I came here with my son on a Friday night 9:50pm to see new Black Panther movie. My brother and his bf joined us. We were a little late as it was supposed to start at 9:45pm. I am not sure if they played previews or not but I don't think they did. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was that it was HOT! Like, wow. It was a fairly nice day. It seemed hotter in the actual theater. The prices of popcorn wasn't bad at all. My brother and I both got an XL popcorn for $6 each. To be honest, it's like a large at other places. We both got a large drink that was $5. My son wanted a water, so I got him a bottled water, which was $2. They ran out of butter, so I could t get any. The popcorn was okay. It definitely wasn't fresh, lol. But I can't expect much from a vintage movie theater. This establishment only has one theater room. There is an entrance on both sides of the concession stand and an emergency exit to the left of the screen. We ended up having to sit in the 3-4th row from the front as everything else was pretty much taken. It seemed that most of the crowd were students from UNC-CH. we enjoyed the movie! Besides the lack of temperature control, it wasn't a bad experience. I would return again if I was in the area. I only came here because it was cheap halfway spot between where I live in Greensboro and where my brother lives in Clayton. read more

See all

The best movie deal in Chapel Hill. See movies the way you are supposed to ... in an art deco theater with real roasted popcorn and a beer. There are only two screens, but they fill them well. If you're not ready to go out into the COVID world yet, get a small group of friends together and reserve a birthday party. You get the theater to yourselves and a small popcorn and soda. You can even bring in your own DVD! read more

Rated PG: pretty (darn) good! Well, they have beer for starters. Wine, too. And it's a cool two-story little theater with that old ritzy feel... like when people used to get dressed up to head out for a movie. People definitely don't do 'dress up' anymore for anything, including the opera as it turns out; but maybe they should start stepping it up! Back on track: Varsity is taking it back oldschool with a delightful mix of films like Monty Python and Back to the Future. They're doing the Princess Bride soon and that's always a classic fave. I watched two NCAAF films here and really enjoyed myself. (Husband NEVER takes me to the movies, so it was a treat even without stadium seating!) There was some volume fluctuation and a little wonkiness in getting the films underway; but it didn't bother me because the whole place just has that kitschy cool vibe. I'm glad it's sticking around on Franklin, and I look forward to reliving some fave flicks with them! read more

Varsity Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I had a great experience at Varsity Theater. While the prices have gone up since a lot of these reviews were written, $7 is still very inexpensive compared to what you'll pay at any other movie theater. The one thing I want to note is that there are no previews! I'm so used to watching 20 minutes of trailers before the movie starts, and I missed the first few minutes because they started with the movie at 7 pm on the dot. Tickets are bought at the same place as concessions, and the workers there were in no rush to move through the line, so get there early so you don't miss a minute! read more

Great little theater in downtown Chapel Hill with reasonalbe prices on movies & snacks. Delicious popcorn is a must! Just wish the bathroom on the first floor had a sink with running water instead of a soap dispenser with no water to rinse off hands! The best deal is to buy 6 movie Multi Pack that can be had for about $10 through a Groupon or Living Social. Best deal in town on already great admission price! read more

Most of the virtue of the Varsity is the location; it's pretty much in the middle of everything, which makes it ideal for students without cars or people cruising Franklin Street. The Varsity is very 'breakdown chic.' It's old and ratty and a little nasty, but they wouldn't have it any other way. If this theatre were a person, it would be a gardener in a hippie commune circa 1974. The movie selection is very off the wall. Time was you could count on it only being indy films about gay cowboys eating pudding (such as they are), and that anything that hadn't won honors at the Cannes Film Festival wouldn't even be considered to play here. Those days are gone, though, and not a week goes by that I'm not shocked at what's playing. Keep your ear to the ground, because chances are the Varsity will have something you desperately want to see playing and you'd never know about it. The prices are totally decent, especially for the afternoon shows... The Varsity makes a great place for a Saturday afternoon show after a Franklin Street lunch. The concessions are standard movie fare. Show up early for evening shows, they sell out a lot. read more

