Ripley’s Moving Theater in Gatlinburg is an immersive movie experience, using technology to make you feel like you’re IN the movie. This is a buckle-up movie that surrounds you with 360 degrees of action.
This is called the “fifth dimension” because the experience goes beyond just watching a film. You ride out earthquakes, zoom through space battles, and weather treacherous storms alongside the main characters, all within state-of-the-art surround sound and cinema tech.
Image courtesy of Ripley’s 5D Moving Theater
Seats That Move With the Movies
The moving seats are a large part of the transforming experience, adding real motion to the viewing. The individual seats rests on a mechanical base, allowing it to fully pitch, roll, and spin you in 360 degrees, just like an amusement park ride – the seats move in 8 directions in total. Digital engineering means the chairs perfectly sync with every shake, rattle and rumble to the 3D film for fully immersive action.
One second, you’re casually gliding through space when suddenly an asteroid bombardment has your seat flipping and dipping every which way as chunks whiz past your head. Or a rickety mine cart might have you jittering down rickety tracks. The realistic motion creates a thrilling movie magic. It can even get a little jerky.
Must-See Movies That’ll Move You
With Hollywood-quality story lines and superb 3D animation, the theater offers environments from snow-capped to safari, with adventures zooming through ice tunnels and off rocky ravines, as well as rescuing a baby dinosaur in a Jurassic jungle (watch out for those hungry T-Rex teeth).
Tickets & Details
Ripley’s thrill ride theater welcomes brave adventurers ages 12+ (under-13’s need adult supervision). Anyone under 43 inches tall can still watch but won’t be able to spin in the swiveling seats. And if wild full-motion makes you queasy, you can always request stationary seating
Tickets cost $16.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids(43″ tall to 11) to experience the movies playing on continuous loops. Weekends, summers, and holidays tend to sell out faster. So, I suggest booking ahead online and showing up 30 minutes prior, just in case. That way, you won’t get stuck with bad views off to the side.
They are mostly open on Sundays through Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (The hours can change, so please check out with their customer service at (865) 436-5096 before visiting).
Useful Information
Ripley’s 5D Moving Theater
904 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Tel: (865) 436-5096
Website
Open Daily
