This place is pure small town magic. It's beautiful and classy. I just love this place too much. If you live here in PT, support the Rose because it is one of the many treasures that make our town special. If you are just visiting PT, then go go go! Experience this small, locally owned, unique theater. read more

We always try to see a movie when we come to Port Townsend. Both the Rose Theatre and the Starlight are gems. Very friendly staff and a great theatre. read more

The Rose Theatre in Port Townsend is just a magical place. It originally opened in 1907 and when you enter you'll be stepping back in time. Excellent ticket prices, excellent sound and comfortable seats. The LARGE popcorn (with real butter!!!!! and tons of seasoning options) is only $6.25! Large candy at the snack bar is under $3! When it's time for the movie the theatre owner or a staff member will read an introduction to the movie with all sorts of interesting information about the movie you're about to see. This is such a special place. If you are nearby at all- be sure and visit. They also offer streaming options and have a small room called the starlight room where you can eat and drink (drinks & wonderful food from the Silverwater Cafe next to the theatre) during the movie. Photos from theatre's website. Info from: https://rosetheatre.com on the theatre's history below. About the Rose The Rose opened as a vaudeville house on Taylor Street in 1907. We've experienced the transition to silent film, talkies, Technicolor, and now to digital projection across three unique screens, in addition to an online film library. We endeavor to bring the people of the Olympic Peninsula not only world-class film, but also high-definition ballet, opera, classical music and theatre from around the globe. We invite you to experience a film at the Rose or the Starlight Room, where the popcorn is fresh, the butter is real, the sound is superb, and every show is personally introduced. And if you're streaming a film from farther afield, welcome to the Rose! LOCATION 235 Taylor St. Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360) 385 - 1039 Office (360) 385 - 1089 Movie Hotline office@rosetheatre.com ADMISSION In-person: $11 Adult; $10 Seniors & Students; $8 Children 12 & under Starlight Room $12 (Ages 21+) Matinees are $1 less. Special event admission varies. Streaming prices vary. Rose members receive discounts to most in-person and streaming films. SEATING Rose Theatre: 158 Seats Rosebud Cinema: 79 Seats Starlight Room (ages 21+): 46 Seats read more

See all

Have you read those stirring explanations from cinema greats like Scorsese, expounding the power of cinemas over their youth, those palaces of dreams, fragrant with fresh popcorn, and run by wise souls, stewards of the holy temples of Laterna Magica? Have you ever felt like you missed out on a golden age of movies that multiplexes at malls cannot possibly recreate? Friends, The Rose Theatre is for us. Luxurious red velvet sofas, guilt edged decorations, proper popcorn with real butter, and each movie introduced by a genuine movie buff. Wonder awaits with greasy, butter fingers and an enraptured smile. And wine. They serve wine! read more

See all

Excellent downtown movie experience, like every time we're in PT, The love is real. Glad we finally got to experience the Rose Theatre...the renovations are amazing and cozy. Having staff address the audience, introducing & highlighting movies/events truly personalized it....you love them and what their doing. I support that. read more

Focus is on offbeat movies such as the Wes Anderson films as well as crowdpleasers like "Maverick". The space is almost a century old and has retained its original charm. We come regularly not just for the movies, but for the best popcorn you can get in a movie theater. They also serve local items and kombucha on tap. But definitely get the popcorn and season to your heart's content at the condiment bar. read more

This is exactly what a movie theater should be! Great movies, great snacks and popcorn, awesome theater crew of people and beautiful theaters read more

See all

A must visit when in PT--great staff, great flicks, great theaters. You're sure to find a movie that's right for you

This is a gem of a theatre. Incredible atmosphere. Wonderful concessions with local goods - like ice cream sandwiches by the town ice cream shop, kombucha, and so much more. Absolutely something someone should check out if you're in town visiting for a few nights. I want to come back just to watch new releases of films I'm excited about and I don't live here. read more

Simply delightful. Cozy and adorable little theater with $8 tickets, $2 candy and a personal previews and introduction to the movie. Not a single detail overlooked. *Sigh* I would hug this place if I could. read more

Rose Theatre - inside the rose theater - Cinema Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

I can't say enough about how fun it is to go to The Rose. Rocky has set a hgh bar for the new owners to follow, but I have no worries about how well they will do given that it was Rocky who carefully chose them to take the helm. The Rose is one of Port Townsend's finest gems. I have never been disappointed with either the movie selections nor the venue itself. It is always a treat. read more

