What Is the Best Seat in an IMAX Theater? A Detailed Guide - Swift Moves (2024)

IMAX seats can be notoriously expensive. So, it makes sense that when you book the seat, you’ll want to get the most out of the experience.

Choosing the best seat in an IMAX theater can seem like a daunting task, but it’s a relatively easy and formulaic experience once you understand what makes a seat in an IMAX theater “good.”

Like in stage theater, the best seats are generally in thecenter of the theater, neither in the front nor in the back. However, there are more factors with IMAX seats than just your positioning.

The start of understanding what makes an IMAX seat “good” is understanding what makes an IMAX theater different in the first place. You can’t understand why something is better if you don’t know its effects.

What’s Special About an IMAX Theater?

“IMAX” stands for “Image MAXimum.” As the name implies, the screen in an IMAX theater is much bigger than the average cinema theater. An IMAX screen can be as much as 40% larger than the average cinema screen.

When projecting a movie onto such a large screen, viewers can see more of the image in a clearer definition. Things like the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen are a thing of the past with IMAX theaters!

However, these giant screens come with increased keystone distortion in certain places, as well as a host of other considerations that need to be made when choosing seats. If you consider all the factors, you should be able to find the best seats in no time!

Keystone Distortion

Keystone distortion or “the keystone effect” occurs when projecting an image onto an angled surface. The keystone effect will cause the image not to appear “flat” unless keystone correction is applied.

Even after an image is keystone corrected, some keystone distortion can be seen in the picture, especially from certain angles. So it’s essential to choose a seat where the keystone effect will be minimal while viewing the movie.

3D Projection

Because IMAX theaters feature 3D projection, you’ll need to account for your taste in 3D projection, as the experience you get from a 3D movie is determined by your position in the theater.

Sound System

IMAX uses a proprietary sound system to deliver high-quality immersive soundscapes to the audience. Unlike Dolby Atmos, IMAX’s sound system uses twelve channels (7 around the theater and five above the theater) to deliver sound that appears to come from all around you rather than just behind the screen.

However, with 12 speakers around the theater comes complications with seating. Sitting too close to any of the speakers could drown out the other speakers or make certain sounds sound closer than others.

Does Sitting in the Front or Back Matter?

There are differences that viewers will experience when they’re in the front or back of the IMAX theater. Whether you sit closer or further from the screen is essentially a personal choice as rather than a “better” or “worse” option, you just have “different options.”

When sitting in the back of an IMAX theater, 3D images will have more depth but appear further away from you. 3D photos will appear closer but lose depth when sitting in the front.

Additionally, with the size of IMAX screens, sitting close to the screen can cause the image to fill up more of your view, increasing immersion. But there’s a downside to that: humans don’t have infinite peripheral vision. So, if you’re too close to the screen, you won’t actually be able to see the whole image!

Many viewers report discomfort when sitting in the first few rows. This generally has to do with moving the neck (or eyes) side-to-side to see the whole screen, or tilting the head and neck upward due to the screen’s higher position relative to the seat. If you have an option, it is best to avoid the front couple of rows.

Your choice will usually be determined by your personal preference rather than a precise formula. Whichever you find more pleasurable is going to be the better option!

Does Lateral Positioning Matter?

Lateral position matters greatly as your lateral positioning will determine the sound qualityyou experience while in the IMAX theater. Since IMAX theaters use a proprietary surround sound system, sounds are meant to be delivered from all around the audience to increase the immersion into the film.

Because of this surround sound system, you’ll want to sit just along the centerline of the theater from left to right. This will give you the most comprehensive and immersive sound experience with surround sound.

Lateral positioning also influences how much keystone distortion is visible to the audience. Viewing the screen from a sideways angle, even a slight one, can cause the keystone effect to become visible, even after keystone correction.

If keystone distortion is a big problem for you, you’ll want to sit dead center in the theater. Front or back doesn’t matter for keystone distortion as long as you’re in the center of the theater.

