Growing up in Birmingham I never even thought about how lucky I am to have this gem in my neighborhood. This theater is wonderful! The employees are always friendly, the food is amazing and the recliners are unmatched. Recently we went to see a movie that was close to 3 hours long and it was such a comfortable enjoyable time! I asked to see the manager (Rocco) to let him know and he was genuinely pleased to hear it! You can tell that Rocco and all of the employees take great pride in their work! read more

Staff is very nice and friendly. The place is very narrow when you walk in the concession stand is at the doors. No one checked for our tickets. There was a guy by the stairs to upstairs theatres. The lobby was clean and well maintained. The bathrooms were very dirty, papers towels everywhere, the stalls floors around the toilets were wet and pooling liquid. The theatre itself the chair head rests were cracked and peeling. I didn't want to have touch my head. The chairs reclined but the seatings need to be repaired. I did like that they dropped off your concessions at your seats. They also offered real melted butter but at a $2 up charge. read more

No space between chairs. I watched a 3 hours movie with a stranger sitting almost on me!!! It's horrible! If you wanna enjoy a movie alone buy 2-3 seats... so bad read more

we bought our tickets online, then we walked through the back door then they threatened to ban us and call the cops

They should just let it close at this point. Emagine isnt investing at all in this location. It is incredibly dirty, limited options at concessions, horrible recliner seats, bad theater layout / viewing. The worst part of all was the seats. They are visibly falling apart and in need of replacement. The "leather" like material is peeling off the seats and it is gross. Best part: I get home after the movie and go to get changed. I have hundreds of tiny black specs falling off the back of my clothing and sticking to my skin... its the "leather" material from the seats. It was disgusting. Overall not a great expereince. I live in Birmingham, but will just make the drive out to a better theater next time. read more

The bartender Clare is one of my absolute favorite humans on this planet! Not only is she stunning and an absolute sweetheart with the cutest curly hair but she makes the most delicious drinks and serves them with a smile. I absolutely must come back to visit her and have another drink sometime! She is the best and deserves a raise. I LOVE CLARE!!!! read more

The Birmingham 8 theater is my absolute favorite place to watch a movie. The screens are bright and clear, the sound is just the right volume to keep it loud but not aggressive. Some of the seats could use a swap out but their placements just perfect allowing plenty of legroom.It's rare to find a theater that delivers both great entertainment and genuinely warm, personal service in a cute cozy theater but this place nails it every time! read more

Emagine continues to let theaters be run by under-aged and under-trained employees. I had three tickets to a 7:15 show, sold out. There were patrons sitting in our seats when we arrived, because nobody checks tickets, so I had to begin our evening with that uncomfortable interaction. At 7:30, the trailers hadn't started running so I went downstairs and spoke with the teenagers behind the concessions stand, who said that their supervisor was trying to get the movie to play. At 7:40, 2 minutes of commercials played, then nothing. At 8pm I went back to the service desk and asked for the manager. The kids working called her and asked her to come down. I explained to her that 45 minutes after start time was not the time to keep trying to repair something she couldn't fix and asked her to let the folks in the theater know their options. She did, and we lined up to get our refunds. If I hadn't demanded someone tell us what was going on, nothing would have been said. Some young folks left before 8 without getting a refund. It was rude to leave paying customers in the dark. I would give almost anything at this point for a well-run, properly-staffed and cleaned movie theater in our metro area. Emagine theaters seem to be leading the downward spiral faster than other chains. read more

I love a cute, local theatre and have been coming to Birmingham Theatre for years seeing smaller-release movies and/or older movies coming back for a rerun. The interior of this space is so quaint. I love the single-person-wide escalators to go up and down and just how small-theatre feeling this space has. I don't know the difference between a "theatre" and a "theater," but I know that Birmingham Threatre truly embodies that theatre over theater feeling FOR SURE! Emagine has truly done so much work in keeping theaters open in Birmingham! First, they reopened the Palladium, and now they are powering the Birmingham Theatre as well! I haven't been back to Birmingham 8 since being powered by Emagine, so I don't know what has changed since then, but I'm excited to come back to visit again because I LOVE EMAGINE and am forever thankful to them for keeping these cute doors open! Pro-tip: Park at the Peabody parking structure. There is a side entrance to Birmingham Theatre that opens up right into this parking structure essentially and is the closest and surest way to find a spot quickly, especially if you're short on time getting to your movie here! :) read more

