Going to the cinema is a treat! To see films on a large screen with surround sound really makes the viewing experience immersive. The Marina Theatre is a family-owned small neighborhood theater that we can bring our kids, friends and family to to see a film together. Hot popcorn smell! Well tiered rows so I'm not craning my neck around someone's head to see the picture. Watching the San Francisco International Film Festival films in Theater 1 was fun. The smaller theater (#2) is more intimate but no less enjoyable. When was the last time you went to see a film and (maybe) eat out at the great restaurants on Chestnut and neighboring streets before or after a screening? Do it! read more

Marina Theatre - The Theater 1 Screening Room 4/25/24 - 67th SFIFF - The Agents of Happiness (Bhutanese documentary) - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

Visited this theatre on a Saturday evening. Ran into a couple setbacks and inconveniences while there. Note, there is no wifi available and very weak cell phone service at the venue. At entry, a problematic guest in front of me apparently purchased the wrong tickets online. The worker/owner seemed to have no clue how to resolve the issue, and instead of letting the competent people inside, they decided to clog the line, arguing back and forth with the guest. The place is small, so once they scanned tickets, visitors were piled into the cozy sized lobby waiting till they opened the auditorum 15 minutes before the listed showtime. The classic concessions stand offered a fairly standard variety of menu items including hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, ice cream bars, soda, as well as a range of hot tea options. There are two auditoriums, both located upstairs. The curved backs of the folding seats made them comfortable enough for a (less than) 2-hour event, with cupholders on the arm rests. "Right in the Eye" was such an incredible production, unique and entertaining. The delightful works of french filmmaker and magician, George Méliès, shown on the screen alongside an amazing live musical performance, made for a truly enjoyable experience. An awesome collection of quirky silent films and clips from more than a century ago, scenes filled with amusing special effects and a touch of humor. The lighting, sound, and diversity of instruments used (including the theremin, triangle, music box, and waterphone) were mesmerizing and executed beautifully. The setting at the Marina Theatre was just right for a lighthearted feel-good time. read more

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I looked all over for the movie Flow. They were the only theater showing it and at the right time. Plenty of snacks to buy. Elevator to go upstairs. Clean restrooms. About eight quiet kids sat and watched it. Please go see Flow. I came away with that we need to help each other in order to survive. It would be great if you can comment on your take of this animation movie. It won 2 golden globes. read more

Seats were on the small side so prepare to be uncomfortable. My root beer tasted like water with a hint of sugar. Lol how do you mess up a soda? Not the best location for a movie. read more

The Marina Theatre is more than movies! Introducing Poppin' Comedy, a monthly show that delivers 90 minutes of live stand-up comedy from comedians from the Bay Area and beyond! Join us on Thursday, June 22 our kickoff: SUE ALFIERI is a New Yorker whose quarter-life crisis prompted a move to San Francisco. Today she's a FOMO-driven mom, wife, and dog lover who mines her life for hilarious material. She'll be performing all over California this summer and even hitting Seattle. DERRICK LEONARD has been making audiences laugh since you were in middle school. His paid performances include The Punchline, Cobb's Comedy Club, Catch a Rising Star, The Improv, and private shows at corporate events. His clean observational style is best described as. Greco-Roman transplanted to the Roaring 20's. His favorite font is sans serif. STEVE BRUNER has appeared on Comedy Club Network (Showtime), An Evening at the Improv (A&E), and more. He's played clubs across the country, including The Comedy Store, The Improv, The Comedy & Magic Club, Catch a Rising Star, and The Ice House. Clips from his Drybar Comedy Special, "Simply Put," have been viewed more than three million times. The show starts at 8:30 and doors open at 8. We'll have a funny new lineup every fourth Thursday. Get tickets on Eventbrite and use the promo code FUNNY for 20% off! The show starts at 8:30 and doors open at 8. We'll have a funny new lineup every fourth Thursday. Get tickets on Eventbrite and use the promo code FUNNY for 20% off! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poppin-comedy-stand-up-comedy-show-tickets-654648620647 read more

