After a years-long renovation, The Castro Theater is back, & she looks absolutely refreshed! The theater still functions as a movie house but can now accommodate live performances with a standing-only audience. While floor seats can be removed & replaced depending on event, balcony seating remain for any & all shows. I saw Sam Smith during their residency; the setlist was equal parts uplifting & heartbreaking, and, as always with Sam Smith, hauntingly beautiful. I can't think of a more perfect artist to bring the Castro back to life. read more

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It looks really beautiful. The staff is friendly. Glad to see some fun programming, mix of old and new. Bottom line: BRING BACK REAL BUTTER. That oil in a bottle crap is disgusting. read more

This review as of April 9, 2026 pertains to the venue, and not to any particular show. The Castro Theatre, designed by noted Bay Area architect Timothy Pflueger, debuted in 1922. It is a classic movie palace and completed a major renovation earlier this year. You can check Wikipedia or the theatre's web page (please do!) for more on its architecture, history, and cultural significance. I have been coming to see films at The Castro for longer than you have any business knowing, you young whippersnapper. The theater has been home to several long-running cinema festivals, including Frameline, the SF Film Festival, the Silent Film Festival (the story of The Castro's organ is a whole 'nother tale), and a few others. When it opened a century ago, it was also able to host Vaudeville shows. Sadly, for decades, prior ownership and management struggled to keep everything in good shape, but the theatre gradually decayed. Fortunately for cinema buffs and culture vultures, Another Planet Entertainment took over The Castro and undertook a top-to-bottom renovation. I recently visited the theatre for the first time since the rehab was completed, and it is absolutely beautiful. It looks like it must have over a century ago when it was brand new. Modern updates include modular seating and the ability to configure the auditorium for different kinds of shows, as well as numerous technical updates. The old marquee and neon sign have been fixed up and they glow like new (see video). Staff I encountered were all courteous. The one thing that bothered me was that the old Castro used to do great popcorn. They put actual butter on it. On this visit, I got what elsewhere would be a small popcorn with salt, but no butter for $10. I didn't have time to check out much else at the concession stand, but I do hope that they can manage to bring that aspect more in line with what we used to have. I look forward to coming back soon and having more time to explore the venue. But for the moment, I'm glad The Castro is back and looking fabulous. read more

We were so excited to return and see the long-awaited renovations! The charm is still there with only a few things to note. Positives: * Friendly Staff * Clean Facility * Security in full force * Improved and modernized bathrooms * AC inside the theater * New art work and decor Negatives: * Awkward clustered floor seats * Small original balcony seats * Balcony is not configured to properly see the stage should someone tall block the view * No staff to guide people to their seats or manage the flow of traffic * Sound system cut out a few times * The old school theater screen is now a smaller version The Castro is still an icon! These are just our observations. Things to be aware of for future events and social gatherings! read more

We went to the Castro to see a last minute Sam Smith show and an absolutely lovely time. We learned that the Castro Theater was just recently renovated and were lucky enough to snag last minute tickets. We also took an Uber there and were able to get in super smoothly without any issue. We got general admission tickets so were on the floor level. There was also an option for seated tickets on the balcony levels. The GA level though was pretty nice! There were a couple bars and then a few tiers that sloped downwards. We ended up being at the top level in this GA area and had more than enough room to dance and sway as well as see Sam perform. The acoustics were solid as well with no technical hiccups during his particular set. The interior is also super beautiful. Love that it looks classical while still being well-kept. And the staging had so many cool layers that revealed so much depth. All-in-all, it was such a great experience and has become one of my favorite venues here in the Bay Area. read more

The Castro - Interior - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went to see Sam Smith residency in the reopening of Castro Theatre. Wow the interior is stunningly gorgeous and the sound is great. Box office is just a table set up outside. The standing area is tiered which helps, but as a shorter person who should have arrived earlier to get a better vantage point, I could only see glimpses of the performer every few seconds from the undulating crowd. There's a roped off section on both left and right of standing room for friends and family. I was a bit surprised at how little seating there was. Merch table was upstairs and has a signed vinyl and cool Castro Sam Smith shirts. I had a great time and can't wait to visit this beautiful venue more! read more

