Had a great experience on a weekday night to see Shrek for $2! We lucked out and got a street parking spot really close to the theater. We arrived a little after 6 pm and got popcorn with butter, a drink, and candy. Prices seem very reasonable, especially given the $2 movie ticket! It's so cool to have a place like this in Sacramento. All staff were friendly and welcoming and seemed like they enjoyed working there. Around starting time, Daniel came onto the stage to engage with the audience and promote future movie events. The movie-going experience itself was great as it was an enthusiastic crowd that sang along with the songs and some folks even came dressed up in character (um, donkey head mask, anyone?). My husband, a former bartender, grabbed a drink from the bar and said it was strong and well-made. It was our first time at this theater, but it certainly won't be our last. read more

I've been to Crest Theatre a handful of times for Sac State's J Street Film Festival, but finally got to take advantage of a $2 movie day. This is a historic movie theater so don't expect modern movie theater standards! The inside is absolutely beautiful though and I love admiring the interior everytime I'm inside. The theater is pretty intimate so any seat is still a good seat. Staff is always friendly and you can tell they genuinely enjoy their jobs. The manager was even kind enough to allow my friends to take their graduation pictures here before. For the $2 movie day, I saw Perfect Blue and was pleasantly surprised that staff said it was a full house! It seems like they have been trying to get more various showings of anime/animation in general and asked the audience for input and feedback. Overall, I'm glad Sacramento still has the Crest in place and I'm hoping to make it out to more movies here :) read more

Crest Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Sacramento, California

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My girl took me to see Coming to America for date night at The Crest Theatre, and I had a really good time. This was my first time there, and it's not your typical modern movie theater. It's a historic theater in downtown Sacramento that presents live entertainment, movies, and special events. What makes it unique is the stage in front of the screen, which gives it a classic, old-school vibe. She paid for the tickets ahead of time, but their system was down when we arrived. They had to check everyone in manually from a laptop. It was understandable things happen and the staff handled it as smoothly as they could. While she was confirming our tickets, I grabbed popcorn. Sadly, the popcorn was a little salty. Like most theaters, it was a little pricey. We may or may not have brought our own candy and drinks... don't tell anybody. It had a good crowd but wasn't too bad.We got some good seats. Since it's a historic theater and not a newer upscale cinema, the seats didn't recline and were a little small, but they were still comfortable enough I've seen Coming to America plenty of times on TV, but watching it on the big screen in a classic theater like this was a different experience. Overall, it was a great date night. Good movie, even better company. My girl definitely did her thing planning this one. My girl and I are definitely coming back again!! read more

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We took advantage of their $2 movie deal on Friday night. We saw "Independence Day" appropriately enough in advance of the 4th of July celebrations! I love this historical venue and the classical stylings of the architecture and decor. It is a treasure! Sacramento is so fortunate. I wish I still lived in town to partake in attending movies here more often and with regularity. It was a good turnout for the film viewing. Concessions were phenomenal! They have the best movie theater popcorn I have ever had! The butter topping is far superior to anything I have ever had elsewhere. Pure gold deliciousness! Staff were friendly and welcoming. What a gem of an experience! read more

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Came here for graduation super great theater. Parking is best at the garage nearby but the rail is a good idea too. Popcorn was fresh not stale And the workers there knew what to do and treated everyone with hospitality. Theater itself was very dramatic in a good way and had nice style. read more

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It had been quite a number of years since we have frequented this theater that I can't remember when we last visited exactly. No worries bc our most recent visit was awesome! My wife would have given five stars if their seats were replaced with new ones & powder room renovated. We parked in a nearby parking lot that when we arrived it was only a 5 minute walk. Actually my wife prepaid too bc otherwise it would have been way more money like 3 times what she prepaid. We arrived just before the theater opened so we were grateful it didn't take too long to open. We used the powder room right away before seating ourselves. There was a refreshment stand but we just had dinner prior to arriving. They were selling souvenirs but decided against it as my wife had completely decluttered the house & prefer not to buy & add more collection items to our home. She's adamant about that. We sat down at our seats B106, B107 for awhile. Then came a group of guys claiming they had our seats. Really my wife exclaimed???!!! Come to find out we were sitting in the wrong row. We were in the FRONT ROW!!! DUH!!! Omgosh my wife was so HAPPY & so was I!!! Yes they no longer have row A. It was gone! The rest of the show was pretty amazing. We saw & were entertained well by Leonid & Friends. Excellent entertainment & we were wowed!!! Bc we were here on Halloween night the band changed their clothes to Halloween costumes over halfway through the concert. It was a real treat for us!!! We would love to see them again. Maybe next year??? It depends when & where their next concert is. They obviously have a huge following! You can find them on IG & Facebook! Take a look... read more