So there I was last night, sitting near the back of the Rose Theatre munching on my popcorn (with butter, thank you very much.) Playing this evening: *** Waiting for Superman Directed by David Guggenheim Rated PG for some thematic material, mild language and incidental smoking. 102 min. View the Trailer: www.WaitingForSuperman.com *** I was enjoying every minute of it. Even though the subject matter was intense. And often sad. Guggenheim (who also did "An Inconvenient Truth") turns his attention to America's broken school system as he chronicles the half a dozen kids who are trying to get into "good" schools through various school lotteries. Some kids get in. Some kids don't. Some kids go to school districts which are well funded, others go to districts which pass around the "Lemons" (read: non-effective burnt-out teachers) from one school to the next each school year. Its an interesting movie, and well worth seeing...exactly what one would expect from "The Rose." So...once again, kudos to Rocky Friedman for finding a meaningful film to show at his theater. And once again, kudos to Port Townsend, for being the kind of place where kids can grow up rich-in-spirit. And did I mention the Port Townsend Leader? Kudos to the Leader for letting the world in on "our little secret." Dream City is alive and well. read more

I'd give this theatre six stars if I could! I love the old school charm of this place. My aunt works in PT and when I come to visit I always plan a strip to this theatre to catch a film. They play a lot of indie movies here, and it really is beautiful! The last few times I've gone they have a person come out and introduce the film and say a little about it before the show, which is just... Brilliant. Homey. It's a restored theater -- if you're ever in Port Townsend and like films, you must must MUST check out this little theatre. It's also in the center of town, within walking distance of all the other shops, so you could see a movie, grab a bite to eat, walk down to the water...It's just grand. I'm telling ya. The popcorn's pretty good, too. :D read more

omg. this is the real deal. beautifully restored at some point, the velvet seats, charming walls, with historical images, and super professional, kind staff make this a one-of-a-kind high-class movie theater. you will feel like you walked back into 1972 perfectly created, with elegance. there are elements in design to other, even earlier eras -- and yet, it does need a more recent touch-up to the walls in the theater itself. the theater holds over the best shows so this small town can be sure to see the best, but the rotation of other films is rapid enough for the most demanding customer. it is polished and clean and fresh and bright. superb quality all around. I am the biggest theater/cinema fan and critic and this goes down as my favorite small theater in America. read more

Theatre was really cute and had a pretty nice offering of movies. However, the staff has no idea what customer service means or any form of grace. We had ticket vouchers for a normal show, hoping we could get in to a movie tonight. We went in hours before the showing, but they were sold out. We opted to see a Shakespeare movie the next day. Instead of helping us out by taking the tickets and cash on top of that, we were told that the tickets couldn't be used at all, not even applied to the price of admission because of their computer. Even when calling upon the manager to plead our case, she also had nothing but condescending words for us. This would not have bothered me as much if the staff had handled the situation better. I'm sure everything else is alright, but the staff really needs to work on customer service. read more

This place rules for umpteen reasons, but off the top of my head: Small theater, good legroom, decent sound Good popcorn Friendly staff Great movie choices Nice decor Film introductions that are interesting and not pompous All in all, a great place that adds a nice flavor to the downtown. read more

This is a great place. Other reviewers have nailed it - it's a small theatre with personal introductions to the movie. It's the type of theatre that folks clap after the film. If you go to catch a movie in the summer be sure to go a bit early as the seats fill up quite rapidly. read more

We were late for the show and missed out on the famous popcorn. But seeing a movie at the Rose was still a treat. This theatre first opened during the silent era - and feels like it still. The theatre we were in had only about 70 seats, and the walls of the lobby are covered in movie posters and autographed pictures of movie stars who've visited. The Rose is like the neighbourhood movie theatre that no one has in their neighbourhood any more. If I had this, I would never again rail about how horrible it is to go to movie theatres. As it stands, if you're nostalgic about movie theatres and the silver screen era and all that jazz, make a pilgrimage to Port Townsend for a picture show - no matter what's playing. For the record, 21 Jump Street was much better than I thought it might be! read more

My girlfriend and I love movies. We love popcorn. We love places with history. Rose Theatre nails all three. We were in lovely Port Townsend last week for a birthday trip, and walked out of a bookstore and into an olfactory explosion of awesome. It was barely 3pm, and the Rose was starting to cook popcorn for that night. It smelled so good that we instantly decided to watch whatever they were showing. Lucky for us, it was The Descendants, which is so good it deserves it's own review. Needless to say, we laughed, we cried, we ate lots of popcorn (which was the best movie popcorn either of us have ever had -- especially once we realized that it didn't come salted and I paid a visit to the popcorn seasoning bar [yes, you read that right, a popcorn seasoning bar, complete with everything from salt to parmesan cheese]). And for only 9 bucks a person for an evening movie, it was a bargain. read more

