Videos featuring shaking seats and water splashing in your face are racking up millions of views, and it seems like the nearest “theater with special effects” is just a stone’s throw away.
In reality, however, the immersive entertainment industry is more complex: behind flashy names like 4DX, ScreenX, or Sphere lie different technologies, different companies, and vastly different levels of adoption.
Let’s figure out which of these exist only in commercials and which actually work in Lithuania—and where to go if you’re looking for exactly that: wind, water, and a shaking seat.
The idea is simple: streaming services have learned to display images almost as well as a movie theater, but a home TV still can’t make the seat shake or blow wind on the viewer. That’s why major chains are investing specifically in what can’t be replicated at home—the physical sensation of what’s happening on screen.
The first truly mainstream technology of this kind was 4DX, developed by the South Korean company CJ 4DPLEX—a subsidiary of the CJ Group conglomerate. The first theater opened in Seoul in 2009, and for the first few years, the format remained more of a novelty: in 2014, CJ reported approximately 109 theaters in 26 countries.
Growth then accelerated sharply: by 2016, there were already 300 screens in 42 countries, and in 2025, the company reported a record year—signing 198 new locations with partners such as AMC, Cinepolis, and Cinemark. As of mid-2026, CJ 4DPLEX’s total portfolio (4DX and ScreenX combined) is approaching 1,300 theaters worldwide, of which over 780 are 4DX auditoriums in more than 70 countries.
In other words, the format isn’t some exotic novelty—it’s making steady inroads across the globe. The question is: has it reached Lithuania?
The oldest and most widespread of the “additional dimensions” is a three-dimensional image viewed through special glasses with polarized or shutter lenses. In Lithuania, 3D has long been old news: according to the Lietuvos kino centras, in 2025 there were 25 screens in the country capable of showing 3D films. The format is available in virtually every major multiplex, and for most blockbusters, the 3D version runs alongside the standard one.
A larger screen, higher projection resolution, and a proprietary sound system—that’s what sets a true IMAX theater apart from just a large auditorium.
Here’s an important caveat: not every theater with “IMAX” on the poster meets the full technical standard (there’s a difference between “IMAX” and “IMAX with digital projection in an adapted theater”), but the brand itself is represented in Lithuania—for example, at Forum Cinemas Vingis in Vilnius.
Moving seats, gusts of wind, water sprays, fog, scents, and flashes of light—all of this is synchronized with the action on screen frame by frame. It is 4DX that people most often mean when they talk about “true 4D.” There is currently no full-fledged chain of theaters offering this format in Lithuania.
A direct competitor to 4DX with a similar set of effects—also moving seats, water, wind, and scents—but developed by a different company (MediaMation, USA). It is not represented as a separate chain in Lithuania—and, in general, outside the U.S. and parts of Asia, MX4D is significantly less common than 4DX.
While 4DX focuses on the body, ScreenX focuses on peripheral vision: the image is projected not only onto the central screen but also onto the side walls of the theater, creating a panorama of up to 270°. This format is also owned by CJ 4DPLEX and underwent a major technical upgrade in 2025—the company officially announced a redesign of the platform to improve image quality and synchronization. No established ScreenX network has been found in Lithuania; it’s worth checking the availability of such a theater separately before your trip.
A format focused exclusively on the seats: the seat moves, tilts, and vibrates in sync with what’s happening on screen, without wind, water, or scents. Essentially, it’s a “quiet” version of 4DX for those who don’t want water splashed in their faces. There is no full-fledged D-BOX in Lithuania.
The newest and most expensive format on the list—a giant curved screen that literally surrounds the viewer, paired with a surround sound system. So far, these are limited to a few flagship locations (the most famous one is in Las Vegas), rather than a chain of movie theaters. Of course, there’s nothing like this in Lithuania—and it’s unlikely to appear in the foreseeable future: it’s not so much a movie theater as a separate attraction building.
