“Being Inside the Movie”: 1990s Theme Park Ride Films and Immersive Film Experiences

Abstract

This article examines the influence of ride film attractions on the rise of commercial, mainstream 4D cinemas in the 2010s. While 4D cinema is typically positioned as an innovative response to declining cinema attendance, we argue that 4D cinema has its roots in earlier developments outside the multiplex cinema space and can be traced to a long history of immersive, 4D cinema experiences that offered more sensorially invasive cinematic experiences. While highlighting examples of early attempts to alter the sensory dominance of audiovision in pre-1960s cinema, the primary focus of this article will be the late 1980s, particularly the 1990s. It was during this decade that the film industry, as part of a growing conglomerate media structure, began to experiment with and solidify multisensory cinematic experiences. This form of experimentation, which pushed the boundaries of traditional film viewing beyond a passive form of entertainment, primarily took place in the context of the theme park, which was itself emerging as a major player in entertainment culture.