It seems everyone has a different sitting preference at the movies. I want the ultimate experience: the screen completely filling my vision, like I’m in the movie. Usually the third or fourth row. My wife complains we’re too close. Then I see people way in the back and it must be like watching TV the screen is so small. I don’t understand that at all. So, Lemmy, where do you sit with your popcorn and why?
Bonus question: best movie food / candy, and how do you sneak it in?
Regular theater: in the center, about 1/3 back from the screen.
IMAX: in the center, very back row against the wall.
why very back in IMAX? wouldn’t that be too far?
The screen is giant. Giant isn’t even the right word for it. And with stadium seating, you don’t have to worry about people sitting in front of you.
It reminds me of how the movie screen seemed to me when I was 5. If I’m too close, my field-of-view won’t include the edges of the screen.
I’ve been going to the same theater for the past 15 years, the largest/best equipped one in my city. I always sit about half way back from the screen (row 6 of 13), in the center of the room. Rows 5 and 7 work too, but 5 is slightly too close and 7 too far. My SO still thinks I’m weird for having a favorite row and seat, and I keep trying to explain why it’s important.
Will be seeing Oppenheimer in my favorite seat today!
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havent been to a theater since 2019, but i used to go for center of the rows. My main reason being that the sound is “centered” there, so it isnt behind you like in the front row, or in front of you in the back.
I only go to IMAX and sit in the back. I feel it gives me the widest view of the screen. I’m personally limited a bit because my left eye is pretty crappy. I tend to sit more towards left side facing the screen. That way my dominant eye is more capable of taking in the whole field of view.
I buy popcorn. Large which comes with free refill. Then i get my refill when I’m leaving. Yay! Popcorn for home.
Oh hey I also have a bad left eye so I also prefer to sit on the left side if I can. I like to be more in the middle though, having the screen be most of my vision. I had to see Oppenheimer in the furthest row since that was all that was available at our screening and I felt like it took me out of the experience a bit being able to clearly see the borders.
I’m lucky enough to be seeing the 70mm version. I think it’ll look great from the back.
So you pay extra to go to the largest screen possible, then sit as far away as you can to make it small enough for you to see? That seems… suboptimal.
Have you been to an IMAX? Every seat can see the whole screen. I prefer to be near the back so i don’t have to turn my head to follow the action.
Have you been to an IMAX? Every seat can see the whole screen.
I don’t understand this comment… Why do you think I’m implying that people can’t see the whole screen from every seat? I don’t see how it’s related to what I said.
I was simply jokingly observing the irony of sitting at the back to reduce the size of the screen in your field of vision because you have difficulties observing a wide field – a problem that is exacerbated by going to a larger screen in the first place.
Being in the back allows me to watch the action across the entire screen without having to zip my head side to side.
Yes, he understands that but then why go to the big theatre? Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
Bigger the better! This 70mm IMAX is a rare treat. Very few IMAX can show it.
Why wouldn’t i want to sit in front of a huge screen in a good position where I can just sit back and take it all in without being dizzy by whipping my head side to side following the action.
The screen size doesn’t change depending on how far or close you sit to it though.
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But the angular perspective does. It “looks” smaller the further you are away.
I really hope this doesn’t need to be explained…
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Center seat, about a third of the way to the back. This is where we setup to calibrate the surround systems back in the 90s and I’m not aware of any change to this so I still sit there.
Dolby standardized to 2/3 in 2005 and everyone copied them.
Thanks for the info, I’m going to have to start sitting farther back.
I’ve always sat in the center seats way in the back. I feel like any closer and my neck and eyes will start to hurt. Plus I don’t have to worry about people behind me being annoying or disruptive.
The acoustic sweet spot… obviously.
Far away where I don’t have to pay to have my experience ruined by screaming teenagers
Very back row and centered. Can’t stand getting my seat kicked (though with the re-designed rows and reclining chairs its not so much a problem anymore). I also just hate hearing people talk behind me. Would rather have a worse view with peace than a great view and hearing chattering in back/front of me.
Wherever is easiest to get up and out and go pee because I snuck in beer and I have a small bladder.
You, sir, are a psychopath. I always sit about halfway up as close to the center as I can get.
I like to choose seats where theres nobody near me…usually try to go super late and if it is packed the front corners right by the screen…
Wherever there’s an empty row.
