VERY DISAPPOINTING -- NOT WORTH THE PRICE I haven't been to this theater in over a decade, and after this visit, I honestly don't see myself rushing back. From the moment my son and I arrived, the theater gave the impression that it was severely neglected and almost abandoned. The downstairs area was extremely dark with barely any lighting, one of the escalators was broken, and there was someone loitering in the hallway eating a meal. There was no security and very little staff presence, and no one even approached or greeted us. I had to walk up and initiate the interaction myself. The staff members were friendly once I approached them, but the overall service and experience were still disappointing. Not all of the food was ready, and we had to wait. I also wanted a sauce for my son's fries and was shocked that it was $1 PER SAUCE, before tax. At these prices, that feels excessive. I still purchased 4 and wasn't able to use cash either. The food was another major disappointment. My pizza took an additional 10 minutes to prepare, and when I finally received it, it tasted stale and had a strong freezer-burned taste. It honestly tasted like the pizza had been sitting exposed in a freezer before being prepared. The food did not taste fresh at all. The popcorn wasn't fresh either . The theater itself is large, but the seats were extremely small and appeared dirty and unclean. The entire facility felt outdated and poorly maintained. More importantly, there was such limited staff presence that I did not feel comfortable knowing there wasn't anyone readily available if a guest needed assistance or if an incident occurred. I actually had a minor situation with a woman in the bathroom who bumped into me and then had an attitude when I came out of the theater. What bothered me was that there was virtually no staff around if I had needed assistance. That should not be the case in a movie theater, especially one this large. And here's the biggest issue: we went on a discounted day and STILL spent almost $100. Almost. $100. For that amount of money, I expect a clean, well-maintained facility, comfortable and sanitary seating, fresh food, adequate staffing, and an overall experience where I feel safe and taken care of as a customer. Unfortunately, we received none of that. A discounted ticket price doesn't make it a good deal when the overall experience is this poor. This location desperately needs improvements in cleanliness, maintenance, staffing, food quality, seating, lighting, and overall guest safety. The theater has the size and potential to be a great location, but right now, it is simply not up to par and absolutely was NOT worth nearly $100. I left feeling like I spent almost $100 to be uncomfortable, disappointed, and wondering why this location has been allowed to deteriorate this badly. Management really needs to take a serious look at this location. read more

I love this theater because it's so important for Black communities to have a place to watch movies in our own neighborhood, which is honestly rare. It's iconic and has been part of Harlem since the 90s, and the untouched, old school feel adds to the charm. The staff is always super friendly, which I appreciate. Only real downside is it's not the cleanest, probably because it stays busy. I do wish they had a bar. I ordered food early once and they had it ready with no issue, which I loved. read more

AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 - Outside - Cinema Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I took my grandsons to see Zootopia2 at AMC Magic Johnson Harlem Theater. I had coupons for me and their mom. When arrived the building elevator was out of service so managing the escalator with a stroller was tricky We brought our own snacks inside. Our AMC coupons were not honored by the cashier services, we were given an email instead. Inside the theater was clean, we saw an early show. I would recommend this theater. I would like to see the Marquis display what movies & times. Other AMC list the movies. The entrance is not welcoming. read more

See all

I enjoyed my time at the movie premiere I attended. It was my first time at the Magic Johnson theater, and my impression was... well, I know it was pretty late--I arrived around 7 o'clock for the premiere--but the place was quite empty. Maybe it had something to do with the type of movies playing at the time; it's mid-January, right after the Golden Globes, but still, it felt really empty for such a spacious venue. My specific viewing, though, was packed. It was a great premiere for this movie, which featured Freddie Gibbs and RJ Cyler. It was a fun night. The sound quality was excellent, and there were custodians/staff present throughout. It's super convenient to the A, C, and D trains, and if you're in the mood for alternative snacks, there's a CVS, Burger King, Chipotle, and Pizza Hut nearby. read more

See all

The kiosks downstairs were not working. They only sell tickets at the concession stand so you have to wait in line even if you don't want popcorn but just want tickets. We went up and down the stairs twice trying to get tickets. I used to love coming to this theater because it was close to my house, but sadly it is showing signs of disrepair, like a toy that was once loved that is now lost at the bottom of a forgotten toy box in a leaky basement, slowly decaying and growing mildew. read more

The bathrooms are old & filthy. There is a bad smell because of old stsined carpets. The chairs don't recline! And where is the staff? You gotta hire people to do the work. Not worth the miney! read more

The magic needs a serious upgrade to get tickets if you walk in you get to get on the food line not good well I guess so you can get food and tickets at the same time. read more

Came here for a movie. It's not a bustling theater but it workd for me. The floors were a tad sticky forthe first movie ofthe day.

