Most people enjoy going to the movies and some also enjoy going to the theater. There are more than 5,000 movie theaters in the United States and many areas of the country have a variety of theaters that are home to live shows. Most movie theaters start their viewings in the late morning or early afternoon with the last viewing later in the evening. Different theaters have varied schedules depending on what is showing.
Tickets
A matinee is an afternoon show, which usually falls between noon and 5 p.m. An adult matinee can sometimes mean the distinction between the price of a ticket for an adult and the price of a ticket for a child. Matinees are often a few dollars cheaper than the regular evening prices, so when it's referred to as an "adult matinee" that refers to the price an adult will pay for an afternoon viewing.
Viewings
Some independent theaters will hold adult matinees that are intended for adults only so that they can view a film without the distraction of children. Large movie chains don't have adult matinees in this sense.
Live Theater
Most live theater shows are also referring to ticket price when it comes to adult matinee. Theaters that hold live performances will also usually have cheaper tickets for the afternoon shows.
Matinees
A lot of people enjoy matinees because they are usually less crowded and less expensive. Weekend matinees are naturally more crowded than during the week. Depending on the theater, you may have the experience of sharing the theater will very few people, or possibly no one.