Marina Theatre - Poppin comedy on the 4th Thursdays of each month starting Thursday June 22, 2023 at 8pm at the Marina Theater at 2149 Chestnut Street. - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Love love love this theater! One of the few neighborhood family run theaters left. Staff is super friendly and welcoming. They serve beer. Wish they would consider serving wine. (Hint hint). Love this place! Reminds me of the movie theater of my childhood. Would rather come here than a chain any day. Keep up the wonderful friendly service! Thank you! read more

FIVE STARS FOR SO MANY REASONS -- You can have big events/parties here!! I was so excited to learn that you can rent out either one theater, both theaters or the entire building. We had an amazing party here and it was such a wonderful, unique, cozy (yet spacious) venue. -- Frank Lee and his team are really kind, responsive, and easy to work with. They want you to have a good experience. -- We are lucky to have a neighborhood theater like this right on Chestnut in the middle of all the restaurants and stores. Makes for a great night out before or after dinner or just an easy hop over to see a show. Feels good to support local business owners, and especially those who do so much for our city/neighborhood. -- Great movie theater with excellent selection, nice atmosphere, and a wonderfully classic movie experience. -- Good snacks, too! :) read more

Cute theater, true to old school cinema. The space is a good size, it's just the seats are super uncomfortable for a long movie. They are stadium like seats with no reclining or moving of the arm rest. The menu is pretty simple, nothing to lose your mind over. I enjoyed it because it was a very low key space and we were able to watch our movie without any interruptions or a ton of noise. I would probably frequent if I lived around but would not drive out there just for the theater. read more

The cutest little theatre I've ever been too. I was in town and waiting to see the new Dead Pool 2 movie out. Every AMC around the area was either sold out or didn't have a time slot that worked for me. I came across Marina Theatre and it was one of the best movie theater experiences I've had (and I been to recliner theaters). Marina doesn't have reclining chairs however we were able to still get tickets 10minutes before it started and the best part..there was NO ONE there. Ok there was maybe 4-5 other couples in the theater with us, but for a 930PM showtime of a blockbuster movie the second weekend it's out that's huge! This theater is the perfect size, only two actual theaters. The seats were pretty standard not uncomfortable and there was enough room. The screen was a decent size for the room not overwhelming or too small. Small concession stand but I'm basic popcorn and soda kinda girl, maybe m&m peanuts. They had a good variety of candy and soda flavors. Highly recommend this theater if they have the movie you want to see and you want to avoid crowds. read more

Marina Theatre - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

Nice mom & pop movie theatre, centrally located right off Chestnut. You walk in and buy tickets on the left. The theatres are upstairs and they are well maintained and a fun experience. There's a small selection of candy to choose from downstairs but we ended up passing on any convenience snacks and heading upstairs to the movie. The seats aren't super comfortable but there is a good amount of leg room which is great for tall people. But I still really enjoyed the movie. read more

I have never heard of the Marina Theater until May 2009. I went to the Marina Theater to attend an advance screening of The Proposal. I had eight advance movie screening passes for The Proposal (May 21 @ 7:30PM), and decided to go with two guests. I did invite some other friends but they weren't able to make it so I gave the rest of the tickets to random strangers on the street. Anyway, it took about an hour to arrive at the Marina Theater. There was parking available at the meters, and free parking near the residential areas. Immediately, I noticed that The Marina Theater was located in a busy, yet friendly neighborhood. There were many restaurants, and retail stores near by. The Marina Theater is smaller than most theaters. The concession stand is the first thing you see when you enter. Movie screenings are located upstairs. I have not tried the food or purchased tickets so I am not aware of the pricing for food or movies. But the Marina Theater is located in a wonderful neighborhood, offers great customer service, and the seats are cozy. As for the movie: The Proposal ... one of my favorite movies - very funny, warm, and entertaining! Anyway, if you are in the neighborhood, why not catch a movie at the Marina Theater? read more