Needs an update!! The seats are not laid back , but if you are going just to watch a movie. The theater will do the job, just fine. read more

It's a fine movie theater, but I came in for a 10:30 showing and when I walked up to the register to order popcorn they said they didn't have any. I get that this was the last showing of the night and everything, but I feel like half the movie-going experience today, especially in the day and age of streaming, is getting the popcorn. So I guess if you're coming to a late showing, order your popcorn ahead so they don't close down their machine before you get there. read more

The atmosphere is giving all of the history ofBlack Entertainers with colorful history of Blacks in Films The assortment of menu from candies popcorn /chicken tenders/flatbread pizza/mozzarella sticks/ churros all favorite things of movie theatre plus beverages ranging from bottled water to assorted wines and beer. Something for everyone taste bud. Everyone from the cashiers to ticket takes very friendly and helpful.. restrooms are very clean well maintained read more

See all

I live uptown and I'm glad there's a theatre up here. I don't know where else I would go. I usually have a good time. Food is good enough. They move things along from ticket to seat so you don't really have to wait around much. The escalators don't always work though. It's pretty clean. Definitely grateful to have a movie theatre uptown. read more

The seats are trash.escalator always broken Why don't the seats recline food expensive as hell. read more

Dirty, stale popcorn. Theater needs an upgraded. Why haven't they upgraded to the recliner seats.. and please clean the seats.. there shouldn't be butter on the arm rest. read more

It a lovely movie theatre l was able to take my granddaughter to the movies as I haven't seen her in quite some time I hadn't been to the movies since last year. It seems that the seats have been changed cause I remember being able to recline but that didn't happen. When we got there there was no one in the theatre so about 5 minutes before the show started a few more people came in. The movie was great. The bathrooms are clean. The place is clean. The staff is friendly and it's a nice place to spend a hot afternoon They have a coupon that you get when you buy your tickets. It gives you a$5.00 package that's a drink and popcorn and for $5 bucks. That's great for kids. I don't eat popcorn so I didn't get any but I had 2 pieces from my granddaughters cup. I added photos read more

Upon walking into the building the heat was on full blast...it was very uncomfortable seeing how chilly it was outside. Ordered tickets online so didn't have to wait in the line where there was only one person working. Took the escalators up to the third floor and entered the lobby. Easy getting refreshments before the show and went to the theater. Our seats were the row down after walking in with the seats on the end. Bad choice as there was constant people coming in and out. So many interruptions throughout the movie from people talking, sneezing, phone alarm going off, commentary from the guy next to us, full blown cell phone conversation and snoring. Needless to say didn't make the movie experience as I remember. Haven't experienced something like this since HS and even then I don't recall it being this bad. This will be a last choice theater. read more

Aside from the food staff carrying more about their phone n just having one cashier everything else is all good, Nothing more to say. read more

AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 - Me my wife n kid - Cinema Near Me - New York, New York

I'm truly satisfied with the improvements that this theater has made. The new seats are far superior from what they used to be. I find myself visiting this particular theater, more and more often compared to other AMC throughout the city the price of this Theatre is decent. It seems that movie tickets seem to just be headed in one direction and that's up. read more

AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 - Cinema Near Me - New York, New York

It's nice here, but on new movies coming out, they should have more staff working at the concession stand. I waited half an hour, with over 30 people on line and only two cashiers. This is not about a bad comment, it's about making sure there's coverage for the customers. read more

AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 - Came to see Super Mario Bros. - Cinema Near Me - New York, New York

The popcorn is often stale, cold and chewy. Really brings down the movie experience when the concessions aren't right.

