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This place is simply breathtaking, it's like taking a step through time. So beautiful, the details are amazing. Such a fun way to see a movie. The film festival was great.
Once a good activity on a cold New Year's day? Going to see a movie at the O. The O is such an amazing historical landmark. Even though they have split it into 3 separate theaters, it still retains its charm. Some people love the new dream lounger setups at some other local theater chains, but I find the regular seats very comfortable. And besides you don't have to deal with people eating a 4 course meal, with all the lip smacking. People come here to actually watch the movie. Today we saw the new release of "Song Sung Blue". If you are going, bring a big box of tissue. It is a beautifully made movie, great screenplay, acting, and directing. So, so, good!
Super cool historic theater on the east side. Great programming and movie selections, along with the Milwaukee Film Festival each year. Instead of playing the standard movie lineup that you get in all the other theaters chains, you get a wide variety of oscar winners, documentaries, foreign, art, and other niche genres, all in a theatre which features many of its original details, which includes Indian, Moorish, Islamic and Byzantine architectural styles.
Went to the Oriental for Milwaukee Film Festival. This was a great experience. From the beautiful, historic decor, to the great sound and screen! The staff was so nice and the place is clean. Street parking a few blocks away, which was fine. Look forward to every year!
I can't get over how absolutely stunning this theater is! It is such a cool experience! The staff are friendly, the tickets are reasonably priced, you get to see unique films, the theater is gorgeous and they have excellent popcorn. Highly recommend checking it out for a date night or night out!
Such a beautiful venue, went there for Milwaukee film festival. Good selection of drinks, I got a fountain drink and a popcorn.
What a cool place! The theater is in a bustling area of Milwaukee and is intimate and unique. The atmosphere is dark and interesting, with lots of "oriental" designs which are beautiful. The accessibility is good, and the acoustics are good for someone like me who has a bit of a hearing impairment. There are plenty of spots for wheelchairs to park, and the sight lines are good from every angle. The refreshment stand has lots to offer, and the restrooms are accessible despite being in an older building. This is not your typical movie theater, and you can see arthouse films along with box office offerings. There is street parking as well as parking garages nearby, and the costs are super reasonable. Getting here is not a hard drive, and I hope to return soon.
Hadn't been to this gorgeous historic theater in decades, and I'm so glad I returned! This is a hidden gem on the east side of Milwaukee that we need to remember. Saw the premiere of Song Sung Blue and they literally rolled out the blue carpet for us! Staff was super helpful and friendly as the theater was packed! Seats are comfortable and plenty of legroom with cupholder. popcorn was fresh and tasty. It was so special. Plenty of clean restrooms too.
The Oriental is an absolute gem in Milwaukee. It is gorgeously ornate, each theater is unique and it's always a joy to watch a film there. The food/drink selection is top notch. I love this place!
First time going to this beautiful theatre. We went for the "Song Sung Blue" movie premiere. They did pretty good with the crowd management getting us in. It was assigned seating so there was no rush to find good seats, you get what you get. Concessions are reasonably priced and the popcorn was just right. Walking in it felt like an old school theater with the opulent and grand appearance. Will definitely come back for a few more shows.
Came for the documentary series festival and loved the atmosphere! It had great character on the inside of the building. I've never been to this spot and have spent very little time in this neighborhood but I loved it
Such a great place to watch a film! Great concessions, comfortable seats, and it has been beautifully renovated and restored. We found street parking nearby. Can't wait to come back!
I LOVE the Oriental Theatre. Milwaukee Film has done an amazing job restoring this century old movie theater and bringing an array of films to Milwaukee that you'd think theaters with more screens would be showing. Even though there's only three screens, there's rarely an issue having independent films playing next to blockbusters. Food concessions are limited to popcorn and candy while they have a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. If you're a Milwaukee Film member, both tickets and concessions are slightly discounted, which is a nice perk.
