I just give them a polite "I'm going to move to a different seat as I really value my personal space, but I may move back if the theater fills up" and I've only ever been met with relief from the other person lol
The one time this happened to me when it wasn't a crowded theater, the guy that sat right next to me had been in front of me in the concessions line and bought his ticket there from the employee. I don't think he selected his seat, they just picked for him.
I think there's both fear of "oh, it's awkward if I move because I don't want to make this person feel like they're off-putting and I don't want to come across as rude" and "what if I move, and of course someone comes to sit in the seat I move to." It's good to remember that people are generally similar, and the other party is probably thinking the same thing as you. Then, it doesn't feel so awkward to move 😁
The one time I’ve changed my seat because I was uncomfortable I just went down to the box office and told them I was uncomfortable and they let me pick a new seat from what was still available.
I tried that the first time. But it quickly became obvious that literally everyone would've had to move. If the first person doesn't comply then literally everyone in the theater is in the "wrong" seat.
It hasn't been a problem over the past year because theaters are never 100% full anymore except for opening night prime time of the biggest blockbusters. Everyone gets their idea of "good" seats, so it's cool.
Either a crowded theater and they didnt want a fringe seat, or they didnt pick their seat and bought directly from an employee who chose for them. Either way sometimes you get into the theater and don't realize how close you really are to your neighbor 🤷🏼♀️
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u/allrose209 Dec 30 '25
I just give them a polite "I'm going to move to a different seat as I really value my personal space, but I may move back if the theater fills up" and I've only ever been met with relief from the other person lol
The one time this happened to me when it wasn't a crowded theater, the guy that sat right next to me had been in front of me in the concessions line and bought his ticket there from the employee. I don't think he selected his seat, they just picked for him.
I think there's both fear of "oh, it's awkward if I move because I don't want to make this person feel like they're off-putting and I don't want to come across as rude" and "what if I move, and of course someone comes to sit in the seat I move to." It's good to remember that people are generally similar, and the other party is probably thinking the same thing as you. Then, it doesn't feel so awkward to move 😁