Picking the movie was once the hardest part of a night out at the multiplex, but now there’s the pressure of choosing which bells and whistles to accompany the film.

Beyond Imax’s massive screens, the visual feast of 3D, and bartenders serving drinks at VIP theatres, Cineplex is ushering in what it hopes is the next generation of movie-going with the first 4DX cinema in downtown Toronto.

It’s a multi-sensory experience with piped-in scents, motion seats and environmental effects like wind, snow and bubbles.

But the movie exhibitor isn’t alone in hoping to entice audiences with an unusual cinematic experience.

Here are five movie theatres around the world that serve up something special beyond Hollywood’s big-screen thrills:

Escape from New York: Manhattanites are gravitating towards a dine-in movie experience akin to Cineplex’s VIP concept, but the service-at-your-seat concept is elevated to another level at the iPic movie chain’s New York location. Gourmet food is served by an award-winning chef and specialty cocktails are poured by a local mixologist. “Premium Plus” seats come with pillows and blankets for about $32 (U.S.) per person or if you’re on a budget, you can pick the more basic “Premium” seats for about $20.

Couples retreat: Rather stay in bed? The “Velvet Class” screening room from Indonesian exhibitor CGVblitz has you covered. Inside one of Jakarta’s busiest malls, moviegoers can buy tickets for a two-person bed to snuggle in. Each of the beds costs around $15 (U.S.) for two adults. But don’t get too comfortable — management says security cameras monitor the room to ensure there’s no funny business.

Footloose and fancy free: Reclining seats and fancy snacks are so pedestrian when there’s the possibility of a foot massage at the movies. All three — the seats, the treats and the foot rub — are selling points at Bangkok’s Nokia Ultra Screen within the Siam Paragon shopping centre. Thai cinephiles can kick off their Sunday shoes for about $40 (U.S.) a ticket.

A shark’s tale: The Alamo Drafthouse has a reputation for its strict enforcement of proper moviewatching etiquette, but it’s what programmers at the Austin, Tx.-based establishment have done outside their theatres that’s especially unique. Several years ago they began holding annual “dive-in” theatres at a nearby pond. Bathers slip on their suits and hop into an inner tube for sea-worthy thrillers like Jaws and The Shallows.

Greece is the word: Viewers who enjoy beautiful scenery will find a backdrop that rivals all others at Athens’ Cine Thision. The seasonal outdoor cinema is surrounded by the ancient architectural ruins of Acropolis and Parthenon.