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    Esquire Theatre

    4.3 (152 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:30 pm

    Esquire Theatre Photos

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    Santa and Mrs. Claus explaining how the movie works
    Adrienne C.

    My family and I went to the Esquire Theatre for an interactive showing of White Christmas. I had never been to this theater before and wasn't sure at all what to expect with this kind of show, but it was wonderful! For about 30 minutes, they had various Christmas characters come out and perform a little live show, then go over what we needed to do for the interactive parts. They also handed out little baggies of fake snow that we were to toss in the air during certain parts, but we noticed that some people had brought their own as well, and I'm not jealous of the people who had to clean all that up! It was a nice family holiday event and we plan to return next year! My only complaint is that they run the showtimes so close to each other that everyone has to wait in the lobby for the theater to be cleaned and we were only allowed in about 15 minutes before the show started. That lobby is tiny and you have 100 people crammed in a very tight space with nowhere to go. I'd recommend spacing the showings out more so people could enter the theater at least 30 minutes before the show.

    Ever heard of gaslighting?  Like, someone was "gaslighted" and eliminated from a job.  It originated from the movie "Gaslight".
    Jamie W.

    This is not so much a review. Rather, it is a public service announcement. (The Esquire is a funky little theater though! I recommend it for catching movies where you learn the history about words and situations like the one I tell below.) If you haven't seen Gaslight on Turner Classic movies or at a second run theater, like The Esquire, I recommend watching it. It stars Ingrid Bergman as Paula, the once promising singer who becomes the wife of a crook (unknown to her). The crook husband convinvces her over time that she is losing her mind to get to jewels hidden in her home. It is a classic story that, unfortunately, rings true today! There is a term in the corporate world called "gaslighting". The name and "brainwashing" tactics are derived from this movie. Management convinces an employee, who may be a rock star but now a target for elimination, that they are: doing sub-par work, not as good as another employee, or responsible for business issues/declines completely out of the employee's control. The employee may be constantly called out for or questioned about trivial or nonsensical business problems in meetings, or forced to complete unrealistc goals in an unrealitic time, etc., etc., etc. Don't be naive. It is a form of bullying. Those of us who are younger Boomers or older GenX are targets now for gaslighting. Please be aware that this really happens in the workplace.

    Retro!
    Mark S.

    For a great experience in a retro theatre setting, can't get better than the Esquire. Add to that the awesome bar right inside and also back among the screens! Very cool. Only took a star off because the show I went to was a music focused production and sound was a little off. May have just been me (or the bar's fault, ha!) but I'll be back for the next offering of nowhere-else-to-find showings! A Cincinnati gem!

    I love the nostalgia of this 110 year old theatre. What a cool experience to watch a modern movie in a historical theatre! Very clean and overall wonderful experience.

    Tyler M.

    There's something about the Esquire Theatre that fills the heart with nostalgia. If you're every lucky (or unlucky) enough to score a date with me, chances are, at some point I'll suggest catching a film here. Why? Because this is the most adorable date spot to catch a movie. Are the seats the most comfortable? No. Are the screens the biggest? No. But when it comes to charm, The Esquire Theatre has all the others beat. You'll catch some mainstream films here, but usually, you'll find lots of indy films here. Whenever there's an indy film that I see clips of online that catch my attention, I almost always turn to the Esquire, knowing that it'll hit their screen first in the area. Sometimes, this is the only theatre in the area that I can find some of those films. If you have never been to a movie at the esquire, it's a must-visit.

    Eileen B.

    Today I did what I love to do on a rainy day watch a movie. I enjoy watching a movie at the Esquire. The theatres are small and the movies are unique. They are usually independent movies not playing at the bigger theatres. The popcorn is always yummy and buttery. The only downfall is finding a place to park. There is a lot across the street. This place is very nostalgic. Enjoy the show!!

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    4 years ago

    Excellent facility, great selections, nice staff, pose to home, hey, what's not to love?

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    3 years ago

    Terrific theater with a retro feel. Like this atmosphere much better than the chain theaters. Great popcorn, too!

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    Ask the Community - Esquire Theatre

    Is there a bar here?

    Yes. There's beer available in the front concession area and there is a small bar in the back of the theater that sells beer and mixed drinks.

    Can anyone tell me which of the theatres at the Esquire are the really small ones?

    Hi Shannon, House #1 is the smallest. the rest are medium sized with #2 being the largest.

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    Review Highlights - Esquire Theatre

    I love going to the movie theaters and my favorite theater in the city is defiantly the Esquire Theater in Clifton.

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

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    Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater

    Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater

    4.2(19 reviews)
    2.5 miDowntown

    Very neat experience! That last time I remember being here I was a kid on a field trip for school…read more My wife and I decided to relive a good memory and saw Rocky Mountain express here and it was totally worth it. You are surrounded by picture and sound and it offers a very unique experience. They also do a great job with covid procedures. I look forward to seeing more films here and making this a tradition at least annually.

