I am sure this was my first time here, but I can't be too sure. The theater is known for very independent, foreign, and left-of-center flicks. We went for the Film fest featuring Blacks or people of African descent in Italian cinema. I got a ticket online and checked in via a guest list. The place had been remodeled some, except for the theater and bathrooms. They were clean at least, but the theater seats were LOW! The concessions were reasonably priced, not low but not AMC ridiculous. The popcorn was good. A reception from the Italian Cultural Institute followed a lengthy post screen discussion. They are located near the DePaul campus at Fullerton so I probably would not get a membership, but I would go back depending on the events. read more

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Visited Facets for the first time a few weeks ago and love having an indie movie theater so close to home. Service was super friendly and the concessions were affordable. They offer weekly movie trivia and even have offer dvd and vhs rentals that remind me of Blockbuster. I will definitely come back to support this local theater. read more

Was supposed to see a movie but they decided LAST minute to cancel the event. Great customer service...NOT Ruined the whole night. read more

Excuses excuses. They cancel a film about bringing kidnapped children home to their families, about hatred being faced by students on college campuses, because amazingly, their "patrons" don't want to see anything Jewish on their screens. Then, literally days later, they pull some nonsense excuse out their rear ends about needing security? Listen, your bottom of the barrel PR company could do better than come up with that nonsense days after you canceled the film because your other patrons don't like Jews, and this didn't seem problematic to you. read more

Completely disappointed with the team running this theatre for cancelling a sold out show hours before the screening. They will happily show No Other Land, but refuse to show a documentary about antisemitism. I'll be going elsewhere to see my films going forward. Jew hate is not customer service. read more

They said they felt "unsafe" to show a film by a creator who uplifts not only Jewish voices, but Palestinian as well with varying viewpoints, yet showed "No Other Land." The creator is always about and promotes positivity and understanding. What's "unsafe" about that? read more

So I personally worked with facets about 8 years ago. They came to Highland Park and collaborated with the schools to do the film festival for students got to make films. at the time, I thought they were great. It was a really cool program. Highland Park is at least half Jewish. I don't know the exact number but it's heavily Jewish and this week Facets canceled at the last minute a Jewish film about antisemitism. It would be one thing if they wanted to remain neutral on the Gaza-Israel conflict, but in the same week they canceled the Jewish film, they showed a pro Palestinian film filled with hatred for the Israelis. I don't have a problem with them showing a Palestinian film as long as they represent both sides of the conflict. They clearly don't. They blocked the Chicago Jewish Alliance and their Instagram and Facebook pages. They also blocked many Jewish people who were upset rather than have a dialogue. They just canceled Jews. What they don't understand, is that Jewish people don't need Facets. But Facets needs Jewish writers, actors and supporters, a huge representation of the arts and film. I can't imagine any Jewish person would ever support them again. They are literally the face of antisemitism. read more

Saw some negative comments about this theater that surprised me so felt I would chime in. Facets has become a place in the city where I truly feel at home. Not easy for me as a perpetual outsider, loner, stray human, and ex-New Yorker still wary of the warmth of midwesterners. But I like Facets. It's a place where you can get lost for hours, where you can mainline art, hook up to an IV of imagination nutrients and heal from the cruelty and sorrow of the current world. Facets is a community, welcoming, inclusive, queer-celebrating, and weird-positive. I've been there when they served cherry pie on Twin Peaks movie night and on a day where they piled ramen noodle containers sky high to make a pyramid of tastiness after anime night. I've had friendships deepen while watching obscure Asian horror films and I've witnessed audience members singing along to the most oddball musicals known to man. I've felt myself change there, become a little more human, a little more happy. Facets is indispensable to me. To all who make the theater possible, thank you. All the work you put in, it matters and it makes an impact. Keep up the great programming. read more

My friend and I tried to watch a movie there, but we were turned away due to our ethnicity.