Hmm...perhaps I spoke too soon regarding SF's neighborhood theaters disappearing from the city's landscape! Undoubtedly, their numbers have shrunk over the years, but for those that are sticking around, perhaps they could pick up a thing or two from Marina Theatre. If any were going to hold up against megaplexes, this just might be one of them! Now, to be blunt, this place isn't going to blow anyone away. It's really easy to walk right by without even realizing it and they lack some of those high-tech amenities - no IMAX screen, no Real 3D set-up. What's more, there aren't any faux-leather recliners for you to lean back into, and there's no White Cherry Icee to be found to help quench your thirst (what?!). Having said all that, Marina Theatre nails everything else - all first run movies, a good sound system, competitive ticket prices, and the fact that it's always CLEAN. Sure, you may still get the occasional group of Marina Bros, but the crowds are usually pretty low-key. As in, the theater never gets super packed and the other moviegoers are generally chill (read: no teenyboppers). Plus, the whole theater has a cozy sort of feel, which makes them perfect for a post-dinner movie dates! Since a couple of my friends live just a few blocks away, Marina Theatre has become our default spot just because it's so convenient. Admittedly though, that's also because the biggest potential knock against this place/neighborhood (parking) largely hasn't been an issue for us (thank goodness for the empty spot in their garage!). Even without the parking though, I'd still come here if I were nearby. After all, I'd rather get the same movie going experience (minus the Icee...) from a small, local business than a megaplex chain. read more

I'm a big movie buff and truly believe that the more screens in our city the better. So when I heard Iron Man was playing at the newly reopened Marina Theater, I had to give it a shot. I'll go out of my way to give my movie going buck to locally owned theaters, even if it means sacrificing a bit in the process. My first impression (other than the fact that they are cash only - hmph) was that the place is spotless! Let's just hope it stays that way, even if that means keeping your dirty shoes off the seats people! It was refreshing to see a packed house on a weeknight and the owner giving a speech to talk about the theater was a nice touch. The cash only thing and no Cherry Coke (Daddy needs a Cherry Coke while watching movies) keeps the Marina Theater at four stars for me. Will I be back? Yes. Might I pick up a Cherry Coke next door at Walgreens as I hit the ATM? Probably. Should you give your hard earned dollars to locally owned businesses? Absolutely. read more

Marina Theatre - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

Review is based on Auditorium #2. I'm only 5'-0" and I've had more legroom in a United Airlines (posted pic). No joke, there's only a 9" gap between seats (see pic). Seats are almost 90° pitch with no reclining. It was quite an uncomfortable 2 hours. I'm a big supporter of local theater and I frequently watch movies at their sister theater a few blocks down, Presidio Theater, which does not have the same issue. I write this constructively as I hope the owners don't try to renovate the seating in their other theaters in the same way in hopes of just having more seats to fill. There's a balance. I don't expect all theaters to have the fancy full reclining seats like the big chains such as AMC, but as luxury seating becomes more of the norm, I fear ticket sales could eventually suffer if the owners renovate their other theaters with this same cramped layout. read more

Marina Theatre - More legroom in a United Airlines. I'm only 5'-0". The gap from the edge of my seat to the seat in front is 9". Yikes! - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

I guess it's nice that there is a movie theatre in the Marina for people who live there. If I lived there (I don't) I would go somewhere else to see a movie. I happened to be in the area and Marina theatre accepts Movie Pass, so I thought I'd check it out. I got there about 45 minutes before the movie started to try to get tickets. The door was open and people who worked there were inside, but the young blonde worker very rudely informed me that they wouldn't be open for another 10 minutes. Okay. So I returned just before the movie was scheduled to start. The tickets were $14. The theater itself was tiny. The seats not very comfy. And the screen was quite small. read more

Seats don't recline, but have a high back. Cute mom & pop theater, and the matinee was completely empty so you have the theater basically to yourself!! The caramel popcorn was really great. No theater-staple ICEEs though! read more

Snatched a pair of discount movie tickets from LivingSocial.com and had no idea this bright little theater even existed! Looks to be family-run and operated. Front ticket counter is jam-packed w/all the concessions and processed snacks an American could want. 2 screens with clean spacious seating, retractable armrests, and clear views. Caught Valentine's Day on opening weekend, so can't really comment on the how the sound system or screen resolution would handle epic action sequences. Theater was full, but didn't feel crowded. Not sure if I'd make a special trip to see just anything, but glad this place is on my radar now! read more

