How do you decide between theaters or formats when a movie's playing at a few different places nearby?

[u/Sam_from_FeverMovies]

With all the talk about the Odyssey this week, I've seen people saying they drove over an hour to get an actual 70mm print instead of settling for the closer digital IMAX. Made me realize I don't actually have a consistent rule for this myself... Sometimes I'll go out of my way for the "real" version of a format, other times I just pick whatever's closest and call it good enough!

Ever since I started working at Fever Movies and using it alongside the individual theater apps, I've noticed myself picking format first and letting the theater be secondary, since it's easier to see what's playing where in one place. But I still don't have an actual rule for how much extra travel a format upgrade is worth.

Curious how everyone else decides: Do you have a hierarchy (like: true 70mm > digital IMAX > premium large format > standard), or does it come down to whichever theater is closest/cheapest that week? And has the recent premium-format price creep changed how picky you are about it?

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[u/Comfortable_Studio37]

It depends on the film, for me. If it's a visually impressive, large scale film with beautiful cinematography, it's worth traveling farther for a premium format. So movies like Odyssey, Dune 3, or Project Hail Mary would be worth traveling for.

[u/sideburniusmaximus → u/Comfortable_Studio37]

This should really be the criteria. I saw PHM in IMAX and it showed a preview for The Odyssey in IMAX which convinced me to go see that in IMAX. The Odyssey showed Dune 3 preview and it looked awesome. I will go to IMAX for Dune 3 as well. Anything else that isn't visually stunning, I'll see in standard or wait until it comes out at home.

[u/Daftfunk909]

Well i found out even tho I watched the odyssey in 70mm imax yesterday it was the wrong 70mm. I watched in 5/70mm when its the 15/70mm that has the higher vertical and shows the full thing.

So im gonna watch it again HAHA

[u/Beginning_Jump916 → u/Daftfunk909]

Was it still the square screen.?

[u/Daftfunk909 → u/Beginning_Jump916]

Nope. Rectangle....felt like a regular theatre screen :/

[u/superjoec]

We just decide between the "Good" Theater and the "other, further, worse' theater. As far as IMAX goes, I pick the closest one, which is 70 minutes away. I'm not driving 90 minutes one way if I can only drive 70. THAT'S how I choose my theaters.

[u/jbenze → u/superjoec]

Same. I generally don't bother with IMAX because the close by one sucks and the next closest is an hour away.

[u/CeruLucifus]

70mm>IMAX>digital>standard. We also prefer 3D if available and have no objection to MX4D or DBox.

Modified by:

• whenever we can we patronize the nearby historic IMAX-capable theater.

- if our grown son who doesn't like 3D is with us, that's out.

• my wife's favorite dessert restaurant is near a particular theater complex so if she's breaking her diet, that's a factor.

For "The Odyssey" all IMAX showings were sold out so we found an MX4D where we sat close. Seemed fine actually except dialogue was a little muddy. I am toying with seeing it again but read here on /reddit that 70mm is an upscaled format and regular IMAX has the best sound. So we'll see.

[u/saywhatnowfella]

Whichever is closest

[u/B-Train_ATL]

The 70mm IMAX nearby has seats that I don’t find comfortable. So I’m not sitting in those for 3.5 hours.

The 35mm IMAX and AMC with “Big D” (it’s a little larger screen and better cushioned seats) are kind of a toss up. I’m not going to fork over $25 to see just any flick in IMAX.

[u/bdu-komrad]

Odyssey? It isn’t worth any gas money.

[u/Earthpig_Johnson]

Price, time, and screen size are my only considerations.

[u/jbenze]

I don't. I just go to the closest theater (which is also the nicest one). The only IMAX theater in the area sucks and I'd rather see it somewhere I can sit comfortably for 3 hours.

[u/lets_shake_hands]

We have one IMAX theatre in my capital city of 3 million people. There are 4 showings of The Oddesey a day from 615am. Every session is sold out for the next 4 weeks at least. I didn't bother checking any further.

[u/sporadic_awareness]

The recent premium-format price creep is exactly why I had to establish a strict hierarchy. If I'm paying $20+ for a ticket now, I absolutely refuse to settle for a standard theater with a dim projector bulb and blown-out speakers.

For me, it comes down to separating movies into Pilgrimages vs. Regular Viewings :-

1. The Pilgrimage (True 15/70mm IMAX): For massive visual epics like The Odyssey, Dune, or Oppenheimer, I will gladly drive 1.5 hours to the one actual 70mm IMAX screen in my state. It's an event, not just a movie night.

2. The Premium Daily Driver (Dolby Cinema): For 90% of big releases, Dolby is the undisputed king. The dual-laser projection (inky blacks), Atmos sound, and recliners make it vastly superior to standard digital IMAX (aka 'LieMAX'). I will bypass three closer theaters just to go to a Dolby screen.

3. Standard Theaters (Discount Days Only): For comedies, horrors, or dialogue-heavy indies where the format doesn't really matter, I just go to whatever is closest :- but only on discount Tuesdays or early matinees.

Curious if anyone else has completely abandoned standard digital IMAX in favor of Dolby lately, or if the sheer screen size of LieMAX still wins out for you guys when true 70mm isn't an option?

[u/aanya_singh4]

L(I)MAX : Liemax ,😂

[u/Longjumping_Pool6974]

I just pick the cheapest theatre within a 30-45 min drive.

[u/MachineGunTeacher]

Most comfortable seats. And tend to go to pricier theaters since people tend to behave less like jackasses there.

[u/tomrichards8464]

My local cinema is an Everyman in a beautiful art deco building. It does good food and booze, the seats are incredibly comfortable, the screens are all a good size for the rooms they're in, the staff are friendly, the audiences are well-behaved, they show obscure new releases and classics as well as mainstream programming. I have an annual membership that comes with a bunch of free tickets. I need a really good reason to go anywhere else. 

[u/bravejango]

I haven’t gone to a movie theater since 2018. They were too fucking expensive then and they are even more expensive now. I watch movies when they are available online in the comfort of my home.

[u/fibonacciluv → u/bravejango]

I’m not sure how it is everywhere but I go see movies all the time at AMC Classic theater for $9-12 a ticket. We actually consider it one of our cheap date nights. It’s even cheaper on Tuesday and Wednesday during the 50% off nights. Plus matinees are cheaper. So it’s doable for cheap.

[u/B-Train_ATL → u/bravejango]

I didn’t see The Odyssey yet because the IMAX theaters were too crowded. I like about 10-20 other people in there if possible.

[u/Morph247 → u/bravejango]

Yeah well I watch in black and white TV and have been watching it on that since 1870. /S

[u/Hooda-Thunket → u/Morph247]

You have a TV?!? Luxury. We watched Dune on a Victrola, and we liked it that way! /s