4 tech innovations we saw at CinemaCon that could radically change the movie theater experience

4DX with Screen X

You may have seen a movie in 4DX (where the seats in the movie theater move with the action on screen) or a movie in Screen X (panoramic, 270-degree screen), but you’ve never done it at the same time!

That’s because both features have not been combined in any theaters yet. Business Insider got to experience a demo of a 4DX/Screen X viewing at CinemaCon and it’s certainly a different way to go to the movies. As your seat moves and rumbles with the action of, say, “Rampage,” you are immersed in the viewing as the movie picture expands to the sides of the theater.

There are over 80 4DX screens in existence and 142 that are Screen X. It’s unclear when theaters will have the combined version (one is opening in South Korea), but it’s almost inevitable that it's coming.

myCinema

Though box-office numbers are high, there are fewer and fewer people coming to the movie theater. So myCinema thinks offering more alternative content to theaters could get more butts in the seats — especially during down times at the theaters.

Beginning in the coming months, myCinema will be offering thousands of shows, movies, and specials to movie theaters that can stream the content directly into their digital projectors. This will make the content easier (and quicker) for theaters to get compared to digital prints by services like Fathom.

With a library that will feature everything from kids content to faith-based titles to live concerts, you could see myCinema soon at independent arthouses that are always struggling to find audiences to come through the turnstile on a regular basis.

Noovie ARcade

Ever get to the movies early and have to sit through a bunch of boring commercials before the trailers start? National CineMedia hopes it has a better alternative.

NCM’s Noovie ARcade preshow lets you combine your phone with the big screen in front of you. Through downloading the ARcade app you are prompted to point your phone at the theater screen and play a variety of shooting, catching, and tossing games through your phone.

You are playing with everyone else in the theater who also has the app, so at the end of each game a leader board ranks everyone’s score.

Noovie ARcade has launched at 1,650 theaters nationwide through AMC, Cinemark, and Regal, as well as 50 regional and local exhibitors.

Check out if it’s available at your local theater next time you’re there.

Moviebill

If gaming on the big screen through ARcade isn’t your thing, how about getting your hands on a unique movie magazine?

Moviebill is a small glossy magazine that will focus each issue on the biggest movies to hit the multiplex. It was unveiled this weekend and was focused on “Avengers: Infinity War.”

Available exclusively at all Regal Cinemas, all you have to do is download the Regal app and point at any Moviebill page. Through your phone you get a fun experience that includes 3D art and videos you can launch.

The editorial in Moviebill isn’t too shabby either. Each issue will feature an interview with a big star from the movie, a trivia page, and soundtrack highlights from the movie that you can then go listen to on Spotify.

And the plan is to keep the magazine dynamic beyond your first read. If you look back at issues months later, you could potentially see new 3D art and videos.