It’s no secret that movie theaters are currently in a desperate predicament. So, the need for AMC theaters to be introducing three different seat-pricing options has been met with backlash.
Instituting a class system in cinemas is as misguided an idea as it gets, it’s not a good look, especially right now with audiences, slowly, flocking back to theaters post-COVID.
The first is Standard Sightline, described as the “seats that are the most common in auditoriums and are available for the traditional cost of a ticket.” Then there’s Value Sightline, referred to as “seats in the front row of the auditorium, as well as select ADA seats in each auditorium, and are available at a lower price than standard sightline seats.” (Value Sightline pricing is only available to AMC Stubs members, including the free tier membership.) The third option is Preferred Sightline, which are the “seats in the middle of the auditorium and are priced at a premium to standard sightline seats.” AMC Stubs A-List members will be able to reserve seats in the Preferred Sightline Section at no additional cost.
Are they going to be policing this? Otherwise, just get cheap seats and move. “YOU NEED TO MOVE TO YOUR ASSIGNED SEAT. YOU HAVE TWENTY SECONDS TO COMPLY!”
I remember going to a press and audience screening of “No Time to Die,” a movie with assigned seating due to COVID. No one gave a damn, in fact my “assigned” press seats were taken by these two guys who were not press. It was pure chaos.
It went "Hey, you're in our seat"
"Well, those guys are in our seat, and those guys are in their seat, don't know what to say."
“Paying for closer seats at a concert or play makes sense but doing it at the movies is absolutely batshit,” tweeted Entertainment Weekly’s Jessica Derschowitz.
Even actor Elijah Wood blasted AMC: “The movie theater is and always has been a sacred democratic space for all and this new initiative by @AMCTheatres would essentially penalize people for lower income and reward for higher income,” he tweeted.
There was a time where you didn't know where you were sitting until you walked into the theater. That was part of the fun. Compare that to your living room where you can just sit in a cozy seat and not worry about seating tiers, in addition to not worrying about people around you texting and talking.
Create quiet theaters where talkers are removed and I bet some will actually pay a premium. That’s the real problem facing movie theaters these days, not to mention the skyrocketing ticket prices.
This is such a great time in history for movie theaters.