However, if the showing is packed and there are no seats in the center of the theater left, you’ll want to sit in one of the back corners. From these angles, the keystone distortion will be negligible.

Furthermore, if you’re sitting directly underneath one of the speakers, the speaker nearest to you may overpower the other speakers in the theater. So keep that in mind when choosing your position!

Should I Sit in the Front Row?

Sitting in the front row of an IMAX theater is probably a mistake. Putting yourself in the very front row will make it exceptionally difficult to follow any action on the screen since you’re so close to it, especially any action or activity that occurs on the sides of the screen.

Being able to see the sides of the screen is important because of the Rule of Thirds, a common filmmaking rule that allows filmmakers to create dynamic shots by placing items in the screenplay off-center.

Further, when you’re that close to the screen, you’ll be able to see every last speck on the projector screen. While this should amount to just about nothing for most theaters, there have been some worrying reports of people being able to see everything from dust to colonies of bugson the IMAX screens when sitting too close.

How to Find the Center of the Theater

Finding the center point of a theater is pretty easy, and it’s even easier with online booking that allows you to select a seat in advance since you’ll be able to see the theater’s layout in advance. Further, you’ll only have to find the centerline once; once you’ve found the centerline, you’ll already know what seats are around it for next time!

The easiest way to find the center of the theater is to draw two diagonal lines through the theater. When you do that, the intersection of the two lines is the center of the theater according to its structure.

Choosing seats around the centerline of the theater will provide you with the least distorted experience, both visually and aurally.

Final Thoughts About the Best IMAX Seats

Ultimately, a personal preference is where you think the best IMAX seats are. At the end of the day, just because a particular spot is “better” doesn’t mean you can’t like another area more!

In terms of the mechanics of movie projection and sound, the best overall spotis in the center of the theater, a few rows from the back. Sitting in this space gives you the clearest sound and picture, with the least overall distortion. We recommend that everyone try sitting here at least once!

What Is the Best Seat in an IMAX Theater? A Detailed Guide - Swift Moves (2024)

FAQs

Where is the best seat in an IMAX theater? ›

In terms of the mechanics of movie projection and sound, the best overall spot is in the center of the theater, a few rows from the back. Sitting in this space gives you the clearest sound and picture, with the least overall distortion. We recommend that everyone try sitting here at least once!

Which movie seat is best? ›

The best movie seats are located in the center, with three seats to the left and right. Why these seats have a great picture: For the best view, stick to the center of the theater. THX—the A/V company developed by George Lucas—recommends that you find a spot with a 36-degree viewing angle of the screen.

Do your seats move in IMAX? ›

That's because D-BOX seats move around with the movie, which emulates a 4D type of experience. So if you're more interested in “feeling” a movie by way of the seats (similar to theme park rides), then D-BOX might be the choice for you.

Why IMAX is the best? ›

It doesn't end at shooting on high-res cameras. IMAX also processes the captured footages and uses proprietary image enhancement through every frame in a movie, allowing you to see the clearest and sharpest picture quality, closest to what the movie's director wants you to experience.

Is it better to sit in the middle or side of a theater? ›

Ideally the best place to sit in a theater is in the middle of the theater, in the middle of the aisle, giving you a nice, central view of the screen.

Are IMAX seats different? ›

There are no bad seats in an IMAX theatre. Laser-aligned audio placement. Perfectly tuned sound, every time. An immense explosion.

Is it better to sit at the back of cinema? ›

It's safe to say that the back is better. If you take the chance of sitting in the front row, your neck will probably start to feel sore looking directly up at a movie screen. You don't want to ruin your movie-going experience with a bad neck.

Does IMAX make you dizzy? ›

Dizziness, headaches and nausea happen while watching 3-D or IMAX movies because the brain receives conflicting information from the senses, said professor Andrea Bubka, who researches cybersickness at St.