This is one of the last remaining small main theaters I know of in the area. Still sad the RO Main Art theater closed their doors. This is a classic main theater inside, still feels cozy and old school inside. It doesn't feel as glitzy and showy as the new theaters. Smaller theaters, but that's all okay. Sometimes you want simplicity when your watching a movie and not too many in the theater isn't a bad thing. I do try to support smaller theaters since they are slowly disappearing, yet feels like home and cozy due to their smaller size. We need more smaller theaters in all downtowns. It feels odd to not see a theater in use in small towns. Becoming a thing of the past. read more

Now an Emagine property the Birmingham 8 is known as having both mainstream and also art theater movies especially with the closing of the maple. You can use nearby parking structure for 2 hours free. They serve alcoholic drinks and gourmet popcorn though it's not popped on told I'm told. There are nearby Birmingham restaurants if you want more than a snack read more

Had a bad experience tonight at Scream VI. Too many underage rude kids talking out loud through the entire movie. If the theatre isn't prepared to stop this behavior, go somewhere else where you won't be bothered by "daycare" for brats. read more

What a stunning venue! A few years ago I drove past this theatre and marveled at the beautiful marquee (I am such a sucker for a good marquee!) and told myself I'd go to this theatre one day (You know, despite the fact that it is in no way close to my house.) Years later and my wish came true! Worth the wait! Ignore the reviews stating the seating is awful. This location now has those fancy schmancy recliners that basically make you feel like you're sitting on a comfy cloud. Ticket prices are reasonable for the location ($12.50 for adults) and with the recliners and good sound system, I didn't mind paying the price. I recommend buying tickets in advance because there are only 8 theatres and seats are fairly limited. I love that the Birmingham 8 has indie films mixed in with mainstream blockbusters. Downtown Birmingham is breathtaking but if you're like me, you're constantly stressed about parallel parking in such a chaotic area. However, have no fear! There is a parking structure about a block away from the venue that offers free parking for the first 2 hours. The Birmingham 8's marquee is marvelous at nighttime and the vintage decor of the theatre definitely made me feel like I was in a hotel! Old movie posters fill the hallways and the escalators and nice carpeting definitely add a cozy touch to such a beautiful landmark. Overall I cannot wait to return in the near future! My boyfriend and I already said it's worth the 20 minute drive from our home. Service was top notch and the theatre was clean. Bravo, Birmingham 8! read more

Birmingham 8 - Beautiful marquee! - Cinema Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

My new favorite theater in the Metro Detroit area! I'm a big fan of Emagine theaters in general. This location lives up to their standards with comfortable reclining seats, large selection of food/candy/drinks and exceptional service. I particularly like both Birmingham locations as they are much smaller theaters and allow for a more intimate viewing experience. Parking is not always the most convenient, however there are a few garages a short walk away along with street parking if you're lucky to snag a spot! One downside is that you will have to reserve seats ahead of time as space is so limited. I feel like this is the new trend with movies, and isn't a big inconvenience for me personally. I highly recommend! read more

It's been a number of years since I've visited this location to take in a movie. I was very glad to have my first movie going experience since the pandemic here. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. I loved the reserved seating option and how comfortable the reclining seats were. The theatre showing the film we were seeing was clean, no sticky floors. Having been employed at this theatre during the late 90s, it was great to feel wave a nostalgia while there. Despite being acquired by Emagine, the theatre has maintained its vintage cinema theatre feel that it has been known for since its inception. I will make plans to return there for other showings. read more

I am writing this review from theater 2 at the B'ham Theater. I have the time to write this because the movie I came to see has stopped twice during the climax of the film. We are here to watch Top Gun Maverick. The "mission" is underway. We've started it twice already and the film keeps stopping. Really disappointing. We'll see if it ever starts again..... read more