Varsity Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Rated R: retro! Hi, I'm the husband that never takes his wife to the movies (see Christina's review). For your information, we don't go to the movies because my home theater kicks ass. By home theater, I mean 42" projection TV with internal speakers. Hmm, maybe I should go to the movies more often. And, just maybe, I'll take my wife to Varsity Theatre. This place has a great retro vibe and the experience is more than just watching a movie. They serve beer and wine which is pretty unique to this area. If you like to drink then take take note of the location of the bathrooms before you enter the theater (they're upstairs). Popcorn is also good and they'll load it up with butter if you ask. They also have nachos and an assortment of candy. The movies are typically classics (both modern and from back in the day). If you want to surprise your significant other with something out of the ordinary then come to Varsity Theatre. Apparently awesome home theaters aren't always good enough.... read more

I finally saw Dances with Smurfs last night. Even better: I saw it at the Varsity. The Varsity Theatre is doing something quite cool: the theatre is playing to the nostalgic desires of a whole wide swath of the population. For the older types, you have the occasional 1940s-1960s film, and a old film atmosphere to boot. You won't find stadium seats here: instead, you've got a nice theatre with seats that won't destroy your neck. For the younger generation, well, the $3 screenings of a wide variety of films is great (ranging from Casablanca, Back to the Future, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail to newer fare like Avatar). The fact you can buy beer and wine here is also quite awesome ($4 for a cup of beer... not too shabby considering this is good beer we're talking about, like Dogfish Head). Popcorn's relatively cheap as well. The Varsity Theatre is a Chapel Hill landmark, and in its current form, a great place to go see a show on a boring night on the cheap. Basically, it's awesome. :) One thing I would suggest: this seems like the perfect place to do musical showings. What I'm referring to here are those midnight showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show the kids all love. Or Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the musical episode of "Buffy" (this has been done at the Coolidge Corner theater in Brookline, MA), etc. Not a criticism by any means, just a thought. read more

Zomg. I came here on a day trip with my boyfriend and have such fond memories of the Varsity Theater. We saw Blue Velvet here and it's been one of our favorite movies since. Go David Lynch! It's cute and kitschy. It's also a great price for a date night movie. When I went there I scored free pizza and loved being in a small, intimate viewing room with a decent screen and not a stuffy smell that most local small theaters have. It's a great deal, even for the UNC students. I want to go back to Chapel Hill just for this reason. Hey, that gives me an idea.... read more

I was so happy that they re-opened this theatre. It's such a great landmark in Chapel Hill... worth it to go see a film here when you are in town (especially because tickets are only $3). It is an old theatre, and I think you kinda get what you pay for... The sound quality in the space isn't too great, especially compared to the crazy surround sound technology they have going on at newer venues (like Southpoint). Overall it's a really cool space and they play a cool mixture of old movies and relatively new releases (out of mainstream theatres but not quite at blockbuster yet). They serve beer which is pretty cool for a movie theatre, and when I went to see the Blind Side, there were some plates of shrimp sitting out that the owner made for customers to snack on!! read more

Totally into the old-school, vintage theater feel! AND--the best part--the popcorn is $4 for a medium, compared to the outrageous prices at bigger theaters. Granted, they play second-run films, but if you're willing to wait to see a movie until it shows here, it's totally worth the ticket price ($4) and experience. The reasons why I give it 3 stars, despite the great prices and retro atmosphere: I watched Frozen here, so the theater was pretty packed. From what I've heard, it normally doesn't get so crowded. Lots of talking and moving around. The movie started 30 minutes late (maybe because there were so many people?) and the sound halfway through the previews was muffled and very low (not that we care about the previews anyway, I guess...). I'm definitely willing to give this place a second shot, but for now, 3 stars makes is A-OK. read more

I love The Varsity. A great place to catch a film that you wanted to see but not necessarily enough to rush out and see it while shelling out $8+. If you're patient though you can go and see movies at a great price in a theater setting. Or better yet see a classic film in a theater that was originally there before you were born! Come on embrace the time traveling aspect if you wish. $4 tickets can't be beat, even for a night time showing. But the Varsity will reward those who go regularly with multi-pack cards so you can see 6 movies for $20. Also look out for groupon deals, I got a 6 ticket card for $12 once, phenomenal. The non-alcoholic concessions are also fairly priced. I enjoyed their popcorn and got it with butter, it was a little heavy on the butter which made some of my popcorn soggy. Felt greasy when I was done eating. Overkill but I get that some people might like the decadence of such a thing. But one selling point is the fact that the Varsity sells beer and wine. I've only had a Corona from there once as I'm only recently of age. It was most certainly overpriced (as can be expected honestly) at $4. Also kind of sucked as it came without the lime I'm accustomed to enjoying my Corona's with. But it was great for the novelty for sure! The establishment is clean and the staff is friendly. The theater is usually not that crowded which is also nice. I also love the decor, definitely head upstairs to where the bathrooms are, even if you don't have to use them, seeing the mural of the Chapel Hill skyline at dusk is worth the trip up the stairs. Overall I say that if you're in Chapel Hill or around Franklin St you should check it out. Especially for the classic movies you probably won't get the opportunity to see in theaters anywhere else. read more

