I came here for the Charlie Chaplin-Buster Keaton Film Fest with live music by the Grand Feature Film Orchestra (GFFO). It's a simple theater with lovely art deco architecture. Nothing fancy about it, but the auditorium seats are comfortable and in good condition, and views are great from any seat in the house since it's such an intimate space. I was surprised that the orchestra wasn't hidden below, like at a lot of other theaters, but it was great to see them perform live during the show. Lots of wind instruments, including the flute, clarinet, and trumpet, along with sounds of the violin, organ, and percussion equipment. The show started about ten minutes after the listed ticket time. The three films shown were enjoyable, especially with the orchestra doing an impressive job. Sound and picture quality were ideal. Buster Keaton had me thoroughly entertained in two of the films shown, "The Scarecrow" and "One Week". And Charlie Chaplin was delightful to watch as usual, in "The Rink", with the iconic actor in hilarious scenes at the roller rink, which I found even more amusing cuz I had just come from the skating rink myself (and had witnessed a good amount of crashing and tumbling) prior to attending this film fest. There's a lot to love about this place. Not to mention, they serve yummy milkshakes at the concessions stand. Bonus points for that! read more

See all

While I greatly appreciate the variety of what's available to view, it's challenging to watch an amazing performance when someone is crunching popcorn or unwrapping candy. Sounds like rats gnawing at the timbers. read more

The Lark Theater is a gem that was recently renovated with fresh seats, paint, and new food items. I love the staff and appreciate all the volunteers who keep this special place alive. The memberships offer nice perks that will keep you coming for more. This theater also participates in The Mill Valley Film Festival. They show new movies, bring back old favorites, and even offer special showings from opera, ballet, and more. The popcorn is a must but they offer other tasty treats as well. I love their wine and beer selections as well as the candy offerings. Make it a date and choose this theater for your next movie adventure. read more

See all

Oh, our visit to this theater from yesteryear was a delightful experience! The art deco decor is lovely and seen everywhere in this intimate theater. The bottle of the seat got a bit uncomfortable while sitting 2.5 hours of the magnificent Megalopolis movie, but I just adjusted a bit in my seat. Pretty art deco sconces. You can even reserve seats in person at the box office or online. The Kahlua Truffle ice cream by Lapperts is excellent! I found that the closing and opening of the heavy red velvet drapes made me feel anticipation of something wonderful. They even zeroed out the closing part of the previews--fun. read more

See all

Wonderful old art deco movie theater, the Lark Theater just underwent a renovation. So few of these old theaters have survived, and the Lark is a non-profit run by volunteers and supported by the community. The revamp includes updated powder rooms, an upgrade to the main theater including new cushions in the main viewing area (which were sorely needed,) and installing a small lounge next to each powder room. The lounge by the ladies room has red velvet chairs and is what they are calling their "wine lounge." You can purchase a glass in the PM at the concession counter, and have it poured in this room. The snack and beverage selection is good quality for a movie theater, as you might imagine in any theater with its own wine lounge. The Lark shows arthouse films, vintage classics, some award nominees (leading up to award season) and the periodic first release. They post their schedule online. read more

Lark Theater - Inside the newly renovated Lark Theater in Larkspur. - Cinema Near Me - Larkspur, California

This is the best theater in Marin. They share a variety of movies each day and often play first run movies. I love the artist features such as Van Gough, Hopper, Van Gough to name a few. The outdoor drive in at the Corte Madera mall is inspired. It took me years to try it but I'm glad I did. It's fun to be the the community of kids of all ages to see Disney classics. I especially like the interior of the theater. The red velvet seats and hand painted wall decor takes me back to a by-gone era. read more

See all

A charming little, single screen curtain theater, seats maybe 150 ppl comfortably. Such theaters in Marin County have amazing sound and style. The food selections are impressive, not the usual popcorn and nachos. There's beer and wine for purchase and tasty shakes, root beer floats, and non-alcoholic beverages. We are truly lucky to have this hidden gem of a theater in our backyard. I saw the film of Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent. How fitting to watch a foodie movie in a magnificent theater in Larkspur. Fond memories of when I dined at Stars in SF. I loved every moment of it! During the pandemic, this theater put on drive-in movies at Corte Madera shopping center across from Nordstrom. 'Til next time ~ see you at the movies & see you on Yelp (SYOY)! read more

