Have I seriously never reviewed the Somerville theatre before? Sheesh I've been going here ever since I moved to the area in 2010, and it's a staple. I'm a member and my husband and I go several times a month to see new releases as well as repertory cinema. They also have events both in the Crystal Ballroom and on the main stage (i.e. the yearly beloved holiday Slutcracker). We are lucky to have a theater like this one in our city, so everyone come on out and support it! read more

Somerville Theatre - Newly reupholstered walls and new speakers from the pandemic renovations - Cinema Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

We've come here for a couple of movies and a Rocky Horror watch with a live cast. Always a great time. Watching Primetime in the main theater today was the first time I'd see a movie in the main theater (aside from the Rocky Horror event). Concerts, most special events, and whatever they consider to be their biggest draw plays in the main theater. They also have two smaller theaters in the basement and a ~30 person rentable "micro cinema." I can only speak for their second largest (Screen 3) and the main theater. Theater 3 seats about 100 people and is pretty nice despite its smallish size. The projection has looked a little dim and it could be a bit louder (movie dependent) but is a cozy place to watch a film. The main theater is a big old movie palace, which also hosts concerts and other large events. I was concerned that the screen might be small for a theater of its size. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I would recommend sitting a bit closer than you would at a large chain theater, certainly within the first 10 rows. We were in the 5th row and I could've gone a bit closer. Honestly, you could probably sit in the first 3 rows and be fine. The screen is elevated on the stage so it's unlikely you'll have issues seeing over anyone, and the screen is behind the curtain level on the stage so it's still a ways from the front row. I was impressed with the picture and audio quality in the main theater. Sometimes indie theaters don't look or sound the best, and it's more about the vibes. The vibes are also great here, but that doesn't mean the film won't look and sound great too. Audiences have been great as well. The occasional person pulling out their phone, but nothing egregious. Parking can be a little hard, and if you don't live directly on the red line transit access isn't amazing even from other parts of Somerville. However, with some advance planning it's manageable. Oh, and they use real butter for their popcorn read more

Somerville Theatre - Seated in row 5, dead center of the main theater. - Cinema Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Love this theater and the selection! Cozier vibes than your typical AMC/Regal, which I appreciate! The two times I've gotten popcorn, it was just meh so one star off. Otherwise the food and drinks are solid. read more

My favorite theater in Somerville! I love that they show indie films and have festival with different themes. It is also one of the few theaters in the area where it shows 70mm films. I enjoyed watching Oppenheimer and Dunkirk here, as well as Dune Part II which was awesome! They also have a great option for concession bar, and snacks, etc. I should not forget to mention that it has a great vibe of old theater - I have been coming here for probably a decade or so and am always amazed how beautiful this theater is! Love the ambient and service is exceptional as well. The price is also very reasonable and the theater is continently located right next to red line Davis T stop! Come here and enjoy the shows! read more

Somerville Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Love the theater, love what they show and their non-movie offerings are great, and YAY for locally owned businesses! All are great. But the BALCONY seats are PAINFULLY painfully small. Like maybe 12" wide. Maybe 13" but not much more if any. Fine if you are short (like under 5' 6") and thin, but it was painful for me. And not like airplane uncomfortable painful, but like me knees were over the back of the seat in front of me with my butt as far back as it can go. I am tall (6' 1") but everyone around me was shocked when they sat down. I had to sit on the stairs (and stand) first so my blood could circulate, and second because MY KNEES WOULD HAVE JAMMED IN THE BACK of the person sitting in front of me. Quite literally. The woman in front of me had just had her knees replaced (like 3 weeks previously) and looked ready to cry. I helped her walk up the stairs after as she was in so much pain. Also we were way off to the right, and there was speaker equipment blocking major parts of the stage. Not cool. Obstructed views should either NOT be, or be cheaper with a warning when purchasing tickets. I get trying to fit in as many seats as possible to make $, but it was really awful and painful. Won't get tickets up there again. read more

