I love this theater so much! Old school style. Inexpensive prices. Sweet neighborhood location. It's like stepping back in time! $3 evening movie prices are more than affordable. You can even get popcorn, a soda, and candy! I still need to stop by the wine bar sometime soon. I've enjoyed specialty screenings here too. You really can't go wrong here for dates, with friends, or by yourself you will have an amazing experience. read more

The Riverview is a great throwback in what is becoming a ridiculously overpriced tradition - going out to the movies. Sure, most showings here are of second-run flicks or cult classics, but the price is right and this place has a ton of retro charm. Matinees will run you $2, while evening shows will run you $3 (save for some special screenings, which will sometimes be more). Munchies are also priced reasonably and I can't think of the last time I have seen real butter served on popcorn, which is a very welcome respite from the hydrogenated motor oil most other theaters offer. The theater itself might not be as technically up to snuff with some of the other more modern theaters (i.e., no 3D, IMAX, POV, S&M, Blu-Ray or whatever), but sound quality and the picture are still fairly good, though I recommend not sitting too far in the back. read more

There's not much I can write that hasn't been written already. I usually can't stand seeing movies at AMC. I prefer to give my money to independent theaters. I feel like I'm basically stealing whenever I see a movie at the Riverivew. $2-3 for a ticket, come on, that's unheard of! The last time I paid that much for a movie was in the 90s. I find that the crowd is generally nice and polite. The inside of the Riverview is beautiful. You just have to see it for yourself. I also love their website. Is that a weird thing to say? It's seriously awesome. GO THERE NOW! read more

Riverview Theater - Cinema Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I hate to do this but I must. These last few times, although I still LOVE this place, I can hardly stand the musty smell. It's gotten progressively worse over the past few years. I know I have a keen sense of smell since I'm blind as a bat but I can not believe I'm the only one smelling this. I really hope they either shampoo the carpets and/or the seats soon because it's really Stanky!! read more

The Riverview Theater is a hidden gem. Cheap tickets, comfy seats, delicious popcorn, and a huge lobby that feels more like a retro lounge. They don't take credit cards, though, so bring cash. read more

Riverview Theater - Lobby - Cinema Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I like to sit in the corner of the lobby if I get there early and pretend that I'm in that Kevin Kline movie - what's it called? - Ice Storm. The feeling that the lobby invokes in me may well have nothing to do with 1973, but that's about when I attribute it too. And the furniture seems right. (I realize that it's supposed to be 50s retro, but I wasn't alive in either decade, so I'm sticking to my guns) Post-show, I always try to leave time to go across the street for a drink at the Riverview Wine Bar. They have a nice selection, if not surprising, and the folks behind the bar make an effort to find something you'll like. It's a cute place to boot. The food's pretty good too. I wish they'd set up a satellite bar in the theater itself. Because the popcorn is divine at Riverview and would be even better with a cold beer, eh? read more

Riverview Theater - Cinema Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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No theater in the Twin cities are going to beat their prices! Your ticket stub can also serve as a coupon for certain local businesses so hold onto it! The seats aren't recliner style, just the old school classic red theater seats. There is a slight incline so shorter people who sit in the back (like me!) can still see. There was a lot of seating available. Bring cash! There is an ATM available. The popcorn is served with real butter. Street parking available. Come early if you're worried about finding a spot. We didn't struggle much for the late showing. It's a great cheap date idea! read more

The popcorn really is that good. Is it over 100 degrees again? We're headed to the Riverview! $2 matinees = a happy family. I'd feel like a bad parent if I let my kids watch movies all day at home, but going to the Riverview makes me feel like I'm exposing them to some culture. At least until Rio starts. (Thank you Riverview bc kids movies are rarely worth full price) It also seems like every adult movie I want to see ends up at the Riverview eventually. This place knows Minneapolis. read more

The Great: cheap tickets, cheap popcorn (get the classic popcorn and coke $5), retro decor, huge single screen The Not-So-Great: cash only, crowded on weekends and first runs, parking can be a challenge The Deal: My favorite theater in the cities, located in a quiet neighborhood off the beaten path. This place rules! read more

Riverview Theater - The Classic- $5 for a popcorn and coke. $16 for a night out with your honey. The night is sure to end well! :) - Cinema Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

One of a kind theater with one screen and different movies playing throughout the day. It has classic movies and movies that have been released approximately two months ago. The ticket and food prices are very reasonable. read more

