4 screens of film lovers' films with old comfy recliners in small screening rooms. I saw Hamnet, dozed off in act one and cried through act three. read more

Thank God we still have a movie theater in SF that shows something other than Hollywood garbage. I love the foreign and indie films. Opera Plaza had a renovation a while back and it's all fixed up and very nice. Seats are comfy. You can haves glass of wine with your popcorn! On public transit too. I can usually park nearby and the meters give you four hours. There is also an underground garage. read more

Opera Plaza Cinema - You can have a glass of wine at the counter.... - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We are suckers for indie movies and their theaters that show them. Unfortunately, we have seen them disappear in San Francisco. So when we heard a "little" film "Bad Sabbos" was playing in San Francisco we were excited it was still playing at Opera Plaza Cinema where we have been watching great movies in tiny spaces. Our theater seated 20 people, however, there was another theater which has an intimate theatre with 12 seats! We arrived at the theatre prior to a late lunch at "Max's Opera Cafe" a few feet away. We were "concerned" about the rush! Ha! So we purchased our tickets ahead of time. I even got a "senior" discount! After late lunch we arrived full, however the smell of the fresh popcorn was a siren to our senses! We got a large bag to later enjoy over several days. We have been to this post stamp of a movie theater (it the baby sister) to the enormous Castro Theater. The lobby is simple, sleek and low key. Perfect for the movies they show for decades. I took a few photos outside the theatre to provide the feel. Our servers at entrance were kind and hospitality. Great experience! We will not wait 10 years to return. Please note there is no validation on garage parking below, but gave a peaceful of mind our auto was safe at $7 per hour. read more

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Happy new year ..nice renovation but the old movie theaters are so special ..old seats ..ambience ..new York style theater read more

Opera Plaza Cinema - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very nice small theater. Staff was very friendly. The theater was clean and a very friendly atmosphere. Reasonably priced and had good fresh popcorn. Would definitely recommend this theater. Keep up the great work. read more

Opera Plaza Cinema - One of the auditoriums. - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's secret spot worthy every time. Primo and thank you for sharing your gifts. Always good to be back from time to time as it's one of those places that still holds sentimental meaning. read more

Small movie theater with maybe 4 theaters inside. They serve food and alcohol and let you bring it into the theater which is cool! The seats rock back and forth which I thought was a little distracting during the movie but overall a good experience! read more

Opera Plaza Cinema - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

The theater itself is okay but the chairs in theatre 4 are deteriorating and the fake leather from the worn headrests got all over our hair and jackets. Really gross. read more

We watched The Fabelmans before 2pm on a Sunday (New Year's Day) and got a weekend bargain discount. The movie was played with subtitles (I love watching movies with captions on so this was awesome). It looked like the theater only had 3 screens; it's a cute little old-school (yet updated) venue. Auditorium 3 had three rows total (plus accessible seating in the back), with only one aisle (on the left side, facing the screen) for all three rows, so you may have to walk over people if sitting on the right side. The seats were probably the comfiest "non-recliner" theater seats I've ever experienced... they were spacious and already somewhat reclined and rocked back a bit, so it was definitely a pleasant surprise. With the smaller auditoriums comes a smaller screen as well, but I liked how cozy it was in there. The have an extensive drink menu, a lot more beers and wines offered than I see at most other theaters, plus a small bar in the lobby, and a few snacks available. Street parking was easy on a holiday, but I think they also have a parking garage off Turk Street. The movie was outstanding, as was our entire experience at Landmark Opera Plaza Cinema, and I'd say I kinda like this place better than the bigger more popular theaters I'm used to, so I'm glad to have discovered this hidden gem in SF. read more

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This theater wins most improved for sure. With the closure of the landmark embarcadero, I was worried that there were no landmark theaters left that belonged in the 21st century. But they've done some major upgrades to this place. While they're not using the ultra comfortable recliners, their seats are relatively comfortable. And thankfully they're not made out of soft cloth that collects filth and germs. I was issued a closed captioning device for my movie, it didn't work, but I attribute that to the fact that the entire movie was subtitled anyway. It wasn't open captioned, it was a German film with titles in English. The staff were friendly. This is not a theater to drive to. The only nearby parking is extremely expensive garage parking or your car will be smashed into street parking. If you insist on driving, I recommend parking in the financial district and walking or taking Bart. read more

Opera Plaza Cinema - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We recently saw a film here and enjoyed the experience. I nearly forgotten the place existed - but it was showing a film we wanted to see that (gasp) was not available for streaming. The screening room was small, but the seats were comfortable and the place is clean. The popcorn was fresh and the soda was cold and properly mixed. You really can't ask for much more. read more

Cool, smaller theater with a nice, small bar inside. Clean, in a safe location, off the beaten path.

