In a cinema, not all seats are the same: some have a better position than others. If you think for a moment when buying tickets and choosing your seat, it shouldn't be difficult to get the best one.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Have the Best Visual and Acoustics
Step 1. Sit in the center, two thirds of the way between the screen and the back of the room
To enjoy the best sound quality, you should sit where the sound engineer positions himself to adjust the audio - this is the best way to choose a great seat.
- This means that you should sit in the rows located more or less at the height of two thirds of the distance between the screen and the back of the room, exactly in the middle. As for the view, the seats in most modern cinemas are 30-40 cm higher than those in the front row, which allows for an unobstructed view. That's why it's a good idea to choose your seat based on the sound.
- Experts recommend sitting slightly away from the center to amplify the effect of the sound. Try to position yourself a couple of places away from the exact center of the room, two thirds of the distance between the screen and the back: from this position you will enjoy a dynamic stereo effect.
- This phenomenon is widely known: at this point the sound is clearer and it is possible to fully enjoy it.
Step 2. Sit in a place with the best viewing angle
Almost all cinemas have a point where vision and audio are better: find that "magic point".
- According to some standards, a viewing angle of 36 degrees to the farthest point in the room is the best place to sit. The aim is to identify the point where the view is the widest possible; some people have even used complex mathematical equations to discover this point.
- The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers has prepared some guidelines relating to the view: these lines recommend that the vertical field of view of the viewer is not greater than 35 degrees starting from the horizon line to the top of the frame.
- The ideal line of sight should be 15 degrees below the horizon line of the image projected on the screen. To feel more immersed in the film, sit in a row where the edges of the screen are within your peripheral vision.
Step 3. Find a good seat in a home theater
This type of situation is no different from a movie theater, so there are ways to make the viewing experience better.
- The optimal viewing distance is found by dividing the diagonal measurement of the screen by 0, 84. This means that a 44-inch system needs a distance of 1.65 meters - this is the standard recommended by the THX organ for home theater.
- The recommended viewing distance from the THX organ for a 60-inch TV is between 1.80 and 2.75 meters.
- The style of photography can also affect the distance you have to keep from the screen, as some films are meant to be played on very large screens.
Method 2 of 3: Increase Your Chances of Getting the Best Seat
Step 1. Buy tickets online
Most movie theaters offer the ability to easily purchase them online with a credit card. Check on their website.
- This way, you will avoid long queues for the most popular films and you will be able to get to the theater before the others to choose the best seats.
- Some rooms allow you to choose your seats. The most common allocation method is based on arrival, however buying tickets online means skipping the line and arriving in the hall before the best seats have already been taken.
- Buying tickets online will also eliminate the possibility of arriving at the cinema and finding that the tickets are sold out.
Step 2. Reserve your seat
You can buy it online, depending on the movie theater, perhaps with a slight additional cost, but ensuring you a good seat.
- You can also decide to buy a VIP armchair. These are usually more comfortable, spacious and reclining seats. They are present in many multiplexes, but not in smaller cinemas.
- The VIP seats are usually located towards the back of the room where the acoustics are better and you don't have to crank your neck to see the film. Sometimes they have a bigger table on which to put snacks and more.
- Often it is possible to choose your seat, while in other cases it is the computer that chooses the best one available for you, so that, arriving at the last minute, you do not have to worry about ending up in the front row if the room is full.
Step 3. Go to the cinema early
It sounds pretty obvious, but if you want to have the best seat, don't show up right when the movie is starting, unless you have a reserved seat.
- Show up 15-20 minutes early or more if it's a blockbuster movie.
- The other option is to go to the cinema on less crowded days: some cinemas have midweek offers.
- The Friday and Saturday night screenings of popular films just released in theaters are the most popular.
Method 3 of 3: Choose the Right Days and Times
Step 1. Go to the movies on Monday or Wednesday
These days, the halls are less crowded, so if you want to avoid the crowds, choose Monday or Wednesday so you can choose the best seat.
- During the holidays, the frequency of spectators can increase. If you don't want to have to struggle with other people to get the best seat, avoid shows during the holidays like Christmas.
- In most cases, the last screening on Monday and Wednesday will be the one in which the room is most empty.
- You can also wait until a blockbuster movie has been out in theaters for some time. This way, you can avoid the crowds and win the best seat without having to contend with other people. You can also check out the smaller cinemas or the provincial ones.
Step 2. Consider your personal needs
The best seat may not be the one that allows you to have ideal vision or acoustics, if for you that means being uncomfortable.
- Opt for an aisle seat if you have to go to the bathroom several times during the screening (or if you are with a child who has this need).
- Likewise, if you intend to go to the bar during the screening, you will risk making many people get up, disturbing them, with a seat in the middle of the row.
- If you are sitting in a central chair towards the back of the room, be prepared to sit a little tight and have people on both sides, especially when showing a blockbuster movie. If you are very tall and have long legs, it may be better to sit in the armchairs facing the aisle so that your legs are not too tight.
Step 3. Go to the movies early in the day or late in the evening
The time you choose to go to the cinema will make a lot of difference in terms of the number of people present.
- Usually, the last evening show is not the most popular, obviously unless it is the prime time of a particularly successful film.
- The matinees have the added value of being cheaper, so you can not only save some money, but you won't even have to face the crowds and you will have a greater chance of winning the best seats.
- Keep in mind that cinemas can fill up even on off-peak days, in case of promotions and special offers for students and teachers or seniors.
Advice
- Many people try to sit in the middle rows, two thirds of the way between the screen and the back of the room - everyone knows that these are the best seats!
- Go to the cinema early enough to be seated.
