Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Name the 10 best multiplexes in the country

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Posted by Gary Davidson (Member # 2198) on 02-09-2006, 05:12 PM:

What are the 10 best multiplexes in the U.S.?

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 02-09-2006, 08:20 PM:

How do you mean?

Highest Grossing?
On Screen presentation?
Snaziest lobby?

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 02-09-2006, 09:37 PM:

I think the ONLY standard by which to judge a theatre is by the ratio of upsold concession combos to total tickets rung up. That there is some magical number, dagnabit. [Razz]

And by that standard, our theatre would probably come in dead last. "Corporate" probably attributes that to what--clearly--must be our horrible and incompetent concession staff and management, missing the point completely that we are in a popular entertainment center, a 30-second walk away from any of fifteen or so restaurants and bars, NOT including the food court.

Oh, no, I'm not bitter. [Roll Eyes]

[ 02-09-2006, 11:53 PM: Message edited by: Brian Michael Weidemann ]

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 02-09-2006, 10:55 PM:

HAHA! We were top 10 in combos last month.... And were going to be top 10 again! And just wait until the first numbers for variety hearts start comming in!

Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 02-09-2006, 11:26 PM:

Unless you are very well traveled and have visited EVERY multiplex in the country, this is an impossible question to answer. Maybe every person could rate the best multiplex they have been to. Then you could take that list and see if anybody has been to a few of the other people's "best" and rate them against each other. Eventually, you may get the top 10.

I'd have a hard time naming 10 multiplexes that I've been to that always show the film with the right lens and framed properly let alone a top 10.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-10-2006, 01:22 AM:

I've only been to probably about couple dozen or so but I would say my favorite from a "decor" standpoint is the one at Megaplex 17 at Jordon Commons in Sandy, UT. It's got a great atmosphere. My wife and I were there for about 3 hours last year just wandering around and looking and snacking -- never even went to a movie.

As far as seeing an actual film, my favorite is the AMC Pleasure Island 24 at Disney World. We're in Florida once a year and always manage to catch at least one movie there. The coolest thing was seeing "Shrek" there. There were a whole bunch of Disney employees sitting behind us and they were just having hysterics over the slight Disney slams in that movie.

[ 02-10-2006, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: Mike Blakesley ]

Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 02-10-2006, 10:11 AM:

I would have to agree with Mike about AMC Pleasure Island 24 but it does depend a little on which auditoriums. My fiance and I tend to make a special trip down there for the "event" movies but I always find out what showtimes are in auditoriums 1 or 2 (screens about 65 feet wide in scope).

There are 4 screens that sound great which are unadvertised THX (still listed on THX site). They are #17,19,20,24. These were part of the original Pleasure Island 10. Interestingly, it seems that any of the original auditoriums that did not need any renovation with the expansion stayed exactly as they were with sloped floors. There are still 8 or 9 incuding both 2k, 3D, DLP. #19 was renovated to stadium and has the 1.3k DLP still.

For decor, I'd have to say Muvico Palace 20 in Boca Raton, FL. The lobby/hallways are very elegant. It suffers from the same thing as every other Muvico I've been to in that once inside the auditoriums, there's nothing special. Screens not all that big, sound good but not great.

Well, we don't make the 2 hour trip JUST for the theatre. We make a day of it and go to one of the parks for a few hours and then see a late afternoon show (we have annual passes so it doesn't cost extra for a couple hours).

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 02-10-2006, 10:40 AM:

My vote, Gary, would be for two in your own backyard. The new AMC Century City 15 just down Santa Monica Blvd. is a beautiful place, great design, comfortable theatres, fine projection and sound, and my favorite thing: lots of intellegently placed bathrooms. Beats the crap out of the cramped old 14 that it replaced.

Another contender is the Arclight complex behind the Cinerama Dome down on Sunset. People like to bust on this place because of its plain-Jane, black-box auditorium design, but they've never failed to put on a great show any time I've been there. Full Kinoton set-up, NO commercials, comfy seats, great parking. The best thing about it is the crowd it draws. The Los Angeles Film School is right across the street, and the theatre itself is situated right in an area of studios. You're seeing a movie with a respectful crowd of film people, and you don't have to worry about teens/gang-bangers/cell phone texters, et. al. I would have to say it's easily one of the best multi's I've ever been it. Of course, at $14.25 a ticket, it had better be.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 02-10-2006, 11:41 AM:

Did Arclight ever fix the really bad echo/reverb problem some of the auditoriums had when the place first opened? I saw "The Rookie" there and sound-wise it was like watching a movie in gymnasium. The acoustic treatments on the walls were very very thin at best.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 02-10-2006, 11:47 AM:

I'll list the best ones in Oklahoma.

