Danny MattesonWhere’s the best place to watch a movie? At home in your comfy chair, right? Well, what if that comfy chair was inside the theater? (Via flash.pro / CC by 2.0)
That’s apparently the plan for Kansas City-based theater chain AMC, which is now installing La-Z-Boy-style recliners in around a third of its auditoriums. (Via WNYW)
“AMC is announcing that it’s spending hundreds of millions of dollars outfitting theaters with La-Z-Boy-type seats that will allow you to recline all the way back as you watch your film.” (Via ABC)
“Take a look at the chairs there. You might fall asleep if the movies not action-packed.” (Via KNXV)
The new, more cushy seats, are already installed at several of the chains theaters, with renovations running about $350,000 to $500,000 per auditorium according to The Hollywood Reporter.
And despite making for less room — reportedly 50 to 70-percent less seating per theater — the new seats might actually be making for better business for the theaters. (Via Jeremy Noble / CC by 2.0)
As The Wall Street Journal reports, attendance has been up some 80-percent in theaters that have undergone the renovations — with the same theaters seeing a 60-percent increase in revenue over the first quarter of 2014.
Which is good news considering the competition theaters have faced from the likes of Netflix and Hulu in recent years.
So, we know what you’re thinking, ‘Will this increase ticket prices?’ — and the answer is 'yes' ... eventually.
Cinema Blend points out tickets will eventually go up $1 to $2, but only after a grace period of a few years with the new seating arrangements.
And according to Variety, outside of the comfy seats there will also be other new amenities to draw viewers in — like “full dine-in capabilities,” — so the price might not feel like such a hike.
AMC says it will continue rolling out the renovations over the next five years, so if they’re not to your town yet — just get comfortable.
