Liking it because of its ornateness, warm ambience and a really old-school theater feel to it (i.e., the stage in front of the single screen, the curtains, the organ in the center that rises from below, the huge upper level balcony seating). Hence, why it's popular with film buffs and the film fest crowds (and can't say it would be to the cineplex crowds). Chairs are comfy but the armrests do not have cup holders. Location and lack of parking is an issue but this is the Castro area, yeah? And that is expected, at all times, so driver beware. The MUNI station at the corner really helps. Bonus review: "Paranormal Activity" was made for only $11K and is the scariest movie I've seen in a while. It's another one of the found-video-footage movie (a la Blair Witch Project), but here it's about a couple who had been hearing strange noises around their new home and wanted to capture what might be causing it - or if anything can explain it. The movie is a playback of the found footage, with a slow built-up tension and some humor at times to ease the audience - but only until the next scene. A lack of music only enhanced the effect, and at the end the audience was freaked out. Unlike other "horror" movies which are just loud noises to make you jump, this movie follows you home. You might sleep with the lights on, and are more wary of noises around your place for a few days. read more

It's very old and traditional, so granted no grandiose bathroom setup or variety of snacks, but it was neat watching a non-mainstream in Gay Central SF. I enjoyed all of the old/new posters. Oh yeah, the tickets were in carnival form with an old-school attendant taking them from you. Oh, ye olde times! read more

I saw a pretty strange movie here during the Jewish Film Festival. 2 stars for the actual movie, but this theatre is 5 star worthy! * Assigned seating! Not sure if this was just for this film festival or something they do on a regular basis, but I'm a fan! * Most gorgeous movie theatre ever! I felt like I was about to see a broadway show, rather than a stupid movie * Organ player before the movie! Classy!! And it's super cool how the organ just disappears into the ground when it's time for the movie to start. Made me realize how boring our movie theaters are back in Chicago * Seriously addicting popcorn! It also may have been the most buttery popcorn ever (explains the addiction), but we couldn't keep our hands out of the bucket. I'd gladly sit thru another 2 star movie again just to spend some more time in this 5 star theatre. read more

Everyone who works at Castro Theater, much like most of the residents in the neighborhood, are super sweet. They're so chill and super nice. I love the selection of shows at the Castro Theather. There's always something new and unique showing, from sing-alongs to comedy shows. As far as the actual theater goes, I'm not a huge fan. The numbers on the seats and rows are super confusing, which ruins the experience when people show up late to a show and they're trying to find their seat. Because of this, I would recommend arriving early and picking a seat in the middle of any row so no one will disturb you. The sound and lighting production is not the highest quality either. There is lots of culture here that I can appreciate. Although it's not my favorite theater in San Francisco, I would definitely come back to see certain shows! read more

I finally came here for the 40th anniversary of "Love Story" which included an interview with the amazing Ali MacGraw. Like Mariela D. wrote - it exemplifies Old Hollywood glamour. Where else can you watch a movie in a crushed velvet seat while sipping champagne and eating popcorn? I loved that the audience was totally engaged. People clapped, laughed, cried...all which added to the experience. From what I understand, that's the norm. Not sure if it was just the movie I saw, but other movie attendees were super friendly. Before the film even started, I had met all my "neighbors". Now I'm a huge fan and I can't wait to go back. read more

The Castro - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went to the Sing-Along-Sound of Music today. It was so great. They give you a little goodies bag with things to hold and wave around during the movie. Your allowed to yell at the screen but you cant be vulgar no matter how bad you want to. The bathrooms kind of suck there is only like 4 of stalls. So I held it until the show started to go to the bathroom so there wasn't a line. I didn't get any concessions so I don't know about the service there. I wish they would do a Willy Wonka sing along or a Wizard of Oz sing along. It was so much fun if you even mildly enjoy musicals this was really fun. The theater was gorgeous. And there is an organ player who came out before the show and played some of the music from the movie. It was so memorable. We had the best time. We were even in the balcony and It didn't even matter the sound and picture was really great. I would have loved to go see MILK there too. Any movie for that matter would be really great in there. read more

See all

The Castro Theater is a San Francisco classic: gorgeous facade, beautiful red velvet draperies, gold leafed interior. I wish all one screen old movie theaters could experience this kind of ongoing renaissance complete with innovative community events, film festivals, old movies, sing-alongs and old-school organ music accompaniment. You have to catch a movie here, when in San Francisco. Its the best of the best. My only reservation is that the seating is also unfortunately old-school, which can make for an uncomfortable movie session, but I suppose its a small price to pay for cinematic time travel. read more