Birmingham 8 - Cinema Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

5 years + 1 renovation later, so it's time to update this review. It's still a 4-star theater for me. I saw Disobedience here yesterday, in a 4-row theater, and there were three of us total in the theater. They've since renovated the theater, and the recliner seats are super comfortable. The screens are also very nice. The primary reason I give this theater 4 stars and not 5 is that the sound is a little weird ... it doesn't entirely sound like surround sound for some reason, and sometimes it's hard to hear what the characters are saying. I have MoviePass so I went to the theater to buy my ticket, but they use movietickets.com so you can buy them ahead of time. For the 4-row theaters, I recommend sitting no farther back than row C (aka row 3) because rows A and B are extremely close to the screen. There's convenient parking behind the theater, too - free for the first two hours, then $2 per hour after that. Overall, not my first choice theater but one that I don't mind going to every so often. read more

I'm a movie buff, and while I don't go as much as I used to (3-4 times per week) I'm still good for once every week or so. This theatre is definitely nice inside. The decor is reminiscent of the movie theaters of ole, and kept up nicely. I guess my major problems here are price and food quality. I'm already somewhat against any place that has Pepsi as opposed to Coke, and Pepsi is what they serve here. To me, if you're going to have an Icee, a Pepsi Icee is joke. Then there's the popcorn. I don't know if I'm just unlucky or if their popcorn sucks, but every time I get it the popcorn is stale and fairly flavorless. Granted, I don't like when popcorn is overly salty or buttery, but this tastes pretty much straight popped and that's it. The price for a ticket is higher than my favorite place (AMC Forum 30), so that makes my ass red too. I come here when I don't necessarily want popcorn or an Icee, or for convenience. I'd suggest you do the same. read more

The Birmingham 8 has been redone since the last I've been here. Which it greatly needed. Now there is assigned seats and recliner seats. These recliner seats recline in 2 directions unlike the AMC John R ones. There are 2 buttons that control the way your seat moves. One is just the feet and the other one is your back and bottom. It did feel weird with the adjustments to your bottom position however it made the 2nd row not bad to watch a movie in. One this thing that hasn't changed is the the restrooms. They are still the same colors and layout they have always been. It works but it does create a line when a movie has just released. read more

I attended the Birmingham 8 Theatre yesterday, April 25, to see AVENGERS: ENDGAME, and I received racial discrimination, not from 1, but 2 Birmingham 8 Theatre staff! I grew up in the area (Bloomfield Hills, MI) and worked at several colleges and universities educating students and staff about diversity, inclusion, and social justice. However, I was still brought to tears due to the racial discrimination I received. I had my electronic ticket for the movie and presented it to Employee 1 before entering the auditorium. He said I had to print out the ticket or I wouldn't be let in. I then presented the Theatre's email message that said there were 3 ticket options including presenting the email message and confirmation #, which I did, but Employee 1 would not let me enter. Then other people presented their electronic tickets as well, and he wouldn't let them enter, but he finally said, "OK, this one time, I'll let you in." Approximately 50 minutes into the film, I went to the restroom and when I returned to the auditorium, Employee 2 blocked the door and would not let me re-enter. He said that I had to print out the ticket. I then showed him the email message that said you could EITHER print the ticket, present their email message with the confirmation #, or bring your credit card to the theatre. Employee 2 didn't care and refused to let me in without a printed ticket. Meanwhile, I'm missing precious minutes of THE MOVIE of the year, AVENGERS: ENDGAME! I decided to leave the theatre but asked to speak to the manager. The manager was more responsive and had both employees give their account of what occurred. Employee 1 said that I "pushed past him" to enter the auditorium... and I have a physical disability with a cane! Employee 1 is definitely more physically able than I. Employee 2 said that I essentially "snuck into" the movie, but later slipped-up and said that he knew BEFORE he prevented my re-entry that I had shown my email message and confirmation # to Employee 1. Employee 2 knew that I paid to see the movie, but wouldn't let me re-enter the auditorium to see the remainder of the film. Both employees lied and assigned criminal behavior to me- pushing, which is assault, and sneaking into the movie, which is criminal trespass- but why? This is because of their prejudice of Black people. The 2 White male Birmingham 8 Theatre employees chose to prevent me from seeing the movie, unless I went through their unnecessary hoops and hurdles, because of their prejudiced views, asserting their power and privilege. That's racial discrimination. All I wanted was to enjoy seeing a movie at a movie theater, but I had the exact opposite experience at the Birmingham 8 Theatre because of my race! read more

Small theater with all the accommodations of a large theater. Concessions and adult bar. I have been a returning customer.

