Don’t be like me. Don’t fall asleep in them.

Theatres with reclining chairs, while not as popular as, let’s say Starbucks (I say this because there’s a Starbucks on every corner in Metro Vancouver) are becoming a thing.

And yet, I’m not sure how to feel about them.

I remember the first time I went to see a film in a giant, comfy chair. It was actually at one of the VIP theatres; it was the Cineplex in Coquitlam. I don’t remember what movie it was, but I do remember being relatively comfortable. So comfortable, in fact…that I ended up falling asleep. This is probably why I don’t remember the film, because I’ve slept it out of my head over the years.

Fast forward to 2017, and reclining theatres are becoming a means by which to try and change the box office scene: Landmark Cinemas is making quite a few of its theatres recliner-friendly. By the time I had gone to watch Guardians of the Galaxy for the second time in June, almost every theatre inside Landmark’s New Westminster location was strictly recliner. It’s a good thing it was the second time, because I actually fell asleep again.

This is a catch-22: I don’t think most people go to the theatre to nap. Most people go because they want to see a movie, not sit there and breeze through it with their eyes shut. Moving in and out of a theatre with recliners, though…that can also get annoying. If you’ve got the leg rest up, then you’ll have to put them down when someone moves through your aisle.

However, if you’re not into crowds like me (why do you think I work in radio?) then you might actually like a theatre filled with recliners better. Recliners take up more space, meaning less seats, therefore meaning less people to deal with. These seats are also reserved, which means you don’t have to worry about someone else stealing your seat. And you’re probably wanting me to confirm whether or not they’re comfy. Take it from someone who has trouble sleeping – oh yes, they are.

What do you think of theatres with reclining seats? Is this the way to go, or should we keep the standard chair format found in most places?

As for me, I’m more inclined to recline. I’ll just have to make sure moving forward that I actually get some rest instead of doing so in the theatre. 🙂

R