Somerville Theater is a rare establishment that combines an exceptional performance space with affordable first-run movies. The superb acoustics of their main hall speak to the building's age and the care with which is was built in 1914. Even sitting at the end of a row against the side wall, the room's clarity and sound quality were unaffected. As a former audio engineer who has mixed sound for and attended numerous shows in a variety of spaces, seeing Eddie from Ohio here was one of the most pleasant concert experiences I've had in quite some time. Beyond the acoustics, the seats are comfortable and provide ample legroom, a much-appreciated attribute for someone who is 6'4". As for the movie theater, what the equipment lacks in modernity and quality (namely, the surround sound) is sufficiently offset by the ticket price--on a recent evening, I paid just $8 to see a first-run movie. The theaters are small and the seating isn't the common stadium arrangement, but seeing a movie here is still quite enjoyable. My only complaint is that the wide rows found in the performance space upstairs weren't duplicated in the theaters. That said, the seats weren't too uncomfortably spaced and the relative lack of legroom wasn't a distraction from my reason for being here. An added bonus, in addition to a small concession stand, is their small selection of beer and wine. Pints of the former are just $5, while a glass of the latter runs $6. Beer options include Samuel Adams (Lager and Seasonal) and Harpoon IPA. All in all, the Somerville Theater is a pleasant and unique alternative to the area's performance spaces and movie houses, one that I am grateful to have within walking distance of my apartment. read more

Cheap. BYO-everythang. Beer and ice cream for sale in the lobby. Good selection of movies (I saw basically every 2013 Oscar-nominated film here). ...did I mention that it's cheap? Also, the beer. read more

Thank you for an awesome sound system, cheap booze, mostly comfortable seating... but PLEASE tell these concert goers to quit it with the flash photography! My great time at a concert here was slightly marred by the camera flashes going off so frequently it was like being under stobe lights. And it doesn't help that the flashes illuminate the pale blue walls. I do not know how the performer didn't lose her cool! So, Somerville Theater, amazing experience, but how about a no camera policy?? Then I will LOVE you in all your glory. :D read more

My favorite movie theater in the area, hands down. It's cute, it's cozy and it has culture. I'm a huge pop corn fan and they use real butter that they melt right in front of you. YUM! Did I mention they serve booze? Yeah. Buttered pop corn, booze and a movie. Amazing. read more

I'll start off by saying this is one of the only 3 movie theatres I go to in the city. I prefer smaller indie theatres (Brattle, Kendall Sq, etc). The prices are better and they're less of a zoo, in my opinion. This one sells beer and wine, which some people like... I'm more of a smoker, prior to a movie. This theatre has one large or main room and a couple smaller ones. I find the seats comfortable enough and the food (usually) fresh. I also really love their summer midnight movie series. The one gripe I have with this place is the customer service. The person who sells me my ticket is nice, the person who takes my ticket is nice, but for some reason I ALWAYS end up with the concessions person who's life is apparently falling apart. They're rude, condescending and take absolutely no pride in the food they're serving. If you think "they work at a movie theatre, what pride should they take?" Then you are part of the problem. If I'm paying $7 for popcorn, I'd like more than 2/3 of it to be edible. Not a soggy mess because the lazy person behind the counter dumps 3 cups of butter into one spot because they could care less. This happened last night, and was not an isolated incident. And also, it was 9:45 at night, there was no one in the lobby but me, so the staff weren't busy. And if you're going to half ass your job and take it out on me because I'm possibly the last customer of the night, well that's a fat lot more petty then me complaining about poor tact and soggy snacks. And for the record, I've worked at 3 movie theatres and 3 video stores in my life. Did I always love my job? No... but I did it correctly because that's what I got paid for. I'm not some snob, I just think a little human decency is in order. Never had this complaint about the Brattle Theatre, or Kendall. read more