    HUGE FAN of this Cincinnati staple. I believe the Omnimax has been running for the past 28 years,…read morebeginning in 1980. I can tell you the excitement I had as a child going to school field trips here. You would pack a brown bag lunch and sit outside the museum by the fountains, and then enjoy whatever was playing at the Omnimax. What sweet memories! The Omnimax just went digital. In the past, before the show, you could stand outside and watch the film fly through the reels. You could even watch the workers reset the film in between shows. That area is still there, but there is now no need for film, as it is now digital. To be honest, I really couldn't tell any huge differences now compared to what it used to be. The volcano show was the first of their digital videos. The announcement before the show began reminded us that some of the improvements included more speakers behind the screen, a digital upgrade, and larger seats in the audience--all good things. Non-member pricing is nine dollars for the show. Member pricing is about 6 to 7 dollars. The show last little less than an hour. It is first come first serve, so try to get to the line about 15 minutes before the show begins. You can check ticket prices online to see how many seats are sold each showing. If you are checking out the museum, you must check out the Omnimax! It is definitely a good addition to your ticket.

    Photos
    Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater - My hubby outside of the Omnimax theater.

    My hubby outside of the Omnimax theater.

    Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater - Omnimax

    Omnimax

    Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater

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    Cincinnati World Cinema

    Cincinnati World Cinema

    5.0(4 reviews)
    2.8 miDowntown

    This is definitely one of my favorite movie options. They've been going strong for 25 years now,…read morebut it's still all about two passionate movie buffs -- Tim Swallow the owner and his wife, who bring in movies we'd otherwise not have a chance to see here in Cincinnati. The laid-back atmosphere is evident throughout the experience -- from the low-tech check-in counter (if you buy online, you just give your name to the volunteer who checks it off the list & tells you to go in -- no ticket stub necessary), to the ice cream shop on the other side of the building (they let you bring the ice cream into the movie), to the relaxed way Tim comes out before the film to introduce it, and leads the discussion afterwards. The theater is clean and comfortable, and large enough for the large groups they attract. Their big event every year is the Oscar Shorts, i.e. the short movies that are contenders for this year's Oscars. I saw the animation shorts recently, but there's also action shorts and documentary shorts (I'll probably check them all out in the next few weeks). As always, what I did watch was enjoyable, unique, and seen in a great venue with fellow movie aficionados.

    Despite all the crazy weather reports, I found myself in Cincinnati on Saturday for a 7 PM showing…read moreof one of the leaders for 'Best Foreign Film' this year, 'Shoplifters'. This cinema is wonderful. Everyone was there to see a good film. No distractions. People passionate about film. I believe the guy told us that the Cincinnati World Cinema has been around since 2002 but they just recently moved into the Garfield Theater. They've been renovating their space but it looks close to complete. They also work on a volunteer basis. If the place was closer to Louisville, I would donate my time here. For my Louisville friends, if you've ever been to The Speed Museum for a film, this place could be compared. The difference is this place is missing the museum part with a larger focus on the film at hand. One of the volunteers came out before the film and talked about the film. He offered up information on the director and the film. I've been in similar settings but I feel like the information and interaction here was much better. I won't go into how great the film is, 'Shoplifters', but you should absolutely see it. After the movie, the people that wanted to go across the street(to a restaurant-bar) could for an after-film discussion. From the talks, it seems they normally do this in the theater. Had it not been for the impending snowstorm and drive back to Louisville, I would've stayed for the discussion. After just one visit, I'll absolutely check their site regularly and make special trips to Cincinnati for films. I enjoyed my viewing here. Despite a snowstorm; 'Shoplifters' is also playing in Louisville this next weekend(at the Speed), it was totally worth the trip to Cincinnati to see this film.

    Aronoff Center

    Aronoff Center

    4.4(187 reviews)
    2.8 miDowntown

    We live about an hour away, so hadn't been to the Aronoff Center in over 20 years until going to…read moresee Complexions Contemporary Ballet last night. I'm happy to see that it has been kept up so well over the years, it's beautiful! It was an A+ visit from start to finish. Ordering and accessing digital tickets was a breeze, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the show was outstanding! We have a fantastic arts center in Dayton that we have broadway season's tickets to and attend other performing arts shows as well, but we will definitely be back to see shows at the Aronoff from time to time now that we had such a fantastic evening out!

    Just had my first experience at the Aronoff and it was truly an unforgettable experience. We…read moreattended the Hamilton show on January 4th, 2026. We had brunch at Nicholson's across the street then walked over and entered the venue at Noon. The check-in process was quick and easy. They had several Hamilton banners through the lobby area to get photos before the show. Right after checking in, you hit the merchandise booth where they had a large selection of items for purchase such as shirts, sweaters, and tons of accessories (I'm sure this various by production so keep that in mind). We took the elevator to the loge level (steps are available as well) and took a seat to relax a bit before they opened the doors to the theater. An attendant approached us and mentioned that our niece would need a booster seat and showed us where we could grab one - this was an incredible display of customer service and that remained true throughout our whole time at the Aronoff. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. They really made you feel welcome and that was a highlight of our experience. They offer light concessions such as drinks, themed cocktails and candy. I would recommend eating at one of the many options around the Aronoff prior to your event or after. The doors opened, we took our playbills and found our seats. The show was phenomenal. This was my first time seeing a musical and I loved it! The stage and venue is spectacular as well. We will definitely be back! We just bought tickets to see the Lion King in July. Highly recommend attending a production here - you won't be disappointed.

    Photos
    Aronoff Center
    Aronoff Center - People and stage for Book of Mormon

    People and stage for Book of Mormon

    Aronoff Center - View from front row

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    View from front row

    Esquire Theatre - movietheaters - Updated May 2026

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