I love this little theater! We have attended the Port Townsend Film Festival three times now, and so have had the chance to see several films here. It is clear that the people who run this theater put their hearts and souls into giving audiences a brilliant and unique film viewing experience. Everything about this place -- from the cozy (but very comfortable) auditorium, to the freshly popped pop corn, to the vintage film pics in the women's rest room -- is top rate. I think it is so cool that a small town like Port T. has such a fabulous theater that shows independent and foreign and classic films every day of the year! And, I think it is so cool that we live close enough that we get to partake of the fun at least every once in a while! read more

As if you were dropped into the cushy den of a well-to-do grandmother. With popcorn! Splendid...just warm enough not to fall asleep. The corky coasters, fringed lampshades, and velveteen drapes complete this unforgettable scene. read more

The best movie theater. It's small, with the additional screening room, The Rosebud, being even smaller. Let's call it "intimate". :) One of the staff always introduces the film with tidbits of info about the making of the movie, the director, producer, &/or actors that you may not otherwise have known, and it adds to the viewing of the movie. The audience claps after the intro, and often at the end of a good movie too. That used to happen when I was a kid, but I never see it anywhere, anymore but at The Rose. One time, there was a town power outage when we were there, so the movie stopped after a few minutes into it. The manager gave tickets to each person there to be used at any movie at a future date. If you email them, they respond. All very personal, small-town, community-oriented cool. The popcorn is delish...it's fresh, and they use real butter. And, without asking, they put butter halfway down and at the top so it's not gone after the first layer. The other concession items are out-of-the-ordinary and good too (chocolate covered blueberries & cherries come to mind). read more

Wonderful independent movie theater in the heart of Port Townsend. I grew up going to The Rose Theatre and it is loved by all the movie-going locals. The owners are very particular about what movies they show and only pick the best films. I have never been disappointed in a movie I have seen here. Before each movie an employee gives a short synopsis about an interesting fact regarding the movie itself, the director, etc. Interesting touch. Prices on popcorn and other concession snacks are reasonable unlike big theater chains who shake you for all you're worth for a soda and popcorn. Historical, well-maintained and lots of character, The Rose is the best! read more

Great theatre! We were in town for the weekend, and we were told not to miss the Rose Theatre or the popcorn. So glad we didn't. We saw Margin Call on Saturday. The popcorn- with real butter- was almost all gone by the time the movie started. While we didn't take advantage of the many additional toppings- sugar, salt, nutritional yeast- there were an abundance to choose from. But the best part of the experience was the pre-show announcement. It is great to see how much thought has been put into the selections. The only regret I have is that we weren't in town long enough to catch the National broadcast. They don't play as often in Seattle. read more

This is now my favorite vintage movie theatre... they have beautiful paintings inside the theatre rooms and a nice touch to the dropdown screen for the movie. one thing about old theatres like these is the fact that the seats do not have cup holders or go up read more

Cute theater. It's done it's best to keep up with technology and still have a small town feel. The popcorn is fresh along with real butter. A selection of regular movie theater treats along with some local alternatives. Seating is a bit slim so get your seat and ticket early. I recommend purchasing your ticket online. Be sure to bring proof of purchase if I hadn't tonight our tickets wouldn't have been found in their system. Staff extremely friendly. A wonderful alternative to a big city theater. read more

This place is magical! Truly fair prices, concessions and lovely. You walk in and the presentation is beautiful. It's an old building and you really feel it without it looking grungy or unkept. The movie posters, stars, signed photos: this place is about appreciation of film not just money. You won't find a more well thought through film selection. There is definitely the summer blockbuster or family pleaser from time to time but this is a place for showing films many don't have a chance to see elsewhere. Service is great. They always smile, accommodate (no, they won't charge you for that cup of you just want some h2o. And want to season your popcorn? They don't charge for getting that medium in a large bag) oh yeah!! BEST popcorn. Best. They even have a spice bar so you do it be way you want. Don't skip checking out the recipe book where visitors have a chance to write their own favorite combo of spices. And to top it off? They introduce each film with a cool factoid and warmth. Basically this place is my favorite place. read more