Best in state: Harkins Theatres Bricktown 16, downtown Oklahoma City. The large Cine Capris theater currently has the largest indoor theatrical movie screen in Oklahoma. Very beefy sound system in there. The lobby is pretty cool. A full blown 35mm projection setup over the box office shows trailers on a fairly large movie screen above the concession area.

Best in Tulsa: Cinemark Tulsa. This 20-plex has the only IMAX-3D theater in the state. Its theatrical screens are decent (but not great). At least the auditoriums are larger than its main rival, the AMC Southroads 20.

Likely New State Champ in 2006: Warren Theaters 20, Moore, OK. Warren Theaters is based in Wichita, KS and operates three pretty high end theaters there. The new complex currently under construction in Moore (between OKC and Norman on I-35) is billed as the "world's largest luxury 20-plex." The $30 million project is being built on a 25-acre site. The complex will have 7000 seats (ranging from over 700 seats in the biggest auditorium down to 175 in the smallest rooms). The ground floor will have more than 150,000 square feet. All screens will be THX-certified and feature stadium seating. The largest theaters will have premium balcony seating, and will reportedly have screens 80 feet wide and four stories tall (if that's not a case for 70mm I don't know what is). The balcony areas will reportedly be for adults only and offer wine, beer or mixed drinks for sale. Get drunk, throw yourself off the balcony! The theater will have a decorative art deco appearance, with lots of neon, marble, hand-painted murals and other stuff assholes can deface.

Once that Warren Theaters build is completed, it would stand to have a very strong chance of rating as one of the top 10 multiplex theaters in the nation.

Best theater in my town (and has been for the last 11 years) the Carmike 8.

FWIW, maybe someone should start a best single screen movie theaters list. The Ziegfeld in New York and Uptown in Washington D.C. would be obvious entries.

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 02-10-2006, 12:20 PM:

In my opinion based solely on movie going enjoyment...

My top pick would be Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons in Sandy, UT. Hands down. Nothing even comes close.

My second pick would be the 13th St Warren in Wichita, which will probably be eclipsed by the Warren 20 that Bobby noted.

Based on experience with the (original) exhibitor that built it and pictures on cinematour, I'd probably put the Metropolitan 14 in Austin, TX third, but I've never actually been there. It sure looks like it was the most elaborate plex ever designed by Act III Theatres though.

I haven't really been to any others that stand out as significant beyond those.

Posted by Robert Burtcher (Member # 3227) on 02-10-2006, 02:20 PM:

What will be interesting to see about the Warren 20 in Moore is how well they will train their projectionists. I hope for their sake that they won't use manager/operators during the week, or if they do, the managers are WELL trained on the equipment.

Posted by Brian Woods (Member # 3521) on 02-10-2006, 02:30 PM:

Here would be my list for the Top "4".

Regal Hacienda Crossing 20 Plus IMAX-Dublin, CA-Great theater in the Eastbay near Oakland/San Francisco. I have seen a few movies here, and never had a problem. [Smile]

Malco Paradiso-Memphis, TN-New Theater in Memphis, TN that has all the perks, and has the best presentation in town. [beer]

Mann's Chinese Theater-Hollywood, CA-Well, it's Mann's Chinese Theater...Enough Said.... [Big Grin]

Regal Severance Town Center-Cleveland Heights, OH-This booth is operated by Bill Tagert, and I have always had a flawless presentation. Bill works at different film festivals, and always puts on a good show. [Cool]

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-10-2006, 02:50 PM:

Mann's Chinese Theatre blows. Or, at least, it did when I visited in February 2000. I liked the decor and the screen, but the sound was truly terrible in the main house. They are supposedly THX certified, but dialogue intelligibility was very poor.

By contrast, the Cinerama Dome (now part of Arclight) had the best cinema sound system that I have ever heard. I need to go back at some point and see how it sounds post-renovation. I hope that they didn't ruin it.

Ultimately, though, most multiplexes are bland and boring. All my favorite theatres are singles or singles which were converted into multis.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-10-2006, 04:43 PM:

Adam Martin or Scott Neff would probably be the best two guys to answer this question. They have most certainly visited more theaters around the country than anyone else.

From what I've seen, regarding theaters that are still operating, the Warren theaters have everyone else beat hands down.

