In the heart of Amsterdam, a new movie theater has opened: a glass-and-concrete building on the banks of one of the city’s many canals, surrounded by—what else—bicycles. It's a scene that's common in the Dutch capital, but what's going on inside the building is unlike anything around the city, or the globe. Welcome to the VR Cinema, the first theater in the world to show nothing but virtual-reality movies.
After buying a ticket (€12.50, or roughly $14), moviegoers are handed a Samsung Gear VR and a Galaxy S6 smartphone, along with a pair of Sennheiser HD 201 headphones. The entire kit, which is lightweight and easily adjustable, connects all three technologies with minimal wires (in the past, obtrusive wires have disrupted the VR experience). The theater itself doesn’t include traditional red cinema chairs or stadium seating. Instead, spectators are led to recliners that spin 360 degrees, allowing a fully immersive experience. Once seated, customers can choose from a selection of films.
Moviegoers have the option, for example, of watching In Your Face, a film specifically developed for the VR Cinema. The movie looks at the moral dilemma of the Syrian refugee crisis and asks viewers what they would do if a refugee showed up at their door, unannounced. There are lighter options, too. Invasion! is an animated feature about a rabbit and a UFO. (VR Cinema also has packages intended for kids.)
The experience lasts just 30 minutes, and the theater offers showings on the hour throughout the afternoon and evening. The VR Cinema, which can host up to 400 people in a day, is located at Oosterdokskade 5, 1011, a mere ten-minute walk from the city’s bustling train station. Theaters are also in the works for Madrid, Paris, Berlin, and London. thevrcinema.com
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