We’re lucky to have long-standing relationships with the world’s leading movie studios, like Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures. When a new blockbuster movie is wrapping up post-production, these partnerships grant us early access to films before their official release date. That means while a new film is being finalized, D-BOX’s expert team is already working behind the scenes to craft a one-of-a-kind motion track for your moving theater seat.
Once D-BOX gains access to a movie the real magic begins. Unlike automated processes, every single seat movement and vibration is meticulously hand-coded, scene by scene, by a haptic designer–aka an expert on the sense of touch.
These experts (many of whom have backgrounds in sound design) use their musical training to analyze the movie’s audio cues. Whether that’s the build-up to an intense chase, a dramatic scene, or a crew sailing rough waters. Then designers use haptic technology–the mechanism stimulating the sense of touch–to finalize these audio cues into cinematic moments you’ll feel in your theater seat. It’s pretty fascinating, really. These premium seats are powered by a device that applies force, pressure, or resistance by using actuators to create the desired sensation the haptic designer plans.
The hand-coding process is very detailed. Every haptic effect is carefully selected and timed to ensure a seamless blend with the movie’s storyline. This level of precision can’t be beaten. In fact, D-BOX’s team has hand-coded over 65,000 unique haptic effects, dedicating more than 350,000 hours to refining its library of motion effects–D-BOX movies are unmatched.
After a movie’s haptic coding is complete, the new motion effects go through rigorous testing in a dedicated screening room. During this process, live playback ensures that each chair movement syncs perfectly with the film before receiving the final nod of approval.
The best part? Sometimes D-BOX's Los Angeles office even becomes a testing site where the movie’s own directors and studio executives test them out and provide direct input on haptic sensations. That way, every effect enhances the story exactly as it was intended.
For example, the Twisters (2024) cast, including Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos, encouraged audiences to see the movie in D-BOX seats, stating, "Your seats will twist and shake perfectly with every twist and turn. You will truly feel like you're part of the action!"
Now it’s time to upload the movie’s haptics into each chair worldwide–in 40 different countries, to be exact. Our Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) system makes it possible for these motion effects to auto-synchronize with the film playing on the screen. This means theaters don’t need to pre-load complicated files or make any adjustments. Everything seamlessly aligns with each movie, so you get the best experience possible.
Okay, now you’re in your D-BOX seat, ready to watch a movie. You get to control how immersive your experience is. In fact, each D-BOX chair has an in-seat intensity control. Meaning, you can adjust the level of motion and vibrations to your own preference. Feeling like keeping things low-key? Turn the dial down. Want a full-throttle D-BOX experience? Then turn that baby up.
Plus, D-BOX’s haptic technology isn’t just for action-packed blockbusters with full-body movements. It’s designed for all genres: subtle sensations that build suspense in horror, fun and bold movements that mimic the silliness in family films, light and twirly vibrations for musicals, and much more.
Here’s an example of an insider D-BOX experience: when Rey is held captive and tied up in the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi, D-BOX’s haptic designers carefully crafted the motion track to include subtle vibrations that gradually increase in intensity, mirroring Rey’s struggle. This builds anticipation for viewers in D-BOX seats, literally creating a physical cue before the on-screen reveal. When Rey finally breaks her restraints, the haptic feedback delivers an explosive burst. This entire experience makes D-BOX viewers the most immersed people in the entire theater.
Every scene you watch should feel real. And when you choose a D-BOX seat, that’s a reality. Our haptics involve your skin, muscles, and balance to upgrade your movie experience.
You could be a movie buff looking for the ultimate immersive adventure or a theater owner considering adding D-BOX to your auditorium. Either way, one thing is clear: haptic technology is changing how we watch movies. Join the revolution and start feeling it all–we promise it’s life-changing.