Movie Theater Seating

[Ezee E]

Where do you sit? Any reason why?

Do you get popcorn/drinks?

Discuss.

[Dukefrukem]

Front row (not the front front row, the front row where stadium seating begins). No one the fuck in front of me. Feet up on the wooden banister. Depends on the mood with drinks and popcorn; If yes, medium popcorn, no butter, collector's cup Mountain Dew.

[Winston*]

Depends on the theatre, but 5 rows from the front is usually pretty good. Close enough for immersion, but far enough away so that I can take in the whole screen and don't have to crane my neck up.

Pretty much never get food. Will get a beer or a coffee depending on the time of day.

[ledfloyd]

Depends on the size of the theater. I like sitting in the back row, but that's not always ideal (in an extra large auditorium or if the theater has stadium seating). In those cases I sit about 2/3 of the way back (sometimes 1/2 way back works better in stadium seating). If I get too close I run into this strange problem where the screen doesn't fit within the area covered by my glasses and that always bugs me, but that aside, I still prefer the back row. It feels best to me.

I can't remember the last time I bought food at a theater. It's been at least 5 years. I grab a drink every once in awhile, and always regret paying $4 for bottled water.

[Mysterious Dude]

I'm usually two to four rows from the back, and as close as possible to the middle of the row. I hate popcorn. I used to drink pop, but I weaned myself off it to avoid having to run to the bathroom. Now I keep mints in my pocket. Recently, I did order some chocolate, but that's rare.

[Ezee E]

I sit at about 25% from the front. If it's stadium seating, usually the furthest back of the first set of seats. Usually in the middle, unless it's a full show, then I prefer aisle seat. Definitely prefer to have feet up, but not required.

I'll only take in popcorn if it's free on my Regal card. Sometimes I'll get a drink. At the Alamo, I always tried something different. I miss the Alamo.

[MadMan]

I sit in the back so I have a clear view of the screen. I buy nachos because I only like them and I sometimes get a beer if the theater has some. I don't get drunk but its nice to chill and enjoy a brew. I like to go when its not busy and I prefer to go with a friend or two so I can talk about the moviegoers afterwards.

[Skitch]

I sit in the back row...until about 20 minutes into the film. This way I can spot the troublemakers before I move to where I really want to sit...pretty much in the middle of the theater.

[Lazlo]

Second row of stadium seats, middle. No drink, no food.

[Thirdmango]

I like to have the bar to put my feet up, but I'm okay without it. Otherwise I'll go a little bit to the right side of the theater because I have one of my vertebrae is inched over a little so it's more relaxing for me to angle my head slightly to the left.

Also I only get popcorn and drinks when I get good deals from cinemode. If you guys haven't done cinemode you should because the first one gets you a free drink.

[Spun Lepton]

Stadium seating: as close to the center of the auditorium as possible. Non-stadium, usually about 1/3 from the front in the middle of the row. Popcorn frequently, small Dr. Pepper sometimes, Milk Duds or Raisinettes rarely.

Now, the drive-in, on the other hand ... that's like dinner and movie in the car for me. I have a tendency to gorge myself at the drive-in. Damn, I love the drive-in.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Middle center. No refreshments.

[Lucky]

The only seating preference I have is away from other people if possible. And I'll take out an entire bag of Twizzlers in the first 30 min.

[Sycophant]

Middle of the row, center-ish overall. Anywhere on the top section in stadium seating is good, but I hate having to sit in the lower section. If I'm feeling spendy or my self-control is weak, I like to eat about 6,000 calories of butter-drenched popcorn.

[Neclord]

Middle, close-ish, no beverage, rarely popcorn(so expensive!). I got a medium popcorn the other night and it was shockingly large.

[Dukefrukem]

Man, either you guys aren't distracted by the people in front of you on their phones or wherever you live the people are much less disrespectful compared to my area. I sit in the front so I don't have to deal with those ass clowns.