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I am so thankful we have this gem in the Sacramento community. This theatre is fashionably outdated and absolutely gorgeous. Great air conditioning and concessions. Thank you Crest Theatre for making cinema and fun accessible to the local community. the twilight series is great and it's nice to see everyone coming together for events like this. Extra gold star for cute photo props/decorations that were on theme with the films! read more

Went to the Crest Theatre for the Wake Up Shows live event. When we arrived, we entered through the bar area and weren't given our goodie bags I'm guessing it was due to how things were set up since we didn't even go through the main security/check-in. We stopped at the inside bar for a drink, and the male bartender was super friendly and made a great drink definitely a highlight. Once we got to our seats... wow. They are very small and packed closely together. It honestly felt like I was sitting on top of the person next to me, which made it a bit uncomfortable. The show itself was fun, but the host seemed like they may have had a little too much to drink it came across a bit sloppy at times. read more

Ummm. What took me so long to post this review!? Me being me I found a random ever to go to. $2.00 movies on a Tuesday and Tacos...... don't mind if I do. Came here to see Coming to America with my boo and we loved it. The movies are affordable, you can bring drinks in from Empress Tavern and the place was nostalgic and reminiscent of the past. One downside was the popcorn was super salty and almost inedible. The location and overall vibe of the place was awesome and gave a blast from the past while being a comfortable space. read more

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The crest was so much fun for twilight movie night!! I went with a girlfriend and the lines were a little long, but nothing unbearable. Do to the long lines we did have to wait an extra 30min for the movie to start but all was worth it!! We tried each of the specialty drinks and they were super sweet but still yummy! They had a photobooth to take our twilight pictures and decorated so perfectly, including a welcome to forks sign! read more

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I love their $2 movie nights! The theater is like a time capsule and is very pretty. The seat could use some love but it's not a big deal. The down stairs bar is fun to kill time before the movie. I will definitely be returning for future movies. read more

Crest Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Sacramento, California

I attended the All Creatures Great and Small screening at the Crest. I love coming to the theatre, seeing the decor on the walls, watching great shows, and attending events. There isn't a bad seat in the place, but we usually head upwards on the second level. This gives us a great view and the sound system has always been great. I always envision what it would have been like back in the day. What a great theatre! read more

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An Unforgettable Night with Liz Tomforde & Lyla Sage at the Crest Theatre I recently attended the Rewind It Back Tour at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento--a book signing event celebrating the conclusion of one of my favorite series by Liz Tomforde--and it was an unforgettable experience! Hosted by Capitol Books (Knotty Novels), the night was a dream come true for any romance reader, and the Crest Theatre proved to be the perfect venue. As a huge book lover, I was beyond excited to see Sacramento hosting an event with two of my favorite authors, Liz Tomforde and Lyla Sage. From check-in all the way to the late-night book signing, everything ran incredibly smoothly, which is impressive considering it was a sold-out event with over 600 attendees! One of the highlights of the evening was the attention to detail and care from both the Crest Theatre and Capitol Books staff. Everyone was kind, helpful, and patient--especially when it came time for photos and meet-and-greets with the authors. Even when the event ran past midnight, they made sure every fan got a chance to connect with the authors, take pictures, and soak in the experience without feeling rushed. That kind of hospitality really stood out. A major perk of the evening was the themed drinks offered by Empress Tavern, located in the basement of the theatre. Not only were the drinks fun and delicious, but entering through the tavern gave us direct access to the venue--completely bypassing the long line outside in the heat. Huge win! The only downside I experienced was the temperature inside the theatre at the very beginning. The Sacramento heat is no joke, and when I first walked in, it was quite stuffy. I would've really appreciated walking into a fully air-conditioned space. Fortunately, once the event got underway and the authors took the stage, the air started to cool and things became more comfortable. I also appreciated that staff were attentive and offered water to guests when needed (small gesture, big impact). Other logistics like checking in, finding our seats, and browsing the pre-signed book tables were all straightforward and well-managed. There was clear signage, and plenty of staff available to assist if needed. Overall, this was such a well-run and memorable event, and the Crest Theatre played a huge role in making that happen. I would 100% attend another event here and can't wait to see what they host next. Thank you to the team at Crest and Capitol Books for creating such a special night for readers like me! read more

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This is an overdue review. Came here for the first time to see Nurse John. I loved the ambiance inside, the employees were nice as well. The event was equipped with a snack bar and a bar for drinks. The theater itself was pretty big and the comfortability of the seats were good enough for a couple hours. read more

