The 10 Best Art House Cinemas in America
2024-11-02 · 5 min read
The Metrograph on the Lower East Side of Manhattan is the gold standard. Opened in 2016 by Alexander Olch, it combines a two-screen cinema with a restaurant, bookshop, and curated merchandise. The programming balances new independent releases with impeccably chosen repertory screenings. The 35mm projection is among the best in the country, and the candy bar serves actual cocktails.
Alamo Drafthouse built its reputation in Austin, Texas, by treating moviegoing as a serious experience. Strict no-talking policies, pre-show programming curated by actual film nerds, and a food and drink menu served to your seat. They have expanded nationally, but the original South Lamar location remains a pilgrimage site for anyone who loves movies.
The Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles, recently restored by Netflix, is a cathedral of cinema history. Originally opened in 1922, it hosted Hollywood's first-ever movie premiere. The restoration preserved the Egyptian Revival architecture while upgrading to state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos sound. Netflix uses it for premieres, but it also hosts public screenings throughout the year.
Film Forum in Greenwich Village has been New York's premier independent cinema since 1970. Three screens showing a mix of first-run independent and foreign films alongside deep-cut repertory programming. The programming director has impeccable taste, and the annual noir festival is a citywide event. It is small, slightly uncomfortable, and absolutely essential.
The Music Box Theatre in Chicago is a single-screen palace that opened in 1929 and still shows 70mm prints when they are available. The main auditorium seats 750 under a ceiling designed to look like a night sky with twinkling stars. Their annual 24-hour horror marathon, Music Box of Horrors, sells out instantly every year.
Other essential stops include the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, the Landmark Nuart in Los Angeles, the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, and the Texas Theatre in Dallas where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested. Each one represents a community's commitment to cinema as something more than just content.