[Ezee E]

Man, either you guys aren't distracted by the people in front of you on their phones or wherever you live the people are much less disrespectful compared to my area. I sit in the front so I don't have to deal with those ass clowns.

Yeah, similar to why I have the same seating as you. People usually never sit in the front section of stadium seating, and my screenings are usually not full enough to where if I sit in the front quarter, I'll usually be the furthest up.

With that, California crowds and Alamo crowds are pretty respectful of the theater.

[Sycophant]

I haven't had problems with texters very often. Either I'm too focused on the screen to notice (possible--I usually have extraordinary capacity for shutting out things in my periphery), or my crowds just tend to be pretty good.

It might help that at least two-thirds of what I see is in our local arthouse.

[Skitch]

I have problems with idiots 95% of my theater trips, so I sit in the back to spot them out.

[Ezee E]

I wonder if there's a statistic on where the most obnoxious theaters are.

[Spun Lepton]

I have problems with idiots 95% of my theater trips, so I sit in the back to spot them out.

I have rules to avoid said idiots:

1. Don't see films on their opening weekend.
2. See films on Mondays or Tuesdays.
3. See matinees.

You'd be surprised at how well this cuts down on the asscracks.

[Skitch]

I have rules to avoid said idiots:

1. Don't see films on their opening weekend.
2. See films on Mondays or Tuesdays.
3. See matinees.

You'd be surprised at how well this cuts down on the asscracks.

I do all these things, except #2. Monday and Tuesday matinees are usually my best days. Wednesdays are senior discount days.

[D_Davis]

Whenever I go to any kind of auditorium, I have to sit at the aisle so I can stretch my legs out and not feel cramped. I can't stand sitting in the middle - I feel totally trapped.

[ledfloyd]

Man, either you guys aren't distracted by the people in front of you on their phones or wherever you live the people are much less disrespectful compared to my area. I sit in the front so I don't have to deal with those ass clowns.
I'd rather deal with the occasional texter than sit in the front

But, as said above, I do a lot of matinees.

[Sycophant]

I have had to sit in the front row at a couple of packed showings (mostly because nobody in my family believes me when I say that a Christmas Day release movie won't be packed to the brim if you show up 2 minutes after the start time) and it's probably done permanent neck damage and thwarts my understanding of three-dimensional space for a few days after.

[Skitch]

It never fails, where ever I sit in an empty theater, people always come sit right in front of me or right behind me, no matter how empty the theater is. Does anyone else have this happen? I always try to sit as far from every one else as possible. I will never understand why people sit so close to me. Probably because they want me to hear every bit of nonsense they chatter throughout the movie.

[eternity]

Third row from the top in the middle. A theatre chain in my state gives you free popcorn and $1.50 drinks if you bring in a loyalty shirt/cup, causing me to eat way more junk food than I ever should.

[Ezee E]

Old people aren't good in theaters. If their phones go off, it takes a solid few minutes to find their phone, answer it, and they'll usually have the full conversation in the theater.

[Winston*]

Couples in their 50s are the worst for talking in my experience.

[Dukefrukem]

Couples in their 50s are the worst for talking in my experience.

No way. Couples in their teens have no respect. Especially if you're going to a franchise and one of them is whispering to the other, essentially catching them up on the previous 2 or 3 movies, throughout the whole movie.

[MadMan]

I have rules to avoid said idiots:

1. Don't see films on their opening weekend.
2. See films on Mondays or Tuesdays.
3. See matinees.

You'd be surprised at how well this cuts down on the asscracks.Yep yep yep and um yep.

[number8]

No way. Couples in their teens have no respect. Especially if you're going to a franchise and one of them is whispering to the other, essentially catching them up on the previous 2 or 3 movies, throughout the whole movie.

Old couples do this a hell of a lot more. This plus numerous "What did he say?"s throughout, and involuntary noises whenever something violent or unpleasant happens*. Also, I'm not shy about leaning over teenagers and telling them to shut the fuck up. Semi-deaf senior citizens, I'm more squeamish towards.

