After the Oscars I always find myself wistful. I like to consider myself a cinephile/movie fan. And after the Oscars I always catch myself just either trying to catch up on the awards movies I missed (I have a long list this year, didn’t even see Anora the best picture winner) and gearing up for another year of fun movies (which we have a lot of fun movies coming out this year that I’m excited to see). With the wistfulness I was able to remind myself that I’ve gotten to go to movie theaters across the country and I’m very lucky to have that. So I decided to rank/count down my favorite movie theaters across the country.
Before we get started, I would be remiss not to say one I will be sad I will never get to attend and two that I very much hope to attend one day.
First, I wanted to memorialize the Santee Drive-In.
When we lived in California, we lived in Santee of San Diego county. The town was locally famous for their Drive-In theater that was open rain or shine. We always meant to get around to going to it (ok mostly I always meant to get around to it) but with being new parents and a limited time living there among other things, we never got around to it. I recently looked it up because I’ve been manifesting dreams of getting back there I was disheartened to learn as I searched that much like many theaters post pandemic it had gone out of business. Please if you’re a movie fan try to go to theaters as much as you can, you’re saving jobs and experiences.
Second, I wanted to state of two theaters I hope to attend one day.
In Orlando, Florida both Universal Studios and Disney have their own versions of large outlet malls in Disney springs and Universal city walk.
With this they both have their own movie theaters.
In Disney Springs they have an AMC dine-in theater.
In Universal City walk they have the Citywalk Cinemark.
The AMC dine-in theater has their own menu with some amazing (at least it looks that way) handcrafted milk shakes.
While Citywalk Cinemark is right off the amusement park it could be a great place to go relax with their lounge seats and watch a movie. It also has a full bar.
I’m hoping one day to get to check both of these out one day.
HM: AMC river center 11: San Antonio, Texas
Full disclosure I only went to this theater once to see “spiderman: No way home”, but the experience I had at this theater was enough to earn an Honorable mention on my list. The screening room I saw it in was large arena like seating with a decent sized screening, plus that movie was such a phenomenon that it was one of those moments that you needed a good crowd for and they delivered.
10. Entertainment cinemas: Leominster, Massachusetts
This theater is very nostalgic for me, growing up there were two theaters we frequented as a family. This little hole in the wall theater holds a somewhat 90’s vibe with its old arcade games and small theaters, mostly this is on my list out of nostalgia and the idea of the small American independent theater still prevailing. I saw many fun ones here over the years including “Avengers”, “Purge 2” and “Inside Out” to name a few.
9. O’Neil Cinemas: Littleton, Massachusetts
This was a relatively new theater when I left the state of Massachusetts. I liked it quite a bit though and if I’m ever back in the state I would love to check it again. The theater has a bar and restaurant along with lounge seating, and there’s a grand DLX auditorium featuring a 72 inch curved screen. I saw both “Deadpool 2” and “good boys” here with my Dad.
8. Cinema World: Fitchburg, Massachusetts (Out of commission)
If Entertainment cinemas is nostalgic sweetness for me. It’s like maple syrup compared to the ice cream sundae that is Cinema World. I recently learned this theater went out of business because of financial constraints from both the strike and the pandemic and I was devastated. This was THE theater we went to growing up. Even older looking than entertainment cinemas and had all the 90’s arcade games too this place brings so many memories up. From going here after or before friendly’s (a New England staple) dinners as a family (it had a friendly’s right next to it, until that too went out of business) to watching movies here in college. I actually saw my last movie before leaving for the navy here with “Shang chi and the legend of the 10 rings”, but oh my god did I see so many movies here. “Avengers: age of ultron” (twice), “Antman and the wasp”, “spiderman: homecoming” he’ll even “justice league” and “Han Solo” usually with my friend Jake Richardson and/or Alex Reggio (shout out Jake and Alex if you’re reading this), I didn’t just see blockbusters here though I saw comedies such as “Ted” and “hangover 2” (regrettably) here as well a B list horror such “As above so below” and “unfriended”. I’ll miss you Cinema world. One day maybe I’ll find a way to bring you back.