We booked Facets for my husband's birthday and we had a great experience. We hosted about 18 of our friends for a screening of one of our favorite cheesy movies, and we had the studio space for two hours beforehand. We were able to bring in food, drink, and we could pre-purchase popcorn for everyone. The crew was even able to project short videos in the studio space! It was really easy to work with them and they were very accommodating. The price was a great value for a Saturday night, and all of our friends had such a fun time. We would definitely do it again, and highly recommend doing an event with Facets! read more

5 stars for showing the Rose Marie: Wait For Your Laugh documentary! The staff was extremely friendly. Though there isn't a parking lot here, the surrounding area is very residential, so it isn't a problem finding a spot that's a short walk away. Nice, cozy theater. They also offer rentals and snacks. read more

Apropos it's called Facets since it's a many sided, hidden gem. They host film screenings, rent dvds, sell dvds, have a film school, host parties, a children's film camp, and have film fests. I've attended the Second Saturday screening (the 2nd Saturday of every month which feature family friendly short film programs and feature films) and the Chicago International Children's Film Festival. There's also have plenty of movie showings and events for adults. All are films that are obscure, foreign, and fun. This jewel has a good setting and presentation: nice customer service, fun vibe, and tasty popcorn. "A brilliant yet NOT deeply flawed piece of work." read more

So, I needed to rent La Dolce Vita for the Il Covo party a few nights ago... Of course, since I am a movie moron, I figured I could just swing by my neighborhood Blockbuster and check one out. I walk up to the counter: Me: Hi, do you have a copy of La Dolce Vita I could rent? Uninterested BB employee: La Dolchay WHAT!? Me: Um, ok...thanks any way. So, ok. Blockbuster may have 1400 copies of Superbad, but if you are looking for something a bit more...ahem...independent, foreign, off the beaten path (read: better), then head to Facets. What.a.GEM. Seriously, didn't even knew it existed. I am not a film buff by a longshot, but when duty calls...I'll know where to find it. Obscure titles, helpful staff, quick and to the point.... Walked in, stepped up, a sane/professional film loving clerk helped me find what I needed, checked me in, checked me out...and I was on my way with a 3-disk set of Italian history. Ahhhhh, thank you for being there for me Facets... Price was $5.40 for 2 nights, but well worth it. They have an oddly large selection. I'll be back to catch a flick, methinks...cool place. I mean, unless you LOVE Blockbuster. La Dolce, WHAT!? ;) read more

As a fan of film, and along time city dweller, I'm almost embarrassed to say this was my first visit to Facets. I have for the longest time wanted to peruse their extensive DVD collection of contemporary, classic and out-of-print video, check out their classes, and take in a featured film in their theater. My film friends and I did that last night with a British crime thriller, along with a handful of other audience members. Entering their modest facility on Fullerton, I had some kind of deja vu experience, as the space reminded me of being in college and attending a film or play. It was not at all crowded, and we had time to chat up the staff and find out more about the membership offerings. Basically, Facets is similar to a brick and mortar Netflix with memberships starting at $8.99 per month, which enable you to take out films, like you would books from a library, one at a time. The selection is impressive to say the least, and they have sections like "employee choices." which are always helpful, in the way that the guy or gal in the wine store steers you to a good bottle or vintage. So I like the vibe, the staff and the small screening theater. It's a good size with, as another patron loudly proclaimed, the most leg room of any theater in the area. Those of you who've flown United will be pleased and happy to stretch your legs. Between this place, and my Netflix, queue, I hope that I'm around for another 30 years so I can take in all the good films out there. Like a kid in a candy store. read more

I was a member here for a few months. For $24/month you can rent up to 3 movies at a time with no monthly cap, AND you get a discount to their screenings. Seemed like a great deal. The problem was that they never had the films in stock that I wanted. I'd bring a DVD case up to the counter. DENIED. Twin Peaks? DENIED. Rushmore? DENIED. Bottle Rocket? DENIED. Anything by Godard? DENIED. Wim Wenders? DENIED. Wernor Herzog? DENIED. Seijun Suzuki? DENIED. Apparently, as far as art house/foreign/cult films go, my tastes must be fairly popular, because all the films I looked for were already checked out. An unlimited rental membership is useless if you can't keep anything in stock. I give it 3-stars though because they DID have Le Peau Doce, a lesser-known film by Francois Truffaut that I have not been able to find anywhere else in this country. I would probably still rent here on a per-rental basis, but the unlimited membership is a waste of money. read more

I just moved in to the area a few months ago, and I walked by this place (never knowing what it was) until a few weeks ago, when I finally decided to Google it. I'm so glad I did. This place is a wonderful small theater, and a great small business/non-profit to support! They usually have one movie on screen a week, with lots of weekend times. They have an awesome rental library, tons of options. Plus, you can view all of their rental movies online, and even reserve/order them too! I decided to get a membership to this place, because it's an awesome deal (and a great place to support!) Unlimited one rental out at a time and unlimited access (for two people) to any of their theater shows! All for $8.99 a month, which is the same price as ONE ticket to their theater. So it well over pays for itself after one trip to the theater. Also, they provide movie school/classes/education to schools and children. read more

Keep calling and sending them email requests to contact me regarding joining. No one ever answers the phone or replies to emails.