If Yelp had a "sixth star" award, Riverview Theater might be my first choice to receive it. The charm, the prices, the special runs of movies (like Beetlejuice during the late night summer series of 2018!), it all comes together to make this the best theater in the city. Scouts honor. Does it have the biggest screen? Does it have Dolby surround sound? Can you order a beer? All no, but that's not why you come to a 'cheap' theater in the first place. It's great for a cheap date, young or old, and the early shows are great for the childrens. I grew up in a small town with a single stall theater, so this place makes me nostalgic. The 50s vibe of the lobby is also cool. And seriously where else can you get a ticket, medium drink and popcorn for under $10?! They even played games of the 2018 World Cup here!! (Also confession: my first movie here was Maleficent) If you've lived in the cities for awhile and have never been here, come on down to south Minneap for a an old school cinema experience! read more

My favorite theater! Not only is it affordable ($3 tickets!), but the place is beautiful. The snacks offered at the concessions are also very decently priced. What other theater can you get an admission ticket + popcorn + drink for under $10?! Nowhere nowadays... It is a cash only theater and they only have one screen so it can get a little packed on the weekends, but I refuse to go to any other theater (unless I get free screening passes). No movie is worth paying $10+ to see, I'll wait the extra month or two to see it here. read more

Riverview Theater - Riverview Theater - Cinema Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Riverview is awesome. Full disclosure: if you're not a fan of older theaters without state-of-the-art sound systems or modern seating and amenities, this review is not for you. I love the old-fashioned appeal of this place. It reminds of the Oriental Theater in Milwaukee. There are a lot of great first-, second-, and third-run movies here, and it's awesome to see unique shows when the film festival comes around. Prices are arguably the best in the city when it comes to wanting to find a film for cheap. read more

Such a cool place for such a cheap price! Went to a movie at 8:50pm for only $3! Such a steal! The movies are newer options too - only thing is they only have one screen so you only have one choice at that time slot. The lobby area looks like it is straight out of Mad Men and the inside of the theater is kind of grandiose with its large space and theater curtains. Will definitely come back! Notes: CASH ONLY! On Tuesdays movies are only $2! read more

Riverview Theater - Lobby - Cinema Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Thanks for showing "It's A Wonderful Life" this year for a whole new audience to enjoy on the big screen! And, thanks for bringing back the feeling of going to a cool theater with a cool vibe and happy, friendly employees! My only minor concern was the "stickiness" of the floor after the movie let out last week. I don't know if it was just that so many folks spilled soda during the showing (there were at least 300 people there that night) or if there is some overall power-washing that needs done to get rid of the build-up....hope it was just a temporary yuck :) read more

$2 movies is a deal that you can't beat anywhere else. They also show specialty movies on occasion. The biggest draw back is that it's a cash only place. There are plenty of places to eat in the neighborhood if you want to make it a dinner and movie kind of night. The seats are comfortable and nicely spaced for an older theater. This is my go to place when I want to see a movie for a second time or I'm not so into it in the first place :) read more

Favorite theater in the cities! Can't beat the ticket price - $2 matinees and $3 evening shows. I find myself frequently wishing I had their popcorn, which is also super cheap, and is the BEST movie theater popcorn. They sometimes do special showings and rotate their movies often enough that you can go every couple weeks, and not even come close to breaking the bank if you do! Great theater in a great neighborhood. read more

Riverview Theater - Cinema Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I had my first ever experience with Riverview Theater a week or so ago and it was a genuinely charming one. The show was only 3 dollars per head, and concessions were very fairly priced with additional package deals. The staff I encountered were friendly and helpful without being sugar coated. All of these things accompanying the Art Deco style of the theater made me feel like I was transported back in time. I left happy and satisfied with the whole experience read more

Love this place, the decor, the popcorn, the prices, the local ads before the movie, no previews. And I love movies at 11am! Thank you. Cash only. (No, this is not 70s decor, millennials.) read more

I'm in love with this place... Not only do I love the $2 movie tickets, the decor, the real butter, a cheap date night, a fun atmosphere, great staff, quickly rotating showings and there is always something good to see! Going to set up weekly get togethers for friends during the winter so we can keep our community tight during the winter months! Thanks for such a wonderful gem of a theater! read more

