go to a movie/ go to movies

[WUKEN]

Hello, teachers:
I am wondering if I can say "go to a movie" .

I want to go to movies with Mary.

Can I also say:
I want to go to a movie with Mary.

Is it the same meaning?
Thanks for your clarification.

[engee30]

Hello, teachers:
I am wondering if I can say "go to a movie" .

I want to go to the movies with Mary.

Can I also say:
I want to go to a movie with Mary.

Is it the same meaning?
Thanks for your clarification.

Going to a movie is just like saying going to a match, in order to see it.

[Daruma]

Hello.

I think you should say "go to see a movie" instead of "go to a movie".

movie noun (especially NAmE)
1 [C] a series of moving pictures recorded with sound that tells a story, shown at the cinema/movie theater film: to make a horror movie Have you seen the latest Tarantino movie? a famous movie director / star
2 the movies [pl.] = the cinema (2): Let’s go to the movies.
3 the movies [pl.] = cinema (3): I’ve always wanted to work in the movies.

[engee30]

Hello.

I think you should say "go to see a movie" instead of "go to a movie".

You don't usually say that you want to go to see a match/concert/movie, do you? The verb see is obvious and taken for granted.

[Daruma]

Can I ask why "go to see a movie" isn't good?

Harry A. Blackmun: the outsider justice - Google ƒuƒbƒNŒŸ�õ
The desperately poor almost never go to see a movie, which the majority seems to believe is an almost weekly activity. They have more important things to do ...

Weekly World News - Google ƒuƒbƒNŒŸ�õ
Then every Critics Association from Los Angeles to New York weighs in with their awards, making us feel like cheap thrill-seekers if we go to see a movie ...

Hollywood in wide angle: how ... - Google ƒuƒbƒNŒŸ�õ
You're told, "Nobody would go to see a movie about grief, or sacrifice." But they do. Jonathan Rosenbaum, film critic of the Chicago Review, ...

[engee30]

Can I ask why "go to see a movie" isn't good?

Harry A. Blackmun: the outsider justice - Google ƒuƒbƒNŒŸ�õ
The desperately poor almost never go to see a movie, which the majority seems to believe is an almost weekly activity. They have more important things to do ...

Weekly World News - Google ƒuƒbƒNŒŸ�õ
Then every Critics Association from Los Angeles to New York weighs in with their awards, making us feel like cheap thrill-seekers if we go to see a movie ...

Hollywood in wide angle: how ... - Google ƒuƒbƒNŒŸ�õ
You're told, "Nobody would go to see a movie about grief, or sacrifice." But they do. Jonathan Rosenbaum, film critic of the Chicago Review, ...

I am not saying that it is no good to say go to see a movie. My point is that the verb see is somewhat redundant in such a case.

[wace]

I am not saying that it is no good to say go to see a movie. My point is that the verb see is somewhat redundant in such a case.

I agree with you, engee. It's like saying 'Let's go out to have a meal/ a pizza'. Redundand and unnatural. '
Let's go out for a meal/ a pizza' is what people say.

[Barb_D]

As I see it, the only difference between "go to a movie" and "go to the movies" is that in the first, you may have a specific movie in mind, but in the second, you just want to go out on a date with her.

There's really no major difference.

(And good analogy - you wouldn't say "I'd like to take Mary out to eat a nice dinner." You'd say "I'd like to take Mary out for a nice dinner.")

[WUKEN]

Thanks for all of your clarifications.

the movies [pl.] = the cinema (2): Let’s go to the movies.

As I see it, the only difference between "go to a movie" and "go to the movies" is that in the first, you may have a specific movie in mind, but in the second, you just want to go out on a date with her.

Do I misunderstand what yout meant?
I am wondering if "go to the movies" means not specific film and it is equivalent to "cinema/theater" to native speakers' ear.

May I have your verification?
Thanks a lot!

[bhaisahab]

Thanks for all of your clarifications.


Do I misunderstand what yout meant?
I am wondering if "go to the movies" means not specific film and it is equivalent to "cinema/theater" to native speakers' ear.

May I have your verification?
Thanks a lot!

Yes, in British English we would say 'go to the cinema' if we were not specifying a particular film.