I feel like we need two ratings here - one for value and one for sketch factor. It's pretty old school, but it's a cheap date night with a retro flavor. I'd love to see them formally revamp and restore it - the bones of the place are gorgeous, it's just in need of a little TLC. I'd love to see a band there. My friend actually rents it out for a red carpet awards show event. Pretty fun way to watch the Golden Globes and get snazzed up while you're at it. Our Local Deal often has ridiculous deals for this place - I'm talking like $3 a ticket. For that price, it's totally worth it! :) read more

I love this place, truly, how could anyone not?! A Grinch possibly. This small, local, second-run theater has that old school charm and feel, so each room runs small, you can't sit too close or your neck will hurt, and the armrests don't lift up but that's part of the appeal. And a new great thing is they just updated to digital projectors for BOTH of their screens, so we're talking pretty crystal clear quality movies for $4 on any given day/night. Can't be beat! They even offer beer in addition to typical drinks and the concessions are much cheaper than the chain movie theaters. For only $16, we got 2 tickets, a beer, and a medium popcorn. Hallulejah! The only thing is, the bathrooms are upstairs, which can be a bit inconvenient. Gotta enjoy this place while I'm still in the area! Never had a bad experience! read more

Nice second-run theater right on Franklin Street. You can get beer - Fat Tire in the bottle - and wine, at the concession stand. read more

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes.... Like a daffodil blooming after a long, cold winter.... Like untold numbers of cliches that simply will not die.... VARSITY THEATRE is REBORN!!! Okay, maybe it isn't such a big deal but I think this is a pretty awesome development in the local cinema scene. After closing for a few months this summer the theatre has been renovated and reopened under new ownership. I attended opening night to see The Wizard of Oz on the big screen for the first time. The new business plan is to run generational classics such as Oz, Gone with the Wind and Casablanca as well as more modern classics like Pulp Fiction and The Breakfast Club. Tickets are only $3! I think it's a great idea and I hope it works. Why compete with the multiplexes? The movie selection and admission price are the main differences between the old and the new Varsity but the owners have also tried to spruce the place up a bit. It is kind of a Faux Fancy attempt with mixed results but that's okay. The owners mentioned they might start selling beer and seem open to suggestions. Also, they rent out the place to private parties. How cool is that? Two Thumbs Up: Going downtown is a lot more interesting than going to the Carmike. read more

I love Varsity theatre. It's very well maintained and its prices are ridiculously inexpensive ($4 tickets and $2 popcorn... what!?). It's very interesting to look into its history and check out old photos of it. For how old the building is, they're doing an extraordinary job in keeping it neat. The screenings are also surprisingly clean. read more

Ok, they always show movies 3 months after everyone but it's a really nice cinema and the tickets only cost $4. the quality of the screen and the sound is not bad at all, it's a really great place to spend a good time with your date or with your friends. the staff is really nice too. anyway, if you can't go to southpoint or to lumina, the varsity is here for you read more

There are a lot of things that I love about the Varsity. $4 for a ticket is hard to beat and I appreciate that they show a variety of films. The concessions are affordable and I enjoy the addition of wine and beer. As others have mentioned, the building is a little run-down but I personally like the kitschy feel. I would say one drawback to this venue is the lack of accessibility. There are no assistive devices or services for people with hearing loss. There are other theaters in the area that do offer such systems so that's something to keep in mind. read more

I love the Varsity - it's an independent theater that's not luxurious, but comfortable and fun. Popcorn is yummy, and you can't beat being able to walk over here after dinner on Franklin Street. As the previous reviewer said, there are usually only a few movies playing at a time, and they tend to be independent ones, but not exclusively so. For instance, Harold and Kumar is playing right now :) One thing to keep in mind - now that the Carolina and the $1.50 are closed, this place is the only movie theater within walking distance of campus, so when something with major buzz comes out, you may have difficulty getting a ticket. I think there were lines around the block for Fahrenheit 9/11, for instance. Yep, that's how we roll in Chapel Hill. read more

