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Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

post #1 of 30
6/19/08 at 4:03pm
Thread Starter 
I noted that the OP for the WANTED review thread stated that he was a seat fanatic. It made me curious. Where do you guys (and gals) like to sit when you go out to the theatre?

I prefer to sit as close to screen centre as possible and at, or slightly back of, the centre of the theatre.

I would have posted this in polls; however, if my browsing habits are the norm, I think that forum would not see a lot of action.
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post #2 of 30
6/19/08 at 4:14pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

1/4 to 1/3 the theater length away from the screen, dead center. A lot of theaters will feature a break between a forward section of seats and the larger rear seating which is nice as well.
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post #3 of 30
6/19/08 at 5:03pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zack Gibbs
1/4 to 1/3 the theater length away from the screen, dead center. A lot of theaters will feature a break right here between a forward section of seats and the larger rear seating which is nice as well.

That is in a theatre equipped with stadium seating, right?
There was a stadium style theatre in one of the cities where I was temporarily living. At that type of theatre I found the front row of the rear block of seating was best. A person could stretch out their legs without danger of tripping anyone.

How about in a standard sloped floor theatre?
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post #4 of 30
6/19/08 at 5:36pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

As the OP, Zack has my spot staked out pretty close.

If the theater is stadium, I like to sit in the second row, off to the side a bit behind the bars (not seats). That way I can out my feet up a bit.

But dead center, about a 1/3 of the way back is my perfect viewing angle. The screen fills my vision, but I can take it all in without having to swivel my head, and both sides of the image are equidistant

In Wanted, the left side of the screen was 5+ times farther away than the right. Why even put seats there?
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post #5 of 30
6/19/08 at 6:24pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Center, 1/2 to 2/3 back.
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post #6 of 30
6/19/08 at 6:37pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

The very back of the theater. Don't care about position, but I don't want people behind me. I usually sit on the aisle, so far left or far right.
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post #7 of 30
6/19/08 at 9:16pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Middle of the back row, so my seat won't get kicked and people don't need to pass by me to get to their seat.
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post #8 of 30
6/19/08 at 11:48pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

At all of the stadium seating movie theatres I go to, I have only one preference (and sometimes I don't get it either) and that is to sit all the way in the last row right in the middle so I can get the whole view of the screen. I call it "the best view in the house." When it comes to other non-stadium seating theatres, it doesn't really matter as long as I'm not sitting in the front. Too close for comfort for that. There, I find I usually sit somewhere in the middle of the theater.
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post #9 of 30
6/20/08 at 4:27am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

In the larger stadium style theaters, the center of the first row of the "back block", which has the bars in front of it rather than seats. I'm far enough back that I don't have to turn my head to take in the entire image, I can put my feet up, but I'm also close enough that the film image is essentially my entire view.

In theaters with stadium seating that are a bit smaller, center seat of the middle row. Can't stretch my legs, but get the benefits listed above.

Hate sitting in the last row anywhere. I feel too far removed from the screen. It's like watching TV from the farthest point in the room for me. As a kid, though, I always grabbed the last row.
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post #10 of 30
6/20/08 at 4:39am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

dead center, and as many rows back as i need to be so that when i'm sitting down, i'm looking straight at the centre of the screen, or perhaps slightly downward at the centre of the screen.
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post #11 of 30
6/20/08 at 6:26am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

No matter how far away I sit, I have to be on the aisle so I can stretch my legs out.
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post #12 of 30
6/20/08 at 6:29am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Used to be 1/3 back, but I've creeped to the back over the years for some reason. Now it's closer to 2/3.

I also prefer sitting off center nowadays. Weird.

And then I don't even call theaters to find out what time the film is playing in my favorite auditorium anymore . I used to know the numbers to call get to get a human on the phone (typically unlisted.)

Overall I've become less picky. It's a good thing.

--
H
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post #13 of 30
6/20/08 at 6:39am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Mayer
As the OP, Zack has my spot staked out pretty close.

If the theater is stadium, I like to sit in the second row, off to the side a bit behind the bars (not seats). That way I can out my feet up a bit.

But dead center, about a 1/3 of the way back is my perfect viewing angle. The screen fills my vision, but I can take it all in without having to swivel my head, and both sides of the image are equidistant
Mostly the same for me. Though I try to sit as center (left/right) as possible. But also prefer sitting behind the bars, so if that is slightly off-center, that's OK. A lot depends on the layout of the theater and where they have the bars.
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post #14 of 30
6/20/08 at 6:57am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

I don't go much since I have the theater at home but when I do, I go to Muvico premier where the seats are reserved and plush in the mezzanine. There I sit front row center.
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post #15 of 30
6/20/08 at 6:59am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Half way up, far left/right. On the far left/right was a row of seats, but there were only 2 of them on the outside of the stairs. There were two flights of stairs going up, so middle seats between the stairs, and a row of seats outside the stairs, but only 2 of them. Girlfriend and I loved those bc no one ever has to walk around you.
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post #16 of 30
6/20/08 at 7:25am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Stadium seats usually about 4-5 rows from the top, in the center. I base it on my glasses. I only got sight in one eye, so I sit far enough back that I can see the screen through the lens without moving my head, if that makes sense.

Old style theaters and dates, the very back row, also known as "Blow Job alley"
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post #17 of 30
6/20/08 at 8:03am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Dead center. About 3 rows above the halfway point. I usually get there earlier enough to get 'my' spot. There's times I have sat right behind the bar thingy and I must say that's pretty cool too. Other than that if I am late and my seats are taken. (they obviously didn't get the memo )...then I take in a different time.

A bad seat can ruin the experience as much as someone's movie commentary during the film.

