Assigned seating at movie theaters

Cafe Society
1

Anybody else seen this?

We (the family T) went to see Contagion yesterday at a never-before-went-there Imax+17 theater (i.e., 1 Imax screen, 17 regular screens). As we were buying our tickets, the agent asked us where we would like to sit, and pivoted her screen around to show us the options (we were at one of the regular screens, not the Imax one).

On the screen was a chart of all the seats in this particular theater with green seats “open” and red seats “taken”. Never having been there before, I did my best at guessing what seats would be most appropriate given my eye problems, our preferences, etc.

Well, not surprisingly, I guessed wrong - I should have been about 4-5 rows higher and a bit farther back from the screen. So I sat 4-5 rows back, which upset my wife (who is a true friend of Law, Order, and Da Rules). And, of course, somebody comes in with the tickets for the seats I was sitting in (the movie wasn’t close to being sold out), meaning that I had to move, so I went back 1 row (my wife went to our original row, but I’m an “ask for forgiveness, not permission” kind of guy) and happily stayed there the entire movie (my wife eventually joined me, a bit irritated at my actions).

But while it didn’t ruin the movie for me, this idiocy definitely ruined the theater-going aspect of the trip. I made my complaints known to the manager, telling her that I’m buying a $7 movie ticket, not a $500 airplane ticket, and that, not having memorized the seating arrangements for all 18 screens, all this did was leave a bad taste in my mouth, making it less likely that I’ll visit the establishment again - “after all,” I concluded, “it’s not as if there aren’t 6 other googolplexes, all showing the same movies, in a 4 mile radius.”

The theater company is Santikos, a brand I never heard of until I moved out here to San Antonio.

So, gentle Dopers, please tell me that this is an aberration and not a sign of Things to Come.

(Maybe it’s an Imax thing: I don’t know, I usually don’t do Imax screenings. And, like I said, it wasn’t an Imax movie to begin with.)

2

Don’t know about the US, but here in Greece, all movie theaters have assigned seating (except for the open air ones during the summer). For all the modern movie theaters, you buy specific seats, and if the person in front of you is 1 foot taller than you, then it’s just bad luck.

On the plus side, you can purchase your seats well in advance (days before even, since most movie theaters have websites where you can pick your seats while purchasing your tickets online) and know that you can arrive at the movies 1 second before the start and still have your excellent (cause you picked excellent seats if you pre-purchased) seats just waiting for you. And if someone sat on your seats not expecting you to come, you have the pleasure of making them get up and leave.

I also remember that in Austria, they had assigned seating more than a decade ago as well.

I’m used to it, and actually kinda like it. If the theater is empty except for basketball player in front of you, you can always pick other seats once the credits started rolling and you’re reasonably sure that no one is going to make you move to your seats.

Edited to add: assigned seating also makes it easier for movie theaters to keep adjoining seats free, instead of having random single seats left unused scattered across the room, where a group of 4 that arrive late would have to split up during the movie.

3

Noooooooooooooo!!!

4

Call me psychic, but I’m getting this feeling that my answer did not please you very much.

If it makes you feel any better, I too initially hated assigned seating until the lack of alternative options made me appreciate its benefits.

On a more serious note, my dad has a problem with his knee and it really hurts him if he bends his left leg for too long a period or if he can’t stretch it at regular intervals. When he goes to the movies, he always buys a seat on the left hand aisle so that he can stretch his left leg just a bit more on the aisle. Having a guaranteed seat on the aisle removes an element of uncertainty and actually makes him much more likely to go to the movies.

5

I first ran into this insanity in England, and deal with it at one theater here in the US - the AMC Mainstreet in Kansas City. When they first opened, they gave away 52 passes each to the first 100 customers to line up. I saw 52 movies there and have not been back because of their inane designated seating policy.

6

oh man I WISH we had that here! I’d seriously love to be able to grab seats ahead of time and kick the idjits out who wit to the last second to come in with a party of fourteen who all need to sit together.

7

No, assigned seating means the idiots will be able to wait until the last second to enter the theater, sure that the seats will be there for them. Not having assigned seating means that you have to show up ahead of time to get the seats you want. Idiots will remain idiots - assigned seating means they are now empowered idiots.

8

People don’t seem to have a problem with this when going to plays, concerts or sporting events.

9

Our closest IMAX theater is in Providence, RI, and getting seats there is very similar to what was described in the OP. I don’t know if non-IMAX screens within the same establishment also operate that way, because I don’t think I’ve seen a non-IMAX film at that theater (we have plenty of closer non-IMAX options).

I will say that I have not encountered assigned seating outside of that one theater – I usually frequent theaters in Southeastern MA.

