Just like I prefer small indie bookstores over Barnes & Noble, and indie coffee houses over Starbucks, I prefer beautiful classic movie houses wiht one screen over the megaplex at the mall. Luckily for me, the Catlow is such a place and it's five minutes away. read more

Lovely historic venue with beautiful woodwork inside. I enjoyed the Silent Film Society of Chicago event there and the auction they had as part of the show. read more

I love the Carlow! I mean who can complain about $5 movies and reasonably priced (for a movie theater) concessions!? You can even get food delivered from Baloney's. Just not on Sundays because they are closed. The seats in the back are new and more comfortable but obviously further away. These are often the first to go. I love supporting family businesses and Carlow definitely fits the bill. They even have the kids there helping out some nights and they are super cute. The little girl is a natural when comes to selling me candy, drinks and other concessions! read more

The Catlow is just an amazing old theater where local come to see $5 movies. It's origins were early in the 20th century when it was built as a glamorous silent movie house. It's interior has been restored, while not perfectly, well enough that you can get a feel of what it must have been like way back then. After a successful round of fundraising, they avoided closing their doors by raising enough money to buy a digital projector. They were in some danger of closing as the newer films are being released in digital format, phasing out film, and making their projection equipment obsolete. As I understand it, the new equipment can be very expensive. But, the community came together to keep this valuable part of the local culture alive. I believe their next step is another round of fundraising to replace their aging seats. We went to see Argo, the new movie about the CIA's top secret hostage rescue during the 444 day Iranian hostage crisis that was resolved in 1981. I won't review the film here, but if you remember those times, it is a great film to go see. With near first run showings, the Catlow is a fine value that delivers a great experience. Where else can you go to see top movies at $5 surrounded by 1920s memorabilia? read more

I love this theater! First off, it is an architectural gem in the NW suburbs, secondly the price is right, only $5 admission. You enter the lobby and notice all sorts of old movie posters and framed photos of movie stars. A snack area is off to the right, selling fresh popcorn and cold drinks. Baloney's, a small deli, is right next door and you can enter through a small doorway. Baloney's deserves its own review though. The theater portion is really cool, with large, dark beams on the ceiling and old-style seating. No, the seats aren't the large plush type you see in the megaplex, but they aren't bad. The patrons are nice and courteous, unlike the ones you encounter at the larger theaters and tend to be adults without unruly children. They sometimes show older movies here too, which is a big plus. I'm happy to support the local businesses like these and will continue doing so. read more

A wonderful old theater. Saw It' A Wonderful Life on a large screen was so much better than all the past years on different size TVs growing up. Love the fact they have wine, beer and food too. read more

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The Catlow and I go back a long way. There is nothing like a neighborhood theater, especially one that is vintage. The Catlow is a 1927 jewel. And speaking of Jewel (I feel a story coming on, as usual, haha), one old memory of mine is the day I played hooky from my errands: I was coming from shopping at the Jewel (it's a grocery chain, for those in LA who never heard of it) next door to the Catlow, loading bags of food into the trunk, when I noticed a long line for the early evening show at the theater. I figured it must be pretty good if the line was so long, so I just left the car in the Jewel parking lot (a no-no, but I got away with it that one time), ditched the remainder of the boring to-do list, and went to the movie! I went in with no expectations, and the film ended up being one of my all-time faves. I loved it. The title perfectly described how my day turned out: As Good As It Gets. read more

The Catlow Theater was a unique stop on my recent suburban adventure. The deal was to see a second-run movie for $5, and eat dinner in the theater. Yes, movie theater popcorn is a totally acceptable dinner, (you're preaching to the choir) but the theater's intention was that you buy a sandwich from Boloney's, the attached shop, and bring it in. So we did that. You know, "when in Rome." We could have planned better and arrived earlier, which would have had two benefits. One, there would have been time to peruse the menu carefully, including beverages (they are cans and bottles in a fridge behind the counter and I pulled the trigger on a water before seeing the IBC root beer (FAIL)). As it was, I narrowed my choice to two and asked the nice cashier for her rec. She suggested the tuna, reassured me that it didn't have too much mayo, and was right. However, it still wasn't stellar - just okay. The other benefit of arriving early would have been more time to eat before the lights went out. The silver lining is that I learned something about myself. And that is that I do not enjoy eating tuna sandwiches in the dark. The theater itself was pretty cool, with tons of character. It reminded me of the Music Box, and I am pleased that it has a suburban counterpart (the Catlow is also an architectural relative of the Pickwick in Park Ridge, both had the same interior designer). The design is reminiscent of a European beer hall, with dark wooden beams on the ceiling and organ lofts, both painted with subtle floral motifs. Also like the Music Box, the customers were on board with the experience - mostly older adults out for a little date, and none of the cell phone or chatty-Cathy business you find in higher-end schmancy places. Also though, no previews (sad face). The staff, too, were friendly and casual, and I felt welcomed into a business they enjoyed working in. Overall, it was a charming experience, and I felt the staff, atmosphere and price locked in the Catlow as worth revisiting. Like Miley Cyrus would say, "Pretty cool!" read more

