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Where are the best seats in a movie theater ?

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Armadilo

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So I never really thought about this as I don't really go the Cinema often as the last time that I went was when I saw Avatar in 2009, before I would just go in and sit somewhere that was open.

I got the tickets for Star Wars but they didn't have reserved seats, so they recommend me to be there 45 minutes early to get my seat. But this might make me go two hours early as it's Star Wars, but the problem is I don't know where to sit as I'm going alone to watch the film.

What are your favorite seats, Where are the best seats in a movie theater ?
 
a few rows from the front. centre.
screen should be large enough to envelop your view, and you also shouldn't have to move your neck in anyway.
 
Middle seats in the middle of the rows. The IMAX near me is perfect because there's a gap dropping down from those seats so no one is in front of you.
 
in a regular big theater you RUSH to the seats with the bar in front of them. Then you can stretch your legs or even put up your feet.

In smaller theaters like Alamo, you go for the aisle seats. Waiters can get to you faster.
 
Depends on how the theater is organized. If all of the seats are flat on the ground, then near the front and center. If the seats are angled upwards the further back you go, then 3 rows from the back and center
 
If the theatre is full, back corner. If empty, anywhere will do.

theater-couple-pleasure-themselves-book-of-mormon.gif
 
You are going alone? You can probably show up 30 minutes before and easily find a single available seat somewhere in the middle of the theater. Most people tend to try and leave a seat between them and the person next to them instead of making room for other people.
 
Non reserved seating for what you're expecting to be a sold out show sounds like a miserable waste of time in 2015. I'd go to a theatre much further away to avoid having to mess with that shit.

With that in mind, middle middle.
 
There is no general answer to this because theaters have difference sized screens, plus viewing preference is actually pretty personal.

Then there's the issue that the best seat for audio is not necessarily the best seat for video. How people weigh that is also quite personal.
 
hydrophilic attack said:
American cinemas have WAITERS??
Click to expand...

Not many. Some. Check out the website for Cinebistro. That's a nice one. Studio movie grill and movie tavern are okay.

As to tipping, potentially 20% depending on the service. At SMG and CB, its essentially full service. At Movie Tavern you order at a counter so you don't tip much if at all.
 
maxcriden said:
Not many. Some. Check out the website for Cinebistro. That's a nice one. Studio movie grill and movie tavern are okay.

As to tipping, potentially 20% depending on the service. At SMG and CB, its essentially full service. At Movie Tavern you order at a counter so you don't tip much if at all.
Click to expand...

At my Movie Tavern it's full service. There's a bar out in the lobby but once you're in your seat inside the theater everyone comes to you.

Won't see a movie anywhere else in town anymore.

Also, back row with the counter top. Always.
 
At my local cinema, middle of the front row of the back section. Have to look up a little bit, 3 or 4 rows back would be a bit better view, but it offers infinite leg room.
 
If that other thread is anything to go by, the seats closest to the exit in case a shooting occurs.

In all seriousness though, I like sitting in the middle towards the back.
 
Regular theatre seating?

Middle, 3/4 of the way back.

Stadium seating?

All the way at the top, back row middle.

No dipshits behind you kicking your seat or talking.
 
So side seats are not good because people have to cross you to sit and exit, right . guess good thing about that is that you only have people on one side of you and you could get out easily
 
Close enough where the screen takes up your whole FOV. I like to sit in the front row with the bar, or the back row of the front section.
 
If it is stadium seating, which most movie theaters are now, I sit in the flat front section of the theater usually about the fourth or fifth row dead center. I always think it's a waste to go to the theater and sit in the far back and have the screen be so small. Personally, I like when the field of you of the screen covers most of my field of view. This way, you get to see everything at once, but you appreciate a lot more of the directors use of mise en scène. But, if it is an action or spectacle movie, I'll sit a few rows further back usually because of the quick editing and frantic direction and movement of the camera in those types of movies.
 
maxcriden said:
Not many. Some. Check out the website for Cinebistro. That's a nice one. Studio movie grill and movie tavern are okay.

As to tipping, potentially 20% depending on the service. At SMG and CB, its essentially full service. At Movie Tavern you order at a counter so you don't tip much if at all.
Click to expand...

This thread is eye-opening. Thanks!
 
Middle-middle.

If it's a theater has unusually tall stadium seating or a generally weird shape, I tend to put center-sound above center-screen.
 
Carmike Cinemas where they essentially have the seats that turn into beds allow any spot to be decent. I saw Mad Max in the very front row and was pretty much just lying down, like in psychiatrist's office
 
So the middle of whatever row is the best spot ? I'm going to the Cinemark XD 3D showing, I guess it has a bigger and wider screen then your average theater
 
Imagine a line going straight out from the middle of the screen (90 degree angle) and sit where it intersects the seats. Usually about 1/2-3/4 up, depending on the theater. Especially important for 3D stuff.

Armadilo said:
So the middle of whatever row is the best spot ? I'm going to the Cinemark XD 3D showing, I guess it has a bigger and wider screen then your average theater
Click to expand...

Middle-ish but not too close to the front. It's easier to put up with being slightly off-centre than it is to have to look up at too much of an angle.
 
maxcriden said:
Not many. Some. Check out the website for Cinebistro. That's a nice one. Studio movie grill and movie tavern are okay.

As to tipping, potentially 20% depending on the service. At SMG and CB, its essentially full service. At Movie Tavern you order at a counter so you don't tip much if at all.
Click to expand...
Yeah I tried Movie Tavern the other day to go see Bridge of Spies (Great movie BTW) and while the food was great, the seats were uncomfortable and the service were just OK.

I'll have to check out Cinebistro. I wonder if there's any nearby.
Edit: I see there's one in Brookhaven. Will check out one day.
 
Dead middle is my general starting point. It'll vary from place to place. I don't want to be too high or too low, too close or too far. I don't want to have to move my head to see anything. Most places are now stadium seating so the optimal row depending on the size of the theater is usually the first row up behind the handicap section, or the second. In a bigger theater it might even be the third row, but generally the first two rows tend to be the right spot. You can even use the rail dividers for the handicap spots to tell exact where center is from left to right too.
 
this is my local theatre and this is how I always sit (red circle)

ChLtOw7.png


center + leg space + no one blocking your view = beats all


cant stand being surrounded
 
Anywhere that isn't right up front where I have to arc my neck back. After that I just hope that I'm not close to some asshole who feels the need to talk for the entire movie. Outside of that I'll sit anywhere.
 
Always sit in the back, near the aisle and close to the exit.
My cinema doesn't have enormous rooms with balconies though. So even in the back you're not that far away from the screen.
 
About the middle, or slightly behind. The screen should fill your vision, but not need you to move your head to see any part of the screen. The back is way too far, teenagers think it's cool, or whatever, but you might as well be watching a big TV at that range.
 
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