Marina Theatre - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's not a big theater but I'm a fan of this spot. 3 reasons: - Very clean. - Reasonably priced concessions. - Super friendly staff. This is definitely more for the locals that live in the area but it will be my first choice whenever I want to see a movie. The only thing that would keep me from coming here is if the times didn't work for me or they didn't have the movie I wanted. It only had 2 theaters so that could very well happen some time. But, this will be my first option from now on. read more

I've been here on several dates with a former beau, and for some reason, we always manage to come when every theater room is near empty (in the middle of the day). As you can imagine, this makes for very romantic and intimate seating, and the chairs at Marina Theatre are cozy enough that you can flip up an arm rest and snuggle up close if you'd like. The buttered popcorn is yum and comes with tons of toppings if you want to shake a little more fat-and-sodium-packed goodness onto those crunchy morsels, and the kettle corn is also deliiiicious. Mmmm! The attendants running this tiny little theater are also happy to add as much butter as you request to your movie snacks, so encourage them politely to go nuts with that yellow gold! Although this is one of the smallest theaters I feel I've ever been in, the size definitely adds to its charm. It's such a great local hole-in-the-wall kind of theater for Marina neighbors, and it's definitely been one of my favorite go-to date spots for movies. Would come again! ... Probably *will* come again. read more

Still shed a tear for the theater that is no more on Union St., but is this new Marina Theater the half-hearted replacement. Thankfully it is not. Usually we go to the smaller, friendlier Presidio Theater down the street with a good location across from A16, but Dark Knight tickets were hard to come by. So we stopped in for our popcorn pleasure. Theater is a lot smaller than I anticipated, but the seats were comfortable with very high backs. Even with my not so tall stature (not short!). When the movie is over please be patient takes a bit of time for everyone to file out the one exit and down the narrow staircase. Place only takes cash. Thought it was nostalgic for the small mom and pop ones to be cash only, not this place. And with a location right next to Walgreen's all your sour patch and coke needs are met without denting the wallet from already expensive movie tickets. If you want alcohol there is a liquor store a few blocks the other way... read more

This is the theater of my choice. It's close, almost always has the movies I want to see and has convenient show times. There's usually something playing right after work which is awesome because most of the time I don't want to stay out until 12pm watching a movie when I have to get up at the butt crack of dawn the next day. Yeah, I'm an old lady; I can't help it! I need my beauty sleep. The theaters aren't that big which is nice in my opinion because you can't really have a "bad" seat. The only down fall is that they don't seem to have enough help at the ticket/food counter. My friend and I had to wait a good 5 minutes (with nobody in line!) before we could buy our tickets because there was only one lady working everything. I get that businesses are struggling and trying to cut costs, but you're not going to make money if you don't have enough hands to do everything. read more

With huge "metroplexes" monopolizing movie goers everywhere, choosing to see a film at the Marina Theater is the difference between enjoying a milkshake at an old fashioned soda fountain V.S. the drive through at McDonald's. The neighborhood theater is my first choice venue when splurging on an evening at the movies. Unlike it's over sized opponents, the small, 2 screen Marina theater feels cozy, comfortable, and classy. Ticket prices are the same as the corporate competition, yet ten dollars is worth it for the large red cushioned seats, clean spacious facility, and classic movie theater atmosphere. The Marina Theater - making movies a memorable and enjoyable experience for us all. read more

Cute 2 theater space. No major frills but comfortable and clean enough, plus no weed smell such as you'd find at the Metreon or downtown AMC's. You can buy tickets online or in person. Matinee pricing is $11 instead of $14 pp, as long as the show starts at or before 3 pm. read more

This movie theatre is filthy. Nice people working here but not enough to maintain cleanliness. I will not watch a movie here unless they get the maintenance under some control. Popcorn wasn't swept from shows before & the floors were sticky. read more