I've watched several films in the Oriental Tbeater over many years, and I believe I've watched a fiñm in each of their 3 theaters. The sound system in the main theater is pretty impressive, but the mostly "flat" seating area presents a challenge to see the full screen when someone sits in front of you. The good news is the seats are not assigned, so you can move to another seat. The true allure of the Oriental Theater is the sheer beauty and history of it. I saw Odyssey here a few weeks ago, and last night I saw Landscapes of Memory, part of the Dialogues Documentary Festival, which was really enlightening. The staff is very helpful, and vending options are sufficient. Everyone needs to experience watching a film here! read more
The Oriental is a gorgeous theater. They show interesting films, as well as Hollywood blockbusters.They have the sole 70mmm screen in the area. The concessions stand has fun offerings including bottles of wine and THC treats. The popcorn does stand out as better than most. What's the problem then? I don't see films here to sit through a lengthy sales pitch asking for donations and film club support. In fact, I avoid this lovely theater because they do it. After sitting through an hour or more of passive slide pitches for money, they brought their leader on stage to make another, way too long, pitch for support. It was such a turn off I may never go back. Enough. Yikes. read more
Recently came in to watch Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and I loved this theater. You can feel the place is rich in history and offers original decor. The concessions offer a variety of snacks and their popcorn was really good. I would recommend this theater to anyone! read more
4 months ago
This place is simply breathtaking, it's like taking a step through time. So beautiful, the details are amazing. Such a fun way to see a movie. The film festival was great. read more
Once a good activity on a cold New Year's day? Going to see a movie at the O. The O is such an amazing historical landmark. Even though they have split it into 3 separate theaters, it still retains its charm. Some people love the new dream lounger setups at some other local theater chains, but I find the regular seats very comfortable. And besides you don't have to deal with people eating a 4 course meal, with all the lip smacking. People come here to actually watch the movie. Today we saw the new release of "Song Sung Blue". If you are going, bring a big box of tissue. It is a beautifully made movie, great screenplay, acting, and directing. So, so, good! read more
10 months ago
Super cool historic theater on the east side. Great programming and movie selections, along with the Milwaukee Film Festival each year. Instead of playing the standard movie lineup that you get in all the other theaters chains, you get a wide variety of oscar winners, documentaries, foreign, art, and other niche genres, all in a theatre which features many of its original details, which includes Indian, Moorish, Islamic and Byzantine architectural styles. read more
Went to the Oriental for Milwaukee Film Festival. This was a great experience. From the beautiful, historic decor, to the great sound and screen! The staff was so nice and the place is clean. Street parking a few blocks away, which was fine. Look forward to every year! read more
I can't get over how absolutely stunning this theater is! It is such a cool experience! The staff are friendly, the tickets are reasonably priced, you get to see unique films, the theater is gorgeous and they have excellent popcorn. Highly recommend checking it out for a date night or night out! read more
1 year ago
What a cool place! The theater is in a bustling area of Milwaukee and is intimate and unique. The atmosphere is dark and interesting, with lots of "oriental" designs which are beautiful. The accessibility is good, and the acoustics are good for someone like me who has a bit of a hearing impairment. There are plenty of spots for wheelchairs to park, and the sight lines are good from every angle. The refreshment stand has lots to offer, and the restrooms are accessible despite being in an older building. This is not your typical movie theater, and you can see arthouse films along with box office offerings. There is street parking as well as parking garages nearby, and the costs are super reasonable. Getting here is not a hard drive, and I hope to return soon. read more
Hadn't been to this gorgeous historic theater in decades, and I'm so glad I returned! This is a hidden gem on the east side of Milwaukee that we need to remember. Saw the premiere of Song Sung Blue and they literally rolled out the blue carpet for us! Staff was super helpful and friendly as the theater was packed! Seats are comfortable and plenty of legroom with cupholder. popcorn was fresh and tasty. It was so special. Plenty of clean restrooms too. read more
10 months ago
The Oriental is an absolute gem in Milwaukee. It is gorgeously ornate, each theater is unique and it's always a joy to watch a film there. The food/drink selection is top notch. I love this place! read more
