What would happen if you sat and watched every single movie you could at a theater in a single day? My friend and I, junior Max Sommer, intended on finding out.

The day started out strong at 9:30 a.m. with what we thought would be the worst movie of the day, “Megan.” However, the movie surprised us with its comedy and execution. Turns out the movie’s real killer was its atrocious marketing. 

Then we immediately went into “Puss In Boots” at 12:00 p.m. With great art direction, energizing music and hilarious writing, there was so much talent packed into 100 minutes.

After that was “Fablemans” at 2:00 p.m. Spielberg shows the audience that his life consisted almost entirely of movie tropes. Perhaps that’s why he’s so good at the form?

 “I feel like I watched a series of CliffsNotes for many different movies, but not one was executed,” said Sommer.

By this time it was 4 p.m. and word had already gotten around the building about the stunt we were pulling. A bartender approached us with his sympathies while we were in the lobby. 

“I’ve certainly had my moments of binge watching movies– especially over the pandemic– but to do this much all out in public… I respect that,” he said.

After that short break we went into “Babylon” at 6:00 p.m. There’s something weird about going back into the same theater seats you left an hour ago. Set in 1930’s Hollywood, Babylon was long, somber, action packed and absolutely insane. It was both an effective condemnation and total celebration of filmmaking.

Then came the biopic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” at 10:20 p.m. Before the movie started we talked with another movie-goer named Shaniece Hamilton, who said she was curious about why two white teenagers were watching a movie about Whitney Houston at 10 o’clock on a Saturday night. Hamilton was familiar with Houston’s work and other biopics released about her and enjoyed this movie.

“I loved it. Even though it focused on things we already knew about her, it brought in new things like her relationship with her father and her struggles with anxiety,” said Hamilton.“I liked how they also touched on how she had to hide [her sexuality] in order to preserve her fame. This should have come out before any of the other movies.” 

Max and I agreed, and then we were finally released to the midnight air. We arrived at the theater at 9:30 a.m. on a Saturday and left at 1:20 a.m on a Sunday. It was exhausting but fun. Total hours: almost 16.