Posted by Brian Woods (Member # 3521) on 02-10-2006, 04:45 PM:

quote:
Mann's Chinese Theatre blows. Or, at least, it did when I visited in February 2000.--Scott Norwood

I am sure someone has been in there since 2000 to check the EQ settings. I was there recently, and everything sounded and looked good. (January 2006) Maybe it would be a good idea to actually go there and check things out before judging things from a half a decade ago? But then again, I don't just judge theater's in my neighborhood. It's kinda like telling everyone your little Timmy is the cutest kid....even with his 3rd ear on his forehead..... [scream]

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 02-10-2006, 05:53 PM:

I have pointed out before on these threads when this theatre has been bashed, that Grauman's Chinese went through a major renovation in 2001. I haven't seen a film there since June 2004, but at that point, the sound and general presentation was excellent.

However, I wouldn't consider the Chinese a multiplex. [Smile]

=====

As for the Hacienda Crossing 20 & IMAX ... I'm glad that made this list ... I subbed there for about 10 days when they were down to one IMAX projectionist.

Posted by Brian Woods (Member # 3521) on 02-10-2006, 07:42 PM:

True, not a multiplex, but worth mentioning. [Wink]

There are not that many single screens left that you can say you had a great experience at. I did like the UA Cornet and UA Metro in San Francisco. I know the Cornet isn't around anymore, but will live on through the Star Wars DVD's Extra's as the premier theater. [evil]

Posted by John McConnel (Member # 2000) on 02-10-2006, 07:58 PM:

I'd concur with Brian Woods regarding Malco's Paradiso in Memphis, TN, and put it among the top ten theatres in the country.

And also agree that the Warren in Wichita, KS, belongs in the top ten.

Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 02-10-2006, 08:31 PM:

There are quite a few theatres in the LA area that I like.. The National Amusments Bridge De Lux is definately one of the most intersting theatres I have been in. I was also impressed by the AMC in downtown Burbank - very well run operation there from what I have seen. Despite growing up in Kansas, I have never been - or even seen - one of Warren's complexes.

On the single screen side of things, the El Capitan on Hollywood Blvd is probably one of the most "fun" expereinces I have had in a theatre in a while. Saw Nightmare Before Christmas there in October. In addition to getting to see that movie on the big screen again, the live organ prior to the show, and the shorts that were shown both before and after the feature really made it an experience to remember.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 02-10-2006, 09:52 PM:

quote: Jim Ziegler
The National Amusments Bridge De Lux is definately one of the most intersting theatres I have been in

I interviewed at this theatre several years back (they've got an IMAX). Yes, it was fairly interesting. It had a different kind of look, but I wasn't particularly impressed. It's a nice complex, though. I can't remember if it was a Borders or a Barnes & Noble next door, but that was a nice bookstore. [Wink]

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 02-10-2006, 11:55 PM:

quote: Jim Ziegler
AMC in downtown Burbank

I assume you mean the 16 plex? There is also an 8 and a 6, and there used to be a 14 that got torn down for said 16. Anyway, I have the distinction of being the first customer to have his/her ticket ripped at that theatre. I rarely see matinees, let alone on Friday morning ... but I had a particularly long Thursday night and was still wide awake when I got home at 9am ... I decided to stay up a bit longer to check out that theatre (I saw HULK) it just so happened that I was the first one to walk in. [Shrug]

oh well, something to put on my résumé anyway. [Roll Eyes]

... but I agree, it is a pretty decent place to see a movie. As far as one* screeners go, American Cinematheque's renovated Egyptian puts on quite a good show. Two others that were mentioned, the Arclight and the Bridge Cinema de Luxe, I've been to too, and, although neither was bad, they weren't "special" enough to be worth the extra money spent (at the Bridge, they have a couple Director's Hall auditoria, it was also $14/ticket with assigned seating, like Arclight). ... at least on a regular basis, both are worth checking out, and I would have continued to see films there had I still lived out there, but neither became a "regular" theatre for me.

(*well, technically the Egyptian has two screens ... but I've only ever seen anything on the big/main screen)

Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 02-11-2006, 12:41 AM:

I have yet to go to a 'megaplex' that I've liked or considered 'the best'. They all pretty much stink. I try to only visit theatres with (max) 5 screens or less.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-11-2006, 01:51 AM:

I've heard that LHM's Mega20 down in South Jordan will outshine the Mega17 in comfort and experience and they're going out all the way with the most new that can be had.

Yet, the 17 will never be overtaken due to the "city within a building" originality - being that the "city" inside was designed from what old downtown SLC used to be with the old movie palaces of old, and been built on LHM's former high school grounds - the Jordan High School (in which I duely remember that high school on that corner of 94th S and State..)