What are the seats that move with movie? ›

4DX motion chairs are equipped with three base movements of heave (move up and down), roll (move left and right) and pitch (tilt backward and forward) which can create an endless expanse of possible combinations to mimic such actions as flying and driving.

Is watching movies in IMAX worth it? ›

It is one of the best 3D experiences money can buy—the best, if you ask any IMAX fan. IMAX does not just provide more pixels. IMAX showings show you up to 40% more of the image captured by the film cameras. They do this with super-massive screens and their exclusive 1.43:1 aspect ratio.

Do you need glasses for IMAX? ›

1 answer. Not all IMAX movies require 3D glasses. The movies that are specifically noted as '3D' do require you to where the 3D glasses. if 3D is not notes, you don't need the 3D glasses.

Does IMAX have reclining seats? ›

IMAX does not allow recliners because it does not work for their viewing design criteria. They have a seat that is IMAX approved and is similar to the recliners but only recline partially and do not have a foot rest. However, the front row ONLY of the IMAX auditorium does have full recliners.

Is it better to sit on the left or right side of the stage? ›

Question and Answer

On stage, Noh actors generally work on the basis that the side of the stage on their left (right for the audience) is superior in rank. It is a general rule that a performer takes a step to the left when he moves from a stationary position, at the beginning of a dance, for example.

Is it good to sit in the front row of a theatre? ›

The front rows of the dress circle are among the best seats in a theatre – especially for dance productions and musicals with a strong dance element.

Is it better to watch IMAX or standard? ›

Unlike the traditional xenon lamps, IMAX lasers have a twin 4K proprietary digital projectors to light the huge screen, thereby giving the sharpest, brightest, clearest and the most vivid screen images ever.

What are the different IMAX screens? ›

IMAX Corporation has released four projector types that use its 15-perforation, 70 mm film format: GT (Grand Theatre), GT 3D (dual rotor), SR (Small Rotor), and MPX, which was designed for retrofitted theatres.

What is better IMAX or standard? ›

In a nutshell, the screen size in an Imax theatre is much bigger giving a more immersive experience. Plus add up a much more impactful sound technology. These films are shot on specialised large format Imax cameras (both digital and 70mm film).

What shouldn't you do at the movie theater? ›

The movie theater is not the place for you to be texting or scrolling through Facebook during the movie. If you can't go 2 hours or so without being on your phone, then you need to wait for the movie to come out for home viewing. And whatever you do, absolutely no talking on the phone in the movie theater.

What should you not do in a movie theater? ›

10 Things... You Should Never Do In The Cinema
  • Share This… Not Your Oats & More.
  • Having the chats.
  • Taking out your phone in the screen.
  • ANSWERING your phone in the screen.
  • Kicking of seats...
  • Eating really, REALLY loud food.
  • Having the shift.
  • Being late.

Do and don'ts in cinema? ›

Read through our do's and don't of theater etiquette so you and others can enjoy the show!
  • DO arrive early! ...
  • DON'T get up and down during the performance. ...
  • DO clap loudly. ...
  • But, DON'T yell out your dancers name or wave. ...
  • DO dress up! ...
  • DON'T eat in the theater. ...
  • DON'T be on your phone. ...
  • DON'T take photos or videos.
5 Jul 2021

Should you see everything everywhere all at once in IMAX? ›

With its all-encompassing views, no bad seats in the house and incredible surround sound technology, IMAX theaters are the way to go for any film, but especially a cinematic masterpiece like Everything Everywhere All at Once.

What does IMAX feel like? ›

The IMAX Experience is a great way to feel like you're in the action. You can enjoy an immersive movie experience that feels life-sized and three-dimensional. These movies are filmed with special cameras, so when you watch them on your TV or computer screen they look much better than regular films.

Will IMAX make me motion sick? ›

The standards of production of imax movies are such that, even with 3D, the extra technical triggers like frame rate and depth of field control are set to minimise the likelihood of triggering motion sickness.