First time going to this beautiful theatre. We went for the "Song Sung Blue" movie premiere. They did pretty good with the crowd management getting us in. It was assigned seating so there was no rush to find good seats, you get what you get. Concessions are reasonably priced and the popcorn was just right. Walking in it felt like an old school theater with the opulent and grand appearance. Will definitely come back for a few more shows. read more
I LOVE the Oriental Theatre. Milwaukee Film has done an amazing job restoring this century old movie theater and bringing an array of films to Milwaukee that you'd think theaters with more screens would be showing. Even though there's only three screens, there's rarely an issue having independent films playing next to blockbusters. Food concessions are limited to popcorn and candy while they have a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. If you're a Milwaukee Film member, both tickets and concessions are slightly discounted, which is a nice perk. read more
2 years ago
Incredible theater! The inside is gorgeous with so much history and East Indian decor. I really enjoyed the ambiance and the drink and snack options were great. This theater is definitely a place to take friends and family and "wow" them with charm and history. A lMilwaukee landmark! read more
I wouldn't call myself a cinephile but I do love a good Indy movie, and Anderson films always come through with the quirky comedy and mid century aesthetic so I had to go to the Oriental for the screening of the Phoenician Scheme. This my first visit to the theatre since Landmark sold it the Milwaukee film festival. I did struggle with customer service because no one answered the phones, but other than that not much has changed, which is actually a great thing. The beauty of the building and ambiance are always an experience. read more
9 months ago
Don't miss the unsurpassed experience of seeing classic films within a grand movie palace. read more
2 years ago
I attended the Milwaukee Film Festival (MFF) as a Yelp Event. It was a great time for me and a friend. We enjoyed the popcorn and a wine cooler at the Oriental Theatre. I hadn't been in the Oriental for years and it was a treat just to be inside the historic place. I wish I could have wandered around or gotten a tour of the venue itself. It brought back some warm memories of older days. I saw the movie, Light Needs. It's a documentary style film about plants -- which was amazingly interesting. It was filmed here in Milwaukee so a lot of the scenes had familiar locations in them. Many of the interviewees were in the audience. I loved the artistic side of the film but it really got me to thinking about how we live with plants and interact with them in our environment. I left the theatre thinking about all the ways plants and humans are interdependent -- not just for oxygen and water but for support and life, happiness and friendship. Yes, I said friendship! All-in-all, the afternoon was very enjoyable and I am thankful to the Oriental and the MFF for hosting this event and inviting Yelp Elite. It was an extra treat to be able to chat with the Director of the Film in the TalkBack after the show. I also appreciated being able to meet the plant curator from UWM libraries -- who does an amazing job with very little support. If you get a chance go over to the UWM libraries and see the fabulous plants all over then library. Then ask for the plant curator and thank him for his work. He does it from a place of love and respect for his mom! Totally amazing!!! If you still have time, get on over to the Oriental and view a MFF. You won't regret whatever you pick -- even it it sounds a little strange, it's probably going to be thought provoking! I totally enjoyed my choice. I hope I get to go again next year! read more
4 months ago
This is the place to see a film. This nearly 100 year old restored gem screams cinephile paradise. After being so revolted by the Marcus and AMC ear-bleeding, Who concert sound systems, the awful chemical popcorn and Icee machines, and the ridiculously long trailer parade, it is comforting to return to a place where people care. The popcorn tastes like butter. The film selections are ideal; a fine mixture of arthouse and box office sensation. We've seen several great films here in the past six years. Nice work, Oriental. You dazzle me. read more
4 months ago
The theater has an interesting vibe - definitely not the normal mall movie theaters. Almost feels like a Broadway theater, but with a screen instead of a stage. But there is also a stage. I was a little dubious at first, when the previews were rolling, cuz the sound was only on in the front of the theater. it was echoing and hard to hear. Thankfully they turned all the surround speakers for the feature, and it was awesome. I didn't go up to the balcony, but even in the 3rd row from the back on the right side, I had a good view of the movie. Overall, felt clean though not new, and I had a pleasant experience. read more