I hate going to the movies. Before seeing Precious today, the last movie I'd seen was Meet the Robinsons years ago. And before that, I'd only go once every three years- at most. But when my "little sister" said she was dying to see this movie, and I found out this theatre was close- I decided to take her here. I was impressed! ***Love the cheap movie prices, they really are the best around. ***Love the old decor of the place, from the signs, tickets, windows, owl lamps, etc. ***The people working there were friendly and helpful ***Prices at the concession stand were reasonable! ***Also, love that they serve beer- although I didn't get any since I was with a young'in. If I lived closer to here, this is where I'd go if I wanted to see a movie! read more

What a great focal point for Davis Square. Somerville Theatre brings the whole community together as the main source of entertainment. From new mainstream moives, to art house marathons, and even live concerts the Somerviille Theatre does it all. Originally a burlesque theatre on the first level with dance hall on the second, this place has a ton of history. Right from the start, Somerville Theatre is the least expensive theatre in the Boston area. At $5 matinees and $8 night time showings, you can't beat their prices. Their concessions stand is in the lobby before you have to hand your ticket to the man behind the velvet rope, which is great for people like me whom walking buy might just want some movie theatre popcorn but don't have the time to watch a movie. Also one of the first local theatres to serve beer, and what's better than laughing to a comedy or holding on to your seat to a thriller than wetting your whistle with an IPA or lager? Always a great selection of movies playing at the same time so that the entire family can enjoy. Usually a children's/family movie, a comedy or two, and something else. Ive seen some great movies and live events here like the Despicable Me, Slutcracker Burlesque winter show and Billy Bragg live in concert. The main room on the first floor is huge like a school auditorium with a giant stage in the front for live performances. The other movie rooms are small and intimate and my favorite with only one section of seats and everyone sits in the center. The place is decked out in the famous owl lights, which unfortunately I read on facebook all the time are being pilfered by guests. In the basement is an added free surprise for movie goers, the Museum of Bad Art. I just love this place, always have a great time, the best prices around, friendly service, just not always my taste in movies. Sometimes I just want to go to a movie but go elsewhere when I'm not into what they are showing. So instead of going to the Megaplex Imax 5D whatever its called, see your next movie ine one of the last original theatres left in the area, they way they were supposed to be seen in a large room with church like ceiling paintings, red velvet curtains, and the spirit of over a hundred years of entertaining. read more

Cant beat those prices and you get free admission to a funky art museum downstairs. Somerville theater is a small little theater in the heart of Davis Sq. Its only $6!!!! They show the latest on the blockbuster line. Although the dcor and location screams artsy movies, they show the same stuff that the huge AMC/Regals show. The offer popcorn, drinks, and airconditioning :) read more

Inexpensive, small (in a good way), great environment. The light fixtures on the walls are owls. Awesome. Also, saw Bright Eyes perform here in February. Sat a couple rows back in the balcony and could still see everything perfectly - and the seats were comfy. read more

Movies, concerts, fresh butter popcorn, wine and beer...umm, HELLO? Movies - great little spot to catch a move that is a little outside the mainstream. Ticket prices are super-reasonable and, though they might not have the most sophisticated sound or visuals system, the personality here totally makes up for it. Concerts - they have great shows here and seem to not book people just to book them, they choose artists who fit the vibe. The acoustics are always top notch and it's just a gorgeous place. And it only sits 899. Popcorn/wine/beer/snacks - your typical movie theatre fare with two distinctions: fresh melted butter on the popcorn and they serve beer and wine. And you thought you could only get drunk while sneaking in a flask! read more

Good balance of well known movies as well as the more slightly obscure ones/not as many people know about: check. Cheapest prices I've EVER seen for a movie theatre ($7 for a movie, $2.50 for popcorn, $5 for a pint of beer): double check, although I definitely stood there in the lobby for a good 5 minutes to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. To the old lady trying to get around me, I'm sorry. Friendly employees, great location: but of course. Done and done. I know where I'm going for my next movie...and beer for that matter. read more

