Furniture Design - Movie Theater Seats Moving in the Opposite Design Direction from Airplane

[Agschmid]

So maybe you saw the thread on the Airbus bicycle seats the other day? Well AMC theaters is going in a completely opposite direction...

As airplane seats get narrower, shallower, closer together and even unable to recline, movie theater seats are getting fatter, deeper, further apart and increasing their reclinability. Both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have picked up on cinema chain AMC's $600 million investment to re-seat some 1,800 of its theaters (out of 5,000 total), providing absurdly posh recliners at a cost of $350,000 to $500,000 per venue.

Yes, as airlines are seeking ways to cram more seats into their fuselages, AMC's re-seated theaters will actually decrease capacity. With seats being bumped up from 44 inches wide to 60 inches wide, and with full reclinability including elevating the legs La-Z-Boy-style, rows will need to move further apart and will be able to fit less bodies per row.

The motivation is financial. In a trial run conducted earlier this year, AMC saw ticket sales increase by 60% in the re-seated venues. Even with less capacity, this is hoped to lead to increased profitability, assuming moviegoers can swallow the $1 to $2 ticket price increase that the seats will eventually bring.

The question for us was, who designed/manufactured these new seats? Are these custom jobs for AMC or off-the-shelf? Unsurprisingly neither of the aforementioned newspapers mentioned it, since no one gives a damn about our profession. But by poring over the Journal's shots and comparing them to hundreds (okay, dozens) of product photos from companies that make home theater seating, we tried to uncover the source.

Help determine who makes them here.

[sakabatou]

1. Do they give massages too?

[Agschmid]

2. Not yet!

The vibration might disturb the movie... however vibrating seats are not new. Many IMAX locations have seats which include vibrations or speakers built in!

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/world-of-tech/secrets-of-cinema-ultimate-tips-for-the-best-movie-experience-1184585/2

[sakabatou]

3. Well, I wouldn't mind a chair that gave massages, like some lazy boy models

[pinboy3niner]

4. The way things are going, you may soon be able to get a mani-pedi at the movies, too!

And would you like the artichoke or the zucchini facial during the feature?

[regnaD kciN]

5. It's necessary, because AMC's "competition"...

...is the home "family room," where you can lay back in your own recliner and watch movies in hi-def on a big-screen.

Too bad there's no way to fly from city to city while staying at home.

[Coventina]

9. There is a large segment of the population who can afford to see a movie once in a while

but don't have the resources to have hi-def big-screen TVs at home.

What you say is true of the more affluent segment of the population, but the poorer segment is there, and it's growing.

[Coventina]

16. This is true, but they still are not "cheap" for many.

One needs to be able to save up the money, or, have the credit to finance.
Or, be foolish enough to "rent to own."

Many cannot do the first two and too smart for the third.

After the initial investment, one must have the space to put it.

My house can barely accommodate a 32 inch screen TV with comfort.

No space for recliners, but my loveseat serves me fine.

Going to the movies is a special treat.

[JVS]

6. Nice idea, but I suspect that in 15 years or so as those seats get old and kind of scungy...

I'd rather be in a regular seat instead of wallowing in stained pleather.

[Phentex]

7. They make farty noises!

When they are reclined and lifted back up, they squeak and it sounds like people are farting everywhere.

At Cinebistro, you feel like you are sitting on a loveseat with built in tv trays. Those seats are huge!

[Agschmid]

8. I know!

I hate when I have to adjust the setting mid movie it gets really awkward.

[kath]

10. I want a movie theater that has cell phone blockers.

I am sick to fucking death of there ALWAYS being some asshole checking his/her phone or texting during the movie. That bright light in a dark theater is very distracting.

Some mega-blocker such that make it so the fucking things can't even light up in the theater.

[Archae]

11. Can't say I blame them...

Especially since the movies are getting longer than coast to coast flights...

[Coventina]

21. Awe, man! I missed it! I didn't get to see what my correspondent said.

But I can't help wondering: how does someone get banned from posting in the Lounge?

[Agschmid]

22. They do this...

DHCT01

True Conservative

I’m a True Conservative. I took a political test at my workplace in Connecticut and was the most conservative. I scored 91% conservative in the top 2% for all Americans. I have impressive conservative credentials. I even did a tea party.

I was unfairly zotted from Free Republic in June 2010. I stated that I was very conservative in a thread. Then darkwing104 tried to lie about my position on an issue related to the BP oil spill. Then 50mm started in by agreeing with darkwing104 even though he was misrepresenting me. I was a conservative, am a conservative and always will be a conservative. A true conservative, in the top 2% of all Americans.

I TAKE MY CONSERVATISM VERY VERY VERY SERIOUSLY!!!!!

VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!

YOU OWE ME RESPECT!!!

Danny H

life - 10/10 abortion is wrong

guns - 10/10 support no restriction on gun ownership

marriage - 10/10 man and woman only, homosexuality is wrong

healthcare - 10/10 repeal Obamacare and we need tort reform.

immigration - 2/10 since I oppose SB1070. We need the workers. The McCain path to citizenship I support.

environment - 10/10 too many regulations and global warming is a farce

Iraq, Afghanistan - 10/10 fully support the wars and our troops

Israel, middle east - 9/10 pro Israel though a war with Iran is a bit much

income tax - 10/10 tax cuts across the board

corportate taxes - 10/10 tax cuts there too

social security and such - 10/10 phase that out

[lunatica]

23. Seats will be wide enough for two!

No hanky panky could possibly ensue, right?

[Iggo]

24. The older I get, the more I miss Intermission.

Plus (and I'm sure other posters have brought this up) at my age, I'll be asleep before Act III in that chair.

[mwdem]

25. I do know who makes them...

They are American made. Can't give out the info. Family member is in the business.