Reserved seating only at AMC Theaters in Manhattan

UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- The movie experience is going the way of airlines, concerts and sporting events.

Reserved seating only starts Friday for AMC Movie Theaters throughout Manhattan, and the reviews are mixed.

"I don't like it. I want to sit wherever I want to sit. So you come in there and there's a lot of people picked all the good seats, you got to sit anywhere," said James Cave, a customer.

"I think it's good. I like not having the anxiety that comes with having to wait in line and get the last seats that there are available or not being able to sit with the people you came with," said Chantal Villain, a customer.

Customers at the AMC Theater at 84th and Broadway on the Upper West Side say this theater made the switch some time ago.

Some love the convenience; others think the move just complicates things.

"It's a good idea, it's a bit more costly and there's a lot of big crowds coming to the theaters, so if you could pay a bit more to get access to some reserved seats it's good," said John O'Hara, a customer.

O'Hara says he paid $5 extra per ticket Thursday night for prime seating and it was worth it.

Customers will pick their seats either online or at the box office.

The chain's executive vice president says "There's no better place to start than Manhattan, where a trip to the movies often means a subway or cab ride."

He believes this will be a more efficient experience.

So what happens if someone is your seat?

There are ushers to help out and the company says like anything there will be a learning curve.

Reserved seating - Participating AMCs in Manhattan

AMC 84th St. 6

AMC Village 7

AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13

AMC Empire 25

AMC Loews 34th Street 14

AMC Loews 19th St. East 6

AMC Loews Orpheum 7

AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9

AMC Kips Bay 15, which is currently undergoing a full theatre renovation, will add reserved seating once the renovation is complete later this fall.