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"The Movie" is the 54th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the 14th episode of the fourth season, and first aired on January 6, 1993 on NBC.^[1] The episode revolves entirely around the characters' struggles to go to see a movie together.

Jerry has two stand-up acts scheduled for the same night; due to a delay in one of them, he cannot make both shows. A hopeful comedian, Buckles, hangs around to fill in when somebody drops out. Jerry intended to meet his friends to see a movie, CheckMate, at 10:30. However, given the situation, he agrees to skip the movie and reschedule his act to the 11:00 slot. Jerry first heads to the earlier scheduled comedy act, only to learn that the act was scheduled for 9:15, not 9:50 as Jerry thought, and Buckles ended up filling his spot. Jerry then heads to the movie theater to inform his friends that he won't accompany them. Buckles insists on sharing the taxicab with Jerry, and irritates Jerry by trying out a new comic routine.

George has been chosen to buy the movie tickets. At the Paragon Theater, George joins the end of a queue. He taps the shoulder of the man in front of him, confirming that he does not have a ticket, which leads him to conclude he is in the line to purchase tickets. Elaine and Kramer join George in line. When Elaine points out that the line is not moving, George gradually discovers that he is in the line to enter the theater. It is now too late to purchase tickets, and they can go instead to see the 10:45 showing at the theater around the corner, Paradise Twin.

Elaine and George purchase tickets at the new theater, while Kramer waits at the Paragon to tell Jerry of the change in plans. However, just before Jerry arrives, Kramer runs over to buy a hot dog at the Papaya King. At the new movie theater, Elaine struggles to save seats for everyone, while George runs afoul of an usher. Both of them end up missing CheckMate and instead watch the erotic movie Rochelle, Rochelle, unaware of one another.

Jerry leaves Paragon and rushes to the 11:00 show, but misses it after being delayed by his taxi driver; Buckles takes over Jerry's spot and the crowd loves his routine. To make up for it, Buckles takes Jerry to Paradise to see Rochelle, Rochelle.

After Elaine rips on Rochelle, Rochelle, Jerry and George discover one another and they leave the movie. Outside, Kramer rejoins them, having finished watching CheckMate, and George has everyone owe him money for the tickets.^[2]

The fictional film Rochelle, Rochelle ("a young girl's strange, erotic journey from Milan to Minsk") makes its first appearance in this episode. George rents it from a video store in Season 4's "The Smelly Car", and it is turned into a Broadway musical starring Bette Midler in Season 6's "The Understudy".

• "The Movie" at IMDb