Elves would love this cinema. It's TINY. At least, the theater in which we saw "Iron Man" was miniscule. It's a bit like the Presidio Theater down the street... only newer and less sticky. Seats are stiff and don't recline much; though I did enjoy the lack of used gum stuck under them. If the arm-with-drink-holder is in the down position, you have to turn your body sideways to walk through the rows without banging your thighs into each one. Also, no weird little cartoon popcorn people or swing dancing cats advertising the snack bar while we awaited the previews. What's with that? And be prepared. It's cash only. Five stars for "Iron Man". Robert Downey, Jr. is dreamy. Two stars for Marina chicks who hogged the smallish bathroom to apply lipstick when I just really had to pee. read more

Yay for having another movie theater in the neighborhood! Boo for it being down the street from the Presidio Theater. Hopefully it doesn't run them out of business. Same ridiculous prices for a ticket and snacks, but that's what I've come to expect when going to the theater. I just had to see Sex & the City though! The theater itself is pretty small, compared to the AMC or Metreon (duh) which is nice. The seats don't recline though. Boo. read more

Interesting place for sure. We were visiting the area and thought to see one of the latest run movies. The seating was good and represented well by the photos. The staff was nice and it appears to be pretty much a cash business (just a fyi). I think that most of the major theater chains could do more to represent good customer service like this place. read more

I love this cute tiny vintage movie theater. Its right in the neighborhood and they only play two movies at a time. There's a small snack stand that only sells the basic snacks (popcorn, soda and candy) which is all you really need. The major AMC is a bit much. I don't ever remember ordering a pizza, hot dog, nachos, popcorn and an icee for a 1.5 hour movie when I was a kid. Gee talk about child obesity! Anyway, I really love this place. It's convenient, cozy and feels like home. read more

When we stopped in to buy tickets for "Tropic Thunder" tonight (before our futile attempt to find food), there wasn't anyone to greet us at the counter. Out of nowhere this small woman leaped over the counter to help us. Getting a show before the movie is pretty impressive. I was surprised that the ticket prices were a low $10. The suburbs are higher than this. I hope after they don't raise their prices of their new smell goes away. And, there definitely is a new smell to this place. And, I'm not talking about an odor. The floors aren't sticky. The moving arms of the seats are stiff. They haven't figured out that they should tear tickets. Oh, and, the bathrooms are clean! I wouldn't want to get stuck with a small screen, but the big theater we were in was a nice size. Easy to watch. Not too big. The best thing about the theater. Being right next door, it's no wonder why Walgreens stocks movie size candy for a fraction of the cost. Two other couples were buying food to take into the movies. In the theater, lots of people were buying just popcorn. If they had real prices for food, they'd get the 5th star. The monopoly must end! Do not take advantage of me! Treat me like a human being! Want to see a movie and avoid the big places downtown? It's pleasant. By the way: "Tropic Thunder" was a lot of fun. Probably the best Robert Downy, Jr. has ever done. read more

I love this place. San Francisco has a deficit of independent theaters. So many have closed in the last five years that it is sad. I have walked by this theater and the telling sign is the smell of caramel popcorn floating down the street. Surely, last night, the caramel popcorn smell drew us in... It seems like this place is family run, which makes it more neighborhoody. It also is neighborhoody in that it is in my 'hood and I can walk there! It's pretty cool to say that you can walk to the movies, like in the old days. The decor and finishings inside aren't super modern, but they definitely are not dated and it is clean. I think they have two theaters and we were in #1, which was a decent size. It seemed that since it was smack dab in the middle of everything on Chestnut, a lot of couples decided last minute to catch the movie as they walked in right before showtime. I think it is perfect. Go on a date, get dinner, catch a movie then grab drinks down the street. (~) They take credit cards and tix were $10.50 . read more

Ample leg/elbow space (unlike the Presidio down the street), but you can only buy tickets the day of. The theater is clean and so are the restrooms (lots of them!). The double edge sword is its location. Sure, there are tons of restaurants and shops to check out before or after a show, but there is also very limited 2+ hour parking in the area....seeing a day show during the week is very chancey, especially with the way the DPT is in this city. I found a parking spot on the back alley of Mel's (about 2 blocks away), and just prayed that the parking police wouldn't ticket me during the show. read more