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I've been to the Castro Theatre twice before for SF Sketchfest and the premiere of Everything Everywhere All at Once. Then the theater was closed for renovations. It was a two-year renovation of the theater's plumbing, ventilation, and wiring and restoring the ceiling, murals and chandeliers. The orchestra level now has removable seats to accommodate between films and standing-room concerts and the theater has new sound and lighting systems. Restrooms are only on the first level. We recently came to the now named, The Castro for Sam Smith's Residency to usher in the newly renovated theater. The theater is beautiful with its amazing ceiling. We proceeded up to the second level to our balcony seats. The bar and the merchandise table was on this floor. The original balcony seats were preserved during the renovation. The legroom was tight so you had to stand allow someone to pass. Since the theater is not that large, you do get a good view of the stage. Sound was very good. Sam Smith gave a great concert in this intimate venue. He's a frequent visitor to SF and he was excited to have a residency here to usher in the new theater. Will look forward to coming to The Castro again. read more

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I recently went to see Sam Smith on his opening residency at the Castro Theater. The newly remodeled theater reminds me of The Masonic, but smaller. The ceiling has been restored and it's beautiful. Lots of details and is pretty to look at. I had GA floor tickets and although it was packed, as it was a sold out show, there was still room to move around. Great sound too. Looking forward to returning to watch a movie or some other performance and trying out the new seats. read more

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So excited to have The Castro Theatre back as a mixed use space for concerts and more. The lobby is still intimate and the guilded work inside has been restored. The sound system for Sam Smith's residencey was great! Because of the new setup, some shows on the bottom portion may or may not have seats. The balcony still has seats. My recommendation is get to a show early so you have great sight lines on a tier. read more

The Castro - Disco Ball - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

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They have definitely turned this beautiful historic neighborhood theater into a soulless concert venue. Seats in the orchestra were horribly uncomfortable, there is no side isles anymore so only way in and out is through the two center isles. Staff was very disorganized. And I paid about $30 with tip for one 2oz bullet on the rocks. (That was not a double). Ridiculous and so disappointing. read more

We went to see Santigold at the Castro on Saturday, May 16 and we're very excited to see our favorite artist. The doors were supposed to open at 7:00 PM and the show was supposed to start at eight. We got there at 7 o'clock and there was a line around the block and they didn't open the doors until almost 9 PM. We were told that they were still working on the sound check until then. The show didn't start until almost 10 o'clock, and while you would think then the sound for the show would be awesome if they took so much time, it was absolutely awful! Her voice was way too high in the register and could almost not hear the rest of the music. It was so bad that she commented three or four times how bad it was, but was determined to still give us a great show. She is still an amazing artist and nothing against her because the Castro let us all down. The new ownership and APE should be ashamed! read more

A 4 star review with an asterisk... The new and improved Castro is gorgeous, and it's great to have it back as the jewel of the neighborhood. Facility is five stars. The asterisk? Well, the renovation has live performances in mind. It seems fine for that. But the history of the Castro is primarily as a movie house, and for that purpose...wellllll. We went to the showing of Interstellar in 70mm. Was like a time warp--an absolutely packed house of people paying attention for almost three hours. No phones, no chitchat, just enjoying a modern classic on a big screen. So what's the problem? The sound! That was old school as well, everything came from the screen area. The mix was awful, the soundtrack drowned out the dialogue numerous times. For those of us who'd seen the movie before it was an just an annoyance, but for those who were seeing for the first time (like my wife) it was intolerable. We were in a prime spot downstairs, can't imagine how bad it was in the balcony. This wouldn't have happened in a modern theater of any size. Perhaps the print had a multi-track mix that they were shooting out in mono or something? Not sure how the tech works on things like that these days. Anyway, it's soured us from ever wanting to go see a movie there again. One last note, when you have lines all the way down the block and around the corner to get in you might want to think about not opening 20 minutes late? Or maybe starting the movie on time? Seemed unprofessional. read more

Just got back from seeing Nicolas Roeg's movie The Man Who Fell To Earth. I was excited to see the new print on the big screen, but the experience was ruined by loud groups chatting, cracking jokes and laughing throughout the entire movie. They seemed to think it was some sort of audience participation event and the theater staff did nothing to prevent it. The poor sound system made it impossible to even hear some of the dialogue over the noisy groups. The newly restored theater is beautiful and the air conditioning is great, thankfully. I guess it's fine for some campy drag show or silly bubblegum pop performance, but I wouldn't recommend attending any serious screenings here if you want to be able to hear film over the giggling idiots in the crowd. read more

