A grand entrance with plush interiors, attractive lighting and elaborate displays, followed by an exit that looks like little more than pipes and plywood, is a contrast many moviegoers have noticed. A LinkedIn post by marketing professional Raj Dabholkar highlighted this difference, suggesting that entrances are designed to encourage a premium experience and food and beverage purchases, while exits prioritise quick crowd movement between shows.

But there is also a psychological angle to how we perceive these spaces. Why does an impressive entrance create expectations of quality, and why can a poorly maintained exit leave us dissatisfied even after an enjoyable film?…