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When you think of cinemas, the first thing that comes to mind is the smell of movies and popcorn, as it is the perfect place to escape for a few hours of the day and enjoy comedy, drama, action, and romance. It’s common to do it in the company of your partner, friends, family, or now alone.
This is undoubtedly a great entertainment plan, but we find that when the most anticipated movies are released, people may not be able to buy tickets, because all seats are sold out or they are not happy with the few seats that are left. If you get a great central position it will guarantee your view is perfect, you will also get the best immersive experience, and your neck and back will thank you. That’s why we’re sure you spend a lot of time trying to figure out which seat is the best and whether it’s really worth your money.
The question comes to film fans every time they buy a ticket. What is the best seat in a cinema? Is it better to be closer to the screen or in the back of the room? Is the center always the best option? Although each moviegoer has a particular preference regarding the location, there is a seat that, due to different characteristics, becomes the ideal one to enjoy a movie.
If you manage to choose a seat in the right location, several aspects will improve such as a perfect view of the entire screen, an immersive experience, plus you will avoid being interrupted by viewers leaving the room in the middle of the movie.
What is the best seat in a cinema?
When choosing the best seat in a cinema, you should not only take into account the view you have of the screen, as other factors influence such as the quality of the sound and the behavior of the other attendees who are located in the seats nearby.
As for the lines, the best locations are two-thirds before reaching the end of the room, starting from the beginning – row 1. Regarding the seat number, it is always better to sit in the center block. But why is that the position that allows for the most complete experience in a cinema? The answer is in the sound.
According to Steve Martz, a sound engineer at THX, the company responsible for the high-fidelity sound used in most cinemas, the best rows to sit in are two-thirds before the last row, counting from the first row of seats. That is, if the room has a total of 15 rows, the best places to sit will be in the center of row seven or row 8.
He explained that “The set of microphones that are installed in the room so that the sound can be heard creates “an effect that means that the rows that are located two-thirds of the way from the end of the venue are the ones in which the film can be heard best. Not too high, not too low. At the perfect level.”
The engineer indicated that the technicians in charge of preparing the sound in each room calibrate it using microphones located at different points in the venue. The goal they pursue is a balanced listening experience in the different seats.
However, in every cinema, there is a main microphone that is used to adjust playback levels, speaker synchronization, and other parameters that require a single location for measurements and calibration. “The company designs so that every seat is a good seat, but most people would do well to sit near the main microphone position,” Martz said.
As a general rule, the central microphones are two-thirds of the way around the room starting from row 1. In turn, a seat near the center of the room allows visual and auditory symmetry to be maintained. “It essentially increases our peripheral vision,” he added.
Image from Trusted Review
This sound design in the rooms will create an immersive experience for those in the center rows, who will not miss any detail of what happens, something key since sound effects are essential for the stories, which will improve the movie-watching experience.
Generally, these are the first rows to sell out, due to the comfort and experience they represent. So if these seats are already occupied when you buy tickets, avoid choosing a seat in the first rows, or you will end up with neck pain.
What happens in an IMAX theater?
In the case of IMAX cinemas, the situation changes, due to the way in which they are built, since both the sound and the viewing angle do not change substantially from one row to another, because the screen occupies the entire wall and the chairs are located in a stadium-style, which brings the viewer closer to the screen and the sound is automatically calibrated and aligned with a laser that achieves the same volume for most chairs.
For these reasons, the experience will be similar no matter where you choose, as the rooms are designed so that all attendees can have an immersive experience.
Is it different in price for different seat locations?
Cinemas do charge different prices for different seats, in most cases. Typically, seats in the center of the theater are better than seats in the front. Cinemas may charge more for those better seats, especially for big-hit movies. Additionally, some theaters offer special amenities, such as VIP cinema recliners, VIP cinema beds, or reserved seating, which can also affect the price of a ticket. Some theaters may also offer discounts for certain groups of people, such as students or senior citizens. Overall, the pricing system is designed to maximize revenue for the theater while still offering a range of options for moviegoers.
Below, you will find the different classifications that AMC will give to the seats in its theaters.
Value sightline seats (blue): They will be those found in the first row of the rooms, and their price will be the lowest, however, this area will be exclusive for “AMC Stubs” members.
Standard sightline seats (white): They will have the usual price of a ticket.
Preferred sightline (gold): Located in the middle of the room, these seats will cost a little more than the “Standard” seats, but those who are affiliated with the “AMC Stubs A-List” will be able to reserve these seats at no cost.