“When I first moved to the UK, I would go to the cinema by myself two, three times a week,” wrote film critic Rafa Sales Ross in a now-viral thread. “It was the only activity I felt comfortable doing alone since it was a familiar space regardless of where it was in the world. How vile to shame people into believing it isn’t socially acceptable.”

She added: “Many who might enjoy a solo cinema trip but are self-aware about it might stumble upon such a headline and feel disheartened. Why frame it as such? It is asking for controversy and empty engagement while failing to offer any meaningful reflection on the topic.”

Paul Ridd, head of acquisitions at Picturehouse, also chimed in: “Going to the cinema alone is fucking awesome and should be celebrated widely as the practice of the legendary. What a dismal drag to shame people for it.”

In defence of going to the cinema alone – for whatever reason you want