SO: Do you live near a great movie theater?

[aristocatz]

Our local movie theaters are awful-very uncomfortable seats, theaters in desperate need of renovation, snack selection is just ok. We used to have a small local theater that had really comfy recliner seats & served dinner & drinks while you watched the movie!!! It was so great, but they sadly closed & went in a different direction.

Now, when we do have the opportunity to go to the movies, we tend to drive 45 minutes to the "good" theater

How are the movie theaters near you?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Not really. The seats in Town A are better, but the screens are bigger in Town B.

 

[ronandannette]

Probably not what many would consider a great theater but I absolutely LOVE our local 2nd run movie house. The tickets and snacks are affordable, the screens are large and the seats comfy. I am not one who enjoys the vibrating seats, super-loud sound and having to see every movie in 3-D.

 

[Poohforyou]

We have an AMC with the huge reclining seats that can be reserved ahead of time. I love it and will happily go to almost any movie there.

 

[kimblebee]

Yep..less than a five minute drive. You can pick your seats, all the theatres are big, comfy seats, and the drink machine lets you choose your own add ins (cherry, lime, orange). Popcorn is still crazy expensive but you can't have a movie without popcorn.

I remember one of the only times I went to the movies with my Nana (she lived in Australia and came here for every second Christmas. Did it well into her 80s). She was amazed that people ate and drank during the movie.. apparently it's not a thing everywhere.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Yep.. I live less within 10-15 minutes of a 20-screen AMC w/IMAX, a 20-screen Regal w/IMAX, and a Cinemark with luxury recliners. There's a 24-screen dine-in AMC about 20 minutes away.

My favorite theater is our local art movie house which is across town, but has a beautiful outdoor bar and garden area, serves great food inside while you watch and the seating is mostly all at tables as opposed to traditional seating. It's a lot of fun.

 

[Turn the Page]

The main local theater is fine. Relatively comfy, reclining seats, about 12 different screens, normal variety of snacks. However, there is a small art house type theater nearby that I have not been to yet but have heard wonderful things about. They have three screens, one seats 195 people, one seats 35, and the other around 25 or so. They don't have waitstaff but they do offer a wider array of concessions and sell beer and wine. I hear the seats are really nice too. We are going to see Beauty and the Beast there next Sunday and I am really excited.

 

[Sabeking]

We have 2 ! One has reclining seats and you reserve seats in advance. The other is a Cinebistro. Although very expensive it is great for special occasions. Reclining chairs, dinner and cocktail service during the movie. We have been twice and it really spoils you!

 

[Branflakes]

We have a cinebistro, a cinebowl, and an ovation within 15 miles of our home. All reserved reclining large leather seats. With dinner service etc. Cinebistro is by far our favorite, and we frequent when all the good movies we want to see are showing.

 

[Squirlz]

Less than a mile away from a cinema that offers reserved seats, meals and cocktails!

 

[hereyago]

The theater I usually go to. Regal, is ordinary.

We have a Paragon a little closer to the house, reserved seating, reclining seats, but I haven't gone there yet.

Next is AMC, I haven't gone to that one in a few years, but it's farther away.
There is also a Cinebistro next city over, but haven't been.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

We have a "historic" theater which only plays movies once in a while and otherwise is used more for the stage.
The seats are uncomfortable.
We used to have a small mall with a movie theater but they closed and then Super Walmart took 10 years to get clearance to build there even though they already had a walmart across the street.
So for a long time now we have had to drive 30 minutes to fgo see movies.
We have an AMC that has reclining seats but honestly I like the non reclining seats at the Regal.
My small city does have a Drive in theater though.
We had such a mild winter 2015-2016 that they opted to put The Force Awakens in their line up which meant they HAD to run it for several weeks no matter what the weather ended up being like. Most of that time was pretty nice though.

 

[FINFAN]

yep, several great one's to choose from
...and this one is my favorite, 5 minutes away

seats have since been redone to the stadium recliners, book ahead etc. The above is just one of he themed rooms.

 

[wishesuponastar]

We have a theatre that shows 10 movies in our town. What I don't like is they are changing over to reclining seats and reserved seating which makes the prices to go up! In the old rooms it is $8 before 6 pm.

 

[amberpi]

Finfan - that looks amazing.

We have all the Imax, etc. out the behind. Our local historic art house was recently remodeled and its my favorite. I go often and just watch whatever is next and those previews tell me what's going to be great - and what to check out next. I happened upon Moonlight this way with a friend - in the fall before the buzz built. I love it for that very reason. Walk in not knowing what you'll see - leave not knowing what you saw besides that it was special.

 

[Neesy228]

We have two decent theaters near us. They're nothing as fancy as Finfan has, but they're good for our small town. They're upgrading to the reclining seats this spring, which will be nice.

My only complaint about them is that they open after 4pm Monday through Friday, so it really stinks for parents with younger kids who might want to go to an early weekday show, or retirees, or even if we would take the day off and want to do lunch and a movie...I can't figure out why they won't open at least one day a week. Not everyone wants to deal with the weekend crowds.

 

[ashley0139]

I live in LA so we tend to have good movie theaters, and a wide selection of artsy/indie, major brands, etc. My favorite is the one that's 5 minutes from my house though. Cheap tickets and reserved recliners. So nice.

 

[bcla]

I live in a major metro area, so we have everything from newer multiplexes to art houses. There are even a few single screens left. We've got couches and office chairs in some theaters.

The places I haven't been to are the private screening rooms at major production/development facilities. Sometimes special screenings are available to the public via auction or by winning a contest. Some of these are pretty awesome. They're more traditional with a shallow angle, but many of these are pretty legendary.

Pixar has three screening rooms at their Emeryville HQ. This is their main one:

George Lucas had built several screening rooms. He still owns Skywalker Ranch, but the ones at ILM (Presidio of San Francisco) are now owned by Disney. The Stag Theater at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County hosts a lot of special screenings.

Dolby Labs has a few screening rooms at its HQ in San Francisco. It's small, but is supposed to have one of the best movie audio setups anywhere. Something about the room being acoustically isolated from the rest of the building.

http://bonggafinds.blogspot.com/2013/07/hear-whole-picture-with-dolby-atmos.html

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Our local movie theaters are awful-very uncomfortable seats, theaters in desperate need of renovation, snack selection is just ok. We used to have a small local theater that had really comfy recliner seats & served dinner & drinks while you watched the movie!!! It was so great, but they sadly closed & went in a different direction.

Now, when we do have the opportunity to go to the movies, we tend to drive 45 minutes to the "good" theater

How are the movie theaters near you?

There is a small regular type about 15 minutes away, and then there is the reserved seat, XL screen place 30 minutes away. We make the drive.

 

[mjkacmom]

Yes, one of those you reserve seats, reclining seats with waitress service, but it's 15 minutes away. I go to the movies about once a year, so I just to to the local AMC, only a few minutes away.