Cinematheque is THE place in Chicago for foreign, independent & classic movie lovers. I recently discovered this place during their Warhol film festival and it was great experience. Cinematheque, a small , no frills theater hosts a variety of film festival and programs for the non main stream movie goer. Their video library Facets Multimedia carries some of the most hard to find movies for rental as well. I look forward to their events! Enjoy! read more

Facets is a breath of fresh air in the world of film. It's real, unpretentious, and has the friendliest staff I have ever encountered in a movie theater. I had a Groupon date, which turned out to be an amazing deal (2 tickets, 2 sodas, and 2 popcorns for $14!). We really wanted to check out a documentary called "My Reincarnation," and fortunately caught it before it ended. The documentary itself was phenomenal, and I felt very lucky to have the opportunity to see it at Facets. I am a sucker for any type of NPO, so I will definitely be coming back here more often and suggest you do the same! 5 well deserved stars. read more

How should I say this? There is a lot to like about Facets. They are independent, local, and they even appear to have a great selection of hard to find movies. Appear is the key word here. Before signing up for their Nextflix style rental service, I searched the catalog for about 50 movies that have been difficult for me to find. They claimed to have around 40 of those movies, which was outstanding! So, I signed up for the highest membership level available and eagerly awaited these movies. After about 3 weeks, not one of my top 10 selections had been sent. Ok, not to worry, it's only been 3 weeks . . . two months later and not a single movie in my top 10 selections had shown up. A basic breakdown of what I experienced over 2-3 months of the service is as follows: Of the movies listed in the catalog, somewhere between 25-35% are not AVAILABLE. You can add them to your rental queue, but they are either missing or I guess the staff keeps them in the back for their own viewing or something. Of the other 65-75% of the movies in your queue, around 15% will show up cracked in half or completely shattered. You will then have to immediately return the disc and wait about 6 days for a different disc to arrive. The two problems noted above result in about 70% of the queue being available, and 15% of that 70% being destroyed before you receive the disc. THIS LEAVES AROUND 60% of the selection listed in the catalog actually available for viewing. Unfortunately for me, that 60% does not include the titles that I was most excited to be able to rent. The lack of AVAILABILITY in their movie selection makes 3 stars a little too much in my opinion. So this is really 2 1/2 stars on the sole basis of being independent and local. read more

classes, indie and underground films, excellent selection of dvds to rent. As a distributor, Facets carries everything you need to be fully conversant in great film of the past and present, from all over the world. The theatre is small and seldom are movies sold out, which is a pity. read more

We were here today for a child's birthday party and had a great time. The staff was very, very friendly. The selection of short films that the kids got to see was perfect and a big hit with the little ones. There was popcorn and drinks to enjoy during the films, and I loved the party room upstairs that was bright and overlooked the street below. This is a great place to host a kids birthday party, and I may plan a party for one of my own kids here in the future. read more

The best movie selection in town! If you are looking for something other than the latest blockbuster, this is the place to go. They have a lot of independent, foreign and art films that are available anywhere else. They also have a large collection of VHS movies that aren't available on DVD. If you want to learn more about film, Facets offers film classes and screening throughout the year. To really take advantage of the movies here, buy a Patron Circle membership, which starts at $8.99 per month. You get free admission for 2 to all screenings plus unlimited movie rentals through the mail or in person. read more

A true movie-lover's playground, this place carries the classic, the obscure, the random, the banned, and even the popular. They have a nice selection of film-related publications next to the registers, and a bunch of film guides and inventory listings scattered about, just in case you need help thinking of a movie to rent. Since there's no way of knowing whether or not a film is available to rent before asking, they have notepads and pencils for customers to write down whatever titles tickle their fancies. This way, you won't have to keep going back and forth between the movie collections and the register. But yeah, I love this place. $25/month, unlimited rentals, sans late-fees, and cinema privs. The employees are great also, knowledgeable and unpretentious. read more