Good thread.
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post #18 of 30
6/20/08 at 8:06am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

There is only one theater in town I will go to anymore, which is a CineMark stadium seating multiplex. Most of their theaters have a handicapped section about 1/3 of the way back. I sit in the center of the first row behind that because there is a railing in front I can put my feet on, a few inches above the floor, plus I have lots of legroom. I'm rather tall, plus I have one knee I shredded several times in my younger days, so legroom is important.
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post #19 of 30
6/20/08 at 8:46am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Centre of the row, back 1/2 to 2/3 of the rows from the screen - if I get there early enough, which I don't manage very often.

I definitely agree with Tim that a bad seat can ruin the movie experience. Having to sit in the front row in a stadium seating theatre to watch Gladiator was a real strain on the neck and eyes. It was so hard to take everything in. But the worst seat I ever had was front row on the far left of the theatre to watch "A Civil Action". That made everything on the left side of the screen seem huge and everything on the right tiny, which really threw off my enjoyment of the movie. I guess that's the price you pay when you show up half way through the previews.
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post #20 of 30
6/20/08 at 10:34am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael:M
Hate sitting in the last row anywhere. I feel too far removed from the screen. It's like watching TV from the farthest point in the room for me. As a kid, though, I always grabbed the last row.
The only downside to sitting all the way back is you lose the "surround" part of the surround sound. All the sound is basically coming from the front.

I also like to be about 1/2 way back, in the center. Though if you arrive early enough to be first, you can bet sure money that the next people to arrive will sit directly behind you, and the next people after that directly in front of you. So there are times when I prefer the very back row, as well (generally for non-action films, or in a non-stadium theater). It has to be the only public place where people purposely all group together on top of each other. In any other place, people like to spread out and maintain a personal buffer as large as possible.

In Indiana Jones a couple weeks ago, there were only about 20 people at the matinee show, but we were all mostly sitting next to each other in the "sweet spot" in the center of the room, surrounded by a sea of empty seats.

I don't understand why there's so much seat kicking in theaters. What's so difficult about keeping your feet still and off the seat in front of you? I have no problems at all keeping my feet to myself for the entire length of a 3-hour movie. Why so many others think it's their divine right to put their feet up and/or keep kicking the seat in front of them is very perplexing.
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post #21 of 30
6/20/08 at 10:40am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

A few rows from the back, left side, on the aisle if I'm with my family. I like the tilt down view of the screen (as in head tilted down slightly). I've noticed that most people sit on the right and I hate when people talk in movies.

If I'm alone, I go for the center a few rows from the back.

In a regular theater, I sit in the back row, unless the back row touches the wall. In that case, I move up a few rows.
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post #22 of 30
6/20/08 at 1:47pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

I sit so that my eyeline matches up as closely as possible to the middle of the screen both horizontally and vertically. At the stadium theaters I go to, that's usually a little over halfway up the main section of seats and in the middle of the row.

This placement lets the screen fill my vision just enough so that it is immersive, but I can still see the whole screen without turning or tilting my head. It's also good in terms of surround sound.
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post #23 of 30
6/20/08 at 2:01pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

I used to sit dead center of the theater. The only problem with that was that if someone was to sit in the seat in front of you you couldn't see the screen anymore. By the way, why would anybody sit directly in front of you when there are enough seats available elsewhere in the theater?

So now I move a couple of rows forward. The screen is bigger, and if someone sits in front of you, you can still see the screen. Your neck hurts after a while, though.
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post #24 of 30
6/21/08 at 2:45am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

I only go to Stadium houses, so... I seat 4/5 towards the back for two reasons - so I don't lose the surround, and too far back I feel like I'm looking down at the screen. I like to sit slightly above center of the middle of the screen. And for some reason I like to sit slightly to the left side of the screen. For some reason this feels more comfortable to me than sitting center.
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post #25 of 30
6/21/08 at 6:48am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

I prefer the front third of the theater, center of the row. Usually 3/4 rows back fro very front.
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post #26 of 30
6/21/08 at 1:07pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

7-8 rows from the front and center if available.

If I can't sit there because it's occupied i'll try for the third row up of the stadium seating and center.
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post #27 of 30
6/21/08 at 1:14pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Dead center for me as well, back center as an alternative.

I don't recall what type of theater seating it had, but when I saw Spider-Man 3 I had such a perfect view of the screen, the surrounds were balanced very well and it was very comfortable, no neck straining, no looking down, up, it was great.

Something tells me if we all went to a movie together we would have to draw straws several times over in order to get that center seat.

Then rock paper scissors. Probably pick a number for the elimination round.

And while all of that is happening one of us uses the excuse of getting some popcorn to sneak away unnoticed, only to really go off and get that seat leaving the competitive bunch looking like chumps.
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post #28 of 30
6/21/08 at 10:17pm

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

From left to right, I like to sit in the center, so that my view is centered on the screen, and the sound is balanced correctly. For this reason, I try to avoid theatres with a center aisle.

From front to back, I like to sit close. I try to sit where the screen will fill my field of vision, where I can't see any exit signs, or even just dead wall. This is often aligned with the first set of surround speakers.

Jonesy
MOVIE THEATRE REVIEWS
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post #29 of 30
6/22/08 at 1:35am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

I remember being in a THX certified movie theater where they actually showed us where the best possible seats/locations are in most theaters.

I forget exactly how it works, but basically it is "the middle of the middle", which is generally what I prefer.

Maybe a little bit back.
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post #30 of 30
6/22/08 at 7:49am

Re: Seat Fanatics. Where do you sit in the theatre?

Due to my bad knees I hate walking up the stairs, so I usually go for almost half way up and I have to have an aisle seat, because I hate being crowded in.
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