What a cute theatre! Definitely a nice touch to Birmingham. The marquee in the front reminds me of an older theatre feel. The lobby was clean and the service was friendly at the concessions. The inside of the theatre had comfortable chairs, probably the most comfortable chairs I've sat at the movies yet. The theatre is small and there isn't much walking space to get to your seat from your row. My only complaint would be that there's only 4 stalls in the bathrooms and there was a line out of the door to use the restroom. On top of this, the garbages were filled and needed to be changed, the soap dispensers weren't working, and the water was super hot and wouldn't cool down. read more

This theater is so cute! I absolutely love it. Great new comfy seats, cute decor, clean bathrooms, and great management! But get your tickets in advance because they are small theaters so tickets can go quick! I had a little hiccup when ordering tickets online so I called right away and the manager helped me out no problem! And was so nice about it. read more

Birmingham 8 - Cinema Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

This is a downtown Birmingham landmark, and plays movies that the kids that go to the Palladium aren't interested in, making it my theater of choice. It was built in the 1920s when people were apparently small with really short legs. The leg room isn't great, is what I'm trying to say. But it is a cozy theater without stadium seating. Unless a film has been getting a lot of press, most showings aren't sold out, allowing for your group to spread out a little bit, or at least get an aisle seat. One complaint. The last movie I saw here, Vicky Christina Barcelona, the projector was off just a little bit, cutting out the subtitles when the characters started speaking in Spanish. It was annoying, but not enough to ruin the entire movie experience. It was the first time it happened, and if I had gotten up to complain I'm sure they would've done something about it. read more

Birmingham 8 - Cinema Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

I have actually only ever been here for the Uptown Film Festival but I have to say I found it to be quite charming. Love the old school marquee out front and really enjoyed the stadium style of the small theaters within. However--holy lack of leg room in the higher aisles, batman! It was so tight maneuvering up there and my knees were touching the seat in front of me and I'm not even that tall! super cray. I didn't end up getting anything to eat but the beverage I had was definitely a little on the pricier side. They were really busy for the film festival so I can't really gauge the staff. They were brisque with me but they were also helping tons of customers at a very speedy pace so I can't hold the lack of a friendly demeanor against them. All in all I love that they participate in special events like this one and I do love the old school vibe of the place but I'm not sure it's going to be my regular place to see a movie. However, if someone suggests it or I'm in the area I wouldn't turn down another visit! read more

I usually do not write bad reviews... I'm pro helping businesses out, and not a negative nancy... However my last trip to Birmingham 8 (since sadly the larger palladium theatre has closed) has got me kinda sad. Drab seating, drab, stale popcorn, stale snacks, not a lot of options... Flat soda. It's just inexcusable. Why I do give them 3 stars is that they do offer some other flicks that you can't catch at emagine royal oak. But I write this review in hopes that someone from B8 reads this and hopefully changes some things. read more

Birmingham 8 - Stale popcorn... Stale candy... Flat pop :( - Cinema Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

The Mrs. and I made a trip to the Birmingham 8 to see "Nebraska" on a recent cold winter night. It's a classy building inside, bi-level, four theaters on the first floor and nice escalators up to the four on the second floor. The seats are VERY comfortable and supportive (the best I've tried lately). The Birmingham offers the usual amenities life popcorn refills. However, they adjoin a parking garage, too (helpful in B-town) with reasonable prices. They also feature a higher percentage of quality movies than the average place (Her, American Hustle, Dallas Buyers Club, August: Osage County, 12 Years a Slave and Labor Day were playing along with Nebraska). This is a nice addition to the small set of independent-trending theaters (The Main and The Maple being others) in the area. read more

