Spectacle is a 35-seat microcinema in Brooklyn that’s run by cinema-lovers. It shows overlooked works and offbeat gems, contemporary art, radical polemics and more.
Founded in 2016, Metrograph is a newer New York City independent theater that’s already well-known for eclectic programming. This LES venue also features a bar, bookstore and candy shop, making it the ultimate destination for movie night.
Angelika Film Center
In the heart of New York City’s SoHo district, the Angelika Film Center is a sophisticated independent theater. It offers an impressive and diverse mix of foreign films and is a favorite destination for filmmakers and film lovers alike. In addition, it has a gourmet cafe and offers a wide selection of wines and beers. Its ScreenSaver tickets are a great way to save money on general admission ticket prices.
The theater is easily accessible by bus, subway, train, and bike. You can also park your car at a nearby parking garage. The 156 Crosby Street garage is safe, offers premium features like contactless parking, and is only a short walk from the theater. The parking rates start at $3 per hour.
Whether you’re in the mood for the latest Michael Bay robo-straganza, a Bruce Willis crash-fest, or Pixar’s cast of talking animals in 3D, Angelika has it all. The theater is also known for its extensive film festival selections from Sundance to Venice. It also has an excellent cafe with a nice selection of coffees, sandwiches, and desserts.
This movie theater is a bit pricier than the usual megaplexes but offers many more choices and a clean, comfortable theater. The only downside is that you can hear the rumble of a subway train underneath during screenings, but that’s a minor inconvenience.
If you want to see the latest movies in the comfort of your own home, you can get a membership at the Angelika Film Center. The program rewards you with points for every dollar you spend at the theater or on its website, app, and food. You can use your points to purchase discounted tickets, merchandise, and other rewards.
Film Forum
Film Forum, located at 209 West Houston Street in Greenwich Village, is the only autonomous nonprofit movie theater in New York City and one of very few remaining in the country. It began in 1970 as an alternative screening space with 50 folding chairs, a single projector and an $19,000 annual budget. Today, the theater is known for its diverse programming of foreign and American classics, festival finds and family-friendly fare.
The theater also features an excellent collection of rare 35mm prints, many restored to high resolution, bringing the experience of watching old movies to a whole new level. The staff also travels to film festivals around the world in order to identify the best new films to preview and program.
In addition to its core mission of preserving, growing and enriching the art of film, Film Forum is committed to supporting filmmakers. Its Artist Services program includes fiscal sponsorship, a filmmakers’ edit lab, and dozens of workshops and mentorship opportunities throughout the year.
The Brooklyn cinema features the blockbuster hits that everyone is talking about, as well as cult classics and foreign films. It also offers a variety of food and drink options, including snacks, wine, beer, and soft serve ice cream.
If you’re planning to visit the theatre, be sure to use Moovit to get there easily. Over 1.5 million users in Manhattan and elsewhere trust Moovit’s all-in-one transit app to find the fastest routes, lowest costs and the shortest walk time. With Moovit, you can even see if there’s an earlier bus or train that will get you to your destination in the same amount of time. Moovit’s free and easy to use, so download it now and start traveling stress-free.
Anthology Film Archives
Anthology Film Archives is a non-profit organization that preserves, presents, and promotes independent and avant-garde cinema. It is located in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan. The theater hosts numerous public screenings and events, as well as research access to its library stacks and collection vaults. Researchers are required to make an appointment prior to visiting Anthology’s archives.
Anthology was founded in 1970 by Jonas Mekas and the filmmakers Jerome Hill, P. Adams Sitney, and Peter Kubelka. Its original conception was a showcase for the Essential Cinema repertory collection, an ambitious attempt to define film as art. Over the years, it has grown far beyond its initial concept to include film and video preservation; the formation of a reference library containing the world’s largest collection of books, periodicals, stills, and other paper materials related to avant-garde cinema; publishing and scholarly work; and a remarkably innovative and eclectic film exhibition program.
The theater has two movie theaters, a paper materials library, a film preservation department, offices, and a gallery. Its programs are designed to encourage the study of cinema as an art form and serve a broad range of audiences. The programming falls into several key categories: essential cinema, premieres and revivals, retrospectives and series, AFA preservations, and other special or unique performances and screenings.
AFA has been in the process of restoring and renovating its century-old courthouse building. The renovations will expand its gallery and event space, and improve its public areas and research facilities. The restoration also includes a street-level cafe that will serve both the film-going public and visitors to Anthology’s collections, as well as generate income to offset the costs of maintaining its library and exhibition spaces.
Paris Theater
The Paris Theater is a gem in New York’s film scene. The theater is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, across from the Plaza Hotel and close to Central Park. It features a plain Art Moderne exterior and a luxurious, elegant auditorium with seating for 421 on the main floor and 150 in the balcony. It is one of the few remaining single-screen movie theaters in the city. It is also home to the Film Forum, a non-profit independent film center that hosts a variety of screenings and events.
The movie theater was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it reopened this week with a series of limited engagements, including Radha Blank’s “The Forty-Year-Old Version.” The Paris will continue to host screenings, special events and retrospectives of past films.
For decades, the Paris was a haven for foreign-language films. It became the first theater in the country to show Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The theater was known for its high-quality projection and sound, as well as its excellent service.
In the current era of multi-screen multiplexes, it is more difficult than ever for a single-screen theater to survive. The Paris’s longevity is a testament to its quality and reputation. Its reopening this week is a welcome return to the days when ambitious films could be seen in a unique space designed for viewing them.
Whether or not Netflix chooses to maintain the Paris as an important year-round cinematic institution remains to be seen. The streaming giant needs a theatrical presence to ensure top titles get reviews and for awards season marketing, but it’s unlikely that it will want to own the theaters where it shows movies.
Metrograph
Located on the Lower East Side, the Metrograph was founded in 2016 by tie designer and cinephile Alexander Olch. It combines the features of a theater, lounge, restaurant, bookstore, and candy store into one sleek art deco space. Its two theaters—an orchestra-level screening room and a balcony-level space—project both archival quality 35mm and state-of-the-art digital. It is also equipped with a concession stand that includes cacio e pepe popcorn, lychee gummies, Pocky sticks, and organic pistachios, all lined up in neat rows. Metrograph is a must-visit for anyone who loves the movies.
In addition to its two theaters, the cinema offers a series of special premieres and events, including filmmaker Q&As. Since its launch, the theater has welcomed a host of renowned guests, such as Martin Scorsese for Showtime’s Personality Crisis: One Night Only, Ari Aster for A24’s Beau Is Afraid, and Willem Dafoe for Focus Features’ Inside. The theater has also recently launched its distribution arm, Metrograph Pictures, with notable titles including the 4K restoration of Possession and the SXSW breakout Sisters With Transistors.
The venue’s membership program costs $5 a month or $50 annually, and members gain access to streaming content and exclusive merchandise. In addition, they receive benefits at the theater, such as $10 movie tickets and discounts on food and beverages. Memberships can be purchased online or at the theater.