Course, when I became employed with EDWARDS back in 1997 and was in on the booth installs and became presentation manager for this new 21 megaplex that was built in our area, that was a megaplex to be had.

Now, that was something to behold when we opened that complex up and the masses of people that would come to that place to get an experience of their life.

-Monte

Posted by Richard Greco (Member # 2032) on 02-11-2006, 08:51 AM:

The Muvico Centro Ybor 20 is great hands down here. Especially the Premier, 21+ section. Leather seating, full bar, NO KIDS....Absolutely worth the admission of 12.50...

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-11-2006, 10:42 AM:

Definately NONE in Utah would fit the "Best In The Counrty" catagory. All very run of the mill plex's around this area. The only difference between them is they vary in size and amount of "run of the mill".

I haeard thorugh the grape vine this week that LHM is only installing film projection equipment on half the new screens at the 20 plex, the other half will be D.C..... Weather thats true will remain to be seen....

Mark

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 02-12-2006, 10:01 PM:

In the Richmond area I'm giving it to the Commomwealth 20 based on the look and feel of the facility. It's fairly new and the lobby is huge with a high ceiling, very spacious. The corridors are wide enough to avoid feeling close, colors are light and airy. It's a Consolidated Theatre, the lone non Regal mpx in this area

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 02-13-2006, 10:53 AM:

Around MN, the Willow Creek 12 is probably the only one up for consideration. Through Plitt, Cineplex Odeon, Lowes & Muller, the facility has had the same projectionist, Dave Hilgren. Dave has kept the curtain calls on cue & the trailers to a minimum. The lobby & auditoria are kept spotless, & maintainence issues get fixed when they're supposed to. Even after the stadium conversion, the existing auditoria have a great atmosphere; I do miss the Plitt lighting "coves" in the walls when I'm in the new addition. All SR when they opened in '89 & with several new CP650's, it still sounds warm & sweet. Lab splices get removed, trailers cut properly & Mobiliario seats beat out any of AMC's or Carmike's movie factories in town.

Mike Muller was lucky to have the chance to buy and upkeep such a nice site. At one point, he was considering buying the old GCC Shelard Park site in the big office building around the corner from Willow, but Shelard had little opportunity for expansion & the whole space looked really narrow on paper.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-13-2006, 04:19 PM:

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
I haeard thorugh the grape vine this week that LHM is only installing film projection equipment on half the new screens at the 20 plex, the other half will be D.C..... Weather thats true will remain to be seen....

Rave is claiming this as well. Supposedly they aren't even going to purchase any more 35mm equipment (sorry Strong!) but are going to equip half of their existing locations with DC projectors and move that equipment to their new locations. Not sure how smart this is. I would fear that theater assignments would be pure hell because not everything will be available in DC for the first few years. I wonder if they will at least be smart enough to put all of the DC projectors on one end of the building, rather than having the projectionist constantly run all over the entire building just to keep up with a handful of 35mm machines. [Wink]

Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 02-13-2006, 11:49 PM:

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
I haeard thorugh the grape vine this week that LHM is only installing film projection equipment on half the new screens at the 20 plex, the other half will be D.C..... Weather thats true will remain to be seen....

That can also be good for everyone else in the market to upgrade... When the theater tanks because of a lack of content, there will be a lot of slightly used D.C. projectors out there for cheap! [evil]

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-22-2006, 07:43 AM:

I agree that it's still probably premature to not to have film capability on each screen:

http://mkpe.com/articles/digital_cinema/infocus/heartache.php

quote:
The concept of a 'backup projector' may have different meaning to those involved. Typically, one thinks of a backup as a means to overcome failure of equipment. But in this case the 'backup' often is the primary system, as not all movies are released in a digital format. Unfortunately, Mr. Jones didn't seem to be aware of this. There were some important issues that Company X may have glossed over, as well. Mr. Jones was being sold a system incorporating a new digital cinema format, upping the figure to three competing digital prototype systems in the marketplace. While Episode II would support all three, it is costly to do. It remained to be seen how support for the three systems would be managed by the major studios in future digital releases. Even though there are a number of digital releases scheduled, they could be divided among the various digital formats to keep costs down. There are many places to point the finger, but in the end, none of this fared well for Mr. Jones. His one digital screen, installed without a 35mm projector as backup, is about to go dark. When I spoke with Mr. Jones, he had no idea which, if any, digital movie would next be released for his system. But he knew one thing: his payments for the system were still due.