Fun, queer-friendly, community-oriented theater that has a mixture of new movies and cult classics, community events (I saw rocky horror here, for example), queer events (I saw a burlesque drag performance, for example), but most of all, their popcorn is layered with real butter. read more

I love this independent theater. I especially their independent film festival. I volunteer and get to see movies for free which I highly recommend. read more

You can tell that the people who run this, and the people who go there, LOVE movies. Somerville Theater shows a lovely mix of quality new films and older gems. But it isn't pretentious. You are just as likely to find a black and white soviet film as you are a silly b-movie scifi flick. They appreciate both. The crowds are often great too. Movie lovers who fill the theater with laughter and joy. Sounds cheesy, but the collective viewing experience there is usually great. My only quibble is their popcorn! It just isn't very good. Chewy. Off flavors. Bland. Thankfully they have plenty of other great concessions. read more

Crystal Ballroom Sucks. Don't bother. The coatroom is slow as hell and you spend half your night waiting for your coat. They hire 2 bartenders for a huge crowd and everyone is thirsty. This is a poorly managed venue and that's unfortunate. It's uncomfortable and hot and not the best place for music with everyone breathing on each other, sweating and wishing they had some space. read more

Here is a beautiful theater, but it has old-school charm. They just remodeled over COVID and are a local theater group. These people are obsessed with fill, not the new releases, but there are the whole series of vintage blockbusters, art films, and even silent movies with an organ player accompanying the film. Plus, they have an annual SciFi film festival that is wonderful. I like the concessions stand with a lot of choices and little extras. Plus, I can get a beer or glass of wine with my movie. The staff is so lovely. I prefer meeting people here to the big chain cinemas. The Davis Sqr has all the pre- or post-functioning options you will need. They have a small theater in the basement that you can rent for a small group gathering. I have been there twice for a birthday gathering and watched a favorite movie. Check it out for your next get-together. We brought our own film once. read more

New to the area and was told I should catch a show in this historic theater. Went during the holidays for a burlesque show and was not disappointed. The theater is beautiful and the staff were all very friendly. I was surprised at the size of the theatre, it seems bigger on the inside! Happy to have this theatre close to our new home, I hope to visit again soon. read more

Had a great theater experience in theater 3 to see a movie. Everyone is very friendly and the place has an old school feel. The concessions are reasonable priced for a movie theater and you can get a large popcorn and soft drink with refills for like under 10$. We were there for a matinee and it was like $8 so it was an affordable outing. The seats were comfortable and had plenty of legroom. The theater did get a little steamy during the movie but it was sold out so I get it. read more

Somerville Theatre - Theater for movie - Cinema Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Just visiting the theatre tonight I honestly didn't feel completely welcome there. But then again I often feel that way I guess when visiting it. Some people who visit are not entirely friendly and don't have good empathy skills maybe. I happen to be an individual on the autism spectrum and I find it frustrating and disturbing that such an atmosphere could exist at a theater like this. Lastly , the movie event I was there to see started late as well. read more

Workers are extremely rude and disrespectful. I hate to write a bad review for a small business, but the employees were very rude to my friends and I, even at one point treating us like children and saying, "Not a peep out of you". This statement itself is disrespectful, not to mention the fact that we are paying customers who had just walked in. It was not a joke in any way or said in a light hearted manner and they then threatened to kick us out for no reason. Because we looked young they immediately treated us like children, and as someone paying for a service I would not like to be parented by the employees. Will not be coming back and do not recommend for anyone, especially young people who do not want to be berated. read more

Oh, the Somerville Theater. How I love and loathe you simultaneously. Your seats are small and cramped and not especially comfortable. Your movie prices should be less for the seating you provide and the age of your theater. But the theater IS lovely. And you bring in some spectacular live shows... All this gets you three stars... but wait... Beer! And not stupid Bud either, but good, delicious, quality beer at reasonable prices. FOUR STARS! read more

