Top Gun: Maverick - The 4DX Experience
Is it worth it? (Possible Spoilers)
This morning, I drove 90 minutes up to the Regal United Artist King of Prussia movie theater in Pennsylvania to see Top Gun: Maverick (I’ll use TGM to abbreviate) for the third time. We don’t have any 4DX theaters in Maryland, so this was the closest one. I had never heard of 4DX until recently, when I was reading about all the special formats that Top Gun: Maverick was released in: IMAX, 4DX, Dolby Cinema, and ScreenX. I assume everyone knows what IMAX is. Dolby Cinema has Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos inside (along with rumble seats) and makes for an incredible movie experience. I’ve seen Baby Driver in the Dolby Cinema near me, and it is also where I saw Top Gun: Maverick the first time. ScreenX has two additional screens angled out from the primary screen, giving you a 270 degree field of view. TGM had some bonus footage from the flight scenes only available on ScreenX. There’s also a few theaters that offer ScreenX and 4DX combined (called Screen 4DX) but I’m not sure there are any in the USA yet (God do I wish there was one close).
4DX is a movie experience unlike any other. It is designed to give you an immersive experience. There are wind, water, fog, and snow physical effects. The big seller is the motion seats. I had planned to go see in 4DX shortly after TGM was released, but it was out of those theaters two weeks in. Paramount is calling this weekend “Fan Appreciation Weekend,” so the film is being put back into many special format theaters this weekend. I knew this was my last chance, so I had to go. This would be my first ever 4DX experience, and I knew this was the film to try it out on.
Let me start with the “negatives.” If you are really looking forward to a particular movie, don’t go see it the first time in 4DX. I think it would be distracting, and could easily take away from the traditional movie experience for many films. I also don’t know if there are many movies that will be “better” in 4DX. Before the movie started, there was a trailer for the upcoming Black Panther film that utilized the 4DX effects. The effects felt forced into the trailer, if that makes sense, and it didn’t make me want to go see a film I otherwise wouldn’t. It did give me a taste of 4DX before the feature. Also, if you’re a bigger person (like myself), you might find the seats to be somewhat uncomfortable. They are narrow and hard on the backside. They felt similar to a seat on a Southwest Airlines 737. If you’re wondering, they don’t recline. You can see the seats in the picture below. That part on the front with the blue lights actually folds down to give you a place to put your feet, so they’re not flopping around. Also, there is an air hose that sits by your feet, and will occasionally blow around, so if you’re like me and like to cross a leg to take pressure off your back, you might miss feeling that effect at times.
Now it’s time for the good stuff. Pardon my language, but Top Gun: Maverick in 4DX can be summed up in two words: HOLY. SHIT.
If anybody is old enough to remember the Days of Thunder ride at the Paramount amusement parks in the 90’s (Kings Dominion, Carowinds, etc), you’ll have some sense of what it was like. I did not expect those seats to move around as much as they did. I’m actually pretty surprised there were no safety belts on the seats, because they moved around that much. Let me tell you, the motion certainly added to the intensity and realism of the flight scenes. Coupled with the fans that blew air towards your face or at your back (depending on the camera’s POV), you almost felt like you in the cockpit. It was wild. When they’re standing on the aircraft carrier, you felt the breeze, got the mist of the ocean, and it even released a saltwater scent. The seats rocked just enough to give you the feeling of being at sea. In scenes with falling snow, a bubble machine pumped out very small bubbles that give you the illusion and feel of snow.
The 4DX Effects weren’t utilized at every moment in the movie. In times of indoor dialog, for example, it was like watching a movie in any normal theater, which was good. It gave your senses a break, and didn’t force unnecessary effects just because they could. I thought the integration of 4DX effects into TGM was flawless. I don’t think it could have been done any better. I’d say the 4DX effects were active for about 70% of the film.
If you have the chance to see go see Top Gun: Maverick at a 4DX theater this weekend, don’t miss the opportunity, especially if you’ve already seen it once. If you haven’t seen it yet, and you have a Dolby Cinema near you, I’d go see it there. As amazing as TGM in 4DX was, I honestly can’t think of many movies that I would make the trip up just to see it in that format. I think it would work best in movies where speed and physical motion are a big part of the action. Movies like Fast & Furious, Armageddon, Apollo 13, and Midway would work well. If there was a 4DX theater closer, I might try it for other types of movies, but I’m not so sure any would be a good for the format as TGM is. They were made for each other.
If you haven’t seen Top Gun: Maverick yet, GO! NOW! It lives up to the hype, and it is a movie you HAVE to see on the big screen. There is no way your TV will do it justice. Find the biggest screen its on near you, and go! If you’ve already seen it, but have a Dolby Cinema or IMAX screen showing it near you this weekend, get there. It’s probably your last chance. If you’re near a 4DX theater, or are willing to take a drive to really feel the movie, it’s 100% worth it! Don’t let this final opportunity pass you by.
To Regal Cinemas: for the love of God, can you PLEASE update your outdated movie theater in Bel Air, Maryland. That was a showpiece when it opened, what, 25 years ago. You’ve done nothing to it since. Hell, I haven’t even stepped foot in there for probably 10 years. Put an IMAX, 4DX and ScreenX theater in there. You’re missing a huge opportunity to have a competitive advantage to other cinemas in the area.