The recent renovation of the 100+ year old theater has guaranteed its continued survival well into the future. The neighborhood as a whole has been reinvigorated by the return of this iconic cultural landmark. read more

The Castro - View from the balcony - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

Loved the energy of this place. Neighborhood and signs in front filled with positive messages. Staff were friendly & helpful. Recently went to see Return to OZ. Sound was off in the beginning, but they figured it out quickly. My one complaint is it was so COLD! I understand it's probably hard to regulate temperature in a room that big, but being so uncomfortably cold really took away from the experience. read more

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I saw Sam Smith on 3/14/26 show was amazing. The theater is gorgeous but most of all the staff was kind, helpful and full of excitement for the crowd. I will definitely be back. read more

What a stunning theatre! We first visited years ago and were so impressed by the renovations and the beautiful transformation. It's an absolute gem. read more

I am glad the theatre survives in some form (with many more restrooms!) but the current way it is being run leaves so much to be desired. I was very excited to come see Showgirls, having loved the Midnight Mass cult tradition from Peaches Christ many years in the past. My friends and I had tickets in the balcony. Showtime on the tickets said 7:30 and the pre-show for the movie didn't start until maybe 7:45. Well into the pre-show, way after advertised starting time, ushers who didn't seem to know where the seats were continued to "help" huge groups of latecomers locate their seats, slowly walking or just standing in front of us, blocking our view and making it impossible to see Peaches and the dancers. These tickets were not cheap standard movie tickets and we missed out on so much of the experience because we could not see the stage while latecomers meandered in and blocked our view. I really wish the staff were more trained on seating locations and that there was a more sensible policy for seating latecomers to avoid disruption for those already in their seats. I know this isn't the ballet, but it sucked missing so much of Peaches. If I just wanted to watch the movie I could have watched it at home. The new popcorn is also crazy expensive for a tiny bag and way too salty! This place used to have the best popcorn of any theatre in SF and I looked forward to eating a big bag every single time I saw a movie. What a loss for this cultural icon. read more

The newly renovated theater is lovely! And it has air conditioning now! Sadly, the ushers could use some lessons in manners and be more welcoming. Kind of ruined my night getting barked at while looking for a seat well before showtime. Do better. read more

Compliments to the security. Very polite and on top of these and wants everyone to have fun. A distinguished security was very understanding to a situation last night as Sam smith where everybody was in the wrong lol. But he guided us to a different section and we had a great night! read more

This is one of the best old-school theaters in San Francisco. Yea! Yay! Hip hip for the Castro Theater. I have to come here more often. They have a wide range of movies. I saw 2001 Space Odyssey a few years back. Seeing this classic film on the big screen was a lot of fun. It was shown from the undigitized the original film. They have events like this all the time, but only for a limited time. I recommend you see the listings for the month and make a schedule to get out to Castro for this visual treat. Truly the best staff and ambience. read more

why on earth in this day and age would you sell tickets to an event (San Smith in Feb) and not let them be transferred as a gift to someone? It's the most ridiculous policy and these tickets were super expensive. I'm so annoyed with the Castro and for Ticketmaster not being explicit about it before purchasing. read more

Such a beautiful venue, bold and classic decor and architecture just captivating, red, gold, and bronze hues throughout, an inviting feel when you enter the auditorium, simple but comfortable seating on two levels, including cup holders, a really good sound system, and wonderful staff during the 2023 SF Silent Film Festival we attended this past weekend. The concessions stand included cocktails, beer, wine, soda, candy, and popcorn for sale. And we absolutely loved our experience here. Street parking can be a little challenging to find in the area. There is a small lot adjacent to the theatre with an affordable parking fee, but space is extremely limited. read more

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The historic Castro Theatre. I've attended a few of SFFilm's events that were hosted in the Castro Theatre and as a result, I've been able to experience a plethora of unforgettable events. I've gotten to see Michelle Yeoh and Robert Downey Jr in the flesh -- memories I'll cherish forever. This spot is located in a busy street/neighborhood so I would recommend taking public transportation unless you're willing to pay for a spot in a parking garage. If you get the chance come visit one of San Francisco's gems, I highly recommend it. read more