Terrific films, plus Live at the Met, live performances, and thoughtful art films. Best theater popcorn in Marin. Welcoming staff and volunteers. We're lucky to have the Lark! read more

Usually great, but not this time. Need help with the technical basics. I Drove up from San Francisco especially to see a screening of the 1931 version of Little Women. The soundtrack was so loud it was distorted and unlistenable. As in needing earplugs. Asked the nighttime staffer two times to turn the volume down. He said he did so but there was absolutely no difference. Three people in the lobby afterwards complaining about the same thing. Gotta get the basics right!! Very unusual for the lark because it's one of our favorite movie theaters, but this was a real disappointment. read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed the Lark Theater. Omg, it's fabulous!! I see so many movies here. I'm a huge documentary fan, and the Lark shows the best docs ever. They also show the classic musicals that I just can't get enough of. The first show of the day deal: $5 with a free bag of popcorn. You can't beat that! We've been to a few special events, like seeing Brian Copeland perform, and will go to a movie musical sing-a-long soon. Whole heartedly recommend The Lark Theater for a fun movie experience. read more

The finest selection of films. And, the National Theatre Live from the London stages; it's like you are there! We are so lucky to have such a great little theatre with exquisite taste right here in Marin. And, the staff is always welcoming. read more

Such an amazing theater! So old fashioned with real butter for popcorn and wonderful prices for snacks and everything you need!Very sweet workers! And very old fashioned with only one movie playing per showtime. Definitely recommend read more

I had an issue with making it to a movie on one day and they were awesome enough to let me attend the next day. Hixon was instrumental in making this happen and I appreciate him for his efforts. When I got there the shack bar was closing but they let me purchase refreshments anyways. The theater was clean and had great acoustics. The retro art deco was a very pleasant and welcomed surprise. Although the theater is a 45 minute drive from my town, I will be seeing more classic films here. I highly recommend giving this quaint, old fashioned type theater a visit. read more

We just visited the Lark's drive-in movie in the back lot of the Corte Madera mall on Friday night (still during COVID) and had an awesome time - we drove up from San Francisco. We arrived one hour ahead of the movie and got a great spot, though this is a smaller operation so most spots are good spots. They even helped to swap two cars when one was a tall SUV and one was a smaller hatchback to make sure everyone had a good view of the screen! In general, all the employees were extremely friendly and welcoming and they also took COVID safety and cleaning seriously. The screen is large and the picture quality was excellent. The sound worked perfectly through our car radio, though they also rent or loan-out portable speakers and have a WiFi streaming sound option - both of which are great if you're doing the sort of tailgating approach instead of staying in your car. The have a cute little concession stand with canned sodas, boxed candy, and popcorn. You can also bring in food. We did both. I'd say the popcorn was kind of meh but since we also had In-n-Out, I didn't really mind. We were also able to have our dog with us. We did stay in our car though, so unsure if that's OK if you plan to tailgate. This was just so fun and I'd love to see them continue it even after they're able to reopen their indoor theater! Note: they do have bathroom facilities but you cannot leave your trash / need to take it home with you. Just an FYI! read more

They don't make them like this anymore! More than a century old, and richly deserving of a visit.

This is a good old movie theater - the kind from my childhood, and I love it! They before noon deal is a no brainer; five bucks and free popcorn, heck yes!!! They have root beer floats!!! Delicious root beer floats! Their staff is friendly, clean looking and smelling ... a huge bonus for me when the employee's don't smell like weed; so the fifth star is for that. For me, there's nothing worse than the lingering smell of pot on the hands and clothing of someone handling my food, or making my root beer float. Kudos for keeping it simple! read more

Lark Theater - Root beer float and a movie?? Yes, please. - Cinema Near Me - Larkspur, California

Such a wonderful theater. truly a gem. Really beautiful, really friendly staff, comfortable seats, extremely clean. Love the historic feel, will definitely be returning here again and again. Marin is lucky to have a place like this in the community. read more

The best small venue in Marin. Comfortable seats. Great concessions (also wine and beer). Newly remodeled. And mostly great films.

