads and trailers allow you time to sink into the experience, everyone becomes quieter as the feature is queued and when the feature is showing there can be reactions from your small community that you usually react to as well.

I always stay seated until the credits have run. That gives me time to compose myself for the real world.

I haven't been able to go to a theater to watch a film since 2004. I used to really, really love that feeling of disconnection. The reconnection can be disconcerting but it reminds me of awakening from a nap.

And I have completely different feelings when experiencing a live stage performance. Pretty much dependent on the lighting. Difficult to explain but I usually feel much closer to the actors, particularly if they're really good like a Broadway or West End production.

Just don't ever, ever want to sit through Cats again. Or Starlight Express. I like ALW, but, crimeny, I can only take so much fur licking and roller derby.

Maybe Cats on roller skates.

As I wrote, I've not been to a film in a theater in just over 12 years now. I can imagine that the cell phone misuse has increased during those years... I wouldn't be able to stand even a cell phone light going off. I only got a 'real' smartphone last year. I'm not at a point in my life of needing to feel available at every moment.

I've enjoyed the video revolution with 'home theater' A/V setups, large screen televisions, etc. but I really feel nostalgic for viewing movies in theatres. I've had a few problems with people bringing children into the theater to watch movies that weren't meant for, and were totally inappropriate for, children. When I have complained to management I've usually received 2-for-1 tickets for another viewing because they don't want to say anything to the parents.

I don't remember the middle-of-the-aisle people being a big problem, but I agree with your sentiment; don't chose a middle seat if you've a weak bladder, for instance.

I don't know much about media marketing these days. When I was a kid a film was released, played a week or so at the local theater and then made way for another film. If it was a hit, it was sure to be licensed by one of the three networks. Even if it wasn't a hit. I think that I got my first RCA VHS recorder in 1977? I know that I was in college. I bought it to record the network showing of Nashville.

The time has flown by.

If this is such a common experience, I wonder why it can disconcert others in real life how out of it I am?

I often dissociate in movies, so I don't go to them anymore. I wonder if that is what you are doing?

I don't have any effect during the movie, but it's possible what happens afterwards could be called a mild dissociative state. It's like extreme daydreaming almost and harder to pull out when I need to. Maybe it's because my mind isn't able to daydream during the movie and so it's catching up for lost time?