What are the 3 different levels of seating in the theater? ›

The three primary seating sections in a Broadway Theatre are: The Orchestra (green section), The Mezzanine (in blue), and The Balcony (purple).

Are D-BOX seats worth it? ›

The seats make a movie feel more like a restrained theme park ride, which can make most viewers miss some key points of the film. The D-Box chairs also lose most of their “shine” after an hour or two of experiencing them, making it hard for returning viewers to want to dish out the extra cash.

What happens when you watch movie that is in IMAX? ›

The super-sized aspect ratio means you'll get up to 26% more picture on your screen, cutting down the black bars at the top and bottom of the picture, and cramming in more action. Basically, you're seeing things as the filmmakers created them for IMAX cinema punters.

Is audio better on IMAX? ›

While both offer great value, IMAX is better for sound and visuals, and Dolby Cinema has better audio with its advanced audio tech. Dolby Cinema is less accessible than the two, whereas IMAX is easily available in most theatres worldwide. Tickets for Dolby Cinema are pricier.

Does IMAX have good sound? ›

In addition, IMAX offers the excellent sound quality, with up to 64 speakers for maximum surround sound, and its theaters can be found in 75 countries worldwide! What's more? IMAX has been gaining momentum as an industry-standard because of all these features.

Can you take drinks into IMAX? ›

You can bring your own bottle of water, however food from outside the IMAX cinema is not allowed. Please use contactless payments where possible.

Can I watch IMAX with glasses? ›

Some IMAX theaters do use traditional 3D with smaller glasses, so you'll want to contact your local IMAX theaters to see whether they use the larger glasses or not. For many people who wear glasses, bigger truly is better. Forget about those cheap plastic glasses the theater provides you.

Does IMAX give you glasses? ›

IMAX 3D movies, come with special IMAX 3D glasses that will be loan to you before you enter the hall and are to be returned after the movie. All other 3D movies, you'll need to bring your own RealD 3D glasses. If you do not have one, you can purchase that at the box office for $2.00 and it comes with a glasses pouch.

What is the difference between IMAX enhanced and standard? ›

The only advantage of IMAX Enhanced is the taller aspect ratio, which makes the black bars on your screen smaller. Finally, although the aspect ratio of IMAX Enhanced results in a larger screen, most MCU movies aren't made entirely with the IMAX aspect ratio.

Is IMAX the best way to watch a movie? ›

IMAX is a great way to experience movies. They have better sound, pictures, and more space than any other format available. It's also a really good way for theaters to make money because they charge more for it.

Is it worth seeing a movie in IMAX? ›

It is one of the best 3D experiences money can buy—the best, if you ask any IMAX fan. IMAX does not just provide more pixels. IMAX showings show you up to 40% more of the image captured by the film cameras. They do this with super-massive screens and their exclusive 1.43:1 aspect ratio.

Can I watch IMAX without the glasses? ›

1 answer. Not all IMAX movies require 3D glasses. The movies that are specifically noted as '3D' do require you to where the 3D glasses. if 3D is not notes, you don't need the 3D glasses.

Is IMAX better than regular theater? ›

We talked a lot about the quality, but what makes IMAX stand out is the projection. The standard uses 70 mm film run through the projector horizontally. This technique produces an area that is about 8.3 times as large as the 35mm film, and around 3.4 times as large as 70 mm film run through the projector vertically.

Is IMAX free with unlimited card? ›

Discounted tickets when you upgrade to special formats like IMAX, 4DX or ScreenX as you only need to pay an uplift on your ticket with your Unlimited card.

Should I see Top Gun in IMAX? ›

With its roaring jets (and, yes, even some of its less intense moments) Top Gun: Maverick's ability to transport you from your seat in the theater to that seat in an F-18 will very much depend on how good your theater's sound system is, and it doesn't get much better than IMAX.

Do IMAX theaters have better sound? ›

That depends on what you're looking for from a theater experience. IMAX is more immersive due to the large screens and format, but Dolby Cinemas provide better quality video and audio and are more comfortable.

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