You do not come to the Riverview Theater to catch the latest blockbuster in IMAX 3D. You come to the Riverview Theater for the movie that was a blockbuster two or three months ago. You come for the tickets priced between $2-$3, low enough to have regular date/family/friend nights that won't break the bank. You come for the popcorn that costs $5 for a large - and $1.50 refills - that comes with real butter, that makes you wonder why other theaters don't use real butter anymore. You come here for the well-kept mid-century modern furnishings, right down to the bathroom wallpaper. You come here for the families with their kids already dressed in their pajamas so their parents can usher them straight to bed after the movie. You come here for the late night summer movie series, that show the new classics like the Goonies or Jurassic Park. The Riverview Theater is a great little neighborhood joint that does a fine job of providing entertainment and stellar popcorn. read more

The Riverview defies logic when it comes to modern movie houses. Your run-of-the-mill cineplex these days has 30 movies playing, about a $10 price tag on the ticket, double that if you want popcorn and a drink, suburbanite children running all over the place, and the most unimaginative commercialized decor that only matches the strip mall surroundings too well. The Riverview, on the other hand, maintains the classy traditional cinema experience with a sleek midcentury decor that stretches from lobby to restroom, affordable prices for both movie and snacks, and a location on a slightly-bustling commercial corner that results in wintertime scenes that surely harken back to its glory days; people lined up in their full-length coats and gloves ready to see the show. Also, there's some aspect about having only once choice of movie at a time that makes the whole experience feel purposeful, more substantial, than other modern movie experiences. You actually have to check what's playing and make a positive decision before showing up. It makes one feel a little less like a cog in the commercial money machine, and that's something I can get behind. read more

Favorite spot in town to catch a movie. Great old school atmosphere that makes you feel right at home when watching a movie. The prices cannot be beat and they air a wide variety of movies! read more

Since I tend to live in the past, it's a given that I love single theaters, and art deco, come on. A real lobby, high and low seating. I went on Tues. to take advantage of the $2.00 admission. I saw I am number 4. It's worth the wait for the second run to come here for the experience. When they say stadium, they're not kidding. A wonderful non greedy concession stand allowed me to get popcorn. This was my first visit here, crazy as that is. It's a great follow up to dinner at Pepito's. The on street parking isn't as bad as it seems either. It was an extremely hot day and the AC wasn't on par the only thing not perfect. read more

The following is not a hyperbole: I F---in' LOVE THE RIVERVIEW. I wait 7 months after movies are released just so I can see them at the Riverview. There is something about the experience of this humble little one screen theater. Maybe it's in the urgency. "If I'm going to see 'Brave' today, I better be there by 12:20! Or wait for another day." I love how you can get 2 movie tickets, a medium bucket of popcorn and a package of sour patch kids for under 10 bucks. Talk about a cheap date. P.S. If that order sounds good to you, then maybe we should go out on a date. Which brings me to my predicament. I am no longer in a relationship, but I still can't help but order the medium popcorn and sour patch kids. Their candy is reasonably priced, and their popcorn (with real butter to boot!) is so tasty and perfect. I have, on more than one occasion, have eaten myself into illness at the Riverview, but I still do it because it is one of my grandest joys. read more

Truly impressive decor, 60s but fancy and not at all decrepit, the lobby is like a movie set or well preserved time capsule. Very large and comfy old fashioned theater, 1 very big screen. Cash only. Easy street parking and very good (though not cheap) restaurant/wine bar catercorner for before/after. Was surprised how good the popcorn was despite not having the buttery oil stuff. Cheap too. read more

One of the best things about my little neighborhood is this lovely theater. I have lived in Longfellow my entire life, and I've been going here as long as I can remember. And nothing has changed (except the new awesome comfy seats and the sound system.) But that's the best part. Not to mention, no one has even brought up that the bathrooms at the Riverview are friggin' awesome! I feel like it's a combination of feeling like you are going to get murdered in some vintage horror movie, and simultaneously feeling like you are powdering-up for your 1950's prom. And it's too glam to make you feel like the cheap ass that you are for taking your date here. read more

The final stop in my 38th St. extravaganza. Simply put, a wonderful theater for a surprisingly low price. My mind seems to wander, and I forget about this place from time to time. But whenever there is actually a movie in theaters I want to see, my girlfriend invariably reminds me: "why not wait until it's at the Riverview?" If a movie is worth a damn, chances are it will end up at the Riverview. The Riverview will charge you no more than $3 to see it. I knew I kept that woman around for something. read more

