Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan has opened up about the surprising best places to sit in a movie theater. Nolan is best known for directing cinematic films like the Dark Knight trilogy, Interstellar, and Dunkirk. His next movie, Oppenheimer, is set to release in theaters on July 21, 2023.
Ahead of Oppenheimer‘s release, Nolan revealed to Associated Press what he believed to be the best way to watch a movie in theaters. Specifically, the director opened up about where the best places to sit in a movie theater are to have the best experience depending on how the film is shown. Check out Nolan’s seating suggestion below:
“When I’m in a theater that’s Cinemascope ratio, I like to be right near the front, middle of the third row. When I’m in a stadium, IMAX 1.43:1, then I actually like to be a little behind the center line right up at the middle. So, a little further back.”
What Christopher Nolan’s Theater Seating Taste Means For Oppenheimer
Nolan’s specific taste in theater seating is no surprise, given his dedication to creating detailed and engaging films such as Inception and Interstellar. With the release of Oppenheimer on every IMAX screen in North America, Nolan likely had his preferred seating in mind when creating the film. Many of Nolan’s films were possibly crafted based on his theatrical preferences, ensuring his movies look good from where he likes to sit.
Even without considering Nolan’s theater preferences, Oppenheimer is shaping up to be his most ambitious film so far. Oppenheimer marks the first time frequent Nolan collaborator Cillian Murphy will portray the lead role in one of the director’s films. It was also recently revealed that Oppenheimer is Nolan’s first R-rated film since 2002’s Insomnia, making it a historic point in his career.
Nolan’s preference on where to sit in a theater may incline some to try and see Oppenheimer in one of his preferred seating spots. However, given the artistic craftsmanship that Nolan puts into all his films, it’s unlikely not sitting in his preferred spot will impact the experience. No matter what seat someone chooses for Oppenheimer, Nolan might still make history with the movie.
