c’vBy Derek Lin — Has walked out of two movies in his life. Does not regret either.
Last updated: May 2026
I have walked out of two movies in my entire life. The first one was Alexander (2004). I made it about 45 minutes. The accents were weird. The battle scenes were boring. The dialogue was strange. I looked at my watch. I looked at my friend. We both nodded. We left.
We went to a diner across the street. Had milkshakes. Talked about what we would rather be doing. That was more fun than the movie.
I felt guilty at first. I paid for the ticket. I should finish what I paid for. But then I thought: I am not getting that time back. The money is gone. The time is not.
I walked out of another movie a few years later. The Happening (2008). I am a fan of bad movies. This was not bad in a fun way. This was boring. I left.
I do not regret either walkout.
What I Learned About Walking Out
Sunk cost is a trap.
I paid for the ticket. That money is gone whether I stay or leave. Staying does not get it back. It just costs me time.
Not every movie is for you.
Some movies are for other people. That is fine. You do not have to finish them.
Walking out is not failure.
Walking out is making a choice about how to spend your time. That is not failure. That is wisdom.
When I Stay (And When I Go)
| I Stay | I Walk |
|---|---|
| If I am curious where it is going | If I am bored and do not care |
| If it is slow but beautiful | If it is slow and ugly |
| If I am with someone who is enjoying it | If everyone is miserable |
| If I paid a lot for the ticket | The money is gone either way |
What I Am Not Saying
I am not saying you should walk out of every movie that is not perfect. Some movies take time to get good.
I am not saying walking out makes you cool. It does not.
I am just saying: I used to feel obligated to finish every movie I started. Now I do not. Life is too short to watch movies you hate.
A Small Suggestion
Next time you are watching a movie and you are miserable, ask yourself: what would I rather be doing? If the answer is anything other than “watching this movie,” leave.
You do not get a prize for finishing.
The Bottom Line
I walked out of Alexander in 2004. I had a milkshake instead. I do not regret it.
The movie was not for me. The milkshake was.
About the author: Derek Lin walks out of movies now. Not often. But when he does, he does not feel bad.
This article is for entertainment purposes. You do not have to finish every movie. Your time is yours.