Come back for round 2? Yes I did. Still being awesome and still drawing me in when I'm back from the West Coast, ST is just fun. Cozy, calm, relaxed, and the curtain opens when the film starts--BAM...showmanship. Seriously though, what a nice place. Going to the movies tends to stress me out and I never feel that way here. Always a relaxing experience. And definitely check out the Museum of Bad Art downstairs. Completely worth it. read more

They serve beer and ice-cream.. I figured I would start out with the most important facts. It's a nice little theater the prices are really good and if you have time head downstairs to the Museum of really bad art it's free and a good way to kill 15 min. read more

How can you not love a theater in which you can drink an ice cold beer with your movie? Dancing on your theater chairs sure beats tables. read more

I dig this place. A great movie-going experience in an older theater. I love the fact that I can enjoy a beer while I watch a flick. The only drawback is my nickel-sized bladder that keeps me periodically dashing to the bathroom. read more

Now this is a 'theater'! It's not a box they stuff you in like sardines w/ gimmicks like realultra4D or some other craziness. It's a work of art from another time. The main theater not only play films but also do live shows. The architecture is worth the price of the ticket alone. Beautiful arched ceilings with stunning art on them, chandeliers give a glow to the huge room. This is a great place for a date or if their is an old film you want to see like it was meant to be seen,,,, this is your place. In the basement free if charge is the Museum of Bad Art. It's funny. read more

The Somerville Theatre is my favorite to come to in the area. Everything is priced very well, from the tickets to the beer to the popcorn. I have zero complaints. For people out of town, definitely try to take the T in as parking in Davis on a weekend is a major pain. read more

I went to see the Magnetic Fields here. I managed to get a free ticket, because I deserved some cosmic approbation. They're my favorite band, so of course it rocked. There's some other rocking features: Same size cup of beer one gets at Tweeter Center, but for $4 rather than $8. Yeah. You can also pay using card at the concession stand, rather than having to grab cash out, which I appreciate. Someone else below described the decor as "Aztec Roccoco" which is a pretty perfect summation. It reminded me a bit of my experience in a theatre in Belgium some years ago aptly called "El Dorado". So if you're looking for red velvet and gold gilding, well, you're in the right place. Every single staff person was friendly and responsive. Even the ushers were jovial folk. I also think this would be a pretty easily accessible theatre for someone with limited mobility. It's right next to the Davis T (which has an elevator) and none of the floorplan in the building necessitates stairs unless you're a balcony person. read more

The Somerville Theatre is one of those places that gets me out to see movies and shows that I normally wouldn't bother with. It's one of those places that just, somehow, enhances a given entertainment. They've got a consistently solid collection of films, ranging from straight up Hollywood, to more obscure indie productions, to more specialized screenings (Lebowskifest comes immediately to mind). You're paying seven bucks for a ticket, which is cheaper enough to make you feel like less of a sucker for buying a movie ticket (this is common, right?) ...and the shows! I've been to a few concerts here, and while I'm generally not a fan of theater seating for anything remotely danceable, people are pretty content to stand around and dance in the aisles. It's never been overly crowded, and the acoustics are great. The musicians that come through are excellent, and there's a good amount of local love going on. Few things are better than getting out of a show and walking straight into the hustle and bustle of Davis Square on a summer night. Really, if a band or movie you want to see is going to be at the Somerville Theatre, do your best to get out there. You'll be thoroughly satisfied. Also they serve beer. read more

I forgot what a great place the ST is to see a show. I haven't been here for that in years, maybe way back to the time when Ween was going to try to play every song they ever recorded (I didn't last through that whole show). Anyway, last night we went to M. Ward here, and sitting three rows from the back in the orchestra was just as good as having front row seats. The sound was excellent and the only thing lacking was of course, the leg room. I do think you get at least half an inch more than the Orpheum though! And I'm not lazy, but I do love the option to sit at a show. Popcorn and beer add extra points even though we didn't partake in either. A lack of security also makes things here so much more welcoming. All that it's lacking is nice a way to tell the person behind you to stop kicking your seat. I think I see a business opportunity in my future. read more

