At Regal Harbour View Grande Stadium 16, if the packed theaters are any indication, it would seem the summer movie season is off to a great start.

“We are selling out often — almost every day,” manager Morris Barnes said.

But why those theaters are packed might not be because going to the moves has suddenly become more popular.

After all the theater seats were completely replaced with large recliners, Regal Harbour View has lost about 65 percent of its seating capacity, Barnes said.

According to a news release from Regal Entertainment Group, other upgrades have included converting from celluloid film to digital. Carpeting has also been replaced, Barnes added.

The most obvious upgrades, though, are the new recliners. Talisa Kuinones, associate manager at Regal Harbour View, said they are proving more popular with some moviegoers than others.

“Mostly from our younger crowd and our young adults it’s received well, because they are used to change,” Kuinones said.

Folks either love it or hate it, she said. But those who hate it, she added, are mostly converted by the end of the movie.

Kuinones noted that other theater chains, like AMC and Paragon, have also converted to recliners. “It’s kind of like the next step for all movie theaters,” she said.

Rob Del Moro, Regal’s chief technical and theater operations officer, said the entertainment group always listens to moviegoers and looks for ways to improve.

“With this new concept, these luxurious recliners have scored extremely well,” Del Moro stated. “Moviegoers are eager to return for another visit and the opportunity to enjoy Regal’s king-size recliners.”

Anyone who tests them out will agree the recliners are a star attraction, stated Ken Thewes, the Tennessee-headquartered company’s chief marketing officer.

“The spaciousness and comfort help you lose yourself in the story and become more immersed in the movie,” he stated. “This combination of comfort and a pristine presentation make for a remarkable trip to the movies.”