i was lucky enough to get a couple midnight IMAX tickets in NYC. we arrived at the theater at about 7:30 and there was already a line around the block. i got on the line only to find out that it was the non-IMAX, so i went inside and went up the many escalators, only to find that there was another longer line. after standing on line for several hours and watching group after group passing right by us to get to their friends at the front of the line. i wondered if we were gonna get even halfway decent seats, but they let us into the theater at around 10:30 and surprised to find some decent seats.
once in the theater, the crowd was in good spirits, cheering a few brave souls who came dressed as Batman, and some even tried to get a wave going, but with little avail. i met a guy sitting behind me that was even luckier - he got a ticket to the NYC premiere earlier that week (apparently, they had been giving some out to the crowd for free), got to attend the afterparty, and even met Chris Nolan! i was at the premiere too and wasn't even asked! the fun mood of the crowd began to sour as midnight neared, all the seats were occupied, either with bodies or the belongings of people whom went to get refreshments, grab a smoke outside, or go to the bathroom. the ushers started hassling the crowd, telling everyone to move to the center of the theater and fill up any empty seats that weren't being held, and that if people left their seat for more than ten minutes whether it's being held for them by friends or not, that the seats was going to be taken regardless. so the crowd was already getting annoyed by the pushy ushers when a handful of IMAX ticketholders arrived and had nowhere to sit. they stood on the side aisle, glaring at everyone in the theater, and all the ushers had to go up and down the rows, checking every single person's ticket stub. about half a dozen people in my row were forced to leave because they had non-IMAX tickets, illiciting a chorus of boos from the crowd aimed at the sneaks, the ushers, and the IMAX ticket holders who didn't show up earlier. when things were finally straightened out, roughly a quarter after midnight, the movie finally began. and no one left their seat once the movie started. i don't think anyone even took their eyes off the screen.