So sad that we are now down to only one landmark theatre in SF. RIP embarcadero and the clay. Opera plaza still carries the torch. It's a small theatre, with only a few screens. It's also very unassuming from the outside--no grand marquee as it's hidden in the middle of the Opera Plaza building. But it has a couple things going for it. One, there is almost always something worth seeing here at any given time. And, when you're trying to find that small indie film right before it leaves theaters, chances are it might still be here. And they've renovated the seats! This was not a comfortable place to spend a couple hours before, but now it's quite enjoyable. Hopefully they can continue to serve this area of the city well into the future. read more

This place is cool! I have lived in SF for years but never walked through Opera Plaza, as when I pass it I am usually on a bus hurtling down Van Ness. Past the nice restaurant with the huge windows and the live pianist, up the artistically lit staircase by the fountain with the pretty mosaic, and across from the UPS Store I found the theaters. Cinema really is the right word though, as the space is on the smaller side. Still bigger than the Embarcadero Landmark (RIP). Definitely has an intimate, art house feel. Anyhoo, the staff were friendly, which is kind of a rarity in SF. There are screens at the registers where you can choose and reserve your seat if you did not do so online. (And I did not do so online because I was happy to gamble that I would be able to get a space without paying the convenience fee.) They had a nice selection of drinks (alcoholic as well!) and snacks including the biggest carton of popcorn I have ever seen in my life. As it turned out that I basically won the lottery as I was the only one in the theater for the showing. There's novelty to that but it is more fun when there are other people to laugh with. So tell your friends so we can keep this place in business! read more

They need to turn the heat on. People in theater started putting on hats or hoods. Must have been 50 degrees..when I mentioned it to con session worker he said if one breath that I should have told him, but the heat is not been working in that particular theater. In retrospect I should have asked for a refund. read more

Such a charming theater! Super clean and their recent remodel looks fantastic. The seats are very comfortable. Not the gigantic recliners, but nice seats that can lean back a bit. There's a really lovely bar area where you could enjoy a snack or beverage before the movie. They always have the best foreign and independent films that you can't find anywhere else. "Drive My Car" was a wonderful film!! read more

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I love this little theatre.They play amazing movies for great prices, with some non-new releases being only $5/person if you log in with the free account. It's an unbeatable deal around here, and these kinds of theatres are becoming more rare these days. I saw a screening of Maestro here, and they gave out a pack of several big, beautiful prints from the movie to everyone for free on the way in. It was a full house, seats were comfy, it looked and sounded great, and the popcorn was good. The theaters aren't very big, so even the very front row seats were well worth it, which is all that was left that night. I hope this place sticks around! read more

Opera Plaza Cinema - Free pack of posters given out from the Maestro Movie - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

This venue manages to transform cinematic mediocrity into a spirited affair. If you can dodge the awkward sightlines and embrace a glass of vino, you're in for a decent show! read more

I was in theater A which was disgustingly dirty with seats missing padding and torn and heavily stained with God knows what. The roof tiles were stained with old leaks and the room smelled of mildew. (The movie and the popcorn saved the night! ) The attendants out in front seemed to be aware of this, but were helpless to do anything about it. Everyone in the theater were appalled and moving around to find a comfortable seat, eventually just settling for an original broken down 1991 chair ( not cleaned for 30 years by the looks of it) The movie screen was about the size of a large big screen TV. The movie we watched, Honeyland, was magnificent and sadly, only showing at this theater. Unfortunately, some of the really great foreign films and documentaries are only available at this theater in San Francisco. My advice is BYOC (bring your own cushion) if you must watch a film here. read more

Opera Plaza Cinema - The entrance of The theatre with posters of new and vintage foreign films. - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of my two favorite theaters in SF. They almost always have a film I want to see. I love that they have added the wine bar. Everyone is very friendly. read more

Your helpful management, professional, generous and thoughtful, as they were kind to accommodated us when we messed up on our ticket days to Maestro this summer. read more

Found a showing for Oscar nominee Lady Bird that was close to our dinner venue and so stumbled upon this charming San Francisco gem: Opera Plaza Cinema! Tucked away in a small shopping plaza, this old-school, super cute theater features four rooms that typically play indie films. Our theater room was 20 seats max! We checked in at the front booth with our pre-bought tickets, happily ordered Nestle ice cream bars at the concession stand, and watched a delightfully funny movie that took us straight back to high school. If you enjoy intimate older theaters, check out the Opera Plaza Cinema! read more

As the Embarcadero Cinemas are now closed, Opera Plaza Cinemas are the last of the Landmark Theatres that remain open in San Francisco. I'd not been back since they've renovated and I very much like the look of the place. The associates are nice and I'm happy they've remained open. I saw "The Good Boss" from Spain and I appreciate that at least one cinema shows foreign films read more

Cozy, comfortable chairs. Intimate theater, not too many seats so book in advance. Sound system is fantastic too.