So glad this place exists still. Fun experience, great dinner options nearby, wine and beer, cheap popcorn but good. I love just heading over for the evening show and watching the same movie that was in chain theaters the week before for a few bucks here, while supporting a local business. Wonderful part of Franklin St. read more

Old theater feel, and an interesting blend of movies. Lots of films I have seen on TV, but have always wanted to see on the big screen - it really makes a difference. Recently, they have also started showing live broadcasts of the more important UNC basketball games (against Duke, for example). GREAT place to watch a game. Biggest HD picture you'll ever see. read more

Love that they've opened the Varsity back up to show indie films and revisit old classics. Also, it's super affordable- only a couple bucks a ticket! read more

We had a great experiencing hosting a client event at the Varsity. The owner was very easy to work with and accommodating to our needs. We were able to have a private screening of a movie with concessions and lots of space for tables and mingling with our guests. Our event was a huge success and everyone enjoyed themselves. Coordinating with the Varsity was so easy and we are already planning to do this again next year. read more

I've been here twice: once a couple years ago for Harry Potter and then again a couple months ago for Frozen. I really really wanted to love this cool old theater, but the quality was simply terrible. For Frozen: there were vertical lines going across the screen, the screen was wrinkled in the bottom left portion, and the screen was dirty which made the snow scenes (most scenes) unremarkable. It sounded like a speaker was blown, as any time there was any dialogue, it was fuzzy sounding. When I came for Harry Potter a couple years ago, the quality was fine, but the movie abruptly stopped in the middle for about 10 minutes before they had it up and running again. Don't know what that was about. Now for the concessions: our popcorn was nearly 1/3 kernels, with every handful I took having at least some kernels (even from the top of the bag). The beer is reasonable but I wish they served local brews (they're missing out on a great market). Overall: run-down, so-so quality, would not pay again. A redeeming quality is the ticket price; I'd say this is a good theater to take kids to if you want to let them re-watch movies for a lower price ($4 per ticket). read more

This place is awesome! Great customer service and always have good movies. Can't beat the price either!

Love this place! $4 gets you in and the popcorn and drinks are reasonable too! seats arent the most comfy and be aware that they dont do previews here so if you are running late (as we were) and you think you have that 10min cushion you are wrong! the movie starts as soon as the lights dim. great place though for the price and a nice old time feel:) read more

A true Chapel Hill classic. The red carpet running from the floor up the walls was always my favorite part of the Varsity. Having a theater that played indie films within walking distance of campus was always a plus when I was in school. I have not visited since they came under new management but they now have a wider variety of movies. At least the Chelsea is still kicking with indie flicks! read more

Very cool old little theater. In most cities, these places go out of business, so I am so glad to see this one is still around. I've scored a great deal on Groupon or LivingSocial in the past, but I see they've also got dinner and a movie packages on their website. Super cool date idea. I've seen a couple here, and have had a good experience every time. I love that you can get adult beverages at theaters in NC. Support local theater! read more

This is great place to catch a great Indie film, which is mostly what comes through here. They do have the occasional feature film here and there as well. This isn't a fancy place but it's kinda comfie and homie, like and old T-shirt-- it fits so cozily in the middle of downtown. The staff is friendly and are willing to answer any questions you might have about a film you might be interested in. The popcorn is quite tasty too! read more

The Varsity Theatre has been around forever in the heart of Franklin St. No, it isn't the best movie theater you could ever go to, but there is such a feeling of nostalgia when you enter; this alone makes it worth it. Whenever I go here I feel like I'm in a time warp, going back to the 60s or 70s, but watching current movies on the big screen. Their selection is not the best because they are so small, but it's definitely worth at least one visit if you're in the Chapel Hill area. read more

Was just there the other day Visiting the area from NYC. Excelent Theater. They actually have an annual pass for $100. wich includes a free small popcorn. You can not beat that. Excellent. Would have that pass if I lived there. People of Chapel Hill and surrounding area=Lucky you-especially if your a movie buff!!! read more

Cheap small nice theater. Friendly staff. Comfortable seats. Great addition to our trip.

I love this place!!! It's a great theatre with very nice employees, showing good movies! Strongly recommend it!