In a world where stadium seating rules, the Somerville Theatre lives on serving as a great place to see a movie in a smaller setting. Not only that, you can have a pint of beer along with the movie! I recently went there for a private party. They have a private screening room where you can bring your own DVDs. The fact that I was able to see "Major League" and "The Sandlot" on the big screen earns 5 stars alone. You can bring food and drink, or order it there. The final thing is the Museum of Ugly Art. It's located in a hallway in the basement by the bathrooms. It's worth strolling through for 10 minutes before a movie. Depending on the quality of the film you're going to see, the museum of ugly might be more impressive! read more

My only nit about this place is the balcony seating. If you aren't 5' tall and thinner than Kate Moss DO NOT BUY BALCONY SEATING FOR A SHOW WHERE YOU MAY NOT END UP STANDING UP TO WATCH. Being crunched into those million year old seats for several hours is just plain miserable. Other than that...wonderful place, great ambiance and excellent service. read more

Awesome selection of smaller movies and cheap $7 per movie, so you could spend the rest of your monies on beerz. Can't wait to try out the venue for a concert. You can also volunteer to usher the concerts to get in for free but my theatre is that its usually filled up by the same people each time or so it seems whenever I check the sign up sheet. I guess I need to make friends. read more

I saw the Slutcracker here on Friday night and its a really nice place to watch a performance. They sell beer.. which of course is a huge plus. We sat up on the balcony and had a great view of the stage. I'm really short so somtime I have trouble seeing the stage without kneeling or leaning up to see. Not a problem here. The place is small and intimate while giving you the feeling of being in an old opera house. The staff seems nice, the place is clean and I really enjoyed the show. The location is awesome, just off of the redline in Davis square. We grabbed a pre-show drink at the Burren and then hit up Redbones for some food after the show. Its near everything and really easy to get to. I will definitely be back! 5 Stars for the Slutcracker, and 5 stars for the Somerville Theatre. read more

If you are looking for the most modern theatre with flashy lights, oversized seats, and ridiculous pricing ... this is NOT your theatre. Having just moved to the area I was happy to find a theatre so close to the T station, like right across the street close) and knew it was a match made in heaven when I saw that they serve ice cream and frozen yogurt by the scoop! You can keep your Dippin' Dots and Nibs, I'll take the real stuff any day! The Maine Black Bear was FANTASTIC! So good in fact, the night Hurricane Sandy began to make her showing, I rode the train just to get a scoop. Raspberry ice cream with chocolate chips and raspberry-chocolate truffles? Yea,The elements were no match for this craving. Prices for all of the concessions are extremely reasonable and they even serve beer and wine. I have also heard that you can bring in your own snacks if they don't offer it ... no more giant purse snack smuggling! There is something about walking into this theatre that is instantly calming. You may not be coming in for vaudeville or the opera anymore but you can't help but feel the era from the building itself. Relaxed and cozy, this will be my new spot to catch a flick! read more

Concert Review! Made the trek from Providence on a Friday night to see Daughter. We saw them at Coachella and it was an elevating experience. We were hoping for the same here! First, finding parking near the theater is torture. Finding parking in Boston is torture so I guess this is expected. TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT! Second, the sound is really quiet here. Too much so. When you can hear people next to you coughing or talking in the middle of a song, it's a little distracting. Third, the lighting and "atmosphere" was really flat. They should get some haze going to add depth to the performance. Compared to venues I've been to in LA such as the Wiltern and the Theater @ the Ace Hotel, this venue is much smaller, but that shouldn't mean a lesser experience. They can easily make this a great venue with a few simple changes. Daughter was great though. read more

