Five Austin Movie Theaters that Make You Love Film

Austin is well known for its movie scene, and it is the theaters here that are the root of this particular fascination. Here are five reasons Austinites love their movies so much.

Alamo Drafthouse
Admission: $8.50
Matinee, Student and Austin Film Society discounts.

The Alamo Drafthouse is one of the most envied movie houses in the country, and for good reason. The Alamo offers a wide variety of restaurant quality food, from pizzas, to sandwiches, to appetizers, as well as adult beverages such as beer and even wine. Want to sip a strawberry milkshake while watching There Will Be Blood? No problem. Even better, all this is brought to you. Unlike a normal movie theater, in front of every row is a small table, a menu, and a small sheet of paper. The movie watcher simply looks at the menu, writes what they want on the sheet of paper, and sticks it in the holder in front of them. Eventually a waiter will pick up the order and bring the food to you.

Before the show, instead of the usual commercials and ads, they show material related to the movie. For example, before the X-Men movies they might show an episode of the mid 90's X-Men cartoon, or before Slumdog Millionaire they might show clips from a Bollywood musical. They also have restricted admission for R rated movies, meaning you probably won't run in to babies crying or ten year olds kicking your seat in the middle of Pulp Fiction.

Alamo Drafthouse Ritz
Admission: $8.50
Student and Austin Film Society discounts.

While most of the Alamo Drafthouse branches show new releases, the downtown branch, which is considered the "original" even if it has changed buildings, is different. This is where most of the cult movies, special programs, or other unique shows take place. It is here where you can see how much the founders love movies. They hold shows like Weird Wednesdays, where they show exploitation films, Master Pancake Theater, which is like a live version of Mystery Science Theater, and sing-alongs where the audience is encouraged to sing along with classic musicals.

Regal 8
Admission: $9.00
Matinee, Student, Child, and Senior discounts.

The Regal 8 doesn't have nearly the frills that the Alamo Drafthouse does, but they do tend to be a great place to see new, independent and foreign films. This is where you see those obscure Oscar nominees before they become Oscar nominees, and where films that get a limited release tend to land. It is a straightforward place to catch some great movies. Also, they often have free mini posters for movies on the table inside for customers.

Paramount
Admission: $8.00
Group, 10 ticket package, and Advance Online Purchase discounts.

The Paramount is the oldest, and grandest, theater in Austin. It can seat over 1000 people and has much of the ornate decoration and luxury from classic early century theaters. There is an old fashioned marquee on the outside, and it is the easy choice for movies premiering in Austin. Inside there is a large balcony extending above the first level and smaller box seats to the sides.

In the summer the Paramount hosts a classic film series, where they show prints of classic films on the big screen, often times rare or not often seen anymore. For instance they usually show Casablanca and Gone with the Wind, as well as Lawrence of Arabia in 70mm. The lineup shifts around every year, so there is always something new to rediscover.

Dobie
Admission: $8.00
Matinee, Austin Film Society, Student, Child, and Senior discounts.

Dobie is the closest theater to the University of Texas campus and shows a mix of new and independent films. It is a relatively small theater and the halls themselves could be best described as "intimate." However it is in walking distance for a great number of students, has a variety of eating options just outside the theater, and occasionally shows things not found anywhere else in Austin. This is where Richard Linklater's first film, Slacker, played for several weeks before gaining attention and nationwide distribution.