Anyone else’s theaters suck these days?

[Dan H]

Our local AMC is falling apart. Good chunk of seats on each auditorium are broken, tiles are falling off the walls in the bathroom. It’s a crapshoot if the soda or slushee machines will work along with the butter dispensers.

We’ve given up going to it in favor a local art house cinema, but they only have two screens so you’re pretty much just talking the big releases there.

You see a lot of complaints online about poor behavior in theaters since Covid and blaming that for the shrinking box office. I don’t get a lot of that, so can’t speak to it - it’s mainly just the theaters in my area. We’re supposedly getting an Alamo Drafthouse in Indy this summer, so that’ll be nice, but that’s a bit of a drive.

It stinks because I love going to movies, but my house setup is great, especially compared to broken seats. You almost feel guilty dropping the 20 bucks to stream a new release, but it’s harder and harder to justify making an outing.

What are you seeing in your area?

 

[Town Drunk]

Our theater is locally owned and isn’t part of a large chain. It’s great. It has a small cafe/restaurant inside and serves alcohol that you can take in to theaters. Comfortable seating. I don’t go often but it’s always an enjoyable experience.

 

[Chaplin]

My amc here is fantastic.

 

[Yuma]

Harkins Laveen 12​

Located at Loop 202 and Baseline, Harkins Laveen 12 will feature the best in Ultimate Moviegoing® including:

• Premium large format CINÉ XL® Auditorium featuring Dolby Atmos® 3D object-based sound
• Reserved seating with mobile ticketing
• Gourmet concession items featuring elevated offerings, including Harkins Big Screen Burger, Artisan Flatbreads and other house-made plates, in addition to traditional snack bar favorites
• Plush, electric, leather reclining Harkins Ultimate Lounger® seats in all auditoriums
• State-of-the-art laser projection and digital sound
• CINÉ BAR featuring wine and local craft beer

This was supposed to be built a long time ago, but Covid stifled the original date. At the time they were touting biggest Harkins in AZ. Now I think it's going to be regular sized since I haven't seen a press release lately with that wording. In fact, it's been so quiet on that front, I am wondering if it is now in the dream stage.

 

[Stout]

Our local AMC is falling apart. Good chunk of seats on each auditorium are broken, tiles are falling off the walls in the bathroom. It’s a crapshoot if the soda or slushee machines will work along with the butter dispensers.

We’ve given up going to it in favor a local art house cinema, but they only have two screens so you’re pretty much just talking the big releases there.

You see a lot of complaints online about poor behavior in theaters since Covid and blaming that for the shrinking box office. I don’t get a lot of that, so can’t speak to it - it’s mainly just the theaters in my area. We’re supposedly getting an Alamo Drafthouse in Indy this summer, so that’ll be nice, but that’s a bit of a drive.

It stinks because I love going to movies, but my house setup is great, especially compared to broken seats. You almost feel guilty dropping the 20 bucks to stream a new release, but it’s harder and harder to justify making an outing.

What are you seeing in your area?

It's not an art house cinema if it just has big releases, is it?

I have a number of theaters I go to. The one shows old movies using themed weeks, which is incredible--I'm seeing Seventh Seal on Tuesday after work--but I can only go if I get a couch seat in the front. The seats are torturous. My other main theater is good with recliners.

 

[Dan H]

It’s a neat mix.

https://www.yescinema.org/content/About+Us

I’m half-convinced one of the board members is a cinema geek and he talked everyone else into building his dream theater. Digital projection, one of the best sound systems I’ve ever heard, great seating …

 

[bankybruce]

My amc here is fantastic.

Same! To be fair, they didn't exist in Portland until they purchased all of the Cinetopia's, which were amazing pre AMC and still amazing.

 

[oaken1]

Ours is locally owned... Brendan Theaters... decent for a small town. Probably average for the city....got electric recliners and stadium seating...

We have an AMC a few miles up the freeway but I have never been there

 

[Chris_Sanders]

My Roadhouse theater is amazing.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

We love going to Harkins at Superstition Springs or Chandler Fashion. Best popcorn around. Great theater seating, sound, etc. Decent rewards program too. Cheap drink refills with an annual souvenir cup and a popcorn perk that gets us an XL popcorn and a free refill for just a few bucks.

They do Secret Cinema releases each month for only $5 and you get to see an upcoming release, but don't know which movie you are seeing until it starts in the theater. So far, we have seen Arthur the King and Boy Kills World at these events.