Damn, Do You Need A Seatbelt To See “Sinners” In 4DX? A Full Review Of My Experience

Shaye WyllieWhat to Watch2 weeks ago467 Views

Home
What to Watch
Damn, Do You Need A Seatbelt To See “Sinners” In 4DX? A Full Review Of My Experience

I watched “Sinners” in 4DX and babyyy, I was NOT ready …

But the way “Sinners” was already out of theaters (in 4DX) before I could even get this review up! Bruh! They just snatched that thang right up off the schedule! (Rude ass.)

I do still wanna talk about my experience seeing “Sinners” in 4DX though because I love this movie SO so much! But in 4DX this isn’t just a movie, it’s a whole ass experience baby! One I was NOT fully prepared for, but absolutely needed. So even though it’s not in theaters anymore — let me tell you what you missed out on!

Disclaimer: 4DX USA hooked me up with tickets to experience "Sinners" in all its seat-shaking glory—but as always the thoughts are all mine.

My “Sinners” Movie 4DX Experience

First things first I’ll eat ya brains … jk, let’s talk about my drinky drink

Before the movie started, I grabbed the “Sinners” inspired drink at Regal Theaters called the “Crimson Fire”, which was just a cute Spicy Strawberry Margarita. It was $18, strong as hell, and honestly … it did what it needed to do.

Spicy margaritas aren’t really my cup of tea-quila, though. So eh …

🍹 Drink Rating: 3.5/5

The actual margarita was cool, but I hated the Tajin rim, and honestly, I would have enjoyed this spicy margarita a WHOLE lot more if it was sweeter. Had they given me a sugar rim, instead of the Tajin, salted rim, I’d probably still be singing its praises today! So if you LIKE salty margarita rims, you’d probably enjoy this.

But after not finding ANY “Sinners” merch in any of the 3 theaters that I visited, I took what I could get! A “Sinners” themed drink. But ummm …

Note to self: next time, get popcorn. Tequila on an empty stomach + 4DX is a choice. An entertaining one, but a choice nonetheless.

I may or may not have geeked out at the red theater …

Usually, the Regal Theater signs on the outside of each theater are decked out in blue. But this one was red!! And at first, I thought maybe that meant the theater wasn’t ready yet? But nope!! When I walked in, the ENTIRE theater was red, and I LOVED it! This was such a great way to start off my 4DX experience. Like … it’s really the little things for me.

Now I wonder if they had red theaters for a Captain America screening, since ya know … Red Hulk.

Unfortunately, I don’t think the water that sprayed was red, like Ryan Coogler said it might be in his format explanation video … so that was a tad bit disappointing.

(Says the girl who is scared of being scared! Not sure why she wants to be covered in “blood” after watching this movie … but yeah.)

I saw “Sinners” in the second-to-last row …

… seats J6–J7, to be exact, with my best friend’s mom, who is now a 4DX girlie like me. And honestly, I was worried about sitting too close to the screen, but I think we could have sat a few rows closer, and I wouldn’t have hated it! I’m a sit in the center, center kinda gal, but those seats were already taken. So I opted to sit further away, instead of closer to the screen, and I may or may not have slight regrets about that.

Sitting closer to the screen would have REALLY made those smoke scenes stand out more, as opposed to being in the back and not getting the full effect. So I’ll have to attend another 4DX screening to see if I like sitting closer to the screen.

However, my BFF’s mom did say that she would have NEVER paid for the 4DX experience just by looking at the ticket prices before actually experiencing how fun it is! But now, she’s already planning her next visit! And I love that for her. Take notes, you guys!

Also, bring a jacket or a blanket, babes. It is COLD AF in the 4DX theaters, especially when the wind starts blowing, and you will get sprayed with water unless you turn it off. Which… I didn’t. So don’t be cold and wet, baby!

Things You Should Know Before Seeing a 4DX Movie (Especially One Like Sinners)

Let me just say this …

Do NOT see a movie in 4DX for the first time if it’s a horror or action movie.

You WILL get snatched by the wind, caught off guard by gunshot puffs of air to the neck, and possibly scream when a splash of water hits your face mid-scene.

And unless you wanna leave frustrated, because you missed a few things, and plan on seeing it AGAIN afterwards … just don’t.

Here’s what I learned the hard way:

🎥 4DX is a second-watch experience. The effects are so immersive (it can sometimes be distracting) so you may miss things. Especially dialogue. (Captions would’ve been a blessing.)
🍿 Come fully fed. Don’t nobody wanna pay for snacks, just to drop them while the seat is shaking! If there is a LOT of movement, you’ll have to choose between holding on to your seat and holding on to your popcorn. And I don’t know about you, but I like my life, and I’d prefer to keep it.
💦 Water effects? Completely optional. There’s a button to turn them off, so if it gets annoying, I won’t judge. Some movies have more water than others, so use yo’ own judgement, baby.
💨 The air puffs and scent effects? Literally insane. At one point, I smelled smoke. Another time, I had no clue what the scent was, but it was calming. I loved it. But those damn bullet air puffs?! WHAT WAS THE REASON! Jk. I know the reason. But damn baby!
🎭 Theater immersion is real. I do wish the fog effects had covered the entire theater instead of just the screen, but even still, it was a nice addition to the experience.

So… Should You Watch Movies Like “Sinners” In 4DX?

Short answer: Yes!

But some films (like “Sinners”) may require a second viewing, in IMAX preferably, as 4DX can be a bit distracting and some of the special moments can be lost in translation.

To me — 4DX is an extra layer of escapism. It’s thrilling, hilarious, and sometimes exhausting—but it’s also one of the most fun ways to watch a movie when you already know what’s going to happen. Or don’t care if you miss something.

Like — watching a family movie with your kids.

I actually saw the last Minions movie in 4DX (as a first screening) with my daughter. But it didn't matter if we missed things because I knew we'd just catch it on streaming together at home. (We actually did miss the few minutes of the beginning due to running late, which usually bothers me, but we rewatched later on.)

So if you’re just going to see a movie for fun … then 4DX is a vibe.

But if you’re DYING to see a movie, and super excited about taking it all in … catch it in IMAX first, THEN rewatch it in 4DX! That’ll be your best experience!

The Honest Truth About Seeing “Sinners” In 4DX

Seeing “Sinners” in 4DX was pretty freaking cool. I got stabbed, splashed, and tossed like a salad in my seat, and I loved every second of it.

HOWEVER … I will say, there wasn’t a LOT of movement or effects. But that probably has to do with the fact that the first half of “Sinners” is kind of calm.

So while the Minions movie (I mentioned above) almost threw me out of my seat, I didn’t actually need a seatbelt for “Sinners” … until towards the end.

But this is why it’s good to watch the movie in IMAX before seeing it in 4DX! You’ll immediately know what kind of experience you’re in for … and if you’ll need a heating pad for your back afterwards, or not.

Either way—I’m a 4DX girlie now, and I can’t wait for the next ride. Some of the trailers were in 4DX and now I HAVE to see “Jurassic World Rebirth” in 4DX! And I didn’t even have that movie on my list of films to cover this year. But the trailer was so fun, I need to see it!!

Wanna know which movies are worth seeing in 4DX next? I got you. Just bookmark my “4DX Reviews” page, or subscribe to my newsletter to see what I review next! Feel free to tell me what you think I should review next in the comments.