This is a lovely theater that everyone who can should try to visit. Not only is it lovingly cared for by dedicated volunteers, it also showcases wonderful movies and films of theater performances. I went when they were playing Coen's MacBeth - one of the best performances I've seen of Denzel. Only a big screen could do it justice. PLUS they served wine ;) It was a tie into the Marin Theater's new play called Dunsinane which I saw later. Also excellent. We are so lucky to have such great entertainment choices in our area. Support them and be entertained when you can. read more

They certainly don't make them like they used to anymore. Nowhere is this more true than the Lark Theater. This single-screen movie house is a downtown Larkspur institution, and deservedly so. I know that we now live in a Netflix/multiplex society, but you really can't beat catching a flick on the big screen. Fortunately, the Lark Theater has withstood the test of time, and continues to provide cinematic entertainment to true movie-lovers. It's nice to see that the community really worked together to keep this place alive. They did a fantastic job refurbishing the theater without sacrificing any of its nostalgia. The seats are super comfy, the sound quality is better than it's ever been, and it's clearly well-managed. This place is a labor of love and it shows. One of the best parts about the Lark Theater 2.0 is their concessions stand. They now offer organic popcorn, root beer floats, wine & beer, kobe beef hot dogs, and nachos made with real cheese (not the shady cheese-whiz crap). And nothing here is overpriced. Keep in mind, the Lark mostly shows second-run films (translation: this is where Wonder Woman plays after being out for over a month). But every once in a while, they'll show a cool documentary or indie flick. They also occasionally do live-screenings of operas and theatrical productions. I think we're very lucky to have theaters like the Lark in our community. They remind us of a simpler time... a place where strangers can gather in a dark room to be swept away by the magic of the movies. Frankly, I think we could all benefit from a little more magic in our lives these days. Kudos to the Lark Theater for keeping the magic alive! read more

The programs offered and the friendly staff tending their newly renovated theater make attending films at the Lark a delight. I've been a member for years and love the variety of offerings - from comedy to opera, movies to live performances. read more

I hate the feeling of crying in a movie theater. Your eyes start to sting, and you don't want the person next to you to notice. So you keep on widening them up, feeling the tears throb back into your head, as you keep on swallowing the rising knot climbing up into your throat. But there's something intimate and something special about Lark Theater - that makes those tears seem OK. Justified. And even somewhat poignant. I let them fall, trickling hot drops on my cold cheeks, last night, while watching the truly riveting and beautifully captured stories of young children in Northern Uganda - in the acclaimed Oscar nominated documentary War Dance. ************ Lark Theater is a 1936 Art Deco movie house that reopened as a nonprofit film center in 2005 after going dark for several years. With just one movie screen, they manage to capture a slew of impressive works. They show all sorts of things: ranging form MET Opera productions, documentaries, movies for parents and babies, classics from Tennessee Williams, and they even host their own Oscar movie night - complete with delicious food and wine (a fundraiser to keep the Lark Theater alive.) I grew up standing in long gum chewing lines at the New Jersey AMC, and while I love the drama and chaotic world that big, arcade filled theaters can offer once-in-awhile, I would much rather keep the chugging-along-theaters-filled-with stories- community- and-true passion - alive. If you're ever looking for a place to shed a tear, share a laugh, and an intimate afternoon or night with a close friend or loved one, take a beautiful drive out to Lark Theater. read more

Independently owned and operated, gem of Marin. Went here with my family to watch Labyrinth, like the Labyrinth with David Bowie, in 2016 right after his death. Thank you Lark Theater. The establishment serves both wine and beer, all the normal junk food PLUS organic popcorn - "Best in Marin". Gotta love it. Shari Weiser, actress who played Hoggle in Labyrinth, gave a speech to the audience after the Lark played the movie in honor of the late David Bowie. read more

See all

This is such a charming theater! I stopped by last Friday for the first morning show of 'The Cakemaker' (if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it). This is the first time I had ever been to this theater and I was pleasantly surprised by it. There are a few parking spots to the right of the theater and lots of free 2hr parking spots across from it. Since I was watching the first show of the day, I only paid $5 for my ticket and I got a free small popcorn! Score! The theater itself is quite small, just one screen, but everything had been kept in great condition. The seats were comfortable with more than enough legroom (I always associate older theaters with tiny, uncomfortable seats and no legroom). This place is the opposite! Highly recommend checking this place out! read more