Went here today to watch Inglourious Basterds. Small and intimate theatre, but independently opened while still showing mainstream films. I greatly enjoyed my experience here, and the theatre is small enough to avoid those heavy crowds. It's nicely nestled on Chestnut street, and you can enjoy any of the local restaurants before heading to the movie. read more

Updating review to 2 stars. Watched 'Spectre' at the Marina. The screen was far too dim. They appear to be running the projector bulb low. And down to 1 star we go. Watched 'Arrival' at the Marina. Way too dim a screen. Like watching the movie wearing sunglasses. read more

I love this little neighborhood theatre & come here to watch movies often. There are only 2 theaters, but I feel like they tend to always show what is popular at the box office (between this & the presidio theater, I rarely have to venture off chestnut to see the movies I want to see!). One theater is much larger than the other. Food is good & what you'd expect at a movie theater - popcorn, ice cream, candy,etc. read more

They're independently owned but still allow you to see that week's Blockbuster without leaving the comfort of Chestnut street. Small but modernized, Marina Theater combines the big complex amenities (lifting arms rests) with the convenience of your neighborhood. Minus one star for only taking cash....it's 2009! read more

Bought tickets on movietickets.com and they had no record. We had to pay a second time for 4 tickets. Total price = more than 80 dollars. No apologies. It's up to customer to prove purchase. In 10 years using movietickets.com, I've never had this problem. They don't appear to be set up for using the service, unlike AMC on VanNess, e.g., where you can just put your card in and the tickets pop out. We have used the service there hundreds of times. However, the first time at this theater...boom, we have to pay twice and we have to do the work of proving what we claim. We are doing that now. Problems didn't stop there. We ordered one popcorn they couldn't get the order straight. They seem distracted. When we returned an unwanted box, the employee was unpleasant. When we asked for an extra little cup holder to use to share the large pop corn, the employee would only give one when we were four people sharing the large popcorn. The sense was: these guys are amateurs and not up to speed. Next time, we're going back to AMC on Van Ness. read more

Great way to spend an evening ! I can walk 7 minutes & no parking problems ! Instead, a pleasant, energizing stroll & no stress ! The added time at home NOT spent searching for a spot is priceless ! Then once you get there, there's the terrific retro experience of a small theater! For those of us allergic to the multiplexes , this is a wonderful return to a simpler, less complicated time ! What a concept ! read more

One of the great things about San Francisco (as I have grown to love) is the essential banning of large chain anything. Of course there are some exceptions, but overall, SF has done a remarkable job keeping things local. The Marina Theater is a great example -- with only 2 theaters, maybe 50 seats max. Definitely feels comfy, never packed/chaotic, where you can truly kick back and absorb the entire movie experience. read more

I really like this place and am very glad that it is near my apartment! They usually have a good selection of films running, and it's super easy to pick up a ticket, some snacks and snag a seat. However, the floor has been sticky and the theaters have been cold - but not always! Would not prevent me from returning here a couple times a month. read more

I've seen a decent number of movies here due to the sheer convenience of the theater's location. SO nice to have two cinemas within walking distance of where you live. While nicer than their sister establishment down the road (same owners), it still feels a little amateurish. Pretty run-of-the-mill overall. I definitely dig the big clean bathrooms, and theater 1 is big. My main complaint is the service. Though I totally respect a family business that tries to include various family members and get them some work experience, sometimes you need to train your employees/kids better. I may be making assumptions here, but I think that many of the less than stellar customer service moments I've witnessed involved some of the children or younger extended family of the owners? I dunno. I don't require much... just standard courtesy and a smile. But on several occasions I have been rather shocked at not only the lack of simple polite customer service, but also at the blatant disinterest and borderline rudeness displayed by some of the employees. On one occasion we had to wait for the person at the ticket counter to finish an argument on her cell phone before she even acknowledged our presence. Once she did look up, she sighed with exasperation, put her phone down (didn't hang up), and said "what?" She almost had me convinced that we had done something wrong. I felt like reminding her that we were actually there to give her money and help the family business. But, hey, we've all been there - maybe she was having a particularly bad day... Overall, the convenience overrides any minor disadvantage, so I'm happy to keep going there. read more