Godzilla Minus Zero’s incursion into Australian cinemas is proving to be a proper theatrical event.

Audiences aren’t just seeing the beast; they are feeling him. One IMAX attendee reported getting 90 decibel (dB) noise alerts on their smartwatch, and described it as the loudest film they’d ever watched.

As blockbuster soundtracks become increasingly sophisticated, the same question keeps cropping up: why are some cinema screenings so much louder than others?

The answer is a mix of artistic intent, acoustic science, industry standards and a cinema’s individual choice.

What makes a film ‘loud’?

One of the key elements of film sound is dynamic range: the difference between the quietest and loudest parts of the soundtrack. Imagine two characters whispering, perhaps with some subtle ambient noise – then all of a sudden there’s an explosion.

Cinema soundtracks have a much wider dynamic range than we’re used to getting from our TV or laptop speakers.

But apparent loudness isn’t just a function of peak levels. A soundtrack with music, dialogue and effects all going at once will seem much “louder” than one with just a few very loud moments – even if the peak levels on both are the same.

Our ears also respond differently to different frequencies. Highs can be piercing, while lows can be felt in the chest.

A creature the size of Godzilla is interesting to work with. How can a sound designer convey the........

© The Conversation