In my mind, this is what a local business is meant to be. Obviously, you can't beat the prices. Matinees are $7 and are defined as before 6pm, as opposed to Loew's, where you practically have to race over from lunch to qualify for the reduced price. If you don't make the matinee, tickets are still only $10. But even disregarding the great value, Somerville Theater is full of charm, from the owl decor to the intimate mezzanine in the main theater. I also feel like the projection is super high quality here, although the "please keep quiet!" reel is hilariously old and damaged. Although the selection is maybe not as comprehensive as you could find at a bigger theater, Somerville Theater almost always has something else going on, like midnight specials, concerts, or comedy. The Looney Tunes festival a while back was a big hit with the family. Everyone has mentioned that you can get booze here, but what about the fact that you can get a MILKSHAKE here, huh?! That made for some great Vicodin-tinted movie watching right after I got my wisdom teeth out. Opiates or not, this place is the best. Never change, Somerville Theater! read more

This is a review of a recent attempt to get a row of seats together for an upcoming event at this theater. I'm sure it is beautiful, has great sound, and yes, I'm pretty stoked to get a Harpoon for the MST, but this here had to be yelped first. Ugh. The customer service was freaking awful. Multiple calls to the box office yielded very confused people answering and re routing to other offices. Neither office had any idea how to handle this extremely simple request (a group rate, seats together). We were told that they just don't do group rates, and could not guarantee that we could order seats together online. Eventually, we drove over to the theater, parked, talked to them and ended up buying seats on the three consecutive aisles, because we couldn't get a damn ROW of seats. Umm, crap. Like I said above, I'm sure the place is cool, and the show I'm really looking forward to, but seriously, no group rate and no ability to get seats together? Lame. read more

A close lil theater that not only shows current new releases,but also shows a bunch of different classics and marathon movie events! A clean and. Ocean theater that sells the usual popcorn,snacks and beer! It's never been overly crowded when I have gone to see a movie, so that is always a plus. No Imax or anything crazy going on here. The perfect place to watch a movie with friends in a nice theater. Check out the lighting before the movie starts, it's very creative! read more

Beer AND bad art with your movie VS. small screens and crappy seats Who wins by distracting you with alcohol, strange homages to pointillism and the occasional live show? this dying breed of multipurpose neighborhood theaters Beer with movie = A+ = Harpoon in a plastic cup, for some reason beer really tastes good when you get the rare chance to drink it in a movie theater Theater = B- = backbreaking seats and relatively small screens but at least there aren't any large columns blocking your view like some older movie places Museum of Bad Art = B+ = nice diversion before the movie in the basement level; however art was not baaaaaaad enough! Overall = A- = blockbusters AND indie movies plus occasional live shows and lectures; this place has everything! read more

While I'm sure this gorgeous venue is a delight as a movie house, as an event space, it's rough. I had the misfortune of having to organize an event here, and it was extremely difficult to communicate with the staff, they have no in-house resources of their own, and on the day of the event one of my vendors was told that they'd never heard of our event. If I had been in charge of actually booking the venue, this isn't the choice that I would have made. Fortunately it all worked out, but there are so many little details to know. Expect to pay an outside vendor for lights, sound, anything on stage. There's no direct phone number to get ahold of staff if you need to -- just the phone number for movie times with no option to speak to a staff member or leave a message. If you're looking for an event space, there are other options in the area. read more

I loved the Somerville long before the renovations and the addition of beer/wine. One of my favorite places to go if I MUST see a movie opening night (which is very rare for me). It has that underground, we-are-family feel to it. Seats comfortable, floors clean. I've also been there for several concerts, the Honk-Fest, The War of th Worlds Radio production, Years ago for "Jesus has two Mommies" and recently for "Neverafter" (BRILLIANT BTW). High quality local productions are lucky to have this venue, as are we who attend. 2 Years ago the had Joe Jackson! How can you beat that ? Ok, MAYBE when Bruce Springsteen played there...... read more

WIsh this place showed consistantly better films, but I guess I can't fault them too much for that. They did have a Chuck Norris film festival. Anyway, this is pretty great. They serve beer, so now you can reference Pulp Fiction all you want when you go there. They used to have popcorn sizes graded by the girth of Orson Welles, which is just awesome (don't know if they still do). Also I love those owls. read more

