Orange County Best Movie Theater - Art Theatre of Long Beach - Best Of Orange County

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Comments (0) Best Movie Theater - 2009

Art Theatre of Long Beach

2025 E. 4th St.

Long Beach, CA 90814

562-438-5435

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As far as the movie-theater-going experience is concerned, there's little that beats watching Purple Rain or Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Nosferatu (with a live score) on a big screen inside an Art Deco theater at midnight on a Friday. For those of us out there feeling a wee-bit jaded by the bloated movie-theater industrial complex (big parking lots, big screens, big popcorn, big prices), the newly renovated Art Theatre of Long Beach is an idyllic throwback to cinema past. Many of us can remember when movie theaters were within walking distance of home and featured one, two, maybe three movies, tops. You could sneak around and catch a double feature, and popcorn was cheap. Art Theatre screens one to two feature films a week, and the selection is varied and intriguing enough that you get the feeling whoever's behind the scenes actually cares about movies, not just about making a buck off shitty summer rom-coms. It has screened everything from Academy Award-nominated animated shorts to Brüno and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It's a mixed bag of films thrown onto a nice screen in a beautifully designed theater with cozy seats. As an added bonus, a coffee shop and tiny wine bar flank the main entrance, like little wings with tempting treats for pre- or post-movie-going banter.

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3 comments

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Mariana

WOO HOO!! Was so glad when The Art reopened - used to go to Rocky Horror there back in the day, and it was always my favorite place to check out foreign flicks and "art" films. Love that they throw on an occasional concert & comedy show, and am digging the Friday midnight flicks (Pee Wee's Big Adventure was a RIOT!). Keeping fingers crossed for Eraserhead soon, and hoping they get Where the Wild Things Are! Oh - and seriously, you guys put crack in your popcorn. You guys totally get the award for Best Popcorn too!

Ryan

I found out about the Art when checking out -

www.mondocelluloid.com

I love the midnight movies and the friendly staff. The Mondo midnights and other fun program really elevate the movie going experience.

Giselle

Nice choice!!! I certainly hope that The Art continues to program a combination of the standard entertainment fare with the more eclectic and idiosyncratic screenings and events that have brought new life and recognition to this beautifully restored jewel on 4th Street's Retro Row!! You can definitely count on The Mondo Celluloid Foundation and MondoCelluloid.com to bring to The Art the best Friday midnight programming, collaborating with artists and organizations in the community--such as Garage Theater, also rightly recognized in this issue by the OC Weekly!!-- bringing to the community a variety of cult and beloved films, as well as promoting and showcasing local performance art. Rosemary's Baby, The Warriors, Night of the Living Dead and the silent masterpiece Metropolis (with live band!) are screening in the coming weeks. As long as you keep coming, we'll keep bringing the very best to The Art! Thanks for recognizing what The Art and those of us working with The Art are doing!

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