We attended a Yelp Event, and had the pleasure of visiting this quaint theatre. It reminded me of another small theatre I had grown up with in Morgan Hill (not even sure if that place is open anymore). This theatre is super cute... and the seats are great regardless of where you're seated. (We were seated in the very back). The movie we watched, Jeremiah Tower, was a really good movie... I love that you can come to this theatre and watch a 2 hour documentary, and have it NOT feel like 2 hours. Honest critique- I'm giving 4 out of 5 stars due to the hotdog that was served, and the employee that waited on us as we exited the theatre. Also- I wish that the seat armrests would go up... they don't... but it didn't really affect our experience, or level of comfort that much. Unfortunately- the hotdog was probably one of the worst hotdogs I've ever had... ever. When I took my first bite, it tasted like it had been boiled in water... and I was biting into that pot of water. It wasn't a juicy, delicious hotdog... it was watered down in the middle, and flavorless. The hotdog bun was hard, and stale. I said to my husband, "if we get sick off these hotdogs, I wouldn't be surprised". Three hours later, I was vomiting hotdog. They were $5.00/each hotdogs- definitely not worth their price. Hint: Don't buy the hotdogs... That being said, the pretzels with cheese filling were super soft and yummy. The staff were VERY friendly and attentive as we were getting to our seats. It was only when we left, and my husband asked the employee if he could refill his ice water, when we felt the staff (that single one- only) was a bit short/rude. But that's okay- it didn't ruin our experience, and if I had anything to suggest, I would only suggest that the staff remain consistently pleasant. (and rethink the way the hotdogs are made)... One more worthy of mention is the popcorn. Organic, and tasty. The added butter was light, and oh so good! Will definitely return. Overall really good experience. Thanks to the Yelp team, the theatre crew, and the complimentary wine crew. read more

There's just that special feeling when it comes to Lark Theater. Easily the most unique theater I have visited, since it has only one screen and has that small town vibe. It's unique in that it really plays primarily older movies or newer indie films, and though that isn't always my taste, it's cool to find a different movie once in a while. Everyone in the theater is always polite and I think it has more to do with the older demographic of Larkspur, but I enjoyed it. Probably the first time I've ever heard pure silence in a theater. Last night however, they were doing a screening of La La Land (which by the way I thought way great, not overrated like I've heard recently). It's part of their effort to play some of the recent Oscar winners and get some more foot traffic. I'm glad they're playing some contemporary films because it'll help spread that awesomeness that is Lark Theater. Check this spot out! read more

Beer and wine at the movies, thank you! Comfortable seats. Only one theater which means no excess noise pollution from competing screens. Every seat is good and rarely is the house packed. They often have guests such as producers. I've seen many a documentary at this place. Only the Rafael shows docs, but not as many as this. The Lark is an art deco movie house, a true slice of Marin. Parking can be a trick on weekends, and it is in Larkspur. Give yourself an extra 5 minutes to get there. read more

I grew up in a small town, and we had a small local theater like the Lark Theater. So when I recently went to the Lark to see a movie, I was hoping for a similar experience to the one from my hometown. I'll explain, I like small local theaters that are run by friendly, down to earth, helpful people. When I went to the Lark, the staff seemed more like snobby film festival folks; especially the management. The term pish-posh came to mind after meeting the head manager on duty. If I'm going to pay over $10 for a movie on a tiny screen, I want the staff to be more approachable & down to earth. It will be years before I give that place another shot. read more

This sweet, one-screen retro theater harkens back to simpler times when movies were a cheap date and before organic popcorn (which is served here) was invented. Programming runs from the obscure (opera from the Met) to cerebral (the Books2Film series with guest moderators and special speakers) to mainstream (The Hangover) to star-studded (Candace Bushnell introducing unseen clips from her post-Sex and the City TV series, Lipstick Jungle) to literary (celebrity cinema-related authors stop here on their national promotion tours, in partnership with local indie bookstore, Book Passage). If you absolutely must see a film the night or weekend it opens, you probably won't come here (since the chain theaters get the mainstream flicks first). But if you can wait a few weeks, then please do, and support this local landmark. The Lark is run by a group of passionate film lovers, historians, board members, patrons and volunteers (including the tireless Bernice Baeza) who are finally embracing the 21st century by launching a blog and (gasp!) Facebook fan group ("join" to show your support!). A LITTLE BIRD TIP: The Lark Theater has recently been included as one of 5 "best movie theaters in the Bay Area" in the SF Chronicle (article here: http://tinyurl.com/nvwtph ) and has received the Editor's Choice award from Marin Magazine. read more

