Favorite Movie Theaters?

[BTT Grace]

We've all got 'em. The place we check first to see if our movie of choice is playing there, because it makes the experience that much sweeter.

Here are my favs:

1. AMC Lincoln Square - NYC
Located on 68th and Broadway, this 13-plex has not one but two excellent theaters! First there's the IMAX. A towering 5-story complex, I get goosebumps every time I walk into the theater. There's also the Loews theater which holds even more people than the IMAX theater, plus it's got that majestic look with red and gold decor. And while I'm not a balcony person myself, it's one of the few theaters to still boast one in NYC.

2. Ziegfeld - NYC
The old Ziegfeld follies theater is still here, and it's home to all the major NYC movie premieres. If you want to see a movie with a fun yet respectful crowd, this is the place to go. The only cons is that their concession stand is still stuck in the 90s and you've got to line-up hours early to get a seat. I've seen several movies here where the line wraps all the way around the block and then some!

3. Arclight Hollywood - Los Angeles
The creme-de-la-creme of movie theaters. Reserved seating, real butter on the popcorn, a gift shop in the lobby... Last time I went here they had the freakin' Batmobile on display, as well as other awesome props from The Dark Knight! Yeah, Hollywood knows how to view their own product.

What are your favorite movie theaters?

[UberMoguler]

Theres actually a really great theatre at our local university, Doesn't show the blockbusters but it shows alot of foreign films and alot of student made stuff which is pretty cool, very relaxed.

We also have a theatre in our high school but its been completly destroyed because people dont take proper care of it

[Erik Beck]

The Ziegfeld in NYC is amazing! I saw a remastered version of Godfather 2 there and it was like going back in time.

[Miten Soni]

well there are no cool or big movie theatres where i live, but theres this old dollar theatre thats really cool

[insane12]

MJR (http://www.mjrtheatres.com/), Great theaters with a annoying theme song (http://www.mjrtheatres.com/MJR_Full.mp3).

Who in Michigan wouldn't go to thees theaters?

[blitzkrieg]

Down here in N'Awlins.... only the Prytania Theater on Prytania Street! Grace, come on down and see for yourself!

[Lab-Rat]

I'm a big fan of the Alamo Draft House in Austin, TX. Out of those I prefer the South Lamar location in Austin, but all the Draft Houses are pretty sweet. In addition to being a theater where you can order a meal or a beer (though I don't drink alcohol, so it doesn't matter to me), they also have a themed pre-show before the movies and just have a really good environment. If anyone is ever in Austin, TX...I would highly recommend going to the Alamo Draft House and seeing something.

http://www.drafthouse.com

[Indi/visualFilms]

I'd agree that the Drafthouse is a pretty sweet theatre, but only the one in Austin. Down here in San Antonio it would have to be the Bijou Art House theatre. From the stairs leading down from the box office to the lobby to the art (all of which is done by local artist) hung all over, its hands down my favorite theatre in SA. They also boast a pretty wide variety of wine.

The giant mega theatre "The Palladium" is pretty nice too. It helps that it houses the closest IMAX screen to me, but the ancient greek/roman decor is very esthetically pleasing also.

And those are my picks for good ol' San Antonio TX, where no one rides horses unless your crazy rich or live on a farm (which is like 1/200).

[uberlite00]

I love the San Antonio Drafthouse! What don't you like about it? It has good food and its just a fun place. I agree about the Palladium. Very cool theme and the IMAX is great!

[lowbudgetblockbuster22]

I haven't been to any theaters out of Minnesota other than 1 California one but here are my picks.

1.) Cinemagic 16: It's made like a atlantis theme so there are all of these Poseidon statues and there's even a bar on the upper level. They also have a SUPER screen.

2.) AMC Southdale: It's kind of usual but know a lot of people who work there and it makes you happier.

3.) Riverview Theater: Looks cool and vintage, plays close to dvd movies but is $1 a ticket. The people there really share the movie experience with you.

[MiniGiant]

I haven't been to any theaters out of Minnesota other than 1 California one but here are my picks.

1.) Cinemagic 16: It's made like a atlantis theme so there are all of these Poseidon statues and there's even a bar on the upper level. They also have a SUPER screen.

2.) AMC Southdale: It's kind of usual but know a lot of people who work there and it makes you happier.

3.) Riverview Theater: Looks cool and vintage, plays close to dvd movies but is $1 a ticket. The people there really share the movie experience with you.

