Buying Movie Tickets

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:34 pm

Here in New Zealand you are given a specific seat (stamped on your ticket) when going to a movie. Now this is OK on a busy Friday or Saturday night, but on a weekday matinee?

I went to a late morning matinee to see a film and there was only four people in the theatre. I decided to sit where I wanted instead of my assigned seat, and guess what? A lady tapped on my shoulder and said "I'm sorry, but I believe you are in my seat". I couldn't believe it. What does that tell you?

I made her happy however and moved to another seat. I don't know of any movie theatres in the U.S. that do this. How about the U.K.?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:36 pm

Good grief, assigned seats! Sounds like detention to me, not a movie!

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:21 pm

Oh to be the person who got the front row as assigned seats would suck.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:01 pm

Yeah, pass me the Good and Plenty box to blow!

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:58 pm

Sheryl;586504 wrote: Oh to be the person who got the front row as assigned seats would suck.

I forgot to mention that you can request a particular seat if no one else has taken it. If you don't know the theatre though, that's not much help.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:13 am

The cinema that I visit most only assigns seats for newly released films. You can book online and choose where to sit then - I quite like that because often I would prefer an aisle seat and I hate sitting right at the very front. But it can be annoying if you find that someone with a big head is in front of you and you can't switch seats!

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:41 am

Talk about control freaks !

Richard Bell · Post by **Richard Bell** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:26 am

Lon;586492 wrote: I don't know of any movie theatres in the U.S. that do this. How about the U.K.?

When we (www.quintefilmalternative.ca) were selling out all the seats in our rented 354 seat theatre at the local multiplex, the idea of assigned seating was raised , due to the fact that the first four rows were ridiculously and uncomfortably close to the enormous screen, and people were complaining. The worst were the ones who would waltz in at five minutes before showtime, and expect prime seating.

Since assigned movie seating is unheard of here in Canada, and since nobody wanted the job of seat cop ("Hey, you... Outta that seat. It belongs to this lady, not you."), we solved the problem by renting a second theatre.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:49 am

Tell you what really wound me up not long ago was when I went to watch X-men 3, I went on my own 'cos hubby just doesn't 'get' that sort of film, I was settled happily in my seat with my popcorn and my drink. The cinema was full and sat next to me were a couple in their late 40's who obviously hadn't been together very long - trying to impress each other too much. He was being all macho and she was all hair tossing and sly looks around to see who was watching them. The constant stroking of the thigh was ok but the slurping of the snogging was annoying - for goodness sake!