15 Stars of CinemaCon Tell Us What Amenities Should Be Added to Movie Theaters
Hollywood descended upon Las Vegas last week for CinemaCon, where the major studios screened never-seen-before movie footage and brought out their big-name stars. The exhibitor convention, formerly known as ShoWest, is all about celebrating the theatrical experience — and also finding ways to improve it. So we asked a bunch of bold names which amenity they would like to see added to their local cinema. Here’s what they said.
[Editor’s Note: We secretly hoped they’d all say Smell-o-Vision. A couple of them actually did.]
Kevin Hart (Central Intelligence): “Buffalo wings!”
Teresa Palmer (Lights Out): “Neverending popcorn. And some of the chairs are really uncomfortable sometimes, so reclining chairs with the little footrest that comes up. And double seats! So you and you husband, or you and loved one, can snuggle up.”
Related: 15 Things We Learned at CinemaCon 2016
Jesse Eisenberg (Now You See Me 2): “I’ve always like that red slushie machine. Maybe if that was somehow mandated.”
Gina Rodriguez (Deepwater Horizon): “I don’t know because the other day I went to a movie theater and there were reclining chairs. And I died… I was like, ‘Go AMC Santa Monica. I’m gonna give you all my money.’”
Samuel L. Jackson (The Legend of Tarzan): “I always wanted to smell the locations that people were in. [Editor’s Note: Yes! Smell-o-vision!] That would be awesome. If they’re in this horrible place, you’d have the sewage smells. If they’re in a great place, you’d have candy smells.”
Anna Kendrick (Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates): “More adult screening nights, where you could have booze. I would always go for the Fast and Furious movies. Whenever a new Fast and Furious movie came out, I would go, 'I’m going on adult night, so I can have a beer.’ The whole audience would be screaming, shouting, cheering. And something about just having a beer in your hand, you’re like, 'This is the greatest night of my life!’”
Andy Samberg (Storks): “Depends on what movie you’re watching. I had a blast down in Austin where you can go to some of those theaters and have a big pint of beer. That’s fun, but I wouldn’t necessarily want that for every movie… Like [the family-friendly animated] Storks is less of a beer movie.”
Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them): “Beautiful cushy chairs with reclining seats.”
Related: Dan Fogler on 'Winning the Lottery’ With Role in 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’
Maika Monroe (Independence Day: Resurgence): “Massage chairs would be incredible. And I love the theaters where you can sit and order food and drinks and all that… I feel like film is heading in a more interactive direction, so smelling things and feeling things.” [Editor’s Note: Another Smell-o-Vision supporter.]
Will Smith (Suicide Squad): “I’m really old-school. For me, you go to the movies and you have some popcorn and you have something to drink. I did like the addition of a chair that can [recline] back a little bit. But I’m a purist.”
Vivica A. Fox (Independence Day: Resurgence): “I really enjoy when you can go there and they come if you want a drink. Just to make it more of an intimate experience. I’d love more luxury theaters.”
Will Arnett (The Lego Batman Movie): “I feel like they do a pretty good job. Maybe just like, my mom bringing me food. Can they do that? I don’t think anybody else would love that. She’s so loud.”
Emilia Clarke (Me Before You): “Sometimes it would be nice if beautiful people would just step out of the screen and just sit down next to you and go, you know what, it’s going to be OK.”
James Wan (The Conjuring 2): I know this much, I know we should never include smell. [Editor’s Note: Come on!] Maybe if it’s a pleasant smell, that could be cool. Listen, I make scary movies, and I make movies that are set in dungeons and creepy places, so you wouldn’t want to sit through the smell of those locations.“
Adam Devine (Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates): "I think they should allow you to throw popcorn. Throw popcorn and smoke weed, medicinally.”