Best experience in a cinema

[rybev]

It's very easy to say what our favourite films are but what was the best experience you had watching a film?

Mine was back in the early 90's watching Arachnophobia.
It was back in the good old days of UK cinema going when the audotoriums were huge not like the smaller multiplex screens we get now. It was absolutely packed out and as we all know many many people hate spiders so the atmosphere during this film was fantastic.
I'd never been in a film showing where people were actually screaming and the whole audience were jumping back in unison.

It's because of that experience that i can watch Aracnophobia and smile remembering the best time i ever had watching a movie.

Unfortunately i bet Arachnophobia is way down on the list of Blu-Ray's to release list

[EricJ]

Geezer that I am, I remember seeing a sneak preview of "Flash Gordon".
(Yes, THAT one. With the Freddie Mercury theme.)

...Back when not even any clips had hit the circuit yet, and the audience literally had no idea what to expect, outside of your basic post-Christopher Reeve comic-icon movie.
And from the reactions all night, it was safe to say they didn't.

[Scripture]

I remember a day in my youth, when I took a young lady to the movie theater. I think we were thirteen or fourteen at the time. We were sort of hot and heavy for each other, and the film wasn't memorable. Suffice to say, think about the scene in 'Fear', where Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon ride on the roller coaster together. Same thing, except in a darkened cinema.

For those that saw the movie, you know what transpired. For those that didn't, I'll leave that to your imagination, but I'm certain you can deduce what took place. Funny the things we remember. Suffice to say, at the time I thought it was a poignant and pivotal moment.

[garageinc2001]

I remember LOTR 2 being overwhelming. We went to the midnight showing. All the theatres showing the film were maxed out. People sitting in the aisles. All in the same mind set. Rooting for Frodo and Sam. Gasping at the cinematography. Good times.
On a side bar... I remember the first time I went to the new theater in the home town. All movies shown with DLP projectors and digital sound. I was blown away.

[katharsis]

I remember my aunt sneaking me into Alien 3 which was a big deal back when it came out. Rated "18" in Germany, means that you cannot watch it even with older guardians. I was 14 at the time and it was like a little adventure catching a midnight showing and not to tell my parents where I have been. She had a bunch of friends with her and they occupied the theater people so I could get in... the showing was packed and once the movie was over I knew that I wanted more of this franchise (did not see the first 2 before that night)
I still enjoy watching this one as it seems to be the darkest one in the series.

[Cremildo]

Most of my best experiences in a movie theater have a lot to do with the quality of the projection and the sound. It's so rare when everything's perfect.

The Green Mile - a powerful viewing experience. Too bad it never had the same impact on VHS or DVD (obviously)
A Beautiful Mind - not sure why, it moved me to tears. Much like the aforementioned movie, I watched it later on DVD and the magic was totally gone
Mission: Impossible III, X-Men: The Last Stand and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - just plain fun

[LegacyCosts]

Blade Runner on film final cut like 4 years ago was enthralling yet cathartic as watching it on blu ray at home just can't live up to that experience.

[cynatnite]

King Kong (1976).

I was a kid at the time and it was just awesome. The theater was filled. The audience went crazy over the movie. People clapped and cheered when Kong brought down a helicopter. Then the end...you know. Sadness.

It was the audience participation in that film that made it so memorable for me.

[Mothravka]

Must be when I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). I've seen it a couple of times, but rewatching it in a cinema was a nice experience.

[Creed]

Interstellar: Empty theater, but it was epic as hell!
Dunkirk in IMAX: Astounding. Nuff said.
The Avengers: Audience lost their shit throughout!
Civil War: Same as The Avengers.

[cynatnite]

When we went to see The Force Awakens, the audience clapped and cheered when the Lucas scroll came on the screen. It was like saying hello to an old friend.

[GLaDOS]

My best experience, hands down, was watching Interstellar in IMAX 15/70 at the Johnson IMAX Theater in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, along with the IMAX prologues for TDK, TDKR, and Dunkirk that came before that.

I saw Interstellar 3 times in that format, but that was probably my favorite out of the three (never saw the IMAX prologues in their intended format before, which made it all the more special). Shame the Smithsonian closed down the Johnson to make more room for the cafeteria.

[shinobipopcorn]

I guess my first film in a stadium style theater in Pittsburgh in 2008. We didn't get stadium seats in our town until 2015. (I guess that's really behind the times.)

[Movieman73]

Two of the best movie experiences I have had were last year. I saw Dunkirk in IMAX in July, which was astonishing, then I saw Blade Runner 2049 in AMC Prime in October, which was spectacular.

[Rodney-2187]

The marathon of all the Star Wars movies leading up to The Force Awakens. It was special.

[PipesDonatello]

Seeing Gravity in 3D. That being said I had no desire to see it again after that.

Also watching Borat during opening weekend. The theater was packed and everyone was losing it during the entire movie.

[traths]

Originally Posted by cynatnite

When we went to see The Force Awakens, the audience clapped and cheered when the Lucas scroll came on the screen. It was like saying hello to an old friend.

Same here.

[Archedamian]

I got to see Fantasia in a theater all by myself. It was glorious.

[dgoswald]

Blade Runner 2049 a few months ago. Arguments can be had over the various qualities and merits of the film, but purely as the sum of an aural and visual experience I was overwhelmed, in a good way, at times during the run-time.

[sandman slim]

Originally Posted by dgoswald

Blade Runner 2049 a few months ago. Arguments can be had over the various qualities and merits of the film, but purely as the sum of an aural and visual experience I was overwhelmed, in a good way, at times during the run-time.

Same here, BR2049 would be the most recent experience that stands out as being something really special. Got to see the Final Cut in a theater (finally) then raced across town to get to the 7pm Thursday night opening of 2049 at my usual theater. One of the biggest in town, 300+ seats, massive screen, deafening surround sound. Dashed in hoping to get a good seat... and there were four people in the room. Movie started right after I got there, and I was just enveloped by the sights & sounds for the next three hours.

I would rank that two theater double feature right at the top, alongside the first time I ever saw Lawrence of Arabia... in 70mm.