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My wife and I came here to see Morrissey tonight. If you don't know who that is Google it - and then you will know our approximate age. On the younger side of the fan group, but not by much... This theater seats only about 1400. It's an incredible venue. My pics are from the first row of the balcony. Be aware that the loge is NOT a separate level as I expected, but rather the first few rows of the upper balcony. Regardless, I thought our seats were solid for for price. Most importantly, they had a "full" bar. I could not determine ahead of time if that was the case. I put full in quotes because I'm sure you can't get some specialty mixed drink, but they have a full well. If you want more, don't go to a concert to get it. In short, loved the show and the venue. Hope to return soon. Tons of bars and restaurants with a block or two walk, which is awesome. read more

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While I now live in Los Angeles, the Castro Theatre will remain one of my favorite parts of being in the Bay Area. I'm a sucker for vintage movie theaters in general, so I would already be predisposed to loving this place. However, the film selection was also a plus. They often had memorable film series (I remember one evening when they did a double feature of "The Outsiders" and "East of Eden"), but it was also a place where you could check out new releases or attend film festivals. The Castro Theatre is also known for their singalongs, and if you don't mind watching a fan favorite film and exposing people to your singing talents, you would probably have a good time attending them. Finally, they also showed restored classic films, like the time I got to see "Vertigo" in a splendid 70 mm print. This theater is definitely worth a visit! read more

This is a gorgeous Theatre! I love going to the Castro, it's full of charm. Love the live music.

I'd never been inside the Castro Theater until last night. And the inside turned out to be gorgeous especially the ceiling and the murals on the walls. We were there last night to watch the "Holiday Spectacular" from the San Francisco gay men's chorus. The show was awesome, but since this review is for the venue, I'll focus on that. I thought the seats were comfortable and provided good width, and I liked how at least the theater that we were in had these gorgeous murals on the walls. They made me feel like I was in a White Lotus hotel, season 2, lol. And I thought the inside was pretty clean, even after 3 back-to-back shows with partially drunk patrons. The only thing was that they didn't really have a lot of space inside, so patrons would have to line up outside on the sidewalk and in the cold before they could get inside the theater, which is probably normal and for San Francisco people, but as an East Bay-er, I just wasn't used to it. Lol. read more

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The Castro Theater I used to know and love is no more. I was aware that the venue had been sold and therefore was under new ownership, but I'd no idea it had become a fleecing operation. General admission was $18.00 per person plus a $2.25 service fee. Paying cash didn't appear to be an option, so we had to purchase tickets online right there on the spot with our phones and scan a QR code, so there was no way to avoid paying the service fee. Why not just be upfront about it, charge twenty dollars a head, and be done with it? Then, there was the popcorn selection or lack thereof. Only one size was available. Small. Unbuttered. $4.00. After leaving a tip for the nice people behind the concession counter, it was a $50.00 afternoon at the movies. I love classic films as much as the next person, but I'll be viewing them from the comfort of home from here on out. read more

The theater itself is gorgeous but the new management is awful. They're a concert production company and they have no idea how to just show a movie--there's all this extra equipment and technicians running around but somehow the sound is worse than it's ever been. They have ten times the staff necessary so there are all these sad-looking people in zip-up APE logo fleece jackets just standing around the lobby and inside the theater with nothing to do like parking lot security guards. And the popcorn is so bad, my friends. read more

Multiple of the main speakers behind the front screen are blown out and anything loud sounds like a crackling cacophony (especially anything low and loud). Everything except that is magical and truly a place I treasure. Hot cookie and Giddy Candy being right outside are lovely pluses. Basically the place is an absolute gem in all ways except for the blown out speakers. read more

Surprisingly, for such an old theater, it boasts the loudest sound system I have ever heard. With the Dolby 5.1 sound, my eardrums nearly burst with every window or bottle crash (and there are quite a few in "Animal House", which Castro hosted for Sketchfest). It was designed by Pflueger, and it's pflucking beautiful. Elegant and ornate, the theater (San Francisco Historic Landmark #100) has been around since 1922, so it is old as deadpool faves Betty White, Doris Day, and Carl Reiner. It has a Spanish Colonia Baroque facade that pays homage to Dolores around the corner. The mission, not a hooker. The theater has 1406 seats (800 upstairs, 600 in the balcony, 6 in the bathrooms), though with today's obesity epidemic, there should be far less in that same space, which is my only complaint. The arm rests are holding the sides of people. Locals have been coming in because they hear the "Mighty Wurtlizer" really blows, only to leave disappointed to discover it is a big organ, which also has caused much confusion. read more

The Castro - Every bottle crash and window smash pierced my ears. Stellar sound. - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I used to come here, sit in the balcony, and have an amazing evening at a cool event. The new owners have ruined all my memories and are trying to make the events here bigger and more expensive than our neighborhood and community actually want. read more

