Movies at Midway to debut The Cube

Ear-popping sound, crispy clarity and comfortable leather chairs. Those are just a few of the amenities at Movies at Midway’s new premium large-format theater called The Cube. 

In the works for the last 14 months, the new movie-watching experience will open to the public Friday, Nov. 17, with the highly anticipated superhero movie “The Justice League.” The big-budget blockbuster will run at The Cube until the release of the next Star Wars film, “The Last Jedi,” Friday, Dec. 15. 

Tiffany Derrickson, theater co-owner, said she is very excited to show off the only premium large-format in Kent and Sussex counties. 

To make way for The Cube, Derrickson said, Movies at Midway’s 13th and 14th theaters were torn down. In their place, a 6,300-square-foot auditorium was built. 

“They were less than 100 seats, and a little outdated,” she said. “We thought we’d rip them down and bring the latest and greatest in movie technology, and to provide the ultimate moviegoing experience here in The Cube.” 

The new theater features a 58-by-24-foot screen and a state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos sound system with 51 speakers and seven subwoofers. 

“The sound system will literally rock you in your seat,” said Joy Stephenson, assistant manager, adding The Cube is only the second theater on the Delmarva Peninsula to have Dolby Atmos. 

For movies that do not offer Dolby Atmos, Dolby 7.1 surround sound will be used, which is still better quality than the Dolby 5.1 offered in Movies at Midway’s other theaters.

Also exclusive to The Cube is a laser projector capable of playing 2D and 3D movies at a higher frame rate. Movies on a bulb projector are typically shown at 24 frames per second, but the new laser projector doubles the rate to 48 frames per second. For 3D movies, the rate increases even further to 60 frames per second. 

“It mirrors more accurately what we see in nature,” she said. “You see less motion blur and more motion. It’s unlike seeing something on a screen, it’s more like looking through glass. It’s very, very lifelike.” 

Movies will also feature better clarity, better contrast and a larger range of colors. 

The moviegoing experience would not be complete without a comfortable environment. The new auditorium features 199 luxury leather chairs that are bigger, wider, recline back farther and allow for more leg room. There is also plenty of space up front for wheelchairs and motorized scooters.

Moviegoers attending a screening at The Cube will be charged $3 more than a ticket for a showing in a regular theater - a small price to pay for the enhanced experience, Stephenson said. 

Movies at Midway staff offered a small group an advance look at The Cube Nov. 14, when they talked about the new theater and showed a special Dolby Atmos trailer, trailers for Marvel’s “Black Panther” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” To show off the full capability of the new theater, the crowd was then invited to watch a free screening of “Thor: Ragnarok,” with its fast-moving action sequences, booming soundtrack and strong use of color. 

Movies at Midway is also experimenting with new technology. 

“We have glasses that will actually put closed captioning in your eye, so you don’t miss a second of what is unfolding on the screen,” Stephenson said. 

The theater also has assistive listening devices that are upgraded from what is offered in the other theaters at Midway. 

To learn more about The Cube or Movies at Midway, go to www.moviesatmidway.com or facebook.com/moviesatmidway. For movie listings, call 302-645-0200.