Recliners for film-goers boost US cinema business

If box office takings have stagnated in recent years, one US cinema is wooing back film lovers with big, fat leather recliners ... reminiscent of, well, beds.

Deep and luxuriously comfortable, the plush red-brown chairs with moveable foot rests are creating a buzz at one New York cinema on the Upper West Side.

As with first-class airline seats, the movie-goer can at the touch of a button manoeuvre the foot rest until they are sprawled out sun-lounger style.

No longer is your view of the silver screen blocked by that hefty man in a hat sitting in front. Long gone are battles of the elbow to control the armrests.

The guy chomping on popcorn may still make a racket, but you can slip off your shoes and snuggle down on a chair infinitely nicer than the chewed-up sofa at home.

"I feel so great. It's better than going to a spa," said Jay Smith, after watching romantic comedy Don Jon at the AMC cinema on Broadway and 84th Street.

"You really feel relaxed. I don't think I'll ever go back to an old theatre," he enthused.