It's a cool building, but the sound went out 3 times. The staff corrected it each t8me once I told them what was happening. After the show they greeted us as we left with complementary tickets for the inconvenience. That was nice! read more

Pros-A classic theater in an intimate setting. We saw a preview screening of The 33 in the lower level. The inside is beautiful with red curtains and two stain glass chandeliers that add a touch of beauty and glamour. Cons- The seating is designed very close to the screen and the seats are crammed. If you don't have to get up once your seated don't. The seat rows are so close together that the whole roll basically has to get up when you do. I'd recommend for family or date night as it is romantic and charming. The theatre is filled with classic movie posters and the screens are up to date. Tip- Parking is in the garage right around the corner and it's free for 2 hrs and $1 after that per hour. Heads up the theatre does NOT Validate so unless you have to be there early just park last min since most movies are about 90min. There are a lot of activities to do around here so if you have the time invest a dollar or two and grab a bite. Best~Robert read more

Birmingham 8 - View from Lower Level. - Cinema Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Imagine enjoying the previews and then out of nowhere, the audio is turned up full blast. It scared the crap out of me! Then for the next 2 1/2 hours, I'm sitting there just overwhelmed by the how loud the audio is. Thank goodness the movie didn't have special effects, otherwise we would've all developed hearing problems. For such a small theatre, it is absolutely unnecessary to have the audio up so loud. Not only that, I was slightly worried for my safety. Without many seats to begin with, my friend and I had to squeeze to the end of the row -- which was RIGHT up against the wall. Isn't that a safety hazard? I felt, and WAS, too closed in. It's not like our row had a few seats, I'd say there were about about 12-13. For the future, I'll be sure to get there way early and maybe bring some ear plugs. But I do love the old-school vibe going on here. And the movie was the only one in the immediate area showing it. Take advantage of the ticket-purchasing kiosk inside rather than waiting outside. Helpful during the winter months! read more

Horrific service. Arrived to an evening showing on a Friday night with my girlfriends. We had purchased tickets earlier, but stopped in the doorway to check our purses for them. Were stopped maybe two seconds before a young man barked "Tickets. Here." in a very rude tone. We had not been in the lobby for 30 seconds and were just getting out our tickets. Young blonde girl standing with rude young man proceeded to help us with snacks, but did not look us in the eyes. Very unfriendly. Went to get our drinks and they were out of small lids, pop spilled everywhere, very sticky counters. When we sat down in our seats, the theater had clearly not been cleaned. Went to the ladies room after the show and four out of the five stalls did not have toilet paper and soap did not dispense. For 13.50 a ticket and $25 for two pops and popcorn, ridiculously expensive for such a bad experience. How this theater manages to stay in business? I really do not know. If the Emagine or AMC treated their patrons like this, they'd be gone in a second. For a more expensive price but much better amenities and friendly staff, just go one block north for the Emaine. You will pay a few more dollars in tickets, but at least the staff will be kind. It is a gorgeous theater, but is not being treated properly. Either needs new staff who cares or staff and management need to have a conversation about how patrons should be treated. I was a teenager once and get it, but that kind of treatment to people and the theater is unacceptable. read more

Cute theater in downtown Bham to check out with a friend. There's only street/metered parking but once you find a spot anywhere, you can still stroll and window-shop as you make your way to the theatre. I really enjoyed the classic movie posters hung up everywhere, which gave it a really cool vintage vibe. As you take the escalators upstairs to the respective viewing rooms, there's also a mini bar! Jerry was the bartender there and he was very welcoming and informative. We spent a couple of minutes watching the MSU game on the TV before our movie started (go green!). read more

Between the Main Art theater in Royal Oak, and the Birmingham 8, you can find a decent art-house film in the suburban Detroit area. The ticket prices are more expensive than the Main, but they still have an interesting mix of movies, and the smaller space makes it feel more personal than the Palladium 12. Convenience: parking is right behind the theater. read more

I am not a huge movie fan. But this is the first theater I took my son to a movie (for which I am now reviewing). They have olive oil popcorn which I liked. The pop machine is in the open so you can have a refill without an issue. Also, they have an icee station. Pop? Icee? Do it. And I LOVE the small theaters. They also have the little boosters so the kiddos don't get sucked into the seats. I love this place. Short update: went today. New seats are AWESOME! Go here and enjoy! read more