Some of the happiest and most exciting moments in my life since I've lived here have taken place at the Somerville Theatre. Whether I'm catching a regular movie with a good friend, checking out the Independent Film Festival of Boston, or catching a live show, the Somerville has never disappointed me. Magical things just happen here. Ian, the theatre manager, is a great guy. The rest of the staff are pretty friendly. They try to keep prices as low as possible. I really appreciate their anti-cellphone policy. You know that they play movies for movie lovers. You can rent out the Screening Room for very reasonable rates and have a movie marathon with your friends. The IFFB is always fantastic. Famous actors come out for it, great movies are shown, often just before they get distributed. It's a wonderful time and the Somerville is the perfect home for it. Plus the place has ice cream. What more do you need? I think I might move in to the balcony upstairs and just live there. read more

Somerville Theater is the epitome of Davis Square funky vibe. Cool old theater with a lot of sculpted owls, cheapest prices in the area (as their little sign says), reasonably-priced popcorn and other snacks, liquor license so you can drink during a movie. I really can't think of anything not to like. Check out the Museum of Bad Art in the basement if you have an extra five minutes. It's funny. Not like, laugh out loud funny, but more snort/chuckle to yourself. I've only been to one (non-movie) show there--St. Vincent performed about 2 years ago--but this is definitely a popular venue for the alternative music scene read more

Going to the movies.... 1 star. Going to the movies and NOT paying $10/ticket ... 2 stars. Going to the movies and not paying 10/ticket and NOT being in REVERE surrounded by eleventeen year old skanks with horrid Boston accents....3 stars. Going to the movies and not paying 10/ticket and not being in Revere surrounded by eleventeen year old skanks with horrid Boston accents and being able to order and DRINK BEER legally during a movie ....4 stars. Going to the movies and not paying 10/ticket and not being in Revere surrounded by eleventeen year old skanks with horrid Boston accents and being able to order and drink beer legally during a movie and then when it's over being in Davis square and walking to a bar for MORE BEER....5 stars. read more

LOVE this theater. The prices are great for movies and concessions, they show a nice mix of current and older/indie/festival films. They also have concerts and other events, in December make sure you get to the Slutcracker. It's hysterical. They serve wine & beer, ice cream, a nice variety of concessions including some chilled candy like Junior mints, and popcorn with real butter. REAL butter, not that gross yellow coconut oil artificial crap. And the prices are insanely cheap for a movie theater, which is a welcome break from the usual insanely expensive. Bottom line: Cheapest movie tickets around, beer and real buttered popcorn. What more could you ask for? read more

I love this place. Yes its an old theater and no stadium seats BUT they have a bar! I am not a huge drinker but a glass a wine while watching a movie is amazing! Also tickets are cheap 7/8 dollars! I admit I also love this place since its only a 5 minute walk from my apartment! read more

Just saw The Martian here. What a treat! Besides the impressive architecture, the in-house bar (fully stocked) and the efficient staff, the crowd that this place attracts makes the movie. The Martian was surprisingly funny, and for funny movies to work, you want an audience that is committed to the movie-going experience. It's no coincidence that the audience is the way that it is - this place regularly scores rare prints of classics, brings in other types of "theater" like concerts, and maintains small touches that dignify theater, like curtains in front of the movie screen, a live human welcoming the patrons before the movie begins, and they do it all at prices that are extremely competitive. Go watch a movie, and do it here. read more

Yeah, it's okay. It gets the job done for a very, very reasonable price. Plus it serves beer and has a cute little museum downstairs. Movie-going in Boston is completely subpar compared with the rest of the states. Even my rural, backwater hometown in Florida had a theater with stadium seating, proper sound, A/C, &c. Would only go because there's no substitute. My god. Somebody, please, build a proper theater in this city! read more