Crest Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Recently came here for a comedy show put on by comedian, Preacher Lawson. He put on a really funny and interactive show that left me excited to see him again next time he's in town. Preacher Lawson was a runner up on America's Got Talent and the theatre was packed to see him. This was my first time in Crest Theatre despite living in Sacramento my whole life. It's a relic and a must visit for any and everyone if you get the chance. Walking in to the Crest Theatre feels like stepping back in time. The carpet, light fixtures, wall adornments, then the seats that fill the theatre have small holes in them, high ceilings all give the place its own personality that can't be beaten. Seats in the theatre itself are small for someone my size. You HAVE to stand up to let people pass you. But there isn't bad seat in the house as it feels very intimate. At one point Preacher Lawson made reference to the light rail passing by because its horn screamed as he was performing. I would highly recommend a visit to the Crest if given a chance. There's nothing like it. read more

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The Crest Theatre is such a special venue. It holds a lot of history. That's an old building so it gets pretty warm and muggy in there. I've watched a few shows here, and it feels so cozy. read more

Crest Theatre - Customized painting of Gavin, Katie, and Kevin from the 106.5 Wake Up Call! - Cinema Near Me - Sacramento, California

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We visited the Crest Theater for the first time to see Phil Rosenthal. The theater is so cute from the outside and I was surprised to learn that they encourage guests to visit the Empress Tavern ahead of the show and allow guests to bring food and drinks in from the Empress for the show. I heard the fries are really tasty. We ended up heading straight into the theater and were greeted by ushers and our tickets were scanned. There was no line for the concession stand when we arrived, about 45 minutes ahead of the show, so we ordered popcorn, frozen Junior Mints and a couple bottles of water. Within the next fifteen minutes the lines for both the bathrooms and concession stands were pretty long. I would definitely arrive early. The stage and seating area is beautiful and every seat is a good one. I will say the seats are a bit close together and if you do bringing snacks and drinks in there isn't a lot of room to have those. Aside from getting cozy with the people next to you, the seats are comfortable. We'll definitely be back for more shows soon... in fact we already have tickets to see Bob in September. read more

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Thank you Manager Bob! Not only is your theater beautiful, but you helped us out of a bad situation and you were so gracious! Thank you so much! read more

Truly disappointed in how management handled the cancelling of shows in recent months. It's understandable that there are legal issues at play causing the transfer of ownership. Employees have detailed money theft and bankruptcy as reasons why the abrupt change and decline of the theatre. Subjecting employees to handle and turn away people coming to shows because you simply forgot to notify ticket agencies is poor management in the new managements part. It's a shame because Crest is such a beautiful building capturing a lost time. read more

Shout out to usher Gabby accommodated us me and my brother had canes and our seats were upstairs she let us sir lower in box seats so nice

The Usher Gabby was very helpful, assisting my brother Zach in the in, allowing us to sit in seats that are much closer to the stage. We gratefully appreciate her concern assistance. read more

I have been to the Crest Theater a few times for different events and I always enjoy my time there! Last night, my friend and I went to see The Psychology of Serial Killers Tour and it was awesome! I love the historic building and the amazing architect. The dark mood setting definitely set the vibe for last night's event. Since it is an older place, they do not have cup holders, but the seats are still fairly comfortable and since all the seats face forward - there is not a bad seat in the house. Parking is an issue since there is no street parking on K Street, but there a few parking garages close by. Lots of restaurants to choose from - I personally prefer Empress Tavern which is right next door - you can actually walk into the Crest Theater from Empress Tavern without having to go back outside which is nice. The bathrooms are always clean and I love the bar area that feels separate from the rest of the crowd. They offer snacks, fountain drinks and water at their concession stand and the service is always friendly and fast. I can't wait to come back again for another event! read more

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BEWARE! For the past few years, this theater has been using a video projector and showing DVDs of all their movies! They had a fundraiser a few years ago to get their film projectors back up and running, but the money we gave to that just went poof and they're still just showing DVDs to ignoramuses who can't tell the difference! How sad, this used to be a great theater but I guess Sacramento didn't deserve it. read more

I haven't been to the Crest in a long time. As a 4th generation Sacramentan, I'm so happy it was preserved and is being treasured. I love the concerts and movies. I took my brother to see War for his BDay. He was so happy. It was our 1st concert at the Memorial Auditorium when we were teenagers. If you have never been there you should treat yourself to a beautiful piece of history with great concerts and music. read more

Went to see CCR tribute band. This place is nostalgic and beautiful. I have come here for many live events as well as movies. One of the few historic theaters left. The Tower is still alive. The Fox on K street and the Alhambra gone, now a Safeway. read more

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It was fun. Someone stole our seats but still had fun Maybe security could've been helpful but it is what it is read more

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Another great experience at the Crest seeing the Blind Boys of Alabama with Bobby Rush. Great show, excellent vibes, front row center seat, worth the price. Kudos to these awesome Grammy Award winning performers read more

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Beautiful theater. The manager is a true gem, patient, helpful and knows how to take care of his audiences. Highly recommend!

