# Watching movies in the theater: where do you prefer to sit? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406 "2010-02-02T17:18:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/41 "2010-02-08T05:31:30Z")
In an older theater, 1/4 to 1/3 from the front, and as close to the center of the row as possible. With the stadium-style theaters, I can sit further back, but I like the screen to fill my entire field of vision. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/42 "2010-02-08T06:02:35Z")
> [@ToeJam](#): > > Where ever I can get the greatest leg room. Usually that’s the middle where there’s a divider between the first half and 2nd half of the theater. I like to put my feet up on those bars, and I like to sit towards the center of the aisle (vs. my friend who likes to sit by the aisle or closer to it). This. It’s neither ladylike nor adult, but I can’t enjoy a movie if I’m squinched into a seat and can’t put my feet up, so I aim for the center where I can put my feet up on the metal divides. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/43 "2010-02-08T06:03:49Z")
The ideal spot is precisely in the center. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/44 "2010-02-08T06:29:43Z")
I barely go to the cinema anymore, but I usually try to be somewhere in the middle. I measured with outstretched arms that the typical movie screen is only slightly bigger than my TV, which is only of average size as far as big TVs currently go. However, the last few times I have gone with a friend of mine who is in a wheelchair, so there are only a few options available to him, on the level of the entrance, which tends to be in the front third. I saw _Avatar_ that way, and I think it helped the 3D experience to have such a wide field of view. ---
**Author:** ![SurmountedByScorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SurmountedByScorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurmountedByScorn)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/45 "2010-02-08T06:54:11Z")
Wherever I don’t get ‘Exit’ signs in my peripheral vision. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/46 "2010-02-08T08:27:37Z")
I said “center,” but I try to sit on the end of the row, if mostly because I usually have to get up and pee during the movie. I don’t like climbing over other people. I know this also creates the “but then you block the row when other people are trying to take their seat!” problem, so I always try to get up from my seat in order to let others in if they wish to. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/47 "2010-02-08T16:52:50Z")
In the theater, preferably. I’ve tried watching movies from next to the popcorn stand, and it just doesn’t work well. Seriously, though, my preference is about half to 2/3 back, center. Been sitting there ever since a friend who works at Dolby said that’s the sweet spot. They try to design the surround so it’s decent anywhere, but center of the room is all but guaranteed to be good. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/48 "2010-02-08T19:21:23Z")
In the middle but in the upper rows. And I don’t like a lot of people around me, so I tend to show up at weekday matinees if at all possible. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/49 "2010-02-08T20:36:03Z")
Somewhere in the middle, more towards the front if all the all the good seats are taken. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/50 "2010-02-08T23:08:37Z")
way in the back so I can have sex during the show ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/51 "2010-02-09T00:08:19Z")
Middle left-to-right. If stadium seating, the frontmost raised row of seats (no seats in front for extra legroom and no blocking of the view) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/52 "2010-02-19T04:17:00Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I sit in the very back row, if I can. Same here. Most always. Back row, seat all the way on the side/aisle, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406/53 "2010-02-19T04:20:27Z")
> [@BaconAndEggs](#): > > Very back row, right in the middle. I don’t want anyone kicking the back of my chair. I don’t go to movies anymore. I haven’t been since 2007. I don’t like people talking, coming in late, texting, yelling at the screen, and ESPECIALLY sitting next to me, or even getting 2 chairs in between me. > [@aruvqan](#): > > absolute back row, aisle seat. Personally I hate people kicking the back of my seat, and I prefer to sit on the aisle so I don’t have to wade through people to get in or out and I am not crammed in with lots of people around me. > > Though personally I detest going to theaters any further because of the jackasses who fuck around chatting, texting and using the cell phones. Ill wait until it is out on DVD thanks. > [@vandal](#): > > The very back row. I absolutely cannot stand to have to back of my chair kicked, so sitting in the back solves this problem. I’m seeing a pattern here. I, too, don’t go to the movies very often (maybe once a year). I prefer waiting for it to come out on DVD and order it on Netflix. I cannot stand all of the things mentioned in the above quotes. So as I just said in my post before this one, it’s the back row for me. Not soley for these reasons either. I enjoy the back row. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-movies-in-the-theater-where-do-you-prefer-to-sit/527406.md?page=2)