Cute, Clean, Comfortable theater! ! As soon as you walk in there are nice good looking people greeting you in the lobby ! I just love the lark ! I bought a medium popcorn because I couldn't put my finger on the way the popcorn smelled ! COCONUT OIL ! couldn't believe it and also coconut water is attainable there along with beer and wine ! That's just plain un heard of! !!! The also stream the National Theater Live from London and the Metropolitan Opera there which I think is soo amazing that's provided. Places like Century and Regal have just dominated the grid taking out small local theaters. The Lark is non-profit by the good people of Marin. Love the Art Deco look in quite Larkspur preferably better than the Rafael. My only request is get a pinball machine , something more lively make the place more fun, have rap battle Tuesdays or something for the high schoolers that literally are down the road hello $$$$ ! read more

Cool experience. As others point out, it offers good things to eat and drink, screens an eclectic mix of movies, and is beautifully restored. The tiny lobby was prone to traffic jams, especially during the "interval" between acts. There were employees directing traffic, but the line for the women's room and the concession stand kind of run into each other. It was a surprisingly short drive from SF, under 20 minutes from the Golden Gate. If I lived nearby, I would want to make this a frequent destination. read more

Came here for a special viewing of London Theater on screen. I heard the seats were uncomfortable but it seems as if they have renovated the theater. I was happy with the size and comfort of the seats and everything else. I will be back for other shows. read more

What a nice surprise! Call it a theater call it a movie house! Call it what you will! I am calling it a very nice positive experience. Soft cushy rocking seats to a cafe like "not over priced " concession area! Friendly and pleasant people there to take your ticket like the old days! This takes me back when I was a kid going to this movie theater to see movies such as Cheech and Chong and Clockwork Orange! Wow I guess I am dating myself! Thank you Lark theater for being open! read more

This is hands down an awesome theater. I enjoyed being here for the buttery popcorn, the concession stand (no, I'm just kidding) and of course, the movies! The Lark was originally build over a large pit and now has improved a lot! In conclusion, the Lark is a great place to go, especially with kids, to watch a film. read more

Just went to the Lark for the first time last night, and saw Sisterhood of the traveling pants in a sea of 13 year old girls who had happily roller bladed and ridden their bikes to the unique one screen theater. Before the movie started one of the staff members of the non profit Theater greeted all of us and shared some of the upcoming events, I was impressed. Not only was the woman adorably excited about the theater but I felt like I was in small town USA. The pop corn was average, but the experience was memorable. Seats are plush, bathrooms are new, and the theater's eagerness to be different and to please was refreshing. I am so glad my meager $9.75 went to the Lark and not the regency on smith ranch road, and I eagerly await the next movie that will bring me back to the magical Lark. P.S. the presidential elections will be airing at the lark, you can watch Obama and eat milk duds at the same time...how great is that! read more

Great Local Theater! So much fun! They serve wine and have comfy seats! Great to have a local theater! read more

Quaint. Nostalgic. Polite staff. This business is run as a non profit and they offer membership to support the theatre and it allows for discounted tickets. The seats are very comfortable and the decor in the actual theatre is cool. There was room for improvements, as with anyplace. We were interested in the fact that they offer the place for private parties and we just felt that someone could have dressed up the food a bit. Platters instead of paper plates, etc.... perhaps themed table set up to represent the movie or old Hollywood or the group attending- something. Bagel dogs were great- as well as the beer selection, organic snacks and popcorn. Yummy. read more

I love this historic community gem. Easy parking in a lot across the street and tasty places nearby to grab a meal pre or post show. The staff was gracious, the snacks were tasty (yummy chocolate milkshakes), and the seats were comfy with plenty of leg room. I'll be back to support this historic gem. You gotta love small town character. read more

We are so lucky to have this special resource in Marin. An old fashion single screen Art Deco theater. I just saw the Lehman Trilogy which was broadcast from London (and is on its way to Broadway). What a treat, not to mention The Lark has the best concession stand around. Bravo! read more

Lark was saved by 800 people in the community coming together to make this non-profit come to life! Awesome for kids films, documentaries, foreign, and romantic date night comedies. Loved the organic popcorn and beer/wine service. read more