Pros: Old timey theater. Love the decor. Cheap cheap ticket prices. Cons: I didn't mind the smaller screen or older seats. No attached parking lot and no street parking. For good or bad, the employees here are very unique characters. Especially the grumpy, but informative person tearing tickets. read more

Somerville Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Somerville Theatre is the heart of Somerville. Staying very true to the culture of the town, it's old school and updated. I've been here several times to watch movies & the annual winter classic, the Slutcracker. It's refreshing to have a theatre with multiple types of refreshments (including beer). I highly recommend seeing a movie here. read more

Where else can you enjoy a cheap flick in a 1914 theater with a pint in your hand? The Somerville Theatre is so Davis for me. A little rough around the edges but completely fun and endearing. Definitely the most affordable movie theater in the area. And they have snax! Popcorn and Richardson's ice cream. And they have alcohol! $5 beer and wine. That's literally all I need to survive. The main theater is impressive with a stage and balcony. You really get the old-school theater vibe, which feels oddly rebellious while watching a contemporary sure-to-be classic like Springbreakers. Sitting in the balcony is a unique vantage point that's worth doing once, but it did kind of throw me off since I wasn't used to watching a movie from above. The theater also hosts different non-flickular events. For example, I watched a dance performance on stage during Davis ArtBeat and The Slutcracker seems to be a popular way to get people in the holiday spirit. Every Thursday night, they host a comedy show in the small downstairs theater for just $5! It's a mix of improv and stand-up, a mix of good and bad, but always cheap and entertaining. Don't forget that beer makes everything better. And don't leave without a peek inside the museum of bad art (MOBA)! Every ticket gets you access to this downstairs gallery of truly horrible - and comical - creations. Make sure to come early for popular movies since there can be long lines or get sold out. Make sure to pace yourself with the beer since peeing every half an hour during the movie can be distracting for those around you. But most importantly, make sure to support the Somerville Theatre! Ice cream, alcohol, and cheap entertainment in a funky environment... truly all the best aspects of Somerville can be found here. read more

Somerville Theatre - view from the balcony - Cinema Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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If you get a chance to see a film here, do not say no. Get a cup of coffee at Nine Bar, some tacos at one of the many taco joints in the square, and then settle in with your brewski and popcorn in this beautiful vintage theatre with super cheap tickets. My husband has been in many of the theater rooms here and they're all a little different, but I personally love the one with the two levels, the thick heavy hanging curtains alongside the screen, the paintings on the wall. It's just such a great experience. Limited seating, no bad seats, and totally intimate, it's just one of those slightly beat-up, truly independent places you can't help but love. read more

The renovation is beautiful. The folks who work here are great. The offerings are lovely. But why is the air conditioning on when it is 34° outside? (Particularly when hosting an event benefitting a climate change organization.) Maybe scarves and mittens could be handed out with the programs? Also needs better signage for where gender-inclusive restrooms are. A lot of places are putting signs on all of the restrooms indicating where gender-inclusive ones can be found. We were told after the fact that there is a gender-inclusive one, but following the big "restrooms" sign didn't lead us to it. read more

Live shows in a classic Victorian style main stage that just happens to illuminate the celluloid onscreen and crank out a juvenile crowd-pleaser like Ted during the week. $8 is the most you'll spend to see a flick, with $5 pre-6p weekday matinees dropping even new releases to ridiculous lows (provided you play hooky). Nothing THX-certified, IMAXimized or pushing the third-dimension*, but let's face it - even most Hollywood blockbusters use that shizz as a gimmick. Anytime I've anticipated a major release, Somerville Theatre's shown it. Any movie festival that's caught my eye has screened, at least in part, at the Davis Square institution. And if that doesn't tickle your movie-going fancy, here are the three things everybody else mentions, mainly because they warrant the love: 1) Real butter on the low-priced popcorn. 2) Owls with glowing red eyes will haunt your soul. 3) Beer. In the lobby. Go get you some. ------ * I've been informed that Cinema 5 is, in fact, REAL-3D ready. Glasses down! read more

