From $1 movies to free popcorn: The Bay Area's best movie deals
That's because the start of the pandemic is now five years in the past, practically a distant memory these days. And productions that were halted during the writers' and actors' strikes of 2023 have been completed, leading to a wealth of films in the release pipeline such as ' Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,' 'Jurassic World Rebirth' and 'Superman.'
All systems are go, and Bay Area theaters aren't taking any chances. From $1 movies to free popcorn, they're doing anything to lure film fans back to the cinema. Many offer steep discounted tickets on Tuesdays.
Elsewhere, a diverse programming slate has led San Francisco's arthouse treasure Roxie Theater to be on pace to exceed its 2019 ticket sales, the last prepandemic year. Hits have included the Oscar-winning Israeli-Palestinian documentary ' No Other Land ' and horror master David Cronenberg 's ' The Shrouds.' There's even a 40th-anniversary 4K restoration of Akira Kurosawa's 'Ran' that opens Friday, May 23.
The California Film Institute 's Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley is offering $1 classics this weekend — audience favorites such as 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981), the French charmer ' Amelie ' (2001) and Wes Anderson's ' Moonrise Kingdom ' (2012) — to celebrate the one-year anniversary since it reopened after a renovation.
The following are some of the best deals in the Bay Area.
Pro tip: Most deals offered by multiplexes require monthly memberships. Independent theaters tend to have lower base ticket prices, and their perks can further reduce an already comparatively budget friendly night out.
Multiplexes
AMC Theatres: The world's largest theater chain, already slashing tickets by 50% on Tuesdays, will add Wednesdays beginning July 9. The deal is available to all AMC Stubs members, including the free Insider tier. The highest tier, A-List, is $27.99 for up to four movies every week and a host of other perks. amctheatres.com
Cinemark's Century Cinemas: The Bay Area's most prolific chain offers ticket discounts of up to 50%, even for nonmembers of its Movie Rewards program (though members get extra perks). cinemark.com
Alamo Drafthouse: The dinner and a movie chain might have the best monthly membership in the country: For $29.99 a month, you can see a movie a day. It pays for itself after two movies. The chain's New Mission theater in San Francisco has been open for 10 years; new theaters in Mountain View and Santa Clara open next month. drafthouse.com
Independent theaters
San Francisco
Roxie Theater: The Mission District treasure offers steep discounts for students and EBT/SNAP card holders, and relaunches its Roxie Kids series this summer, with children getting in for $5. roxie.com
East Bay
Grand Lake Theatre: The Oakland movie palace offers $6 tickets all day Tuesday and $7.50 daily matinees — and that includes 70mm and 3D presentations. Also: no commercials. 'I have always believed that it cheapens the experience of going to a theater,' owner Allen Michaan said. renaissancerialto.com
Alameda Theatre and Cineplex: In addition to $6 Tuesdays, the Art Deco venue built in 1932, which also has live events at its Cinema Grill, is bringing back its Kids Summer Series on Wednesdays beginning June 11. alamedatheatres.com
The Chabot: The 75-year-old Castro Valley gem is the only independent, single-screen theater offering first-run films within the East Bay. It has $6 Tuesdays and often offers a free popcorn or drink size upgrade for guests who come dressed in theme with the movie. For example, if ticket buyers wear floral prints to screenings of 'Lilo & Stitch' during its run beginning Thursday, May 22, a medium popcorn becomes a large, and the normal free refills for large popcorns apply. thechabot.com
North Bay
Lark Theater: The single-screen Larkspur Art Deco venue has among the most interesting programming in the Bay Area, with an eclectic mix of first-run and classic cinema. The first movie of each day as well as Friday and Saturday late-night classics are $7 per ticket and includes free popcorn. larktheater.net
South Bay/Peninsula
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
6 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Sterling K Brown Chooses Black Women As Love Interests
Sterling K. Brown knows the importance of representation. In an interview with Refinery29, the Emmy-winning star spoke candidly about regularly having Black women play his love interests — a decision he says is very intentional. Sterling has appeared in over 70 TV and movie projects — and often with a Black love interest by his side — whether that's Susan Kelechi Watson in This Is Us or Teri Rogers-Collins in Paradise. When asked whether he makes those casting decisions "consciously," Sterling confirmed he does. "I'm aware of the sort of Eurocentric standards of beauty that tend to predominate media," he explained. "Light-skin oftentimes is seen as more beautiful than dark-skin, etc. and Brown wants to be someone that sort of shows all of the beauty that is Blackness, right?" He continued, "Brown don't discriminate, to be perfectly honest with you. I understand the power of representation and how often Black women seem to feel unseen by Black men, in particular. And there's so many sisters that are waiting for brothers to be like, 'Hey, man, I'm here for you and whatnot.' And brothers sometimes don't tend to see them." Sterling, who's married IRL to fellow actor Ryan Michelle Bathe, said he's hoping to change that narrative through his casting choices. "I want them to know that SKB sees them," he explained, "and hopefully in the people that he chooses to be paired with onscreen or whatnot, there's an appreciation for them and that they know that they are as beautiful as I know they are." Sterling's comments were met with widespread praise online, with many commending him for using his platform to uplift Black women in such an intentional way. One person wrote, "Well, ok Sterling flips hair over shoulder." Another said in part, "Yes , thank you ! good for himWay too often , its a light skin if not white love interest in tv and movies." Another comment read, "Love him he makes a great point, I think the first time I saw a dark skinned black woman treated as a beauty was the original Vivian in fresh prince, she was stunning." Someone else said, "Ok. I'm in love." "Truly appreciate this from Sterling, representations matters," a fifth fan said, as someone else gushed, "He's perfect." Yes, Sterling!! Now, BRB — I'm going to stream Paradise and This Is Us all over again.
