How to Convince Your Parents That You Are Responsible Enough to Go to the Movies Unsupervised

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Last Updated: December 4, 2025

Have you ever wanted to scream because your parents treat you like a 6-year-old? Well, scream no more, because these quick and easy steps will give you more freedom than you ever imagined possible.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Asking your parents

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If you have a history of sneaking out, getting bad grades, or doing other things you shouldn't be doing, stop doing them! You need your parents to trust you, after all, and the better your track record, the more trust you will build. If you already have a good track record, go above and beyond to make it even better! If you got a B on your last test, get an A on the next one, for example.
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Research the movie you want to see. Some movies have objectionable content in them, possibly resulting in your parents saying no. Look for the rating, and read some parents' guides to see if there is anything your parents may object to.
- Date is also an important factor. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, many movies were given PG ratings that today would be rated PG-13 or R for the lack of a more suitable rating.^{[1]
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Your parents' mood will play a factor when they decide whether or not to let you go, so ask at a good time for everybody. If you have just been punished, got a bad grade, or your parents are dealing with something else stressful, wait until they are happy.
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Plan your argument. Think about why you must go without your parents. Why should they let you? How much will it cost? What will you say? Think about what concerns they might have, and think of solutions to potential problems. Plan all of these ahead of time, and practise them with a mirror, or with a friend, so you are prepared for when you ask your parents for real.
- If you have previously gotten in trouble when your parents let you go out on your own, explain that you have learnt from the experience and understand why it was wrong.
Keeping in line with the previous step, ask your parents if you can go see the movie. Tell them what movie you want to see, when you want to see it, why you want to go on your own, and who else is there. Make sure you talk to your parents with respect when asking, and listen and respond to any questions they may ask.
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Explain why you want to go on your own. If you ask to go without supervision, your parents might ask, Why? Explain your reasoning, and explain the benefits (reduced cost). Going to the movies unsupervised can help you build independence and make good decisions (essential skills for a successful adult life). Surely your parents can get on board with that, at least.
- Depending on what movie you want to see and how old you are, you might need to be accompanied by a parent, so keep this in mind.
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Give them time to make a decision. It is normal that your parents may not want to answer right away, especially if they are strict, so explain that you don't need an answer right now and that they can take their time to make a decision (within reason). This maturity may impress your parents, helping your chances of getting a positive answer.
- Make sure your parents are reasonable with how long they take to decide; they shouldn't take a month to decide on an answer.
- If your parents haven't said no, but refuse to answer, this is a sign that if they do answer, the answer is probably no.
Your parents will probably have a few questions that they want answered before making a decision, so do your best to answer them. They might ask what movie, what rating, who will be there, why you want to go alone, when you will be back, how much money it will cost, if there will be alcohol, or more. Answer all of these questions truthfully; don't say you will be home at 8 pm if you know the movie lasts until 10 pm.
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Keep behaving yourself. After you ask your parents, if they don't give an immediate answer, make sure to be on your best behavior to give yourself the best chances of them saying yes. Continue doing chores, stay out of trouble at school, etc. Pouting, rebelling, or otherwise misbehaving will only make your parents want to say no, so don't do it.
Compromise. If your parents say no, try to compromise with them. Compromising is an essential skill that shows maturity, so doing so will impress your parents and will help show that you are responsible. Offer to be back by a certain time, or to let them drive you there instead of walking or getting public transportation. Make sure to be reasonable when compromising; the goal is to show responsibility, after all, so make sure your compromises prove responsibility, not take it away.
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Suggest they pre-screen the movie. If your parents are concerned that the movie you wish to see might be inappropriate, suggest they watch it first, then decide whether you can see it and, if so, whether they allow you to go on your own.
- This could backfire; your parents might pre-screen it and decide that it is inappropriate for you and not let you go.

Part 2

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Turning a "no" into a "yes"

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It is normal for you to be frustrated that your parents said to. You might feel like they are babying you and never let you do anything, but try your best not to make this obvious to your parents; otherwise, they will see that they are getting on your nerves! Be respectful and accept their answer, even if you try to change their minds later. Being rude to your parents is a sure-fire way to guarantee that they won't change their minds, so don't do it! Avoid name-calling, swearing, begging, or whining.
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Ask why they said no. Most likely, your parents have a reason for saying no. Ask them why, and take into account their answer when planning your next move. If your parents refuse to give a reason for saying no, or say "Because I said so", try to figure out on your own why they might have said no. They could be concerned about ratings, how late it will last, or something else entirely.
- Think about previous things your parents said no to. Do they tend to say no to expensive things, or something that will go on beyond a certain time? Use these to your advantage.
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Think of solutions to their concerns. If your parents gave a reason for saying no to you, now is the time to think of a solution to those reasons. Are they concerned that you will drink alcohol? Explain that movie theaters are required to check ID when selling alcoholic beverages and will refuse to serve anyone under the legal drinking age. If they are worried about you getting lost, let them track you on your phone (apps like Find My or Life360 are good for this).
- Sometimes, your parents might not have a particular reason for saying no. They might just not want you to go, sometimes for no reason.
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Wait a while before asking again. Instead of constantly nagging your parents, begging them to change their minds, you should wait at least a few weeks before asking again. If you beg every day for weeks, they will probably say no. When you do ask, make sure they are in a good mood.
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Listen to their compromises. They might change their mind under certain conditions, so if they suggest any, make sure to accept them (within reason). At the end of the day, your goal is to watch a movie, so while not all compromises are ideal or even fair for you, it is probably in your best interests to accept them.
- As stated previously, compromises shouldn't remove opportunities for you to prove responsibility.
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Suggest a trial run. Your parents may hesitate to let you go to the movies unsupervised, especially if it is your first time going somewhere unsupervised, so suggest a trial run. You can go this time, and if you misbehave, you have to be supervised next time. This might persuade your parents to let you go, as they have security.
If you do not currently do anything else yourself, start doing things yourself! Walk to school instead of having your parents drive you (if possible), do your own laundry, cook your own food, etc. Starting with smaller things and building your way up to going to the movies unsupervised can show responsibility and give opportunities to build trust with your parents.
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Prove that saying yes is the right answer. If your parents say yes, now you need to prove to them that they made the right decision. If you say you will be back by a certain time, make sure you are. If you let them track you, don't turn off location services. Proving that they made the right decision will help you get the things you want in the future!
Despite your best efforts, your parents may still say no. If this happens, it is important to accept the answer respectfully. Avoid cussing, whining, or anything else immature. All of these are likely to prove to your parents why saying no is the correct answer, which is not what you need. Yes, it is disappointing that they said no, but try to move on from the experience, and maybe wait until you are a bit older.

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Tips

Offer to help with dinner, take care of little siblings, or do something else around the house.

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Make sure you don't start whining; you want to sound responsible.

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Act well-behaved and mature.

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