wait... I don't think I've ever experienced assigned seats in a movie theatre. Is that a thing?

linsomniac 7 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Yes, it's been a thing for at least a decade, I imagine it helps with pre-sales online, though it may just be offered as a convenience. It really does help keep the movie from unexpectedly being a lousy experience; if you're stuck in a crappy seat, or your family can't sit together, it's because you picked those seats. As someone else mentioned, it also allows them to bring you dinner and provide that upsell as well.

Even our small independent theater in town has reserved seats, some of which are couches.

	▲	LordDragonfang 7 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> it's been a thing for at least a decade Maybe in fancy theaters, but in most places it started during covid (and just never stopped)

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Lindby 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I've never been to a theater without assigned seats. Maybe it's a regional difference?

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Jailbird 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Adding on and being specific: AMC in the GSP mall in Paramus, NJ. Assigned seating for sure.

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voidfunc 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Regional where...? Never seen this in the Northeast.

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jb1991 8 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Outside North America just about every country I’ve ever lived in or visited had assigned movie ticket seats.

	▲	pjmlp 4 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		As European, I can tell that it depends on the kind of cinema, and country. My experience, being discussed in another thread, is that only big commercial multiplex do it, many small cinemas with more alternative content, usually don't do assigned seats, only ticket reservations.
	▲	nottorp 7 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		And in some places there are so few movie theaters that, at least on weekends, you have to buy days in advance or you might as well stay home.

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disillusioned 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It's shifted a lot in the past few years: AMC has assigned seating in most (all?) theaters, for instance. Our regional theater, Harkins, same.

Personally, I like being able to select the exact seats and pre-order popcorn and soda and just have it show up to me right as the trailers end.

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k4rli 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I'm also in the northeast (Europe). It is quite normal to have assigned seats.

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ravenstine 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

When I grew up in LA 20+ years ago, seating was way more casual. Now everywhere seems to want assigned seating. I think this is in part because so many theater chains now offer a "premium" dining experience. It's yet another reason I rarely go to theaters anymore, on top of most of the film offerings being crap.

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jb1991 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It’s the only way I’ve ever seen movie tickets sold outside of North America anywhere.

	▲	vasco 7 hours ago \| parent [-]
		You can find both kinds, in europe especially the cut is very clear, commercial cinemas ALWAYS have assigned sitting. The kind you see at malls and have the Hollywood rotation of marvel shit movies. Then you have smaller cinemas with indie movies, european movie festival rotation, etc, and many of those in at least 4 or 5 countries in Europe I can confirm do NOT have assigned sitting.

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tdeck 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I feel like the newer (e.g. post 2010s) theaters with more "premium" comfortable seats tend to assign seats these days. Probably differs by chain.

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8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[deleted]

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IncreasePosts 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Yes for higher end theaters like imax and the kind where everyone had a recliner chair

	▲	jb1991 8 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Or just about any movie theater of any kind outside of North America.