Place is clean / can get very busy on nights/weekends. Large theatre - good big screens. Smaller one not so good - feels like watching movie at home. read more

STEM (science, technology, engineering and Math)Education coalition sponsored a red carpet showing of "Black Panther" with entertainment and a Q and A completing the night. We took pictures and had a very pleasant and comfortable experience TILL THE END when it seems racism of a staff member identifying himself as Clay reared his ugly head. Provokingly and as if he were talking to children who had made him angry he came in at 9:27pm and told us it was over and we had to get out NOW! The sponsors and audience took is with his authoritatively rude and demeaning lack of respect and etiquette. This crowd was mostly professional adults who's behavior is to be expected and was at its best. The attitude was unexpected, not provoked so his hostility was not deserved. Clay should have come and informed the organizers that they were close to the 9:30 pm deadline. STEM and their guests would have thanked him for a wonderful experience and respectfully Thanked Birmingham 8 Theater of Metro Detroit Michigan for its participation and not left disappointed and feeling civility and decency is taking a step backward. We left feeling we weren't really welcome. read more

They have a great selection of independents here, which others have pointed out, is probably the reason that the theater is doing well. However, there are other annoying factors in my rating. The staff is a bit curt for my taste. Going there tonight for a screening was an ordeal. I don't appreciate being yelled at to wait for "the guy to check if there are seats", short man with the broken flashlight. You let a couple people go ahead because they had different color tickets than we did. BAH. It seems weird to say this, but either the AC is broken or they're too cheap to turn it on. I was roasting through the entire movie. I shouldn't be sweating in a theater when I'm just in a shirt and jeans for Pete's sake! So yeah, don't talk to the short guy and see a movie in your underwear and you should be good to go. read more

I was here to view Me and Orson Welles with my wife and Mariah. One staff member was wearing sunglasses and chatting away on his cell phone before helping me at the concession stand. Take off your sunglasses dude: You're indoors and you're not Puff Daddy. Also, they had no idea there was a viewing of the movie and they weren't quick to help me solve the confusion. I almost didn't get in because the staff was unaware of the viewing. And.... This isn't the first time it's happened. They were also unaware when we had the 500 Days of Summer event....this past summer. For the 500 Days of Summer viewing, I was turned away. An employee said the theater was full and nobody could come in even though we had tickets. Mariah came out and said we were cool and took us in the theater. Guess what? There were seats available. Quite a bit actually. Why did the guy at the door tell me my ticket was no good and that there was no more room? How can it be full yet there are many empty seats? It's a mystery. The management here needs to tighten up on the employee etiquette here. read more

The marquee on Old Woodward is such a landmark for anyone who grew up in Birmingham. When you were in middle school (and occasionally high school) you would troll the streets of Birmingham on a Friday night-- but outside near the theater was always where it was going on. It was the place where you would run into your crush and just spurt out a nervous hi as you were walking past... where were you going? nowhere. I really don't get why it was "the thing to do," but it was. Now, onto the theater. It was resurrected in '96 to house more than one screen, and boy was that a big deal. Back then, they had their sh*t together... since the opening of the Palladium I feel like the Birmingham 8 has suffered. It takes forever at the concession stand.. why? Not because there is a line, but because I think everyone there is on snail time. There is no other explanation-- I wish there was. I do, however, like the fact that they play more independent films, but typically you won't see the indies that are playing at the Main Art-- that would be waaaay too out of the 'hams comfort zone. read more

Really three and a half. The new renovations are nice. The chairs not quite as wide as palladium but nice. Note in theatre one unless you are in the center the angles are extreme which also effects the sounds And a small but frustrating note. The menu lists fountain and frozen drinks. In every other theatre around here this means frozen Coke frozen strawberry etc. Here they offer awful sugar laden drunks like blueberry and kiwi and watermelon not frozen Coke . And you don't know this because the drunk dispensers are hidden from the concession. Another family had the same issue. At least list what you serve Otherwise it's fine read more