Not all seats in the cinema have the same arrangement. In fact, some seats in theaters are better than others. Finding the best seats at the cinema is easier if you consider how to buy your tickets and choose your seats carefully.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Get the Place with the Best Sound and View
Step 1. Sit in two thirds of the back row of the theater
For the best sound quality, sit down where the studio technician calibrates the viewing experience. This is the most common way to get the best bench.
- This means that you need to find a seat in the two thirds of the back row of the cinema, right in the center area. In terms of viewing, most seats in modern theaters are 30-40 cm higher than the seats in front of them so that the viewer's view is not obstructed. This is why you should choose a seat based on sound.
- Experts recommend that you sit slightly shifted from the center point to amplify the sound effect. Try to sit a seat or two to the left or right of the center of the theater, in the back two-thirds of the row. You will get “dynamic stereo sound” from this position.
- This phenomenon is widely known. The sound will become sharper, and you will get the full sound effect in this position.
Step 2. Sit in the chair with the best view
Almost all cinemas have a position that provides the best visuals and sound. Your goal is this “sweet position”.
- By some standards, a seat with a 36-degree viewing angle from the furthest bench in the studio is the best seat for viewing. You want maximum viewing angles. People even apply complex math equations to find the answers!
- The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers in the United States even has a visual guide that states that the viewer's vertical view should be no more than 35 degrees from the horizontal to the top of the projected image.
- The ideal line of sight should be 15 degrees below the horizontal center line of the projected image on the screen. For a more immersive feel, sit in a row of benches where the edge of the screen is just inside the edge of your peripheral view.
Step 3. Get a good seat in the home theater
Home theater is not so different from cinema. There are several ways to maximize your viewing experience.
- The optimal viewing distance is the diagonal length of the screen divided by 0.84. This means that a screen with a diagonal of 44 inches (110 cm) needs to be viewed at a distance of 165 cm. This is the standard THX home theater.
- THX recommends that the viewing distance for a 60-inch (150 cm) TV is 180-275 cm.
- The artistic style of the film also affects the distance you sit from the screen as some films are designed to be shown on very large screens.
Method 2 of 3: Increase Chances of Getting the Best Seat
Step 1. Purchase tickets online
Today, many theaters offer online purchase options so tickets can be easily purchased using a credit card. Check on the cinema's website.
- This way, you can avoid long lines for popular movies and get to the cinema ahead of time so you can choose the best seat.
- Some dinner theaters allow you to choose your own seat. If your theater has a first-come, first-served seating system, it's a good idea to buy tickets online so you can skip the queue and get into the theater as soon as possible before the best seats are taken.
- Buying tickets online also prevents you from running out of tickets when you get to the cinema.
Step 2. Reserve a seat
You can buy the seats you want online, depending on the theater you want to see. The fees are usually a little more expensive (several tens of thousands of rupiah), but you are guaranteed a good seat.
- You can also purchase preferred seats at the cinema. Seating options are usually more comfortable and also have a larger bench. Most large theaters sell optional seating, although some smaller theaters don't.
- Selected seats are usually positioned towards the back of the theater where the sound is best heard, and you don't have to twist your neck to watch a movie. These chairs sometimes have a larger table for your luggage.
- Often you can choose a bench of your choice or the computer will choose the best bench for you. That way, you don't have to worry about having to sit in the front row in the cinema if you arrive late or at the end of the movie.
Step 3. Come faster
It seems obvious, but if you want to get the best seats, don't arrive right before the movie is about to start unless you have reserved seats beforehand.
- Arrive at least 15 or 20 minutes early, and maybe more if the movie you are going to watch is very popular.
- Another thing you can do is go at a quiet time. Some cinemas provide special offers on weekdays.
- Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest times to watch popular new movies.
Method 3 of 3: Choosing the Right Day and Time
Step 1. Go on Mondays and Wednesdays
These weekdays are considered as days where the audience is quite quiet so if you want to avoid the crowds, watch it on these days. Avoiding crowds means you can choose the best viewing bench.
- Holidays can cause the number of spectators to be crowded. If you don't want to fight hard against the crowd for the best seats in the cinema, avoid watching on holidays.
- In most cases, viewership is lowest in the last hours of the show on Mondays or Wednesdays.
- You can also wait until the popular new movie has been out for a few days. That way, you can avoid the busiest times and choose the seat you want safely without having to fight with other spectators. You can also check out smaller, cheaper movie theaters.
Step 2. Consider personal wishes
The best bench isn't necessarily the one with the best view and sound, if you don't feel comfortable sitting there.
- An aisle bench is best if you have to go to the toilet several times throughout the film (or if you're watching with a small child who will need to go to the toilet).
- Likewise, if you're sitting in the middle and need to get in and out of the theater to buy food or drink, you're going to annoy a lot of people by repeatedly passing by and blocking their view.
- If you end up sitting in the middle of the back row, be prepared to jostle with the person next to you if the movie you're watching is popular enough. If you are very tall and have long legs, you may prefer to sit on the center bench that opens all the way to the aisle so your legs don't cramp.
Step 3. Go faster or longer
The time you go to the cinema is crucial when it comes to watching in an audience-sized cinema.
- The last movie that premiered at night was most likely not full, except for the super-popular movie's first premiere night, of course.
- Sometimes, some theaters charge low prices for films that show during the day. That way, you not only save a few rupiahs, but you also don't have to face crowds and have a better chance of getting the right seat.
- Be aware that theaters can sometimes fill up during special promotions, such as student and teacher discount days or co-op shows.
Tips
- Many people will try to take a seat in the middle two-thirds of the back row of the cinema. It's an open secret!
- Head to the movies early to get a suitable seat.