I'm a regular, but first review! The atmosphere is very welcoming and reminiscent of the era of the old style movie house. The architect was the same as the PickWick Theater in Park Ridge. Boloney's is next door to the theater and they will serve your food in the theater if you'd prefer. Movies are $5 and concession snacks also reasonable. The popcorn is the best I've had locally. The movies are not new releases, but new enough! You won't be disappointed. read more

Are you a history buff? Classic movie nerd? Looking for a touch of nostalgia on a Friday night? Trying to find interesting date night activities? Then this is the place! You can enjoy classic films, live accompaniment during silent films (just like they were 100 years ago), in a theater that still has the classic interior decorations of the 1920s. Plus, the attached restaurant serves dinner in theater & there is beer & wine! It's an experience not to be missed! read more

One of my favorite date night locations on a budget. My wife and I love to go to the movies. However, we can't always pay $20 plus dollars and then whatever else you buy to go see a movie at the bigger cinema's. So when a good movie shows up at the Catlow, 75% of the time we go. I just absolutely love it here. The atmosphere brings me back to when I was a kid and got dropped off at the show. Back when movie theaters had one or two movies only. It's clean and affordable. $5 per ticket. Reasonable concession prices. Good carnival like popcorn. Not that crap you buy by the barrel at the large chains. Inside is a huge old theater with the old woodwork. Tall ceilings. Old theater chairs that for a lengthy movie are not the best. But it's all about the experience. And no review is complete without mentioning the fact that Baloney's Sandwiches (which is attached) are allowed in the theater. That's right dinner and a movie. I can go here and have a huge sandwich, drink and a show for about the same price as just getting in to a big theater and buying a soda. And when you are trying to budget in this economy and still find a few moments to take your sweetheart out, this place is so wonderful read more

I would pick this place over a megaplex any day. The tickets are cheap, it was built in 1927(!) and it's above all, unique. If you go to their website you can even vote/suggest the next movie that will be shown. Just come and check it out, I'm not equal to the job of trying to describe it. read more

This used to be a great place to watch a movie and have a wonderful sandwich at Boloney's. Not any more.....the new food place is called Showtime Eatery and the food is way overpriced with the sandwiches half as thick as they used to be.....the menu has been scaled way back and the place was dirty...I would stay away and eat elsewhere. Relative to the Catlow movie theater, the owner keep changing the start times of the movies...some weeks there is a matinee and others not..sometimes the show starts at 8, and other times 7....it is so inconsistent, I stopped going there,,,,thought the movie started at 7 during the week nights, but it started at 8 so I left.....total mismanagement! This USED to be the place to get a great sandwich and watch a great movie...no more!! read more

A old creepy theater with a hint of mildew in the air, went for a late night movie "the shape of water" which was a very weird and queer movie. I should've known...lol but anyway from what I could see this theater only has one screen in a very large room. The staff seemed nice, and the cashier and I even shared a joke before I went in. Im not sure but it seems to be a family owned business and that's cool. read more

An evening at the Catlow is like stepping back in time and going out to the movies the way it used to to be. Sure the chairs aren't Barca loungers and the rows are tiered but the sights and sounds in this place are exactly the way movies are meant to be seen and for prices that won't break the bank. Do yourself and everyone involved with the theatre ( local family owned ) and frequent this place. Also you can eat dinner in the theatre using the adjoining restaurant ( serving wine and beer too! ) Just grab your keys and go have a great time at the Catlow and support a local business instead of those soul stealing and money grabbing megaplexes read more

Nice theater with tons of character. Large single screen theater with nice comfy seats. Plenty of seats, you probably won't ever have to worry about a sell out. 7 dollar tickets, up from 5 no so long ago, reportedly from a price increase by the film distributors. Plenty of parking across street or next door near the Jewel. read more

The Catlow Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

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This place is charming and has beautiful architecture. The staff is friendly and helpful. The prices are amazing. You can get a cold beer and a delicious bowl of popcorn and enjoy the movie! read more