I've been going to this theater for years, but i havenr been there for a long time. I love the location, but since the last time i was there a year or two ago, the place felt dirty. it needs a deep cleaning and better facilities management .It's a great space, but it smelled musty. I used the bathroom and it smelled as if it had been mopped with dirty mop water. Some of the soap dispensers were not attached to the walls. the carpet in the main hallways were full of popcorn bits. Also, the overall air quality felt dank, like HVAC system needed some maintenance. Even while in the theater, cigarette smoke was faintly coming through the vents. The film and sound system was excellent. But this is really a facilities management issue. they need to raise the standards. I noticed that they use oil paint in the hallways. I'm not sure if this was always the case, but it looks tacky. They need to shut dowh the theater for a week and do a deep steam cleaning and disinfecting session. Also the ceilings in the atrium ar looking worn. I hope someone in charge reads this. Under Magic Johnson's ownership this theater used to shine and be a source of pride. please try and bring it back to it's original glory. read more

Not sure why the reviews are so bad, every time I come here service is great, theater is clean and spacious, and food option are great. Maybe going here on a popular night can ruin an experience but that's any theater tbh. This is my preferred theater in the city. read more

Is it me, or is this theater going downhill with its upkeep? I like the fact that this theater will show movies targeting Blacks and Latinx; however, better efforts have to be made in keeping this place clean. In recent months that I've been here, there always is trash, popcorn, and random things all over the place. I know some of this falls on the customers who do not like to clean after themselves and general riff-raff mentality. Just a word of advice, do not use the bathroom unless you absolutely have to. During my last visit, which took place on a nice Saturday afternoon, there were ONLY two people working concessions. I swear it took about 30 - 35 minutes just to get snacks. Kind of weird considering that our movie was only 1.5 hours. Also, there was an African film festival that was taking place in the theater so it strange that no one thought to have more staff present to handle the extra crowds. Perhaps, some of the workers called out. Unfortunately, I do not see this place improving that much because it's the only movie theater in the area. Honestly, I only come here if I do not feel like going to the UWS/UES (or further south) to see a movie. read more

This theater is pretty good by AMC and NYC theater standards (which doesn't say much unfortunately). The major advantage of this place is the relatively cheap tickets (only $11 compared to the standard $14+ now). Once you get your tickets and proceed to the upper levels, you see that the theater is pretty huge. The concession stand and arcade area is very large, with creepy paintings of Magic Johnson and other black luminaries looking down on the waiting area. Service was standard bang-your-head-against-the-wall-slow, but not as bad as a lot of the other AMCs in the city (I'm looking at you Lincoln Square). The screens themselves are fine, with nice, spacious theaters and stadium seating. If ever I am in the Harlem area for some reason, this theater is a perfectly good choice for killing a few hours. read more

See all

The worst movie theater I've ever Been to I waited in the line for a hour for food read more

I'm starting to see alot of changes since I accidentally purchase tickets here. I found out they have a Dolby theater which is awesome!! I noticed they change the seats but they are not recliners :(. But it's still better than what they had before!! Hopefully, things don't get ruin and stay like this. Great job AMC!!! Hooefully, one day they will get recliners at this theater!!! read more

See all

If the idea of bed bugs start to overcome you when you first walk in...just know you're not alone. What to do on a rainy day? Meet up with friends and bring the kids in to the local movie theatre to watch a flick, you say...Order some delicious popcorn, you say...get comfy in the seats (it's 2018 movie theaters have come along way) you say....but u forgot to mention how the stench of the dirty carpets over power the smell of popping corn, the unwashed and unkept bathrooms where i promise the smell of homeless bathing in the sink is a guarantee...the upside is they have a no guns allowed sticker on the front door...super reassuring Incase you had safety concerns. For $20 a ticket and $20 at concession, do yourself a favor and have a Netflix and chill kinda night. read more

This movie theatre has declined over the years and now its in need of some repair. The last time I visited this place it appeared to need cleaning in general. The staff is not always helpful and sometimes can be rude. On the weekends it can get very crowded and noisy so watching a movie can be annoying at times. However, it is very close to all forms of transportation and if you drive parking may not be that easy. read more

This theatre is really nothing to get excited over. The best features are that quite often people expect the worst of Harlem and so it doesn't get as packed as it could, and that it is Uptown. It shows most movies, although they could feature more variety to compete with places downtown. The seats recline a bit, you can reserve seats online, and if you are a premium AMC member there is an expedited concessions line. The people who work here are pretty nice and looking to create an enjoyable movie experience. The bathrooms are usually a hot mess after the 2pm movies They dont have caramel corn (sad face) but they have lots of popcorn, candy, soda, nachos etc like your average theatre. I'm not much of a movie goer but this place sees my coin when I'm in no mood to head downtown. read more