Castro Theater is a beautiful venue! I came here to watch The Moth. The seats are comfortable and there's great sound. The interior is lovely, with gold decor and an elegant set-up. The bathrooms are really clean too. There was a speedy process to enter the theater so it wasn't too chaotic. There are long lines for the bathroom though which sucks (there are so few restrooms!). They also sell popcorn and other snacks but don't expect anything more than that. Overall, I had a great time here! read more

The Castro - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Love love love The Castro Theatre!! Five stars all the way. But omg WHY is the popcorn so salty? It's like comically salty. I thought I just got a bad batch the last time, but I returned and it was the same level of eye watering saltiness. Did I eat it both times? Yes I did. But did I deeply regret it the next day? Also yes. I'm begging you, please use less salt so we can only have hangovers from your drinks. Love you! read more

A really cool classic theatre with a variety of showings. I visited with my 6 year old for the singalong Frozen 2. We got there 30 minutes before doors open with a line out the front but they quickly opened the doors. We both got goodie bags filled with various things to wear and use during the movie (e.g. bubbles during snow scenes). They had an organ player playing classic tunes before the movie started. There also was a costume parade for the kids to show off their various Elsa, Anna and Olaf outfits (plus the one adult in costume, he got free 2 tickets for participating!). Then the movie started, singing a long was easy with the subtitles and bouncing ball over the words. It was a great experience and we had a really fun time. read more

The Castro - Menu - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've passed by this historic theatre numerous times, but only recently went inside. I was expecting a dinky venue, but looks can be deceiving! Our 2017 vacation to South America started off here, so a local friend got us tickets to Whitney: "Can I Be Me". The documentary offers a different perspective of her downward spiral, including claims of possible bisexuality. THE THEATRE: The lobby area is small and includes the usual concession stand and restrooms. We were in the nosebleed level three, so we headed upstairs. The inside is huge! I didn't expect so many seats nor its grandeur. Seat size is adequate and pretty comfortable, but it was hella warm inside, to the point of uncomfortableness near the end of the 2-hour movie. The screen was also big enough for easy viewing for us in the heavens. Acoustics were very good and not echoey. CONCESSION: The popcorn smelled ridiculously good but tasted average. Two medium popcorns, two medium sodas and one large soda rang in at $25. RESTROOMS: I love the now-becoming "all gender" theme. Nothing like seeing sanitary napkin bins and no urinals, lol. OVERALL: Beautiful facilities. read more

The Castro - View from the nosebleed section - VN - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I grew up coming to this theater my mom used to work here so I got to see all the free movies at all the free candy and popcorn and sodas lol what I like about this theater is that it's old school they have a organ player at 7 o'clock and he plays in between the two movies intermission n the crowd always interacts with the movie,and I like that nowadays with these new technology movies nobody does they just go sit watch and leave so this theater is really nice. The best time go here is during the summer because they have a lot of movies that you could catch up and watch especially old ones and they even have sing-alongs like grease and a lot of other musical movies which is pretty cool. So if you just want to come relax and enjoy old school of a theater and interact with the crowd sing-along to some great music then come on by and check it out. Thanks for Reading my Review ~Lizzie ~ read more

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After living in the city for over 15 years and then working in the Castro I can finally say I checked out the Castro Theatre! From the outside, the theatre looks quite small but I'd say it seats at least 200 people. I came here for an Inforum event recently to see Tim Ferriss. It was my first Inforum event and I was super excited since I've wanted to check one out for awhile and they finally had a speaker I was interested in. The theatre itself is pretty clean, food is basic and that of a typical theatre (popcorn, red vines, soda) but I couldn't find anywhere in the theatre that sold wine or beer as the event said there would be. Some of the more obvious things to point out. No parking in this area, at all. Bathrooms seem limited as I could only locate one in the entire building. Seats are fairly comfy! Overall, I'm so glad I came and I'm looking forward to coming to future events at this location :) read more

The Castro - Tim Ferris and Naval Ravikant (CEO of Angel List) about to begin! - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a great venue for SFSketch Fest. Got to see so many great reunions from Animal House movie cast reunion and 20 year reunion of Office Space. This venue is great for Q&A sessions. The theater looks classy inside. The only downside would be going to the men's bathroom all the way to the basement. This place has been a host to many cinema legends. read more

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