Despite the individualistic action of sitting silently in a dark room facing a screen, movie-going often serves as an activity for first dates and family outings alike. This thesis explores the notion of group reception among movie-going audiences. While reception theories look to see how individuals interpret a piece of art based on background characteristics and audience studies look at different audience types and modes of viewing, there is a significant gap in our understanding of group reception. In this study, I have filled this gap by bringing in theories of collective behavior. I conducted 12 in depth interviews addressing movie-going experiences, in an effort to understand how seeing films in theaters impacts individuals’ viewing experiences. I argue that rituals of theater-going, audience awareness, and collective reactions are three key components through which audiences can interpret a film collectively. Interestingly, not only does this act of collective reception occur, but it also plays a significant role in enlivening movie-going experiences. These findings speak to the broader significance of how being part of a group can dramatically impact one’s personal experience.