Are you a culture snob? It's ok if you are here! Do you want to catch a retrospective by a Romanian film director and sit next to film makers and film professors? Well, you will find that here also. Ever since I visited this place in graduate school to see some German films in the 1990s, I have always been happy that Chicago has Facets. Sure, New York has Angelica Film and other places showing art house and foreign films, but this place has been providing a cultural service to the Chicago community for decades. I always used to figure that if a woman invited me to a film at Facets I was in luck! Nothing has changed. This place is great, and if you take film seriously, this is the place for you. Parking can be tough. Popcorn is available as are drinks, but don't expect pizzas and giant nachos. A truly great Chicago institution. read more

If you loved Wedding Crashers - you will probably hate this place. But if you love people like Susan Tyrrell, Timothy Carey, the sound of "Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia" intrigues you or analyzing a David Cronenberg film seems like a fun thing to do - go here. I love this place! read more

Love the Facets, but sadly had to give up my membership recently. I will return one day, though. They actually have more films in that back room than NetFlix. True, a lot of them are on VHS, but most of those are obscure, out of print, or just haven't been released on DVD yet. For those of us who are not so snobby about renting only on DVD it's a treasure trove. It can be a pain to go there for me, but the staff are all very friendly and knowledgable. If you don't like going there, you have the option to have movies (DVD only) sent to you in the mail ala' NetFlix. Nice little theatre, too. Seeing a film there is like going into someone's basement that they have converted into their own personal movie theatre, complete with a tiny snack bar. read more

What a quaint theatre! I love the character it has, downright to it's dirty and dusty theatre chairs. Movies are only $10 and they play independent/indie films so don't come here and expect any Disney movies. They only have 2 theatres I think, so pretty limited. The older gentleman was a one man show the night I went. Unfortunately, the lights didn't come back on at the end of the movie and a friend tripped trying to go out of the theatre, so watch your step ladies and gents. I'm not much of a movie goer (would prefer to watch them in the comfort of my own home) but i'd come back here to support this place for any independent movies that catch my eye. read more

I love this place in theory but because it always seems like such a chore to actually go to Ashland and Fullerton it's mostly just in theory. I've only been there for one movie so far and I enjoyed that experience. I didn't think the theater was as small and uncomfortable as some of the other reviewers. Actually, I thought it was relatively comfortable and, after seeing all those movies in the little boxy side theater at the Music Box and assorted university cinemas by comparison, it was cozy and nice. I actually came to Yelp looking for reviews of their film school classes so if anyone has taken any of these courses, I'd like to know how you enjoyed them. At $25 a class for five classes, it seems like a little much but if it's worth it, well then, I guess the money can be found, n'est-ce pas? read more

I've been to the movie rental side before and I must admit that their selection is pretty great but the movie cases are so hard to get off the shelf...literally! They're like jam packed and I think the workers secretly get a kick out of watching you try and get 'em out. Last Saturday was my first time in the theatre side. I went to catch the screening of Night and Day for my Film class. The movie was sub-par but it did have some amusing moments. The layout of the theatre is pretty general. I love the fact that every seat has an abundance of leg room but the seats are lumpy and uncomfortable. I had a spring numbing my ass throughout the 2 1/2 hour film so minus a star there and it was pretty cold but it was freezing outside so I won't take any stars away. It was the first truly cold day of the season so the temperature was off, I'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt. The price is pretty much the same as a regular movie theater but they also have a student discount so A+ there. I think this place is underrated. The DePaul kids take it for granted. read more

I like Facets a lot. I go here for the films, which don't show in many if any other theaters in the area. It's a convenient location and easy to get to on CTA. Facts is not a posh movie experience, so those expecting big cushy seats and flavored popcorn will be sorely disappointed. I prefer the big theater over the screening room-- the latter is, in a word, "makeshift." As I said, though, Facets is about the films. read more

A nice, SMALL screening room which shows a good selection of mostly new "art" films and documentaries. Sadly, the theatre is rather cramped and the seats are uncomfortable. The ticket prices, if you're not a member, are much too high for what you get. If the film you want to see isn't playing (or going to be playing) anywhere else in the city, seeing it at Facets won't kill the experience but it won't heighten it either. read more

