Reserved seats at the cinema. Who else hates it?

[Anonymous]

Last year I took my son to see a movie at AMC Tysons and I was super annoyed by how slow the line was moving to purchase tickets. When I FINALLY got to the front of the line I discovered why. They forced you to reserve your seat before going in. I was super annoyed and decided I wouldn't be seeing movies there anymore. Well, today we went to the Regal Cinema at Fairfax Towne Center and we were forced to reserve our seats again! I'm not going back.

It's annoying because I prefer to choose my seat when I get there. What if I get stuck sitting beside someone who is doing something really annoying and then I can't switch seats because somebody else already reserved the seat. It's annoying to be put on the spot like that when I'm purchasing my ticket. I wish they would stop doing this. Does anyone know if the cinema at fairfax corner does this? Does anyone know any cinema in fairfax county that doesn't have reserved seating? I will not go to these reserved seating cinemas anymore.

[Anonymous]

I love it. We buy our tickets on our phone, show up, and go directly to our seats. No figuring out where to sit, so being stuck in the front.

[Anonymous]

They are few and far between. I can't think of a theater that doesn't have it in Fairfax County. Regal Countryside in Sterling isn't reserved seating (yet).

BTW, I love it. No more having to get to the theater 30 min early!

[Anonymous]

I love it! But most theaters don't have this option.

Buy tickets online, purchase seats online.

[Anonymous]

I actually love the reserved seating. I typically buy my tickets in advance, either on line, or in person (the theater is steps from the metro). If there aren't good seats I simply select another show time.

Courthouse is our neighborhood theater and we are actually bummed when the movie we want is only playing in Ballston which has traditional seating.

Exactly what is going on in theaters that you find so offensive that you have to move.

To me the most annoying thing was dealing with feet. People accidentally, repeatedly kicking your chair, or feet from behind peeking through the seats. None of this happens now b/c even when reclining your neighbors feet is very far from your seat.

[Anonymous]

I LOVE reserved seating at the movies. Love it. Buy online ahead of time, know you have a good seat, no rush to get there early, even if the movie just came out!

Anyway, OP, don't know any theaters in Fairfax County, but if you're desperate and willing to cross the river . . . Regal Cinemas in Rockville and AMC in Gaithersburg (at Rio) are unreserved.

[Anonymous]

I think its great too but I do not like the high cost theatre's.

[Anonymous]

IT IS THE BEST THING EVER.

We had gone to Europe many moons ago, probably two decades before reserved seating happened here, and saw that they had reserved seats. Reserved seating was past due in our area, because there was always (ALWAYS) some jackass who refused to move over for one person who insisted on coming late, and (ironically) having people move. Of course, the late comers would always feign desperate circumstances.

In any case, it is for the greater good that the seats are reserved, and it is a done deal. Until of course, someone feels their circumstances circumvent even this, which is inevitable.......

OP, perchance are you part of THAT group???

[Anonymous]

Another one who loves reserved seating. My husband used to insist we get to the theater 45 min. ahead of time to get our preferred seats (yes, you read that right). He's an extreme case, but we did always get the seats we wanted. Now, we can take our time at dinner, walk around for a bit, etc. and stroll into our movie five minutes before it starts, knowing we have the exact seats we want. It's a great system.

If someone annoying happened to sit next to us, I guess we would first tell them to be quiet, and if that didn't work, get the usher. Which is what we would have done in the non-reserved seats too. I don't feel I should have to move if someone else is being disruptive. They either need to shut up or move themselves.

[Anonymous]

I wish ushers would just seat you. This would open the door to tipping the usher for better seats, which would be great!

[Anonymous]

I must live in a backwater in Paris and here in downtown Bethesda - never had reserved seating anywhere! Online tickets, great. Reserved seating - if they don't hold up the queue while processing it, why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

IT IS THE BEST THING EVER.

We had gone to Europe many moons ago, probably two decades before reserved seating happened here, and saw that they had reserved seats. Reserved seating was past due in our area, because there was always (ALWAYS) some jackass who refused to move over for one person who insisted on coming late, and (ironically) having people move. Of course, the late comers would always feign desperate circumstances.

In any case, it is for the greater good that the seats are reserved, and it is a done deal. Until of course, someone feels their circumstances circumvent even this, which is inevitable.......

OP, perchance are you part of THAT group???

No, I don't attempt to impose my beliefs and desires onto other people. I hate the reserved seats. I've always shown up early and I'm not actually even picky about where I sit. I don't want to be behind someone who is blocking my view, I don't want to be near noisy people, and I don't want to be near cell phone users.

I won't go to the theatres that have reserved seats. I will see the movies when I can watch them at home. I'm not a big movie watcher anyways, I only go when my son asks me to go. He usually goes with his friends nowadays anyways, so no big deal I guess. Glad you all are happy with the reserved seats since it seems like the majority of people actually love it, I just posted because I thought I couldn't be alone in hating this, but I guess I'm wrong lol.

[Anonymous]

I love it!!!

[Anonymous]

Hate the idea! Why must yet another activity be regimented and structured! I can't stand having to follow someone else's rules for where I choose to sit at a movie. Go to the theater if you want reserved seats!

[Anonymous]

I love reserved seats. Ever since they opened the ArcLight theater in Montgomery Mall I actually like going to movies again. Buy tix online, pick seats, and then no need to print tickets at the theater at those broken-down fandango kiosks because they can just scan the barcode on your phone. Very civilized.