This cinema was recently refurbished and is greatly improved with very comfortable seating. It's a fun place to see a movie and the only remaining Landmark Theater in the city. Be aware that all of the auditoriums are small, and several are similar in size to a home theater. $7 movies all day Monday and Tuesday. Plus a decent concession stand. Recommended. read more

The seats are very comfortable but the lay out means that the front front row and the end of row seats have poor sightlines. Also, if you are electrosensitive the emissions feel very high here for some reason. The Landmark Piedmont is a far better venue and worth the trip. read more

In the age of monster multiplexes, this exquisite little gem of a movie theater is my new Go-to. The new seats are sooo comfortable. Sightlines from the back seats couldn't be better. My movie-going experience last night in the tiny Theater #3 was flawless. Charming, helpful staffers. Clean, modern restroom, even had a sprig of fresh lavender in a red bud vase. If you like super-salty popcorn, this is your place; otherwise buy a different snack. A thoroughly delightful movie house. Highly recommended. read more

This Landmark Theater is vintage but still very operable. The 2 screens theater reminds me of movie houses gone by. If you're used to luxury loungers, higher headrests, a larger viewing screen...this may not be your choice. On the plus side,; they're not crowded, seats aren't numbered so you can sit wherever you want, no bathroom lines and the best current indie films and documentaries showing. My last experience was exceptional.... it was like like a private viewing for my squad and I. read more

Opera Plaza was showing a movie I'd wanted to see ("Queen of Versailles") and after I'd been shuttled into Opera Plaza's entrance via signage, I felt from their reception, "They've kind of given up." I felt bad. I want to give them more business because you can the owner is sticking by his original business plan by showing movies you won't see elsewhere but the staff's/owner's attitude (be it, I'm judging them on one single, solitary employee and somewhat hostile signage) tell me that Opera Plaza's mission statement needs some reiterating. I'm sure the theater tries to maximize revenue by parsing moviegoers into small, almost cubicle-like theaters. This is fine since the theater was clean enough, it was well-insulated from noise and the sound system and screening were very good - and it wasn't crowded (at least for the first show)- so you don't feel hemmed in. But, you could tell the small things like wallpaper creasing and falling down just a little bit that they're cutting corners like the ticket-taker doing double-duty as snack bar employee. All said, I'll give Opera Plaza Cinema a big thumbs up that they're showing interesting movies like "Killer Joe" and "Queen of Versailles" to merit a 4-star (and a half) rating. I just feel the theater needs an injection of positive attitude despite this somewhat shaky economy possibly keeping them down. And I want to shake them and say, "I'm here! Why don't you greet me, "We're glad to welcome you back - how may I help you?" Otherwise, I may be tempted next time to stuff a Prozac down someone's throat and then remind them why **I** like them. Overall, the positives of Opera Plaza outweigh any niggling negatives and you have a sense they're trying to keep the theater afloat by cutting some small, non-essential things. The bottom line: I want to support a theater that screens little indie-gems that are surely not big money-making blockbusters so... I will be back - and Opera Plaza Cinema deserves the business. read more

Props for being hella cute, small and intimate. Perfect for a date night. All the staff are cool folks. Even if one accidentally walks into the men's bathroom while a staff member is using it. Whoops!! But he was sweet about my mistake. On that note, the bathrooms were clean. Thumbs up! Love that they show the hard to find, independent films here. This theater caters to a crowd that enjoys GOOD films - not just popular ones. Refreshments are fresh and one might be lucky enough to score a private showing on a slow day. I love that!! Wish the seats were updated for comfort. Would frequent here more if the seating was plush. read more

Opera Plaza Cinema - Empty theater = private showing for my friend and I! Yay! - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

"Figaro, Figaro, Fig-a-rrrooo!"...oops, wrong place... next block, right? The Opera Plaza is the type of shoebox-sized multiplex that used to be all around the UC Berkeley campus when I was a mere lad - probably the only place you could see movies like "My Dinner with Andre" and whatever the hell obscurity came out of Herzog or Fassbinder. Those days are sadly long gone as they have been overtaken with Skechers and Jamba Juice stands. Except gratefully for the Opera Plaza. Funny thing is they have four theaters, but two are really little more than closets..."screening rooms", as they call them, with seating available for your next of kin, certainly not your extended family much less your cinemaphiliac friends. I saw "The Squid and the Whale" in one of them last year and felt like I was in a deep-breathing adult theater on Market Street. I was just waiting for the pole dancer. Not that I would know... Last night I was in the big theater to see "Showbusiness: The Road to Broadway", and even though the screen was no more than your beer buddy's colossal plasma screen, it was great that I could see an excellent niche film in the comfort of a theater. Even though the advent of big-screen TVs, Netflix, TIVO and the like have rendered such multiplexes financially unsound, I do hope there are enough small-budget film lovers like me out there to sustain them. Sue me...I just like the concept of "going to the movies". Know what I mean? read more