Recently, I watched the movie "Hope Springs" early in the evening on a weekend at the Riverview. I think the average age of the people inside the auditorium was something close to 65. I didn't like the movie. But the elderly people's reaction to the movie? I very much liked it! Authentic and funny! There were specifically these two elderly men sitting a couple of rows behind us who throughout the movie cheered and encouraged the male protagonist who had "problems in the bed" with his wife. They weren't shy in showing their sympathy and sharing their encouraging comments with the male character! Like the elderly people's reaction to the movie, things here are mostly authentic. In fact, you don't need a time machine to travel back to 1950s. Just arrive half an hour early at the Riverview, buy an inexpensive ticket (Matinees: $2, Evenings: $3) of a second-run Hollywood or an independent movie, buy one of the best cinema pop-corns in town with real butter, and before the show begins, enjoy your time in the lobby which hasn't changed much from the time it's modernized in 1956. Riverview Theater was built in late 1940s at the right moment in the history of architecture and was modernized in 1956 at the right moment in the history of interior design. It's almost impossible to look at the mirrored and tiled walls, imported Italian marble tables, copper drinking water fountains, and mid-century sofas and lamps, and not fall in love with the design and style--a design that today virtually looks as it did in 1950s. How could you be sure that it has retained its original style? Easy: check out the vintage photographs on the walls taken of the theater in 1956. The theater was designed by the local acclaimed design firm Liebenberg and Kaplan which was famous for building more than 200 theaters in Midwest including, among many others, the Varsity and the Uptown in Minneapolis. What makes the Riverview charming is its in-between eclectic Art Deco style which features a combination of both traditional motifs and modern bold shapes. I'm glad that its owners have kept the lobby in its original shape and have only updated the auditorium for comfort with new rocker seats with lift-up cup-holder arm-rests. The huge auditorium offers over 700 seats! But this fact doesn't simply guarantee that you will have the seat of your choice if you arrive late. The Riverview is a very popular venue and on weekend evenings it's very likely you end up sitting somewhere you'd not have chosen, had you arrived early. So, arrive early and kill two birds with one stone: enjoy a historic colorful and bold design and have the seat you like. read more

This is by far my favorite theater. I don't go here nearly often enough. I like that the prices are good, the popcorn is good and they play a great line up of films and that it isn't owned by a large corporation. They know the neighborhood and they know how to run a movie theater. I also like that it has such a traditional, local feel. My grampa grew up going here. And when I say "going to" I don't mean "paying for". Grampa, RIP, had lots of stories about how to best sneak into the place. I can't say I've tried any of his tips... this place is too cheap to sneak into! If you are on Facebook, sign up to be their "fan" and you will get a weekly note about the upcoming films. read more

REVIEW: First time patron, very pleasantly surprised, great night out, $3 evening adult tickets, pleasant atmosphere, awesome. They also sell hot tea for $2, and I saw they will give a cup of ice water for 25 cents. That's just being nice, because we all know theaters need concessions to pay the bills. I had nachos and cheese for $4.50. I'll get popcorn next time, since I hear it's really good here. This was just a great evening. Looks like they have movies that are a month or so "old" - which, who cares. The video and audio quality were excellent, by the way. The low cost tix doesn't translate to low quality. Cool place. FEEDBACK: If anyone from management reads these: One piece of advice, you should really raise standards on your advertisements between films. They are distractingly bad. They look to me like really basic, weird, late-1980s Powerpoints, but all zoomed in so as to make them fuzzy. So like fuzzy late-1980s Powerpoints, assembled by a small child. You're better than this. You can get local business ads as nice as what other theaters run; get a professional local ad company. These excruciatingly low-quality ads do not match everything else that I experienced at your venue: friendly staff, clean place, good prices, enjoyable food, decent movie selection, nice video and audio, comfortable seats... BOTTOM LINE: Five full stars, and I'm a new fan. Peace. read more

Awesome theater with some art deco flair that shows a variety of films and often hosts film festivals, like the EDU Film Fest that's going on right now. What I especially like about the theater is that it has a very lounge feel to it with a variety of couches, tables and chairs. The theater itself is huge and all the seats seems to be great. Oh, and the popcorn? Delicious...but then again, isn't everything better with butter? read more