Great theater that is so fun to go see old movies in. Only complaints is even though a $5 movie ticket is great, $6.50 candy, 6.50 for a 20 ox soda too??? That's insane! Movie also claims to start at 7pm and it didn't start until 7:22.. it was also way too loud. The louder sounds made your ears hurt. parking around the venue has gone up(obviously not the crest fault) but gotta add in another 15-20$ for parking.. $5 movie but overall can be a very expensive night read more

Did not order anything because this place is very outdated and does not look well maintained or sanitary. Went to watch Deray Davis, excellent show and it was a whole vibe. Loved the crowd and everyone had a great time! Staff is not that nice, they are just there. Just not comfortable with all the old seats and outdated ambience is a miss. Area outside is sketchy. Should not park faraway especially for a late show. Lots of homeless people and sketchy crowd hanging outside of theatre. read more

Crest Theatre - Main stage - Cinema Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I bought tickets months in advance of a show at the Crest and proceeded to make hotel reservations, dog boarding accommodations, restaurant reservations, etc. Two days prior to the event, I get a message from the Crest about the ticket provider tix that I purchased are no longer valid. I am instructed that I can buy new tix through their new third party outlet, however only nosebleed seats are now available. So basically now it's my problem to cancel all my plans due to the Crest's short notice about a business decision which apparently occurred over 5 months ago. Thanks for the thoughtful warning ya greedy capitalist pigs! read more

Last-minute Goldstar deal (the day after Rocky Horror was showing at the Crest, no less) for Benise Spanish Nights, tickets under $30. Since the ticket booth isn't functional, there is no "box office" to claim your tickets at, instead, look for the separate line near concessions side. Goldstar seats were in the upper balcony but the Crest is small enough that all seats are good to see the large screen; the stage did seem far but rather than a true "balcony" it wasn't bad. Seats are a bit cramped but it is a historic theater. Benise is a modern flamenco guitarist and the Emmy-winning show/production (as seen on PBS) combines Spanish guitar with choreographed dancers. The opening number blended classic rock (think Zeppelin, Stones, Eagles) with world music like Spanish flamenco, Cuban salsa, Brazilian samba, Argentine tango, Indian Bollywood, Parisian waltz (the ballerina was so graceful!), and exotic African drumming from his musicians/full band. The energy ranged from high and lively ("Bamboleo") to acoustic showing off more of the guitar skills, such as the song he wrote for his son, "I Will Always Love U (Bodhi's Song)," and more solemn ones like "Ave Maria" or "Moonlight Sonata," even bringing the band back to its street-performer roots and playing their original song "Santa Barbara." The colorful background video visuals were spectacular in setting the scenes -- a coliseum for a matador, a club in Havana, a cathedral/church, elements of flame/fire, rainwater/waves, a starry Mediterranean/European scene, old Spanish architecture, calming clouds. Parked at the Capitol Garage on 10th and L for a flat $10. read more

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Usher was amazing. Her name was gabby and she was extremely kind to my sister who had just experienced knee surgery!! She helped us get to our seats with no problem!! read more

Beautiful interior of this theater. I appreciate the history of it. Came here on a Friday evening for a live podcast show. The views were good. Like someone else said there's not a bad seat in the house. The restrooms were very clean but it's a nightmare of a line once the show is over. There's simply not enough stalls for the capacity of the theater. You're probably better off going to a nearby bar. It's a real theater with the option to purchase drinks and popcorn! The acoustics were very good. I think we were probably halfway up the room but had no issues seeing or hearing anything. The seats are very cramped. That's coming from a petite 5'3" woman. I often saw people getting up and standing in the aisle to let others pass. The seats were also very worn and not longer provided enough cushioning. Get to your show at least 10-15 minutes before it starts. Although there are several parking garages nearby if there is an arena event those garages may be full or surcharging $25-30. Finding parking was a struggle. We ended up parking 3 blocks away on the street. We walked by a lot of homeless people. It's a nice venue and I'd come here again if there was another performance I'm interested in. The drawbacks are minor in comparison to the positives. read more