Cinemagic is so awesome!!! The seats are so comfortable

[BTT Grace]

Man, I wish we had some themed movie theaters in NYC...

[Cotton Wool James]

I like the cinema at the Printworks in Manchester! (thats in England, yes there are more places in the England than just London) They have the HUGE I-max screen which I watched the dark knight! And it was awsome, I'm getting to get people to go see coraline in 3D there.

[LukBuk]

I like the AMC theaters

[Razback]

In Italy the only big better movie theater is in Rome piazza 4 luglio but where i live downtown of Milan there is not big theater

[Neoproks]

Down here in florida all we have is cobb. But at least they have an imax screen at the one in the mall.

[hayden]

We have an awesome multiplex called rave about 15 minutes away, but I usually end up going to the AMC right by my house since I can walk to it.

[trspballer7]

Well I work at at a Regal Cinemas 16, so I guess that is my favorite. It is the main one I go to.

[Jonathan Gum]

Any place without the terrible seats that flap up, and an armrest that can go up.

[dukattack]

i used to live on an island called waiheke in new zealand, and they have the coziest theater. its full of couches so you can sleep and stuff, the tickets are like 5 bucks, snacks are super cheap and hardly anyone go there so its nice and peacful. good times :-)

[theSarge00]

In no particular order

1) The Alhambra (now defunct) San Francisco -
Used to love leaning back and looking at the concave lighted dome.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/89754746_7406cecaf1.jpg
The exterior was gorgeous at night with the lights on. Currently being used as a fitness club, they actually didn't gut the place but rather worked the workout equipment in around the decor - even still has a screen, with the intent to show special screenings of some sort. So, odd it's a gym, but yay they didn't destroy it.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2835407482_f6589ea8a3.jpg

2) The Castro - art/rep house - San Francisco
The Castro will never go away, shy of total earthquake devastation, because it stands as the centerpiece of the Castro District in San Francisco. Homophobes beware, this is the heart and soul of San Francisco's gay community. Big screen, gorgeous decor, a steady flow of film revival programs, current art films, film symposiums, live appearances and the like - here's their current schedule (http://www.castrotheatre.com/calendar.htm).
Aside from all that, the Castro has a mighty mighty wurlitzer that someone plays...not sure if it's all the time but every time I saw something there...and always concludes with "San Francisco" from the film of the same name, as the organ slowly sinks into the orchestra pit.
..
Let me rephrase that. On second thought, I'll let it stand: seems appropriate for the Castro.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2772274474_70a4087f5e.jpg

3) el Capitain Theatre - Hollywood
Disney spent huge bucks to restore the old el Capitan - across and down a little from Sid Grauman's Chinese (the one with all the hand and footprints in concrete - they periodically pull some up to make room for new additions, and sometimes put them back to keep the selection different). The el Capitan may not be as famous, but it's a beautifully restored theatre where Disney usually premieres their new films, often with a floor show before the film with singing and dancing and costumed characters. Tickets are higher in price but it's really more of an event than just going to the multiplex to see a movie. I understand Disney was looking to unload it: don't know if they did, but it would be a shame.
http://www.atos.org/Pages/Journal/Capitan/ElCapStage.jpg

4) The Arclight - Hollywood
Formerly the Cinerama Dome, the Arclight is an example of a thoroughly modern movie palace - several large screens, state of the art sound, a cafe, and as Grace mentioned, a gift shop - but not like a cheesy tshirts and keychains one, but something like the sort of gift shops you find at museums: books, jewelry, art prints, etc as well as merchandise relevant to the current movies. They also exhibit costumes and props relevant to the current big releases - dunno if you have to have a flickr account to see this, but this is an arclight pool on flicker (http://www.flickr.com/groups/690836@N22/pool/) showing some of the stuff people have seen there. Think the last thing I saw there was "Return of the King" and the place was heaped with WETA props, costumes, and sculptures.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2607447295_389cfedac0.jpg

[BTT Grace]

Thanks for those pics, Sarge! Those theaters remind me of the Ziegfeld here in NYC. And yeah, I love the props the Arclight puts on display. Last time I was there they had the Batmobile and Batpod on display from The Dark Knight. :)

[MetalAlien]

Yea we saw the 1st Pirates of the Caribbean at the El Capitain. They had the whole place decked out in Pirate theme. It was awesome!

My fav though has to be the Las Vegas 5 drive in. Crappy picture and sound but it's truly a classic Drive In. Actually a historic landmark so they can't tear it down. :)

We Saw Land of the Lost there tonight and it was packed!!

