For many years, Kinoplex Itaim has been my favorite movie theater in town. It's not anymore, but I…read morestill like it. This is one of the few movie theaters that isn't located inside a shopping center. I think is a great place to catch a movie, maybe even bring a date and then have dinner afterwards. There are many good options in the neighborhood. The theater is clean, the popcorn is OK, and the movies selection is good. The price is fine, nothing different from the other theaters in town. You can park your car at the mall's parking lot. Ops, did I say mall? The theater is located on a mall that does't look like a mall, so it's fine.. lol.

This theater is clean, comfortable and, while small, often has a decent variety of films. The open…read moreair mall/office building courtyard where the theater is located is pretty lame. Compared to the rest of the dinner spots in the area, the food there is terrible. Just a block away you have La Guapa and a new Gelateria just opened in the building facing the courtyard which looks way better than the food court one. In other words, if you want to make a full date night of it, park your car there and then walk out of there for dinner and come back to peruse Saraiva (the book store) before heading into the movie. The theater has online booking, and all seats are pre-assigned. They also have automated electronic ticket machines to the right of the main box office which usually have no lines, as another reviewer mentioned. Occasionally shows sell out, mostly on popular weekend nights for new releases, but in general it's not nearly as crowded as the big fancy mall cinemas like JK Iguatemi. The downside of this place is the price, but most people can "qualify" for one of the "meia" (half price) tickets - you just have to be a student, elderly, or willing to borrow an Itau card to flash upon entry. I have once been asked to show my Itau card, but they are not crazy strict about it. Also sometimes the more interesting films are only shown in the VIP rooms, which in general are pretty fun with their giant lounger chairs but again are pretty expensive at R$60 for full price.

Probably the fanciest movie theater I've ever been to, Cinepolis is located in SP's swanky JK…read moreIguatemi mall. While the prices are a bit steep, the amenities of the VIP theater seats are worth it for a great date night. Comfy leather recliners in single or love seat style are well spaced and equipped with mini tables and cup holders. A special button allows you to call over the server to order treats and goodies straight to your seat! Even the front row isn't painfully close to the screen. They didn't complain about me bringing in my ice cream from the gourmet food court, but it turns out I could have ordered Ben and Jerrys off the menu which I might do next time. Definitely recommended for a splurge night out with someone you want to cuddle. Don't forget to book online well in advance, as the seats usually fill up early sometimes days in advance for popular titles on date nights.

One of São Paulo's most important temples of cinema, Cine Caixa Belas Artes is required reading for…read morethe city's cultural life. Rather small by today's standards, the recently-restored cinema features friendly staff and homages to the history of the silver screen throughout the building. Speaking of screens, one thing I noticed was that the "big screen" was not so big. But to tell the truth, if the movie is good, you forget about the screen's size once the movie starts. Another highlight is the location, which is easily accessible no matter your form of transportation, and near lots of options for nightlife after you leave.