UPI
7 hours ago
- UPI
'Fantastic Four' tops North American box office with $40M
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Pedro Pascal's Fantastic Four: First Steps is the No. 1 movie in North America again, earning an additional $40 million in receipts in its second weekend, announced Sunday. Coming in at No. 2 is The Bad Guys 2 with $22.2 million, followed by The Naked Gun at No. 3 with $17 million, Superman at No. 4 at $13.9 million and Jurassic World: Rebirth at No. 5 with $8.7 million. Rounding out the top tier are Together with $6.8 million, F1 at No. 7 with $4.1 million, I Know What You Did Last Summer at No. 8 with $2.7 million, Smurfs at No. 9 with $1.8 million and How to Train Your Dragon at No. 10 with $1.4 million. David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan attend 'Superman' premiere
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Box Office: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth' Surpasses $750 Million, ‘F1' Becomes Brad Pitt's Highest-Grossing Movie Ever
'Jurassic World Rebirth' keeps roaring at the box office with ticket sales clearing the $750 million milestone over the weekend. Universal's dinosaur tentpole, which rebooted the pre-historic series with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali at the helm, has grossed $766 million globally after five weekends of release. It's one of three Hollywood films this year — Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' ($1 billion) and Warner Bros. 'A Minecraft Movie' ($955 million) are the other two — to clear the $750 million mark so far. International audiences have been particularly enthusiastic, with overseas revenues contributing a massive $448 million to the total bounty. United Kingdom and Ireland ($42 million), Mexico ($34 million) and Germany ($28 million) rank as the top-earning territories. Those are mighty returns, however the latest 'Jurassic' has to keep climbing to near the heights of the prior sequel trilogy led by Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, each of which grossed $1 billion globally. More from Variety 'Jurassic World Rebirth' Roars to the Top as U.K.-Ireland July Box Office Climbs 3% 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Lands No. 1 Spot at U.K., Ireland Box Office as 'Saiyaara' Climbs the Chart Korea Box Office: 'Omniscient Reader' Debuts at No. 1, 'Fantastic Four' Bows in Third 'F1' is also staying strong at the box office, surpassing $545 million globally in its sixth lap around the track. With those ticket sales, the racing drama now stands as Brad Pitt's highest-grossing film in history, overtaking the haul of 2013's 'World War Z' ($540 million, not adjusted for inflation). 'F1' had long ago overtaken Martin Scorsese's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' ($158 million worldwide) and Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' ($221 million) as Apple's largest theatrical film ever. 'Superman' also crossed a notable milestone with $550 million globally, a haul that includes $235 million overseas and $316 million domestically after four weekends. The Warner Bros. and DC comic book adventure has been underperforming at the international box office, at least compared to North America, which has accounted for nearly 60% of returns. (It's usually the inverse for all-audience tentpoles.) So far, the biggest markets have been the U.K. with $32 million, Mexico with $21.8 million and Brazil with $15 million. Meanwhile Disney and Marvel's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' remained atop international charts with $39.6 million from 52 territories in its second weekend of release, declining 58% from its debut. So far, the superhero adaptation has grossed $368.7 million worldwide, including $170.3 million internationally and $198.4 million in North America. Overseas, the biggest territories are U.K. ($20.5 million), Mexico ($20.4 million) and France ($10.2 million). In terms of newcomers, Universal and DreamWorks Animation's heist comedy 'The Bad Guys 2' landed with $16.3 million from 58 territories. Those ticket sales are slightly ahead of 2022's 'The Bad Guys' in terms of like-for-like markets. Domestically, the sequel debuted to $22.8 million for a global start of $44.5 million. Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson lead the voice cast of 'The Bad Guys 2,' which carries an $80 million price tag and follows the newly reformed baddies as they emerge from retirement to perform one last heist. Another new release, Paramount's 'The Naked Gun' reboot, collected $11.5 million from 46 markets in its opening weekend. The film, starring Liam Neeson as bumbling police detective and Pamela Anderson as his unlikely accomplice, opened to $17 million in North America, bringing its worldwide tally to $28.5 million.