My PT mom and I went here to see 'Hereafter', which was a great movie!!! I love how they also have a smaller viewing room called: The Rosebud. The staff was really nice, my mom's friend had rented the theater out to only clients, friends and families. The popcorn has real butter! Before the show's screening, I noticed that the backdrop was really old fashion and had advertisements, which gave it a nice retro, warm welcoming vibe. The seats were comfortable and the place overall, felt better than any AMC or Regal Cinemas theater. read more

Enjoy the theater but skip the food. I love the Rose theater with its amazing windows and comfy couches. Too bad the food is dreadful. With so many wonderful places to eat in in Port Townsend, save your appetite for after the show. read more

Excellent films, cute, small theatre, friendly staff - does it get any better? Every film that they choose to show at the Rose is worth seeing - you know you are getting your money's worth. The introduction by a member of the staff at the beginning of each showing gives a special touch to the whole experience. Also, it's a small theatre and every seat is the best seat in the house! read more

The best little movie theatre anywhere. All movies introduced with live announcements and information by clever outstanding staff. Any movie experience here feels like a film festival. Starlight room (same owner and next door upstairs) is also fun with couches and specialty food. Best movie experiences anywhere. read more

I just had a pretty horrible experience here tonight that I thought I'd share for interested parties. I've been an avid filmgoer and cinephile for 20+ years, often averaging at least one theater outing each week. I love drive-ins, IMAX theaters, and small theaters with quaint charm. Having read the many accolades that abound for this theater, it seemed like a slam dunk. Nope. My experience began by walking by the theater a few hours before the showing to get an idea of what I was in for. It looked pretty classy. A sign in the ticket booth read that tickets are sold 30 minutes prior to the film screening. I decided to grab a bite and come back at 3:30 (the film I wanted to see was at 4). I came back at 3:25 to find a very healthy line that extended to the end of the block. This did not deter me and said something about the theater's popularity. After waiting in a line that had barely budged in 20 minutes, I began seeing folks walking away from the ticket booth and heading to their cars. One of them said, "the 2D is sold out - all they have left is 3D." I personally don't care much for 3D, but I wanted to check out the theater anyway so I decided to stick it out. They had a very tiny ticket booth that was being operated by only one person. Many couples were pre-ordering tickets at the booth for showings that were days from now, which I think contributed significantly to the long wait in the cold. I really think they could improve their system by adding a second booth or by at least having an assistant in the booth with the main person to speed things along. They also had some signs displaying which movies were sold out, but it didn't say anything about the 2D showing so I decided to give that a shot anyway. No luck. 3D it is. So I finally got my tickets and walked into the theater. The guy took my ticket and pointed to a box of 3D glasses. They were super old looking, which I guess is neat in a way. Each pair I looked at had smears all over the lenses, which was sort of annoying. I finally picked the least smeared pair I could find and headed into the theater. This is where the real nightmare began. The seating. Oh my God, the seating. This was literally coach seating on an economy flight except worse because there is no place to put a drink and popcorn (which came lukewarm, by the way). There are tiny little cup holders placed on the seat in front of you near the ground and staggered several seats from each other - but they don't even hold a large soda. The seats are so close together everyone had to become really friendly very quickly. I'm only 5'11" and there was probably half an inch of space between my knees and the seat in front of me, meaning that anyone in my row who had to get up to get concessions or go to the restroom had to ask everyone to actually walk out of the row so that there was room for people to pass. I could feel the person's breath on my neck we were so close. I've never seen anything quite like it. The seats were also uncomfortable and old. The screen size is, without a doubt, the smallest I've ever seen in my entire life. The sound system looked passable. There was such a small decline between the rows of seats that if someone 6' or taller happens to sit in front of you, it's going to block at least half of the screen. I'm not kidding. Terrible seat design and layout. After sitting in these horrible seats being smashed by people on both sides of me and observing several popcorn/soda spills due to no place to set anything, I was feeling very uncomfortable. I decided to use the restroom before the movie started, which required the entire row to move in order for me to get out (and I'm not even overweight). It was very inconvenient that I had to ask this of them as the woman next to me was overweight and getting up and down out of the seats was hard for her. After using the restroom, I decided to cut my losses and hit the road. It wasn't worth sitting in an overcrowded, uncomfortable room staring at a tiny screen. I cannot review the 3rd story theater room, which is apparently quite comfortable. read more

My husband and I **love** this theatre for all the reasons other reviewers have stated. What makes this review different? We willingly drive 45 miles from Port Angeles, a town with TWO movie theatres, to Port Townsend to see films at the Rose because we love the theatre, we love the staff, and we love the variety of films they show. Yes, it is a small theatre, but The Rose does it right. read more