There are two types of boring movies the ones you know are boring before you even press play, and the ones that pretend to be entertaining until they betray you halfway through. The first kind? Manageable. You’re mentally prepared. The second? That’s where the real pain lies.
But let me rewind.
Sleeping during movies didn’t start in adulthood. Back in childhood, I’m sure I dozed off while watching a few. Not because the films were boring, but because sleep was stronger than cinema. The worst part? Sleeping through a movie at that time meant you might never see it again. No streaming, no YouTube, no reruns. Just… gone. You’d miss scenes your friends would talk about forever. That nap wasn’t just costly it was cinematically tragic.
Fast forward to college the CD era. The movie Maine Dil Tujhko Diya became my first official “I-slept-during-this-out-of-boredom” titleholder. I remember popping in the CD, starting the movie, and somewhere between the hero’s entry and the emotional ballad, I was out cold. But that time missing a movie wasn’t a big deal. You could resume it tomorrow. CDs were easy. No buffering, no login, no bill.
Compare that to today watching a movie on Netflix demands high-speed internet, a subscription, HD monitors, and maybe even a soundbar. We’ve turned a simple watch into a full-on tech investment. And we still sleep halfway through some of them.
Then came my most deluxe nap experience: Black Panther Wakanda Forever in theatres. Recliner seat? Check. AC just right? Check. Warm jacket that felt like a blanket? Check. Add a mid-week evening show and a movie that stretched longer than it should’ve I didn’t stand a chance. I slept for more than 30 minutes straight. Not a blink-and-back nap. This was proper REM sleep.
Meanwhile, my friend (Please check the comments, he might validate this story) who came along? He gave up too not to sleep, but to his phone. He spent the entire runtime playing mobile games. We were two people who paid a small fortune to do anything but watch the movie.
Now the numbers: the ticket was NRs. 1200 per person. Add coffee, popcorn, nachos, and a roll, and we spent nearly NRs. 5000 for what turned out to be my most expensive nap ever. Worth it for the sleep, maybe. Not so much for the story.
Experience:- The most expensive nap of my life in terms of the money I paid for.
But I’ll give it this at least I knew halfway through the movie that it wasn’t worth it. That’s the thin line. When you don’t know a movie is boring and it slowly drains the life out of you that’s betrayal. When you do know and still go for it? That’s on you.
And yet… here I am, being Rustam Khadka again.
There’s this new movie called Sikandar. The early whispers? It’s boring. Dull. Might even be a complete waste of time.
And guess what?
I’m still planning to go watch it.
Now I know what you’re thinking going to watch Sikandar sounds crazy, right? Main to superman, Salman ka Fan? No. But call me crazy. Call me a die-hard fan who just loves the whole movie theatre experience the big screen, the recliner seat, the sound system, the snacks, the vibe. And honestly? I like to form my own opinion. If the world says it’s boring, fine. But let me find out for myself. If I doze off again or spend a fortune just to confirm what others already said that’s okay. I knew the risk.
Maybe Sikandar will surprise me.
Probably not.
But at least this time, I know.
I think, never ever the word “Sikandar” has used so poorly ! By the way “…let me find out for myself…” that’s me too 🫣
Best part about me: I don’t even remember the story 😂 I put my system on watch and forget. I can re-watch and sleep again.
😂😂 totally nailed…… I feel like I am saying my say…. Great writing.
Wakanda Forever had me so bored, I ended up re-downloading a game I quit years ago—like full-on “Hey stranger…” to my old save file. At least something exciting was finally happening… even if it was just me getting wrecked by the same boss for the tenth time.