Beyond the big screen: How displays improve the cinematic experience

A lot goes into creating the ultimate cinematic experience, from the friends you bring and popcorn you crunch to the seats you sit in and film you watch — in all its bright, colorful and absorbing glory. Less appreciated, perhaps, is the route to the actual screen, whether it’s purchasing tickets, buying snacks or finding the theater.

When the process is smooth, quick and clear, theatergoers arrive in their seats with a smile, ready to experience the magic of cinema. It also means they’ll be more likely to return for future viewings, potentially bringing new customers with them. This is especially important in a world dominated by streaming services that encourage more people to stay home. The big screen showing the film will always be the main draw, but other displays can enhance the before-and-after experience for customers, offering an easy and intuitive journey through the entire cinema — and before they even enter. Here’s how.

Turn heads

Data abounds that shows the impact of digital displays on winning new customers. Cinemas employing outward-facing window displays may catch the eye of passersby and win more foot traffic. These screens can show information regarding the current schedule, what’s coming soon, special events and various promotions. Dual-sided displays can confirm this once customers are inside, offering additional helpful information. Samsung outdoor LED signage is also hardy enough to be positioned outside the venue or close to the main street, whatever the weather, extending the reach of your advertising impact.

Speed service

Once intrigued, few things defeat a shopping impulse than a long line, and the same goes for cinemas. At the box office, self-service digital kiosks like Samsung Kiosk provide powerful tools to get customers into their seats quickly. Kiosk touchscreens offer an all-in-one solution from the get-go. The ability to choose a film, select a seat and pay for a ticket directly from the interactive screen means a rapid and secure transaction for the customer. Samsung Kiosks are also easy to install, simple to operate and straightforward to maintain — boosting revenue and reducing costs simultaneously.

Smooth paths to every screen

Once customers are on the premises, digital displays can continue enhancing the journey through wayfinding. Samsung digital signage displays can make navigating the venue simple, be it to the ticket desk, concessions stand, the bathrooms or the theater showing the film. They become particularly useful for customers who need to step out in the middle of a film, when seconds count, reducing the “What did I miss?” whispers when they return.

Offer seamless concessions

Concessions stand displays and digital menu boards can make information about food and drink clear and bright. Rather than forcing the customer to scan the glass cases and coolers to find what they want, digital signage can direct their gaze and display the available menu options more quickly and dynamically. This includes highlighting promotions and specials, ensuring higher sales. Samsung Kiosk displays can speed this further by allowing customers to place orders before they even approach the counter.

Make movie magic

Once guests are comfortably seated with their favorite drink and snack, the magic begins. And at the heart of this movie magic is the screen itself. Whether a premium cinema or a more intimate boutique venue, every theater requires a carefully chosen cinema display to deliver the best possible moviegoing experience. Fortunately, the latest Samsung Onyx DCI LED Cinema Screen delivers a cinematic experience unlike anything you have seen before. It’s available in 10 meters (33ft), with various screen sizes and additional flexible scaling options coming soon. This scalability will allow theaters to maximize their space and present films in the largest possible format on floor-to-ceiling screens without compromising image quality.

Onyx also features active 3D imagery with no reduction in brightness, amplifying the viewing experience with enhanced depth and clarity. When paired with specialized glasses, Onyx elevates the vibrant 3D visuals for a deeper immersion. Onyx is also compatible with leading audio solutions, including Dolby Atmos, Meyer Sound and QSC, as well as custom-designed systems, and seamlessly integrates with HARMAN’s JBL speakers. The front surround sound technology is strategically positioned to create a 3D soundstage, engaging audience members no matter where they are seated.

Inspire a return visit

After the film, as they leave the theater, a Samsung display can show customers what’s coming soon. Theater owners can further whet their appetites with trailers of future attractions. This is also a good place to show social media postings about the theater and any footage and testimonials taken from past events — a marketing approach far more effective than just words on a screen.

Samsung VXT, a centralized content management system that simplifies content creation and scheduling, can help manage all displays and kiosks across your venue. Whether digital posters in the lobby, wayfinding screens in hallways, ticketing kiosks or menus at the snack bar, VXT allows you to remotely control, create and schedule content in advance, so showtimes, trailers and promos change automatically throughout the day. You can also update content in real time, which is perfect for last-minute changes or special announcements. VXT turns your cinema’s display network into a unified system, helping streamline operations and enhance the guest experience.

The complete cinema solution

In every circumstance, the fine pitch and vibrant colors and contrasts of Samsung movie theater displays can create a seamless and immersive journey for theatergoers from the front door to the main event, especially when combined with Samsung Onyx, the world’s first cinema LED display. No matter their size, cinemas can now acquire the infrastructure and technology to elevate the cinematic experience at every stage — and step.

As the world’s first cinema LED display, Onyx takes you beyond the ordinary by delivering a cinematic experience unlike anything before. Discover how the latest cinema LED technology, Samsung Onyx DCI LED Cinema Screen, can transform your theater experience and draw in audiences.