Assigned seating in movie theatres?

[enyawd72]

When did this become a thing?

My wife and I went to see Logan yesterday at a Regal Cinema because we received a gift card for Christmas. Well, when we got to the box office we were shown a diagram of the theatre and told we had to pick a seat along one side down by the front. Now, this film was playing on three screens simultaneously, none of which were full...I know this because I asked. Still, we were not allowed to sit where we wanted. So despite it being free, we turned around and left. We went to a nearby Atlas theatre, and happily paid full price to sit where we wanted to.

I told the box office attendant at Regal that as long as they have that policy in place I will never see a film there. What if you get stuck sitting next to a crying kid? Or somebody who's sick and coughing/sneezing all over everything? It's happened before. You can't even get up and move!

What if you're meeting someone and either of you is late? You can't sit together? People buying multiple seats were actually being split up when there were plenty of open seats available. Turns out an older couple who sat behind us at Atlas had left Regal too. The lady told us she was assigned the aisle seat in one row while her husband had to take the opposite aisle seat in the next row. Ridiculous.

[J.B.]

Not sure if this is the same thing you're talking about, but around here some theaters offer assigned seats which you choose ahead of time online. This avoids you having to wait in a long line in order to get a good seat. You can show up to the show a couple of minutes before it starts and go straight to your purchased seats.

[emeraldknight47]

Yep, a couple of the theaters in the Louisville area do the same thing. It's not a great idea if you do have large groups or you really like nailing that sweet spot in the center, but it's just another sign of the times. As long as there are theaters I can go to where I am able to sit where I want (classically referred to as "general admission"), assigned seats are not high on my list of pet peeves.

[Goblin19]

People actually seem to like this new trend. At first it was confusing, but once they got used to it, people adjusted when they purchased tickets. If you're walking into it without knowing the policies at some theatres, AMC started it, then I understand the frustration. Dwayne, are you a Clevelander. When you say Atlas, I figure you must be.

[enyawd72]

^We live about an hour and a half east of Cleveland in the country.

We didn't purchase tickets ahead of time. We just walked up to the box office to get tickets and were told...you're sitting "here" which was on one side clear up front, where I would never ever want to sit. If it becomes the norm everywhere I'll just stop going. I'll wait three months and watch stuff at home.

[Mikey]

That sux

We don't even have assigned seating at our local playhouse

[sprytel]

All of those same concerns apply when you go see a concert or a play...

[warlock664]

All of those same concerns apply when you go see a concert or a play...

That's not even close to being an analogous comparison; a play or a concert is a unique one-time "event", the exact same movie will play on tens of thousands of screens, multiple times a day, for weeks. I rarely go to the theater to see a movie these days anyway, preferring the comforts of home and my 55-inch HDTV with surround sound system. If this becomes the norm, I'll never go out to the cinema.

[Hector]

Nope, not doing the assigned seated thing, ever. I like my specific spot. I do have alternative seating if my fave spot if taken (I always show up super early). I also have ZERO tolerance for crying toddlers, people who yap, people who keep coughing a lot (usually someone with a cold), people who are eating too loud, people who can't put down their bloody phones...and people who either reek of cigarette smoke, or plain have body odor, which has happened. I take off immediately...and move somewhere.

If this assigned seating were to be enforced throughout the land, I'd never ever go to a movie theater again, you can bet the bank on it.

[Goblin19]

But Hector, if you always choose the same seat, you could buy in advance and guarantee that same spot every time. None of the theatres I have eorked for do this, but I'm telling you people generally like it once they get used to it. They've done it this way in England for years. It helps organize things. It trains people to get there early and causes less disruptions once a movie begins.

[Klosterheim]

I wondered how reserve seating worked when I noticed some theaters have it.

As long as half the theaters were regular and half the old way, it should be fine.

I will also quit going to the theater if reserve seating becomes mandatory, even though there are more good movies per year than ever before.

Might have no choice when it comes to Star Wars, but will try to do it the old way.

What's next- Reserve Parking at Drive-In's?

The only plus a reservation might have is during times like when I would be at the theater an hour or more before showing and enter the theater as soon as they let us in, be seated for over a half-hour, then someone comes in when the last movie trailer ends or comes in when the film is actually started, and then they basically demand that I move to another seat.

[Hector]

Yeah, but I can't control the people sitting to me regardless. What if a mom with a crying baby sits next to me? A dude with a cold coughing? Someone who yaps non stop? Teens who are more interested in their cellphones than the movie? A smelly person, etc? I'm moving somewhere else.

Luckily, the movie theaters I go to...have no assigned seating. So I'm good for now.

[Hector]

The only reservation I might have is during times like when I would be at the theater an hour or more before showing and enter the theater as soon as they let us in, be seated for over a half-hour, then someone comes in when the last movie trailer ends or comes in when the film is actually started, and then they basically demand that I move to another seat.

I'd go Wolverine berserker. Either I demand a refund...or security would throw me out after cursing and screaming at that dude, lol.

[HardyGirl]

That's just beyond ridiculous. It's not like it's a special event like a concert of play that plays only once. And for the amount of money they charge nowadays, you should be able to sit where you want. I predict if this trend continues, go to movie theatres will be obsolete in another 30 years.

[hedrap]

I just used it for the first time for Logan. It worked out fine, but that's due to certain caveats. Earlier time, non-sold out. I picked them online and the tickets were marked.

Where I see a problem coming for late shows is the ushers will need to...actually usher. The rows aren't alphabetically marked like a stadium, so it can be a guess. And you can guarantee some people are not going to go along.

What they need are either two showings, Reserved and GA, or specifically assign showtimes as reserved seating. So anything in the IMAX/XD/3D theaters from 7pm on is reserved seating only for the first two weekends. Weekday, the shows are GA. This way, if you really want to see something opening weekend at night, everyone will know they have to take care of it beforehand.