Frugal price, great neighborhood location (cute shops and eats), and beautifully preserved decor makes this the perfect date night. I've been several times to the Riverview Theater and just this past week saw Cabin in the Woods on Tuesday. Surprise! It was only $2 instead of $3 for a ticket for a night showing. I didn't get any concessions this time but they offer an okay deal taking into account the low cost of a ticket. Two items to note besides the price: 1. Yes, the screen can be small if you're seated in the back so make sure you get there early for middle to front seating if that's an issue for you. Personally, I don't like seeing black space on the sides during a movie like I'm in a bizzaro flipped wide screen world. 2. Even if you're in a rush for movie it's worth the time before or after to take in the decor of the building, it's a feast for the eyes. Also on the backside of the building, there's a wonderful street mural. read more

Awesome joint. Cheap tickets (for mostly second-run films, but also some new gems), real stadium seats from the '50s-'60s (before the trend came back in the '00s), REAL butter, AWESOME lobby decor, cool local community vibe. The Heights is the bomb, but this is the best deal for your dough. Dude, when I was a kid I saw a double-header of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "My Left Foot" here. Later, they hosted films in conjuction with an orginization called "Asian Access Media" and played all the classic HK movies at midnight -- John Woo, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Tsui Hark, Maggie Cheung, etc. At the time, very few cities had a theater showing these films. Fucking awesome memories! read more

My review is this: This place rocks. Cute décor. $3 movies. Killer popcorn. Fairly current movies. Obscure or oldies movies. Just go here. read more

Riverview Theater is hands down a Minneapolis treasure! It's the best deal in town when you want to see a movie (you could see three movies at Riverview for the price of a regular movie theater ticket). They don't show current releases, but the movies they play aren't much older than "new." They even do special movie viewings (eg classic westerns at the end of April). The popcorn is the best theater popcorn I've had (of course, it's not better than my stove top, but it's up there). You can see a movie, grab snacks and a drink all for under $10. What a steal. And yes, the decor is wonderfully kempt and mid-century moderntastic! read more

I lived for over 5 years in the cities and have just made it to the Riverview. For shame Maggie, for shame. That movie you thought might be good but didn't want to spring big $$ on and deal with movie theaters in the 'burbs with terrifying parking lots? Go see it here. Even if it ends up being not that great of a movie, you spent $3. Seats are comfy, arm rest goes up (hayy) and it just feels like Minneapolis with the clientele and laid back feel. I've yet to have the popcorn, but soon, soon. read more

Cheap, big, beautiful, cheap, real buttered popcorn, cheap, really good selection of movies, bordering on great selection of movies. Also, it's pretty cheap. read more

I would give this place infinite stars if I could. A great locally owned theater not owned by some huge corporation. Yes, this theater is that damn good. Where I currently live, we do not have a cool theater like this. Of course where I live is a haven of gentrification gone mad. Or as some of us in California call it: Irvine. But enough of my rant about America's "greatest master planned community" and it's ever increasingly suffocating population, let's get back to reviewing this retro gem of a cinema house in the quaint Longfellow neighborhood. Unlike AMC, Regal, Carmike, Cineplex Odious, or whatever corporate theater chain rules the roost in your neck of the woods, this place does not rip you off. For $13 (which might get you a popcorn and maybe a small drink at other places), my wife and I were able to get admission for two to a 9:15pm showing of "Purple Rain", a sizeable medium (it was bigger than medium) tub of buttered popcorn, and two "Purple Rain" (Sprite with purple grape flavoring in honor of Prince) drinks. They use real butter in their popcorn which was evident by the clean non-greasy taste that is not often found by "buttered flavored topping" at other theaters. The "Purple Rain" wasn't bad either even if it was Sprite. The seats were as comfortable as you would find at your local megaplex with stadium seating. The cup holders were also a nice touch as well. The screen and the sound were just right. You don't feel like you get your ear drums decimated by their sound. Clean and audible. The screen is huge. The nice touch is that one of the employees introduced the film "Purple Rain" before the showing started with a nice tribute to Prince. While some people may feel that she did not need to do that, it was a nice touch and another example of what movie going was like in another era. I hope they never tear down this theater because I plan on patronizing this place every time I come back to Minneapolis. A nice gem of a place in a neighborhood where everything feels real, not manufactured. read more

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This is a long overdue review, so forgive me please. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. After summers of "we should go there to see a movie", we finally came here for the first time their showing of Jurassic Park this past summer. Amazing place and it only cost me $3!!! Super cheap concessions as well. The renovation is insanely.... insane. I used to work at the Har Mar theatre, so the old school feeling of the Riverview theatre brought back some great memories. The Riverview theatre is about 100x nicer than Har Mar was and the electronic curtains add a cool touch to the place. I love this place. read more