This place is where you take your friends when they visit Cambridgeville for the weekend (Somerbridge). Matinees are insanely cheap ($7 or so) and the beer and drinks selection is great and also rather cheap. IF YOU GO HERE YOU *MUST* CHECK OUT THE Museum of Bad Art IN THE BASEMENT. It had me on the floor laughing. Nothing says, "I do Davis Square better than you do Davis Square" than going to this theatre for film festivals, matinees, or just to resee the Museum of Bad Art. read more

As far as movie theaters go, I know very few in Boston that sell beer, so I was instantly in love with this place. It's Harpoon, to boot! And a movie theater that books live music commands more of my love. I've seen The Books and the Magnetic Fields here, both times enjoying an IPA from my seat. I like the rustic look of the place, but this does make the seats moderately saggy and uncomfortable. Meh. Again, good movies, good music, good beer, so who cares? Also, the bathroom is all the way in the basement, but it's oddly club-style and modern, so I dig it. read more

There's a lot to love about Somerville Theatre... I started going here years ago, but for shows and not films. Like old theaters elsewhere, Somerville theatre doubles as a venue and you usually get a good mix of up and coming or indie bands stopping by. But of course, the films are the core of its business. Somerville Theatre usually has some of your more popular indie films as well as slightly understated ones. Their theaters aren't necessarily super comfortable, but I appreciate being in a theater that feels old and has retained an experience that's been long lost most other places. And I can't forget to mention that the Museum of bad art exists in the basement! While I have yet to visit, I've heard and seen previews of many good (bad) things, and appreciate its home is at Somerville Theatre. read more

$6 a ticket before 6PM and $9 after!! I don't remember the last time seeing a movie at the theater was this cheap! The snacks and drinks are also cheaper than any big movie theaters. They also serve beers!! It is a small theater, so they don't always have all the movies. The inside is old/retro, but they also have the free Museum of Bad Art inside! read more

Came here this weekend to see the Alloy Orchestra perform live to Metropolis with my sister. I've seen their show before at a different theater to Son Of The Sheik which was also fantastic. This was my first time coming here. It's a quaint little theatre that's been around for a while but the tickets prices are really cheap compared to a normal big time theater now a days. They had a stage set up for the performers , floor level seats and an upper balcony. The seats here are very standard seats , don't decline but do have cup holders. We had a great time watching Metropolis though, our only issue was the people in front of us kept shifting in their seats so we had a hard time reading some of the subtitles, maybe if the seats were organized at different heights we would have had that issue. But we still very much enjoyed the show and would come back again for a movie or special live event. read more

Somerville Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I LOVE THIS PLACE!! Coming here has helped me regain my love of movie theaters, which has slowly eroded due to a combination of high prices and weird rules and oddly hostile workers. This is definitely the cheapest tickets in town ($7 before 6, $8 or something like that afterwards) and while its selection is small, it's very very good. Movies I've watched here include: Deadpool 2 (twice) Two Identical Strangers Would You Be My Neighbor? The Best of Boston 48-hr Film Festival I love how I can come and see a movie I had no knowledge of and not be afraid of wasting money or time. Come here!! read more

Came here today to see A Star is Born after checking almost every theatre in the Boston metro area for seats to no avail. We were happy to find that this theatre had good reviews and was only $10/ticket plus a $1 fee if buying online. Seats are first come first serve, so we arrived about 15 minutes early and got pretty good seats. The main theatre is very large, with two levels of seating and a stage for shows. It was a bit crowded and you can't beat the reclining seats at AMC, but I was overall pretty pleased with my experience here. I also saw that they served beer (not sure how much) and popcorn ($4). read more

