The AMC Van Ness 14 Theater in San Francisco, California: A Review

The AMC Van Ness 14 theater was once in its life a swanky hotel and ballroom, then it became a car dealership, and now it is a three-floor movie theater on Van Ness between the Tenderloin and Western Addition. Despite being between two of the biggest scumholes in San Francisco, there's some "upscale" hotels and clubs nearby on Van Ness, so they charge pretty high ticket prices. Regular ticket prices for adults are $10.75, but matinees are $8. A tip for getting a break on this or any other AMC theater with high priced tickets is to get a five pack at Costco for forty bucks, which breaks down to eight bucks each. Students can also get a discount on regular admission by showing their student IDs.

Extraneous costs at this theater are pretty bad. Street parking nearby is rare to find, and you probably don't want to leave the car in the Tenderloin or Western Addition on the street after dark. The building has a garage, but it charges eight dollars. Concessions are also pretty high - expect to pay about ten bucks for a soda and a small popcorn or a hot dog. So when all is said and done, if you pay regular price for a ticket here, with a snack and a drink and parking, they can soak you for thirty bucks or more for a night out at the movies! The theater is a doable walk from the Civic Center BART/MUNI station, or you can take the 47 or 49 bus up from Market Street to take advantage of public transportation.

The quality of the theater is OK. The screens are of a decent size, not huge, but adequate for sitting in the back row. There's enough seats per theater to keep it from getting cramped in all but the most popular releases in their first weekend. They seem to keep it reasonably clean, at least on my visits. No sticky floors, used gum wads. The crowd is OK, there's always gonna be some jerks, but most of the teenage texting and gangsta crowd gets drawn off to the Westfield and Metreon theaters leaving this one mostly for mostly respectful grown-ups.

All in all it isn't bad, but pricey. The AMC Kabuki on Geary is a little nicer, not all that far away, and a little cheaper. This one is alright for once in a while if it's convenient, but I wouldn't travel any great distance to see anything at it. If you do decide to hit up this or another AMC, be sure to sign up for their rewards program at their website, after a few movies you can get free tickets. Might as well get something for what they are charging these days.

AMC Van Ness 14
1000 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA 94109
(888) 262-4386
www.amctheatres.com