This is such a beautiful, historic theater. It's incredible how much the ambiance and decor here add to seeing a movie. Refreshments are reasonably priced and there is always something interesting showing. I hope they will bring back the organ player for evening showtimes--that was always such a nice touch. Support independent film! read more
I have been to the Oriental Theater a few times now and every experience has been wonderful! The ambiance of the theater is great and has a unique but still classic movie theater feel that is uncommon these days. The popcorn is also really good and they have a selection of alcoholic beverages for those of age. The theater shows a mixture of new releases, old favorites, and more artsy films. The selection and variance in films is extremely nice and always gives visitors options. I am especially excited for when they are going to show Hocus Pocus closer to Halloween! If you have not been to the theater yet, it is an absolute must and you won't regret it! read more
This theatre is a great hidden gem within Milwaukee. Not only is it surrounded by amazing restaurants, it is in such a cute part of town with plenty surrounding activities. They have current movies in a unique venue that speaks to the history of Milwaukee. The seats are comfortable, bathrooms are clean, and the treat selection is excellent. Movie theater popcorn too! Highly recommend going to see a movie just to see the old time decor of the theatre. read more
I saw a movie at Oriental Theater for my first time a few days ago. I attended a showing of Cha Cha Real Smooth as a part of the Milwaukee Film Festival. It was such a cool experience, and honestly I wish I was able to attend more shows! When we arrived, the lobby was bustling with people and set up with information, staff members, and mke film fest clothing. There was a pretty long line for concessions, but it moved quickly. My husband and I split a large popcorn (it is very large) and candy. There are plenty of alcoholic drink choices, we even saw boozy ice cream being offered! (Ahh, Milwaukee.) The theater itself is gorgeous!! I spent time looking around and taking in the architecture of the building and art in the main theater. The ceiling is beautiful, and the acoustics are pretty great compared to other older theaters I have been in. Mke Film Fest did a wonderful job hosting the 15- day event. Cha Cha Real Smooth is a fantastic film, and I'm so happy I got to see it in such a wonderful theater. I will definitely go back! read more
2 years ago
Great ambiance. Awesome popcorn. Great movies you can't find elsewhere. Saw Ethan Hawke's new film, Wildcat. read more
3 years ago
I'm doing this kind of late for Sunday when I went so pretend I did this review on Sunday and not Thursday. I saw Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and even though we were in the smaller theater it was really nice. Hopefully I get to see a movie in the main theater at one point. I haven't been here before until Sunday. I want to see more movies here! It feels so fancy and it gives me that older movie theater vibe. Also I found out that this movie theater (and others) have subtitles while you watch the movie! It's not super consistent with everything they say though but it's ok. Some whole lines in Guardians of the Galaxy were cut out and shown on screen. (Also one line in particular I understand why it maybe didn't show up on screen incase kids are watching.) But other than that I think it's a really cool movie theater and I should try to come here more often if possible! read more
The MKE Yelper insisted I see this theatre after our pasta bowls around the corner (2/17/20). The Oriental Theatre reminded me of the older film sites in Seattle, like The Egyptian and the former Harvard Exit. The theatre staff allowed quick peeks at cordoned off areas, very kind. Literally, in glance go. Kind of had that National Lampoon Vacation, rush pause and go at various sites of interest. read more
How have I not reviewed one of my favorite theaters yet? I have been coming here since I was a teenager to enjoy Rocky Horror, first dates, and time with friends. The MKE Film Festival is one of my favorite events every year. This historic, charming, beautiful theater is the cherry on top of a good movie. Snacks are yummy, staff is nice, and the renovations that have been done are AMAZING. So grateful to have this jewel on the east side. Be aware that parking might be hard to find, but that's all part of the experience. And enjoy a meal at Ma Fischer's after! read more
1 year ago
After my first experience at the Oriental Theater I can confidentially say it won't even be my last experience there this month! Loved every aspect, comfy seats, lots of leg room, the architecture is a movie of its own and don't even get me started on the popcorn! It tasted like they used real butter, can't wait until next time! read more
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More info about Oriental Theatre
2230 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202
East Side, Lower East Side
Directions
(414) 276-5140
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https://mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre
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