I love the Somerville Theater. It's a wonderful little theater showing releases after they've been out for a couple of weeks as well as indie films and retrospectives. They also have other events/talks here. Come a little early and explore the Museum of Bad Art downstairs. It's great! They serve beer & wine here. A nice perk. Very convenient to the Red Line...you just walk out of the Davis Sq. Red Line station and you're there! read more

I never knew how much I needed a theater in my neighborhood, and now I don't want to live anywhere else. The Somerville Theatre is an anchor of Davis Square, and rightly so. In one building you can: - support a local business - eat delicious ice cream AND drink beer while seeing a movie - see a first-run movie for $9 or less (!! and this is in 2013!!) - catch great shows and live theater, including indie films and gems like the Slutcracker - get a mini history/art lesson. Between their exhibits in the lobby and the Museum of Bad Art in the basement, there's lots to see here even after your show ends. And do look at that dishware in the lobby - they used to offer it to patrons to encourage them to make the theater their date destination. I wish they still did it! The theaters are a little old but in good shape - even without stadium seating, the seats are comfortable and plentiful enough that you're never crowded. It's worth coming here instead of heading downtown for the good prices and the charm. read more

I wish I could give this theatre less than one start. Not for the movie selection, not for the food. All of that is fine. It is for the profiling my boyfriend endured this past Friday night. Here is the complaint I emailed to upper management of the theatre that I hope you will read: "I had just purchased tickets with a large group of friends for the 7:40 showing of Ladybird, which shortly after arrival was sold out. Around 8:00 pm, my boyfriend, a 33-year-old black male walked in late to purchase a movie ticket to meet me. On finding out that the showing of Ladybird was sold out, he purchased a ticket for another show and planned to go and find an empty seat in Ladybird as I told him there were still two fully empty rows. As he proceeded through the theater he was followed by your manager on duty for the night, Peter Mattchen. Keep in mind that Peter is NOT the person who sold my boyfriend the ticket. He saw a black male walk through the front doors of your theatre and on the grounds of what he called "suspicious behavior" followed him from the ticket booth, down the stairs, and to the bathroom door. Peter approached him as he was heading to a bathroom and proceeded to tell him that he was exhibiting suspicious behavior and needed to leave the premises immediately. Keep in mind that he is a paying customer like every other person that walks up to the box office to purchase a ticket. There were zero grounds for your manager on duty to follow him into the theater for "suspicious behavior". My boyfriend came into the theater to alert me that he was being kicked out, though Peter told him he could not set foot in the theater because he would "disturb the audience." I came into the hall where Peter began to explain the "situation" to me. Peter claimed that he would follow anyone into the theater who had purchased a ticket 20 minutes after a showing had begun. The piece that doesn't add up to Peters claim is that I have a white male friend who joined us late at the theater that night after the showing had sold out. This white male friend had purchased a ticket for a different movie and found an empty seat at Ladybird without being approached and told to leave. Peter seemed to have missed my white male friend's "suspicious behavior" but happened to be very diligent about catching my black male boyfriend's "suspicious behavior" upon entering your facilities doors. The most disturbing thing about this encounter is that they are both paying customers of your establishment, but one of them was severely profiled even before Peter realized that he intended to go to a different movie than the ticket he had purchased. With all this said, I understand you are a small theater and that those who purchase movie tickets for one movie are expected to go to the showing they purchased their ticket for. Peter could have handled this situation VERY differently. It was the way my boyfriend was profiled from the moment he set foot in your theater as a paying customer that is disgusting and wrong. He was so upset that he left after alerting me to what was happening. He did not receive a refund. " Needless to say, we will NEVER be going back to this Theatre. read more

Great little local theater in Somerville! The first time I came here was for a good friend's wedding. Yes, you read that right- they rent out the theater for weddings! We all sat in the audience and our friends got married on stage. Very cute! I recently visited again for the Slutcracker- a "unique" version of the nutcracker (adults only, obv). The theater itself is small and you can the stage pretty well from wherever you are sitting in the theater. They serve ice cream and good local craft beers!! I love supporting local and with a great little place like this it's hard to find a reason not to. Parking around the back over near redbones is usually pretty easy to get. read more

Somerville Theatre - Slutcracker - Cinema Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Best theatre in the Boston area. Great food, service, and a wonderful selection of films.