Facets is a gem, an immensely special cultural space in the US. It has been around for several decades playing a special role in the cultural life of Chicago. Its video store is simply unique in the world. Its two theaters show films you won't see anywhere else. It is true that its program is at times uneven (primarily because of financial restrictions) but Facets shows films, documentaries that are very often cutting-edge, alternative to much more commercial venues such as Gene Siskel or Music Box. At Facets I have seen thought-provoking, challenging, political films reviewed reviewed in the NYTimes that no other theater in Chicago had the balls to show. read more

Great foreign films. Broad and comprehensive DVD and video collection. The audience is nicer than at Gene Siskel, and by nicer, I mean they lack attitude. You can go and make friends, or you can quietly enjoy a film. And you can enjoy a film with people of different ages, races, nationalities. But the DVDs are often damaged, i.e. I missed the most important parts of Elizabeth the other night b.c. of an issue with the DVD. Oh ha ha ha, poor fellow Yelper Joe T. I have been there, too, Joe T. read more

You know...I used to love coming to Facets, but within the past decade or so, their programming has been "off," meaning that they screen dumbly-conceived foreign and independent movies at the cost of alienating most of their customers. Honestly, I could see the place closing within the next few years, which would be a shame, seeing as how Chicago has so few independent theaters left. The programmes that are run by the Siskel (which is a pain to get to) and DOC films (which may as well be in Indiana) and The Music Box are normally much better. read more

Chicago is very fortunate to have a cinema resource like Facets. They are one of the leading resources in the nation for rental and purchase of foreign, independent, obscure, and classic DVD and video. They also have two theaters that host live screenings, their non-profit operation allows them to take chances on film fare that would likely be overlooked by most commercial theaters. In addition to regular weekly programs, Facets often hosts filmmaker retrospectives, sneak previews, and meet-the-filmmaker discussions. Serious cinephiles can save big $$ on rentals and screenings by buying into a Facets membership, the best value is their Freedom Pass which allows unlimited rentals and theater admissions for about $250/year. read more

One of my favorite places in Chicago going back years. Facets, back when it was just an independent theater and rental house, was already amazing, but now that they have a Netflix-like home shipment service -- but featuring the kind of movies you can never get from Netflix -- it's even better. They have tons of great classes, including ones for kids who want to get into film; an amazing rental selection with a helpful and enthusiastic staff; a great theater that shows films that won't play anywhere else in the country; and, in Milos Stehlik, a director who's taking it into the future with an eye towards keeping indie film alive and thriving. Magnificent. read more

We have great cinemas in Chicago. Facets Cinémathèque certainly qualifies. Reviewing solely the cinémathèque component of Facets (as interesting as I find the idea of their home-video program to be) provided a good reminder that not all five-star establishments are exactly equal, despite belonging to an echelon defined, at least, by a minimum standard of quality. In this case, I am clearly spoiled by Doc Films, to which Facets Cinémathèque simply cannot measure up. But that nonetheless shouldn't detract from the positives things there are to write regarding Facets -- and they are many. The prices are fair; the space is nicely apportioned, though small, creating an intimate atmosphere very conducive to pre- or post-film dialogue; and the attempts to project films that simply aren't or won't be showcased elsewhere seems both earnest and successful. My first experience, arriving a few minutes early for a nine-o'clock screening on a Wednesday evening, was met with the appreciated surprise of an in situ director commentary and discussion, which had been sandwiched between the earlier (seven-o'clock) screening and the later. The film ('Patang'), which I'd only chosen to see because of my groupon's imminent expiration, likewise surprised: it was quite solid, and not nearly so "inspirationally" saccharine as the few reviews of the film had led me to believe Moreover, the principal attendant - a nice, middle-aged man, who seemed to be running just about every aspect of the enterprise, from tickets to concessions to projection - was incredibly considerate, processing the groupon as swiftly as he could (and swiftly loading up the appertaining popcorn and soda, as well) so that my companion and I could catch as much of the director dialogue as possible. In short: as I exited the screening and strolled out along Fullerton, I was fast considering how soon I could find an excuse to return to this excellent little operation. read more

woo! We just got a membership & now we get movies mailed to us. It's better than netflix & I just found out it's nonprofit???

The entire film community in Chicago is very familiar with Facets. Whether you want to catch an art film in their screening room or are looking for that very hard to find title - this is a great place to visit. read more