* When I went to see 12 Years a Slave, the crowd was predictably older. Sooo many disapproving old people mouth clicks. I'm surprised nobody shouted, "Well, I never!"

[Skitch]

Couples in their 50s are the worst for talking in my experience.
Guaranteed talkers.


No way. Couples in their teens have no respect. Especially if you're going to a franchise and one of them is whispering to the other, essentially catching them up on the previous 2 or 3 movies, throughout the whole movie.

Those are bad too.

[MadMan]

I remember as an usher dealing with idiot teens who left gigantic popcorn messes and who used their cell phones during the movie. One day there will be a theater that caters only to people who talk during the movie and are also on their smartphone at the same time.

[ledfloyd]

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f331/ledfloyd18/IMG_1055.jpg

From yesterday: back row life. (For the record, I was the only one in the theater)

[Hugh_Grant]

My husband and I used to sit at the very back of the theater until he broke his hip. Now we always sit by the railing near the front so he can stretch his legs as much as possible.

If I go to a movie with my mom and sister, I sit as far away from them as possible. They are too chatty, and my mother ohhhhes and ahhhhhes. :/

[Lazlo]

I like the concept of the back row. In theory you're far away from everyone, no one can kick your seat, etc. But that far back the screen is just too small and the experience is not nearly as immersive. I saw Rush twice, the first when I didn't get to pick the seats and the second when I did and I enjoyed the movie much more the second go-'round.

[eternity]

Maybe it's just the way the theaters are laid out here, but if you're not near the top, you have to look UP at the screen. The top rows are the only ones that put the screen at eye level.

[Lazlo]

Maybe it's just the way the theaters are laid out here, but if you're not near the top, you have to look UP at the screen. The top rows are the only ones that put the screen at eye level.

Hmm, I'd much rather look up slightly. Adds to the immersion, in my opinion. Thus, first three rows of the stadium part. And anywhere above the middle of the theater seems to look down on the screen, which is horrible.

[Henry Gale]

It's always a balance of where I think the screen will comfortably engulf my field of vision and wherever the people I'm with would prefer to go.
Every theatre is different though. Like at the TIFF Lightbox I tend to think the first three rows are ideal, but at other multiplexes I can go middle centre and feel like I have nearly the same visual experience. It's not so much the seats as the height and width of the screen.

Otherwise, I usually bring a water (since it's the only outside food/drink they seem to allow), and then in big coat months I might up that to a can of pop and some snacks I might have sitting around at home (especially in years like this when I still have Halloween leftovers).

[Mara]

At least none of you were in the theater with this douche canoe:

http://whitewhine.com/post/71031617051/in-his-defense-they-only-tell-you-not-to-use-cell

He seems pleasant.

[Skitch]

At least none of you were in the theater with this douche canoe:

http://whitewhine.com/post/71031617051/in-his-defense-they-only-tell-you-not-to-use-cell

He seems pleasant.

:frustrated:

[ledfloyd]

douche canoe
Hahaha, I'm stealing this. I love it.

[Mara]

Hahaha, I'm stealing this. I love it.

Might be regional? I hear this expression fairly regularly. It's evocative.

[number8]

I see it regularly on the internet.

[Spun Lepton]

At least none of you were in the theater with this douche canoe:

http://whitewhine.com/post/71031617051/in-his-defense-they-only-tell-you-not-to-use-cell

He seems pleasant.

That CAN NOT be real. I simply refuse to believe anybody would be that oblivious.

[Dukefrukem]

This site is amazing. How am I unaware of its existence?

[ledfloyd]

I saw Anchorman 2 today in a theater full of teenagers. The most annoying patron was the 50-year-old woman who said "Oh my God!" audibly at least 53 times during the screening.

[Mara]

This site is amazing. How am I unaware of its existence?

Yeah, it's fun if you're running low on hatred for humanity.

[chrisnu]

In the center of the middle row. With stadium seating, the first row of the rear section of seats, in the center. I almost always go to matinees, so I sit in the disabled seating and have never had to move.