When it comes to finding and then choosing the best seat in the cinema it becomes a tricky task, let us try and simplify this experience for you right away!
When you walk into a cinema, especially if it’s busy the task of finding a good seat becomes near impossible so to avoid any awkward shuffling around when the trailers are on in the pitch-black to find a good seat we advise that your cinema experience planning starts at home.
Some cinemas in the UK still have the option to sit wherever you like and I love those types of cinemas but many also now have a system where you book the exact spot in which you’re going to sit.
Open up any given cinema app or website and chances are the big chains (Vue, Cineworld, Odeon etc) will all have a seating plan where you need to choose exactly where to sit.
So let us help you with this decision and make your cinema trip a more optimal viewing experience and a much better time all round!
Does The Perfect Seat Exist?
When you think about the perfect seat at the cinema you instantly jump to the centre of the theatre.
Smack bang in the middle of the screen the centre is often considered prime real estate for your cinema viewing experience offering a balanced perspective and an ideal vantage point for both the screen and the audio but this isn’t always the case.
It does come down to screen size as even the middle of the cinema can have a distorted view of the screen if in fact the screen is too small and in the case that you’re going to see an IMAX movie sitting in the middle of a giant IMAX screen is never a fun experience.
For your standard movie-going experience the middle is perfect but please do keep in mind screen sizes before you visit.
Do a simple Google search of the cinema in question and you’ll no doubt be able to find photos of the screen’s interior where you can judge yourself if the middle really is the best spot for you.
Eye Level
When choosing your seats aim to go for the seats that offer eye-level viewing of the screen.
Too close to the screen and you’re arching your neck upwards to see what’s happening and sitting too far back may cause eye strain depending on the screen type.
Sit a comfortable distance away from the screen where your eyes are level and comfortable with the viewing angle without feeling overwhelmed.
Audio Quality
With the speakers usually surrounding any given cinema the audio is a very important factor to consider when choosing your seat.
Sitting close to the front offers a more immersive audio experience (if indeed there are speakers built under the screen for full surround sound) whilst sitting towards the middle or back can balance out the sound distribution.
If you’re lucky enough to walk into a cinema, the trailers are playing and there is no one in there experiment with different seats and see which one sounds the best to you.
Avoid Obstructions
Don’t go sitting in front of any pillars, railings or large groups of sold-out seats (if you can).
Some people prefer to sit closer to the front whilst others sneak off into the back for all sorts of goings on such as a cuddle in a movie theatre (or more).
Opt for seats that offer a clear and unobstructed view of the screen (if you can help it).
Is There a Best Seat in the Cinema?
The best seat in a cinema ultimately depends on your own choices from the variety of factors mentioned above.
At the end of the day, your comfort level is the most important and people sometimes prefer one place to sit above the other.
Taking into account screen size, audio quality and your comfort when selecting your seat is paramount.
For 4DX screenings, I’d highly recommend the middle rows for example to get the best of the audio and effects with a good eye level of the screen.
For IMAX screenings I’d suggest going further back so you can take in the full scale of the image and enjoy the sole reason the format was created in the first place, to fit more information on a bigger screen.
But those are just my personal preferences.
Experiment with a variety of locations and find the perfect spot for you so you can fully immerse yourself in the joy and magic of the cinema.