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This is where I saw Across the Universe which I loved and became obsessed with (recently ordered the DVD so I can watch it all the time and make my friends watch it & enjoy it too!). We found parking right on Van Ness out front which was great. Then, we headed to the little deli in the Opera Plaza in order to buy yummy sandwiches for dinner. They were delicious sandwiches and we had no problem walking into the movie theater with them. The movie theater seems a little bit old and somewhat run-down but an entertaining movie with a great sandwich can make for an excellent night! read more

An intimate movie theater with a neighborhood feel, you'll never be more than about 7 rows from the screen! The people who work here are invested in knowing about the movies and are friendly! They recognize you if you come to shows often. Big movie chains boast insanely loud sound systems and over the top recliners. Opera Plaza dazzles viewers with unique movies that take you to places far and introduce topics that you may not have even heard of!! I have seen movies about a dying Spaniard reconnecting with a childhood friend, a Guatemalan boy who (unbeknownst to him) survived a Guatemalan massacre, and a woman known for being an actress who was actually a brilliant inventor! Love love love OP Cinema! read more

Location! Location! Location! Another great small member of the Landmark family - this theatre is in the middle of the city but feels small town - the theatres are pretty small but it's great to go here to see indie films and enjoy the uniqueness of the theatre. My tv at home is not as big as any of their screens, btw, if yours is, invite me over, I'll bring the nutritional yeast for the popcorn. :) read more

I'm sad to say, but this is my least favorite of the SF Landmark Theatres (http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/SanFrancisco/SanFrancisco_Frameset.htm) mainly because it just feels so cramped in here. I love indie films so on the upside, cool, arty films are what Landmark is all about. On the downside, I feel like I'm watching a movie in a large home-theater. I go to the movies to be immersed in the visuals and sound and it just doesn't happen here. I shouldn't complain because they are bringing us some great lesser known movies, but I can't help feel like the movies deserve a *little* better. It's true, not all the theaters here are shoebox sized, but the smaller ones are TINY, IMO! There's not much, if any, overlap between what's showing at the different Landmark Theatres in the city so sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet or (gasp) leave the city to see the movie you want to. read more

They did a great job with the recent renovation, bringing the theatre up to date, while retaining a slight nod to its former Art Deco styling by featuring a narrow strip of the original slat-mirror ceiling that runs above the greatly expanded concession stand. New wine bar with seating wasn't operating when I was there mid-afternoon, but looks cozy. Gone is the askew placement of small screens and old-school seating with minimal legroom. Peeked into one of the small screening rooms to the side as well and the experience is much upgraded with large screens, improved seating and lighting. Opera was always one of my favorite art house locations in SF, along with the sadly shuttered Lumiere, for its hidden, intimate, quirky allure and great programming. Happy to see this small cinema finally saved and brought up to modern standards. read more

I just saw The Great Beauty, an Italian film with the fantastic actor Tony Servillo at the Opera Plaza. I appreciate the fact that I can see foreign films in San Francisco at local neighborhood theaters like this one. The theater itself makes me think of an aging screen star with declining wealth having a home theater to show films. This may be a a personal-sized theater watching experience since the capacity of each theater isn't too big. I think we had about 40 people which is alot for the Opera Plaza. Conveniently located nearby is a Peet's coffee shop, Max's Opera Cafe (Jewish deli-type food), a Japanese restaurant and Book's Inc. This pocket of culture helps lift an otherwise non-descript area of town. Check it out. read more

Cute, quiet, old school theater in a weird location which somehow adds to its charm. Opera Plaza is a low key theater with character, showing mostly indie / documentary films on 4 or so screens. Service from attendants is prompt and reasonably friendly. They have a solid concession selection for their size that includes ice cream, soda, popcorn and candy. For the types of films shown at OPC, I really appreciate the homey feel to it and even though the seats and theaters feel a little rundown and old school, it's a place with character and a welcome reminder of a simpler time. read more

Great choice of films, but the seat are beyond horrible! Time to remodel!!! Other cinemas don't charge that much more and also continue to have bargain days. Would love to see some improvements... read more

The first time I came to see a film here I ended up in the tiny "living room" theater and wondered if some kind of joke was being played on me. On a recent visit, I ended up in a bigger, more standard size theater. This is a fine cinema to see films with friends, but if you want to cuddle, it's not the best as none of the arm rests lift up (drat!) read more