10

I think you’re looking at this from the wrong angle. Assigned seating means they’re idiots who can just go on and sit the hell down and shut the fuck up instead of roaming up and down the aisles counting seats and having elaborate conferences and negotiations about how the group will be split up while the movie is starting. Or more likely, they’ll be idiots standing around the ticket window having the exact same deliberations. Except now they’re the problem of the other late-comers in line behind them, rather than the people who are already in the theater and ready to get on with the movie.

11

The only “assigned” seating at any of my local theaters is at a place called Emagine, and it’s only assigned if you pay extra for some super deluxe seating with leather chairs and a little table next to you to set your food or drinks and I think someone comes around to check if you want to buy anything.

I’ve only been there once, but didn’t figure it was worth the extra few bucks and just went with regular seating. Even the regular seats were pretty nice. Apparently everyone else thought so too, as the luxury section was empty for the movie, lol.

12

I don’t go to many movies, but the last one was at one of those super deluxe screens, and I thought it was great. The most comfortable, relaxing time I’ve had at the theater in ages.

I could see being irritated if the seat you chose wound up being a lousy view. My only suggestion would have been to wait for the movie to start, THEN choose new seats with the wife. At least then she wouldn’t necessarily feel bad about taking someone else’s seat.

13

Always sitting in front row center by choice does have its advantages. NO ONE ever wants to sit there so it’s almost always open. I hate the concept of assigned seating, but really, I rarely have to worry about someone getting my seat first.

14

The Arclight theaters in LA have assigned seating and I love it. I haven’t been to another theater in several years. They also have better food, someone to announce the movie with a brief bio and rundown of the rules. About the best part is that they don’t let people in after the movie starts. It is by far the best movie going experience I’ve ever had.

15

I loved the idea of assigned seating when I first heard about it for the Sundance Kabuki theater here. It’s like reservations for restaurants and guarantees you a seat without lining up early and waiting. It also meshes very well with online ticket purchasing.

I despise the first-come, first-served seating policies where I have to get to the theater half an hour to an hour (for popular movies) before showtime to get good seats. If I’m running late, then I’d rather get a refund for the movie than to sit and watch from some weird angle. I wish assigned seating was available at other theaters around here.

16

I like the assigned seating. With our newest local theater you can go to their website to select seats and purchase your tickets (without an extra fee, not that they aren’t pricey enough to begin with) and print them out.

They also have “Privé” seating upstairs that costs a little more. Wider seats, “upscale concessions”, and they serve alcohol which means it’s restricted to age 21+.

17

[old man cracked voice with occasional whistling sibilants]Back in the day, they only had one screen per theater. Sometimes, for really big important moves (like Ben Hur, as just one example) they were first released in what was called a Road Show engagement. I believe that meant that even in larger cities the movie would only show on one screen. Usually, it was only in these Road Show engagements that there was assigned seating. This was to make the screening more special and to allow you to purchase tickets in advance for a particular set of seats.

After the Road Show engagement, the movie would usually be re-released in a general engagement where mutliple theaters might have it. Then it would go to second-run and third-run theaters. Generally these never had assigned seating. These theaters were also cheaper. [OMCVWOWS/]

I don’t go out to movies much any more, but I don’t believe any of the mainstream theaters in the San Francisco area have assigned seating. Yet. (On preview, if With Rye is in SF, then the Kabuki theater is an exception).

I agree that this makes late-comers less of a problem, but I also agree that it makes planning ahead more of a benefit.
Roddy

18

Yep, I’m in San Francisco. Kabuki’s by far my favorite place to watch movies. Special 21+ screenings with booze in the balcony!

19

Assigned seating is why every last movie I saw in the LA area over a three year period was at an Arclight Cinemas (to get assigned seating, not avoid it). Mrs Gale and I are prepared type people, but we hate hate hate playing that “how early do you think we need to get there to get good seats on opening night” BS.

Two hours in line for the midnight showing of a new Harry Potter movie? No thanks. Instead, we’d buy tickets in advance, and then stroll in to the theatre about 20 minutes before show time to find our seats empty and waiting.

Now, we’re in Portland and avidly waiting for our favorite local chain to add assigned seating. When they do, they will achieve a trifecta of awesome: in-theater food and alcohol service, 21 and over screenings, and assigned seating. Awwwww yeah.

20

Another Angelino checking in. The Arclights here in Los Angeles have assigned seating and I love it. Especially not having to stand in line on opening day. I just need to prepare and buy tickets ahead of time.
For the OP, now that I’ve been a few times, I’m used to the different screens at that theater and I know which rows I prefer. Which is only a problem when someone else buys the tickets and I have to sit where ‘thay’ like.

Also at my theater, there are helpful employees who would have moved you ‘officially’ so MrsT wouldn’t have been so put out. Yes it’s an extra step, but worth it for everyone.