This is where the terminological confusion begins: unlike 4DX or IMAX, there is no single standard for these names. Under the “5D” or “7D” banner, different companies offer different sets of effects—usually moving seats plus a few sensory additions (wind, scents, bubbles, and light taps on the backrest). As a rule, these are short 10–15-minute clips rather than feature-length films, and it is in this segment that Lithuania has been the most successful.
There are no major international 4DX or D-BOX chains here yet—none of the operators on the market have secured such a franchise. However, the local 5D attraction segment is quite well-developed and operates in three cities at once.
It’s worth mentioning 7D and ScreenX separately: individual attractions with similar names periodically pop up in Lithuania on a temporary basis—in shopping malls, at fairs, or as part of children’s entertainment areas—but these are usually one-time installations rather than permanent theaters with a regular film schedule. Before visiting such a place, it’s wise to check its current operating status separately, just as you would in the case of Palanga.
When it comes to classic “big-screen” cinema in Lithuania, things are much more straightforward—3D and IMAX have long been commonplace here.
As previously mentioned, according to official statistics from Lietuvos kino centras for 2025, there were 25 screens in the country capable of 3D screenings—a modest figure by the standards of major European markets, but quite sufficient for a country with a population of about 2.8 million people.
At the same time, “4DX theaters” do not appear as a separate category in these statistics at all—the format is simply not listed as a category because it does not physically exist.
There is no direct official explanation from CJ 4DPLEX on this matter, but the market logic is clear even without official comments.
Converting a single theater to 4DX is no mere cosmetic renovation: it requires special motorized seats, systems for dispensing water, air, and scents, enhanced synchronization with sound and image, and the theater itself usually has fewer seats than a standard movie theater of the same size—part of the space is taken up by equipment. These are multi-million investments that pay for themselves through higher ticket prices and consistently high attendance.
For this business model to work, a city needs to be large enough with a steady flow of moviegoers and, ideally, tourists—which is precisely why, even in neighboring countries, 4DX theaters are concentrated in capital cities and major metropolitan areas rather than being evenly distributed across the country. Lithuania as a whole, and Vilnius in particular, have a significantly smaller audience than, for example, Warsaw or Prague, so for international operators, such a project does not yet appear to be attractive enough.
If the short attraction at OZAS isn’t enough and you’re specifically looking for a feature-length movie with a moving seat and water sprays in your face, you’ll have to travel outside of Lithuania. The list of countries with operational 4DX theaters now includes several dozen nations, but among those geographically and logistically closest to Lithuania, the following stand out:
The closest is Poland: the Cinema City chain (part of the Cineworld group) operates 4DX theaters in several cities across the country, including Warsaw, and this is perhaps the most accessible option for a short trip.
In the Czech Republic, the first 4DX theater opened in Prague as part of the same Cinema City chain and was considered the largest in Central Europe at the time of its launch.
Full-scale theaters are also operating in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom — there, 4DX is integrated into major multiplex chains such as AMC and Odeon, with which CJ 4DPLEX signed one of the largest partnership agreements in its history in 2025, covering 65 new locations in Europe and the U.S.
For those looking further south, 4DX has also long been firmly established in major urban multiplexes in Turkey.
But the main contender for the title of the format’s birthplace is, of course, South Korea, where 4DX was originally invented, and where the density of such theaters per capita remains the highest in the world.
It all depends heavily on what you expect from a trip to the movies. If you want to immerse yourself in the story for two and a half hours without being distracted by your seat suddenly tilting forward, a classic 3D or IMAX theater (of which there are plenty in Lithuania) will do the job better than any amusement park ride. But if it’s the physical experience, the adrenaline, and the unusual sensations you’re after—5D in Vilnius, Druskininkai, or Palanga is perfect for a short weekend getaway, especially with kids or a group looking for fun rather than a deep cinematic experience.
For those who are specifically interested in 4DX technology in its purest form—with moving seats and scents throughout an entire feature-length film—the honest answer is this: the closest option right now is outside the country, and the most logical route goes through Poland or the Czech Republic.
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