7. Jordan’s furniture IMAX: Natick, Massachusett/Avon, Massachusetts and Reading, Massachusetts
Growing up we would go to this theater for the biggest of releases. I will never forget seeing “The Dark Knight” opening night at this theater and the roar just for the Warner Brothers opening. Both of these theaters had amazingly large screens and 3D showings that I’ll never forget but I’ll also never forget the ambiance outside the theater. Including a big green Wally the green monster (the Boston Red Sox mascot) eating a yankee player and a waterworks show among other things.
6. Milford Drive-In theater: Milford, New Hampshire
Movie theaters in general are falling hard, and Drive-In’s especially, that’s why I’m so glad to see the Milford Drive in theater is still going strong. I spent many a summer night here growing up seeing double and triple features. Before I left the state I caught a Steven Spielberg triple feature with his directed ET, and Jaws and his produced Back to the future. Sadly we missed ET and I was so tired by the time we got to Back to the future that we left 30 minutes in. But jaws on the big screen drive in was great. Felt like being in the 70’s/80’s.
5. AMC tyngsboro 11: Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
Near the end of my tenure in Massachusetts this was a very constant theater to venture to with my father. The lounge seats and great snacks made for a solid viewing, plus they were always showing things later that other theaters had kicked out because they couldn’t afford anymore. This is a mix of the nostalgia of Cinema world and comfortability of O’Niel for me that has it ranked so high.
4. Regal Alamo Quarry: San Antonio, Texas
When we got to San Antonio we found this place rather quickly as a great theater to catch a film. Repurposed from a old cement factory, it fulfilled my love of old things and cinema all in one place. Plus it always had a show of music connected to dancing pipes before you go up to your show. I saw “The Batman”, “Top Gun:Maverick” and “Doctor strange: The multiverse of madness” here among other things.
3. Showcase Cinema de Lux Legacy place: Dedham, Massachusetts
When my wife and I started dating this became our go to theater for a lot of releases. It has a 21 plus bar and delivery system above their biggest theaters, as well as theaters without this feature. Also during the pandemic this theater had the ingenious idea to make their theater available for cheap rent out during the holiday season to play Christmas movies. I rented out a theater and played “elf” for my wife in the Christmas season of 2020. A fun memory I won’t forget.
2. Cinema Cafe: Virginia Beach, Virginia (5 locations)
Since moving to Virginia Beach this has been our go to theater and for good reason. Lounge seating and a full dinner and lunch menu with funny names and the marketing for recent releases is so funny. And I’m starting to fall in love with this place. I can see when I leave this place it becoming my number one. I’ve seen “Barbie”, “Wicked”, “Spiderman: Across the spiderverse”, “Guardians of the galaxy 3”, among others. Plus they let me keep a “wicked” cup and one of their popcorn buckets. Kings of merch for sure.
1.Chunky’s cinema: Nashua, New Hampshire (out of commission) and Manchester, New Hampshire
And my number one. Part restaurant, part theater. Full dinner table, and full beautiful menu and full nostalgia for me especially with the Nashua one that is sadly out of commission. Not only has this place showed great movies here over the years, but they’ve screened sporting events, had live comedy and even drag shows. I’ll never forget watching the Red Sox win their most recent World Series in the Nashua cinema or my Dad taking me to a drag show for my bachelor party in the Manchester theater or seeing Conor Mcgregor get choked out in the Manchester theater or seeing Avengers: Infinity war in the Nashua one. My biggest and best memory was watching “it’s a wonderful life”, my favorite movie in the Nashua one the day before my grandfather’s wake. It weirdly felt like he was talking to me.
I’ll miss you Nashua Chunky’s. Manchester I hope I see you again some day. Thanks for the memories from all of these theaters. That’s the power of movies.
Adventures by Begley 