I passed by here last December and had forgotten about it until recently. I am so glad I remembered! When you walk in, you are immediately catapulted back to the days of when our parents used to go to the movies when they were children for ten cents and penny candy actually was...a penny, The young gentleman whom gave me my ticket (and popcorn), was very nice. The movie ticket was $5, and a medium popcorn and soda was $4.75. Take THAT big chain movie theaters! If you get a chance, try to observe the craftsmenship of the beams within the theater while you are waiting (hey, you are stuck there anyways!). Only one preview was shown and then the movie began. It was actually kind of nice, not to be reminded 3x to silence our phones or to see dancing milk duds across the screen. This is a great theater and I am looking forward to my next visit! read more

I love having a neighborhood movie theater and for $5 for a movie that's only been out a few weeks, you can't get a better value. The theater needs a little work - some of the seats are ripped up and don't quite sit straight - and it has a bit of a musty smell after a rain. If I had half a million, I'd want to invest and put it into renovations. That being said, I will wait for a movie I want to see to come to the Catlow, rather than pay $9.50 for a stadium seat, modern theater. Plus the popcorn is good, and cheap! read more

This is probably the cheapest price you are going to pay for a movie anywhere! Their concessions are also inexpensive and you can get a giant sandwich from Baloney's to eat (carefully) while you watch your movie). It is a cute little theater and if you don't mind only a few show times and waiting a few weeks to see top movies this is a great place to g o! read more

Wow, now this was a truly unique movie experience! I've been wanting to see To Rome With Love and this was one of the only theaters playing this flick. This theater only has 1 screen and I hear that you can vote on what movie they should feature next which is pretty neat. Ticket prices are only $5 which is a steal! Concessions are also a LOT cheaper than big box theater chains. Getting a popcorn and pop is actually affordable here. You are also allowed to bring in sandwiches/food from the little shop next door. The theater itself is huge. I don't think I've ever been in a movie theater that big before. The seats just keep going and going. The architecture is amazing too. To me, it felt very gothic as there is dark wood everywhere and beamed ceilings. The seating seemed original, yet restored (i.e. no drink/cup holders). I loved the original ticket booth at the main entrance (no longer used though). I can't wait to come back to see another movie! read more

There's something special about the Catlow. I always make sure to try and see movies here since they're always threatening to go bankrupt. They show off beat and second-run movies for $5 - and I love the old style theater and history of the place. The seats are a little uncomforatable for a long movie, but they recently upgraded the sound system, so the improvements are coming, albeit slowly. They sell awesome homemade caramel corn in the lobby and you can order one of the ginormous sandwiches from Baloney's next door and they will bring it to you on a tray in the theater before showtime. This place is a Barrington gem - try and support them! read more

Really? People give this place good reviews? The seats are uncomfortable, the sound is so bad you can hardly hear the dialogue, the picture is faded. Have they converted to digital? If so maybe the picture and sound are improved. So, if you like old and run down, enjoy your nostalgia and pretend you're back in 1960 again. read more

I love The Catlow Theater. It's charming, reasonable, popcorn is always fresh and free from kernels and having yummy sandwiches brought into people while watching the movie is great. My only issue is the bathroom. I get anxiety before I go to a movie there because I am afraid I might have to use the bathroom. For a woman to use the bathroom, the stalls are so small that we can either stand on the seat to close the door or straddle the toilet and back up. Our pants rub against the front of the bowl as we pull them down. As we sit, our knees are touching the door and our hips or thighs are touching the side walls of the stall. If I plan ahead, and don't drink anything before hand, I always enjoy movies at The Catlow. read more

A charming historical theater in downtown Barrington. It is run by a local owner who hires lots of students who make it a youthful and lively venue. It is refreshing to see a town that supports its arts. The sandwich shop next door serves giant sandwiches. read more

Looking for a unique, great place to have an event? I booked the Catlow on Sunday afternoon for a retirement party, and it was amazing!! I had so much fun putting together ideas for the party, and they made it happen!! First of all, "HAPPY RETIREMENT, CINDY" appeared on the marquee! Pretty classy and my guests loved it! The lobby was decorated in red and gold decor, including signs, balloons, tablecloths, bowls of popcorn, and a red carpet! It was beautiful! There is a bar there, and a list of beverages that we discussed, was created for the party. My guests especially loved the sangria and the kids loved the variety of soda pop among other choices. The bar server, Janet, was wonderful! Next, there was a delicious buffet of sandwiches and salads and hotdogs set up, and my guests were able to take their food into the theater! They loved it! The food was catered by Showtime Eatery, and everyone raved about the food! One guest needed a gluten free meal, and they created one for him, which he loved! I was able to choose a movie to show, and midway through it, I passed out popcorn, which everyone loved! We had the whole theater to ourselves!! It was awesome! After the movie, everyone came back to the lobby for cake and coffee. Then there was a special surprise! When guests arrived, we asked each family to do a short video recording of their name, how they knew the retiree, and a retirement wish. The video was all ready before the party ended, and was shown in the theater as a finale! It was so much fun for each guest to see themselves on the big screen, and I have a video of all my friends as a keepsake! Everyone in the Catlow and Showtime Eatery was so kind, friendly and so hardworking, and they made the party an amazing and enjoyable experience!! Laura and Tim O'Conner were so enjoyable to work with! They truly made the party a huge success!! After the party, I kept getting texts from various guests telling me what a wonderful party it was and how much fun they had! Thank you, Catlow Theater!!! It is a retirement party to remember!! read more