As a person who spent a lot of their youth in Harlem , the Magic Johnson theater is nostalgic for me. I go there knowing full well that I'm not going to get the same experience that I get when I'm downtown. In fact there are some movies that I prefer to see at Magic Johnson because I want to hear the reactions of the audience and feel more at home while watching a movie. This is the only reason this theater gets two stars. Some of the staff are irritated and have an attitude. And the bathrooms are terrible. Black bags are placed over malfunctioning toilet seats and you can smell urine from the entrance of the bathroom. This movie theater was big deal when it opened up initially. It has pictures of black actors, actresses and artists all over the walls as well as a mural with black and brown kids. It's he ONLY theater that looks like this. It's unfortunate that it's kept in such poor condition. Especially since people obviously still want to support it. read more

I come here because it's the closest Theater by my house and I needed the late show. But I always beat myself up when I come here because it's always something going on in this movie theater . I should've went to 84th in Broadway . So we get to Magic Johnson and they are not serving nothing hot the popcorn was stale , where you get your drinks at was dirty in disgusting I was actually scared to get something to drink. And I understand that it's not the workers it's usually the customers who make the mess but there should be enough employees to keep everything clean. We went to see NOPE and that a whole other review .. read more

Pros: Kinda comfy seats Cons: The line for tickets was out the door on a TUESDAY night and the line for popcorn was the same. We finally get into our 7 PM movie at 7:20 thinking the movie would have already started but the previews lasted 30 min (I don't go to the movies often but definitely seemed longer than usual). Not sure if its the long lines outside but people were also pouring into the theatre at 7:45. Seriously, who's showing up to the movies 45 min late lol. And then they have their reserved seating which means everyone that's coming in late in the dark theater has to turn on their phone flashlight to find their seat. But their phones didn't stop there. SO MANY people were on their phones THE ENTIRE MOVIE which was super distracting. This dude in front of me was literally live snapping The Joker for an hour. For $14/ticket on a WEEKNIGHT I was appalled. read more

The Woman King was everything! Great experience here again. Staff gave top notch service as usual:) Popcorn and nachos were served fresh and quickly. I had a great time! read more

I have such a love/hate relationship with this theater. I love that it's wonderfully located in the heart of Harlem and easily accessible. What I hate is how the quality of the place has deteriorated through the years. They have all the latest movies and lots of showings. Finally they fixed and updated their online ticketing machines (now conveniently located upstairs). Here is my number one pet peeve about this place is that it smells so bad in the theaters themselves. Today Jan. 6th the theater smelled like a fresh aroma of child urine mixed with the scent of a Senior Citizens living facility. I do appreciate the new layout which is more expansive and gives a lovely view of 125th street. read more

AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 - Cinema Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Dirty as Hell. Really sad . Come on why cant the theatre be checked and cleaned between showings? Laziness .com. smh. Try and support community business and this is what you get. Dirty throw up looking stuff on the seat. Filthy read more

AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 - Nasty Seat - Cinema Near Me - New York, New York

This movie theater is a hit or miss to be honest. It depends on which theater you're sitting in, who's working, etc. It's not the worst theater in the city, it's average -- they have good audio, visual, and seats, and they play all the new and recent movies, I just wish their food was better and there was some level of management that keeps the theater more than average. read more

Very pro African Americans theater air most black films and blockbusters. Unfortunately the lack of movie etiquette is prevalent. You'll find people on their phone while the movie is playing. Ppl will answer calls, surf their phones, keep their phone on the brightest setting. People are taking non stop in the theater and just down right willing to do anything to keep you from having a good experience. The theater is so dirty. It's doesn't appear that the theater is cleaned between movies. Large Popcorn is $16. Yes $16! The food is mad expensive. So eat before you come. Wonder the last time Magic has walked through his theater.... Sad experience read more

I don't even know where to begin. The customer service is poor. Staff are angry, rude & don't even attempt to hide it. The bathrooms are disgusting. Stench of urine in the theaters. The fabric seats are stained. Arcade games are out of order. Beware HORRIBLE PLACE!! read more

One word - FILTHY. This theater was great when it first opened. Apparently Magic Johnson gave birth to this baby and abandoned it by the road. Now the floors are sticky and the chairs are damaged and absolutely filthy. Popcorn tastes stale too. Why go back? Well, if you want a good price and live in that area and don't want to travel, you might go, but I don't and won't until they do a massive overhaul. If you do go, I'd recommend arriving after the lights have been turned down and bring a throwaway sheet to sit on. read more

I usually come to this theatre because it is convenient since I don't live that far. I think this will be the last time I'll be coming here. Service was extremely slow and there is no organization. You would think they would have more staff considering it was opening weekend for "The Lion King" but unfortunately you get what you pay for in Harlem. read more

AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 - Previews - Cinema Near Me - New York, New York

See all