Summer is fast approaching and with it comes summer blockbusters — those movies you have to see the moment they come out. But you’re not the only one.

In fact, depending on where you’ll be this summer, hundreds of other people will be attending the midnight openers with you. This makes it imperative you properly plan for your midnight premiere. This can make the difference between a stressful, unpredictable movie theater visit and an epic one.

— Buy your ticket early. Purchase it online, and print it out to avoid the long ticket booth lines. Valley River Center and Gateway movie theater tickets can be purchased via Fandango and retrieved at kiosks just outside the regular box office.

— Get there early. This seems like a no-brainier, but when I say early, I mean early. Seats make the movie experience, and arriving an hour early to a screening might make all the difference. Nothing ruins a film like craning your neck from the front row.

— Do not buy theater snacks. They’re expensive and they require you to wait in line. If you don’t mind the expense, make sure you have a friend save your seat. A simple coat on a chair will not suffice at a midnight premiere.

— Bring friends. To avoid being squashed between people you don’t know, try to bring one or two friends with you. Not only can you share significant glances during pivotal scenes in the movie, but you’re also guaranteed a side to lean on.

— Be thoughtful about dressing up. I’m all for costumes at midnight premieres; if you want to wear your gold captain’s uniform when “Star Trek Into Darkness” comes out, I say go for it. But being comfortable and respectful to the people around you is more important than pretending the movie theater is really a fan convention. That means: 1) no tall wizard hats that block the people behind you, and 2) no capes that will bunch up when you’re trying to settle in.

— You don’t want to miss a second of this movie — why else would you be going to the first showing? Therefore, go to the bathroom beforehand! If you’ve brought drinks, or the movie is long, download RunPee, the app that tells you when the lulls are in a film, so you can run and refresh yourself.