I love The Catlow! Fun, cheap date night movies for $7, you can bring food in from Baloney's next door, and I like the caramel and cheese corn. Plus, you can vote for the next feature on their website. read more

The Catlow gets four stars merely for existing: it's a real, live, single-screen, main street movie theater. The fifth comes from the fact that it's charming, inexpensive, architecturally significant, and just plain awesome. It's also tenacious: rather than risk financial ruin, it lauched a Kickstarter campaign because it knew that people in the community valued the theater. And you know what? They do. They beat their goal, almost by 100%. You can feel the love at the Catlow. Compare that to your local multiplex. read more

Catlow was a great place to see films. They assured patrons they'd Never raise prices from $5 per ticket which made it affordable. Then thousands of dollars were raised by patrons for digital, to keep the theater open, and as much more was raised needed repairs were made including replacing seats, which again patrons donated money for to have their names engraved upon. After that ticket prices went up to $7. After all the money and support patrons gave Catlow's Greed/Hubris has kept me from ever going back. read more

This is a great theater - they way it used to be. Prices are very reasonable, the theater is never crowded, and all patrons are very polite. I've never seen anyone talking or using their phone during a movie. There is no long list of "Coming Attractions", but there are some ads for local businesses. On their website, you can vote for what movie they should show next. Recently, they started showing matinees of old movies - and you can order beer & wine. Best theater around! read more

Seriously SO COOL. The place have been here for ages and looks so awesome on the inside. Their ticket price is quite vintage as well. Only $5 a pop. I know lots of people that have coming here since the 70s, 80s, and way before then! I think that it's so charming and it has played an important role in many peoples' childhoods. I woud absolutely recommend this theatre. One of the coolest things to me is that instead of commercials before the movie, they play either really cool 70s and 80s music videos or today's alternative music videos. Very fun and a deviation from your average theatre. read more

Love, love, love the Catlow! You cannot get such charm, great food (from Baloney's next door; you can eat in the theater) and great movies anywhere else. The caramel/cheese popcorn is amazing. Great fun! Thank you, Tim, for keeping it going. read more

I don't think I've ever been to a theater like the Catlow. I really love old movie houses, but this one is really different. Not what I would call regal. Certainly not opulent or extravigant. Truly a wonderful place. Run by people who love movies. The films always seem to be carefully selected, but often offer surprising choices. This place really is great. Try to go often if you can. read more

Great place to see a movie for $5 and buy popcorn and drinks that are not ridiculous jumbo sizes at outrageous prices.

A great experience in a very old, cool, very traditional theatre. Also, you can order a sandwich and they will bring it to you in the theatre. So tasty, well priced, and an incredible atmosphere. Go to the Catlow Theatre with friends or for a great date night! read more

I can't believe it's taken me this long to go to the Catlow! What a gem! $5 for a move, any night of the week? Yes, please. Hugemongous sandwich from Baloney's that I can eat during the movie? Um, ask me no more questions. Just check out the Catlow read more

What an amazing movie theater. Price is right and the restaurant next-door is oh my gosh the best in their sandwiches, they are so big that you can eat half one day and half the other. read more

One of the few unique and charming places left in suburbia! This is truly one of my favorite nights out: dinner at Boloney's before a Catlow movie. This movie theater has character that no longer exists at most suburban movie theaters with multiple screens, and Boloney's provides a generous, homemade sandwich and soup before your movie. Save room for the great popcorn and candy that are reasonably priced. read more

I absolutely LOVE The Catlow!!! It is so beautiful inside, and the staff is so friendly. I am a fan on facebook and receive the weekly emails so that I can go everytime a movie I want to watch is playing. read more

The Catlow used to be a great place to go, not anymore. I completely agree with the review below- this place was ruined by mismanagement and inconsistency. Showtime Eatery does not compare to Boloney's- it will never come close. The food is completely overpriced and the place is extremely dirty. The bota boxes are sold here for $13... $3.99 at Target. The movie times are inconsistent and so are the hours at Showtime. How pathetic. read more