Soul concert this past weekend at the Crest theatre was extremely disappointing. Terrible experience at the concert. They allowed the audience to dance in front of the stage. Us paying expensive seats were relegated to watch the show through people dancing in front of us. If the audience wants to dance, move them off to the sides so people like us paying good money for premium seats can enjoy the concert. read more

Went to a concert at the Crest Theater in Sacramento with my best friend and her mom. It was upsetting to see the security guards pulling perfectly well-behaved and quiet people from the audience during the show, walking them out, making them leave and miss the show. Immediately after it was over the security guards (one in particular) started walking through yelling at everyone who lagged behind by a few minutes that they had to leave and that the artist wouldn't be signing any autographs (which is not what the artist told us at the beginning of the show). The three of us were sitting there talking, waiting for the line to die down which was long and not moving, so that we could leave. He came up to us and harshly told us we needed to leave immediately. I explained that we would be happy to get in line as soon as it becomes shorter (the line wasn't moving at all at that point and so to force us to get in line made no sense at all.) I politely explained to him that we're all three disabled and in chronic pain. That I myself have a severely herniated (12mm) disc in my back and I can barely stand. A few minutes later, we were able to leave but we had to go to the bathroom first. Somehow we got separated. While I was waiting in line for the bathroom, that same awful security guard came up to me (inside the women's bathroom, I was almost at the front of the line) and told me loudly in front of everyone that I needed to leave immediately or I would be arrested. I was in such shock that he said such an outlandish lie, I didn't even think to get his name. But I could pick him out of a line-up. I asked why I would be arrested and he said it was because I "took a swing" at somebody! I gasped in shock and told him that is 100% a lie, I have never taken a swing at anyone in my 46 years of life nor have I ever been in a physical fight. He kept repeating himself that I needed to leave immediately, wouldn't listen to a word I said. I asked if I could please at least use the restroom first that I really had to go. I had no intention of staying there after that. He told me absolutely not, I had to leave immediately or I would be arrested. The man was about 4 feet tall, I guess that's why he's so angry? I later found out that a female security guard approached my best friend in the line farther back and said that exact same lie to her. I had already been having one of the worst, most stressful weeks of my life. I was at my limit. And I was so excited about this concert, I really needed it. But instead it made me feel so much worse. I cried for hours afterwards. That is discrimination towards people with disabilities, illegal, and a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I've been a patron of the Crest Theater many times in the past. But I will NEVER go there again. What horrrible, disrespectful, trashy human beings that work there. read more

Cool place, very theatric. Seats could definitely be updated, but still kinda comfortable. I felt like closer to the of a 2 hour show I started shifting in my seat. We sat on the first row of the balcony, and felt like it was good enough to see the performer. read more

Came here on a Friday night for a live show. This is a Big theater with great views no matter where you sit. I was in Row M (up high), but didn't feel like I was miles away from the stage. Pre show, we stopped by the concession. The line looked long, but it moved quickly. Popcorn tasted fresh as well. Overall a cool place! Would definitely be back. read more

Crest Theatre - The view from row M - Cinema Near Me - Sacramento, California

Crest Theater - Toad The Wet Sprocket, Sacramento, CA - July 8, 2023 We came to the theater on a Saturday evening to see American alternative rock band, Toad the Wet Sprocket. Our tickets were purchased in advance for assigned seating. The doors opened at 7:30 PM. There is a restaurant/bar down below the theater, called the Empress Tavern, where you can order drinks and then bring them back up into the theater. We arrived at the Empress Tavern at about 7 PM and ordered a couple drinks while we waited for the theater doors to open. We ordered another round of drinks around 7:30 and then headed up to the theater. It seems that the Crest Theatre has been around forever. Originally opened in 1912, the theater has been rebuilt twice, once in 1949, and once in 1995. The architectural design is art deco with beautiful crested ornamentation on the walls and soft colored lighting. The theater holds just under 1000 people. I had been to the theater once before to see a free showing of Jaws using the theater's own sound system, which I thought was terrible. Maybe it was just the soundtrack of the old 1975 movie. However, for the concert we saw this evening, the band had all of its own sound equipment, and the sound was phenomenal. Toad the Wet Sprocket put on a fantastic show. They were preceded by Mini Tree band which is another alternative rock type of band out of Los Angeles that did a great job opening for Toad. read more

Crest Theatre - Crest theater, Sacramento, California, June 30, 2023 - free showing of jaws - Cinema Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Came here for a stand up comedy show. Old historic theater in the heart of downtown. They have a bar as well a concession stand. The bartenders are super friendly! Restrooms are clean. The seats are comfortable. Could use some update though read more