This is a feature presentation bumper I made using video of the Drive in...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gScrX3D3NMY

[theSarge00]

Thanks for those pics, Sarge! Those theaters remind me of the Ziegfeld here in NYC. And yeah, I love the props the Arclight puts on display. Last time I was there they had the Batmobile and Batpod on display from The Dark Knight. :)
That's the new Zieg right? Heard good things about it. Would have loved to see the old Zieg - sposed to be epic - or even the old Fox (http://www.historigraphics.com/fox/) in SF but both were demolished when I was a wee bairn.

[Razback]

In no particular order

1) The Alhambra (now defunct) San Francisco -
Used to love leaning back and looking at the concave lighted dome.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/89754746_7406cecaf1.jpg
The exterior was gorgeous at night with the lights on. Currently being used as a fitness club, they actually didn't gut the place but rather worked the workout equipment in around the decor - even still has a screen, with the intent to show special screenings of some sort. So, odd it's a gym, but yay they didn't destroy it.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2835407482_f6589ea8a3.jpg

2) The Castro - art/rep house - San Francisco
The Castro will never go away, shy of total earthquake devastation, because it stands as the centerpiece of the Castro District in San Francisco. Homophobes beware, this is the heart and soul of San Francisco's gay community. Big screen, gorgeous decor, a steady flow of film revival programs, current art films, film symposiums, live appearances and the like - here's their current schedule (http://www.castrotheatre.com/calendar.htm).
Aside from all that, the Castro has a mighty mighty wurlitzer that someone plays...not sure if it's all the time but every time I saw something there...and always concludes with "San Francisco" from the film of the same name, as the organ slowly sinks into the orchestra pit.
..
Let me rephrase that. On second thought, I'll let it stand: seems appropriate for the Castro.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2772274474_70a4087f5e.jpg

3) el Capitain Theatre - Hollywood
Disney spent huge bucks to restore the old el Capitan - across and down a little from Sid Grauman's Chinese (the one with all the hand and footprints in concrete - they periodically pull some up to make room for new additions, and sometimes put them back to keep the selection different). The el Capitan may not be as famous, but it's a beautifully restored theatre where Disney usually premieres their new films, often with a floor show before the film with singing and dancing and costumed characters. Tickets are higher in price but it's really more of an event than just going to the multiplex to see a movie. I understand Disney was looking to unload it: don't know if they did, but it would be a shame.
http://www.atos.org/Pages/Journal/Capitan/ElCapStage.jpg

4) The Arclight - Hollywood
Formerly the Cinerama Dome, the Arclight is an example of a thoroughly modern movie palace - several large screens, state of the art sound, a cafe, and as Grace mentioned, a gift shop - but not like a cheesy tshirts and keychains one, but something like the sort of gift shops you find at museums: books, jewelry, art prints, etc as well as merchandise relevant to the current movies. They also exhibit costumes and props relevant to the current big releases - dunno if you have to have a flickr account to see this, but this is an arclight pool on flicker (http://www.flickr.com/groups/690836@N22/pool/) showing some of the stuff people have seen there. Think the last thing I saw there was "Return of the King" and the place was heaped with WETA props, costumes, and sculptures.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2607447295_389cfedac0.jpg

Thoose theaters are awesome in Italy doesent exist theaters like this

[MalonProductions]

I like the Loews Waterfront AMC Cinema in Pittsburgh PA

Its really nice :D

http://www.virtourist.com/america/pittsburgh/imatges/450.jpg

[sonnyfromda02]

I'm a big fan of the Alamo Draft House in Austin, TX. Out of those I prefer the South Lamar location in Austin, but all the Draft Houses are pretty sweet. In addition to being a theater where you can order a meal or a beer (though I don't drink alcohol, so it doesn't matter to me), they also have a themed pre-show before the movies and just have a really good environment. If anyone is ever in Austin, TX...I would highly recommend going to the Alamo Draft House and seeing something.

http://www.drafthouse.com

I prefer the one on Anderson Ln, (it's closer to where I live). They have the best potato skins.

[BTT Grace]

Haha - I have been to the Loews Waterfront in Pittsburgh! My grandmother lives near there. Great theater, although for some reason they took out my favorite place to sit (in the middle 1/3 back from the front) and made it an aisle... I like to eat at Bravo - or is it Brava? - afterwards!

[insane12]

heres the one i always go to... its only 2 years old.

http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/images/moviehouse/2072/a01%5Efront_entrance.jpg