Take a seat — and some truffle popcorn — at four of Chicago’s top theaters.
Take a seat — and some truffle popcorn — at four of Chicago’s top theaters.
For Loyola students still grieving The New 400 Theaters closure, and with Oscar season in high gear, the Red Line offers an array of historic and high-quality venues for casual and compulsive movie-goers alike.
Addison: Alamo Drafthouse (3519 N. Clark St.)
Just a short walk from the Addison station in the heart of Wrigleyville is a theater dedicated to providing the most efficient movie-watching experience.
Alamo Drafthouse is a national chain which allows attendees to order food to their seat at any point during a movie via a cue card. With a curated menu based on current screening selections, attendees can order a rotating list of cocktails or restaurant-quality sandwiches and truffle popcorn.
Alamo specializes in honoring the movie theater experience. Staff have a zero-tolerance for phone usage and talking within the theater, guaranteeing attendees an engrossing watch.
Along with hosting early screenings for upcoming blockbusters, Alamo also showcases cult classics for themed events and anniversary dates. The theater also streams Q&A’s with filmmakers and offers a gift shop vending VHS tapes, DVDs and vintage accessories.
Alamo Drafthouse is open from 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, noon to 2 a.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Belmont: Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark St.)
After an eight-minute walk from Belmont station, moviegoers are greeted with the spectacle lights of Landmark Century Centre Cinema.
Similar to Alamo, Landmark Century Centre is a national chain that prioritizes the audience experience. With a bar lounge and reclining seats, Landmark merges its facade’s classic aesthetic with a casual, convenient atmosphere on the inside.
Landmark offers cinephiles a reliable option as their venue of choice. Its bargain prices and comfortable arrangements make it a safe choice for a fun weekend at the movies.
Landmark is currently running Oscar season frontrunners “Anora” and “A Complete Unknown” in its rotation.
Landmark Century Centre Cinema is open daily from 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Sheridan: Music Box Theater (3733 N. Southport Ave.)
Velvet drapes cascade across the projector screen as an organist plays as audience members find their seats at The Music Box Theater. After a brief stroll from Sheridan station, moviegoers can explore Lake View on their way to the ornate and intimate theater, which recently celebrated its 95th anniversary.
The Music Box embraces its longstanding history in Chicago, with two auditoriums which resemble an opera house more than a typical movie theater. On the ceiling a cloudy blue sky streams against the stone pillars and brick-lined walls.
The venue hosts screenings projected over wound reels of film rather than digital recordings, recently featuring “The Brutalist” on 70mm film print. Audiences can witness photo reels unravel while enjoying the theater’s conjoined bar lounge.
The Music Box screens timeless classics and modern marvels alike, hosting a monthly midnight screening of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The theater also has a cozy garden lounge where they host outdoor screenings during the summer.
A staple of Chicago’s film scene, Music Box Theater hosts both the Chicago Critics Fest in the summer and the Chicago International Film Fest in the fall, welcoming famed filmmakers from around the world.
Music Box Theater is open 4 p.m. to midnight Mondays through Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on weekends.
Lake: Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N. State St.)
Directly off the Lake Red Line stop is a film library dedicated to Chicago film legend Gene Siskel.
Named after former Chicago Tribune writer and one half of the critic duo Siskel and Ebert, the Siskel Center dedicates itself to shining a light on arthouse cinema and independent voices.
A public program of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the venue holds two modest auditoriums and a small cafe. The Siskel Center prioritizes work from filmmakers around the globe, rotating series based on war, culture, race and religion.
The Siskel Center is also a screener for the Chicago International Film Fest, for which they showcased the Oscar-nominated documentary “No Other Land” last November. The Siskel Center also frequently hosts panel discussions with filmmakers and professors where speakers analyze selected works.
With upcoming selections based on architectural design and Iranian filmmaking, the Gene Siskel Center breaks down the craft of moviemaking and uplifts diverse perspectives.
The Gene Siskel Film Center is open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 2 p.m to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
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