An inside look at 4DX cinema: behind motion-enabled movie theaters

When viewers take their seats for a screening of "Bullet Train" in a 4DX auditorium, they have an opportunity to customize their experience. Located within the armrest is a button allowing patrons to select either "Water Effects On" or “Off." This small control serves as an indication of the fully immersive sensory experience about to unfold as Brad Pitt's character finds himself in a life-or-death battle against numerous assassins.

As streaming and virtual entertainment continue growing in popularity, the developers at 4DX see their innovative format as a way for movie theaters to distinguish themselves in today's crowded landscape. When the technology was initially created by parent company CJ Group, their goal was to enhance and elevate the traditional moviegoing experience, ensuring it remained a compelling outing for audiences. 4DX strives to give patrons reasons to choose the communal big screen over viewing films at home.

Throughout the film "Bullet Train", Pitt's character endures various assaults as he works to uncover the true motives behind the intertwining assassinations. Audiences viewing the movie in 4DX will feel these on-screen movements translated into their seats, which subtly sync to the rhythm of the action scenes. Patrons can expect their chairs to gently shake and sway in conjunction with each punch, stab, throw and chase sequence faced by Pitt's character. The 4DX format aims to immerse viewers more fully in the non-stop action unfolding on the big screen.

A 4DX auditorium aims to enhance the viewing experience through various sensory technologies. In addition to motion-enabled seating, patrons may also experience localized airflow created by wind machines. Carefully timed lighting effects like strobes further immerse viewers. Simulations of weather conditions like snow - in the form of cool, dry foam - also add atmospheric layers. Additionally, seasonally appropriate scents are subtly introduced to engage the sense of smell. The seats themselves contain a mechanism that gently applies pressure to a viewer's shoulders at key moments. Combined, these elements work together to place the audience more fully within the world unfolding on screen.

Given the extensive array of technologies present in each 4DX auditorium, it would be simple to recklessly activate every effect simultaneously and bombard the senses. However, a 4DX showing is carefully crafted, not merely a barrage on the viewers. Each presentation undergoes a lengthy period of calibration in Korea to precisely synchronize the in-theater immersions with the unfolding film. Weeklong coordination ensures the seats, scents, projections and more subtly augment rather than distract from the on-screen production. Through judicious timing and intensity of each element, 4DX aims to draw audiences more deeply into the story - not overwhelm them into disengagement. It is an experience designed for enhancement, not excess.

Annually, CJ 4DPLEX supports over 30 major American film releases with bespoke 4DX immersions, in addition to customized presentations for approximately 40 titles from China, Korea and other regional markets. Once fully developed and refined, the cueing instructions are electronically transmitted globally to all 4DX-capable theaters. From there, each auditorium's local servers precisely execute the prescribed sensory narratives tailored to their films. In this way, calibrated 4DX experiences can be uniformly delivered at locations worldwide, allowing consistent innovation of the theatrical viewing experience across international borders.

4DX enhances more than just intense action scenes in "Bullet Train". Some comic moments receive unexpected dimension, such as when a burst of seat spray mimics the eruption of a bidet. The film's train-set storyline also calls for environmental textures, from occasional wind gusts to consistent gentle rocking aligning with the rolling carriages.

Certain filmmakers have become invested in optimizing the 4DX experience for their works. CJ Group welcomes such collaborators into the process. Earlier this year, directors from "Top Gun: Maverick", "Lightyear", and "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" visited CJ's Hollywood screening facility, providing feedback incorporated by Korean teams. Popular writer/director Kevin Smith also occasionally visits to preview new theatrical releases in 4DX format. Such input ensures the immersive system thoughtfully elevates cinematic storytelling rather than distracting from it.