This can be such a fun place for opening night shows. Aquateen with a couple hundred high teenagers, and a beercan rolling down the theater, Dark Knight till 2:30am on a work night... Somerville Theater is such a big part of Davis Sq, I can't imagine it going anywhere. The prices are better than the major theaters in the area, but they still have good equipment. And they serve beer! There's a CVS next door to sneak food in. Plus you get free admission to the Museum of Bad Art downstairs. read more

Support the hell out of this theatre. It is a locally owned gem with reasonable prices, Richardson's Ice Cream, an art museum in the basement, and a relaxed, friendly staff. It is The Perfect Local Theatre. read more

I enjoy the Somerville Theater for its unique charm and close proximity to home. They play a smaller selection of current movies available (usually the big blockbusters + some artsy choices). The rates are SUPER affordable (several bucks cheaper than the big downtown theaters). Also...they serve beer, which is great for their live shows. The seats can be a little cramped, especially in the main first level space, but it is what it is. I also enjoy the Museum of Bad Art in the basement, although I wish they'd add some new pieces! My only complaint might be that the ladies' bathroom is kind of gross and could use an update. Otherwise, it's my go-to theater now that the Harvard Sq theater has been shut down! read more

Great for an old-timey theater experience. I have come here for both live shows and movies and it has always been a very positive experience. Watching the Hateful 8 in 70 mm was quite a treat. The prices are quite good, especially for the matinee. The seats are old but very comfy. It is a small theater, so they don't always have all of the current blockbusters, but their selection is always pretty good. They sell both wine and beer and I have never had issues bringing in some snacks from other places. My one small warning is that it can get full and showings sell out quite easily. Buy your tickets online or ahead of time and show up a bit early to secure good seats. read more

I love this theater! They have such an old nostalgic feel to it! Would definitely host my next movie club here! I suggest you get there early to grab a good seat. I saw Get Out last week and we arrived 10 minutes before the movie started. The only seats available were in the front row (talk about a sore neck). Love that they have beer, and the usual popcorn/snacks. Can't wait to come back! read more

Love an independent theater but IMO it's impossible to see a longer movie in their main theater - the old seats become excruciatingly uncomfortable. Unfortunately their site does not note which theater each movie is playing in so quite often I pass on seeing a movie here if it's at another local theater. I wish they would provide a bit more info. Can't even get through via phone. read more

I'm a Bostonian born and raised, through and through, soup to nuts. But let's face facts: this is mean old city we live in, friends. (Friends? Friends, right? Please hang out with me.) I mean, its residents are transient, its locals are cliquey, its squares are random and disassociated. Community? Yeah. Not so much. WHAT FAAHKING OF IT? Or so I thought. Where are all the Boston hipsterllectuals? Why, they're hiding behind squishy seats, sipping their beers, being squinted at by wee owls. While the movies here are fairly second-run hit-or-miss (go to Kendall for the real consistent quality flicks), the diverse, eclectic, FABULOUS live shows are what melts our city's cold, cold heart. The crinkled ticket stubs I've found at the bottom of my purse include: Dar Williams, The Aimee Mann Holiday Spectacular, The Slutcracker (twice), Punch Brothers (thrice), The Magnetic Fields, Crooked Still, and the Moth Mainstage. I've kibbitzed with the talent out front, strolled through the Museum of Bad Art, inhaled all the reasonably-priced Junior Mints during the previews. So keep calm and carry on, Somerville Theatre. Your flaming hot stage is all the community I need. read more