Old Hollywood glamour. From the moment you approach the ticket booth, you're transported to another time. This theater may share a city block with such modern Castro institutions as the neon-lit Hot Cookie or kitchy Cliff's Variety Store, but the Castro Theater has an old-world sophisticated personality all its own. Inside, the chandeliers, gorgeous domed ceilings, and intricate details are worthy of an appreciative gasp or two. And once you're seated, the live organ player entertains the crowd before the show starts. And once the show begins, he descends down under the stage. You might even say, it's a little bit magical. I recommend checking out a show here. I came here for a movie sing-along and I had an absolute blast. read more

The Castro - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

There's nothing like Castro Theatre, it's an iconic Landmark! Always a good time, not a bad seat in the house. I came here to see Andy Cohen from Bravo via Commonwealth Club, it was a blast to hear him speak and address the audience. He's so down to earth, he belongs here in SF, love him and love this theatre. What's not to love? NOSTALGIC I think Goonies 2 should be shown here, along with the original Goonies, and play it back-to-back for a week. I love it when Margaret Cho comes to town! Simply come for the architecture. P.S. The sing-along songs are so much FUN! read more

I absolutely love this theatre. I've seen many a film here. As of late, I've been on sort of a Hitchcock kick beginning with Vertigo and finishing with Psycho. Had a bit of Monty Python in between just to mix it up. I love their organic popcorn and compostable cups, the variety of snacks they offer, and most especially the cleanliness of the whole place - particularly the restrooms. Many different films are shown here from many different eras. Catch one if you can! Next stop, Alien. read more

The Castro - Alfred Hitchcock's "PSYCHO." - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

Every time I've been here has been a magical experience. It's romantic even if you're annoyed with your husband. http://www.castrotheatre.com/ read more

VICTORIA season 2 on Masterpiece was being previewed today at the CASTRO Theatre, complements of KQED. It was free for all KQED members. Theater was pretty packed. No empty seats to be found. It was so nice to watch the preview with people who share your same fondness of masterpiece shows, especially Victoria! It was nice for the emcee to give us a brief highlight of what will be on season 2. Thank you, KQED for an amazing show. An afternoon well spent. For those who have not heard of KQED and how to become members and support KQED, should check out KQED.org/support. read more

If you've ever wanted to be transported into a different era, a different time, and into your own personal Narnia, take a trip to the Castro and step foot into this majestic theater. It's simply breathtaking. I turned into a bobble head, constantly roving around looking at the tall columns, beautiful ceiling, and art around the room. I came here last night to see the very last showing of Milk in this theater, and I couldn't have come on a better night. The film, well, it was amazing. How many times do you get to sit in history and then watch it play out right in front of you? It's rare to find a place that keeps with its historical charm, and I have to say my favorite part was the ticket booth! Classic, little one man booth, and the tickets remind me of the good ol' carnival days. The Castro Theatre is simply a marvel, and it encapsulates the whole movie going experience. I can't wait to come back to see more films here, and on a side note: *** Harvey Milk, thank you for consistently demonstrating what the human spirit can do. Anything. read more

The Castro - Last showing of Milk at the Castro - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

This theatre has so much character and atmosphere. I have heard of it, but never been before tonight. I saw Ross Mathews do stand-up. He was amazing and this was the perfect venue in SF for his show. There are a decent amount of seats. I got a balcony ticket for $10 off Goldstar.com. Ross Mathews is a great entertainer. I am so excited to see what the future holds for him. Thank you Castro Theatre for holding this event. I hope there are more events like this in the future. read more

See all

My favorite place in SF! I mostly go for the standard double features (usually several per week), so I can't speak as much to the special events. $11 for 2 movies most of the time, sometimes it's 3, sometimes 1. I find that pretty much anything they put on is worth watching if you're a serious movie person. If you're not a serious movie person it's still well worth finding something on the schedule that's appealing and checking it out. The theater is beautiful and huge, 1920s Art Deco. To people asking about the organist: there is one playing most of the time before and in-between features, and it's great. Not always, but 50%+ in the evening. Please don't talk during movies, keep your phone off, and don't put your feet up on the seat in front of you (the whole row is attached). Thanks! read more

I love this place in the way love would be shared with an ongoing relationship where philosophical, artistic, and intellectual definitions could be shared without remorse or attacks. A sort of Sartre and Camus relationship, in my mind. I've been a visitor for years, ever since my dear friend Rolf first introduced me for some odd film night and a Matt Barney preview popped up on the screen, and my eyes and subconscious were forever marred by the strange, grotesque representations of his mad mad mind. The interior is amazing, with swirls of golden grandeur and ornate detail. Catching the organist is a treat, especially when a film noir is ready to start. I was here earlier this year to catch the Berlin and Beyond film festival and also for the closing night.........having a mishmash of German foods donated by area restaurants was a wonderful treat and a beautiful ending to some of the newest works of film captured on the large screen. I also love the fact that Hot Cookie and a coffee shop is located right next door.........waiting in line, with a latte and a pecan chocolate chip cookie, is heaven 3x over for me and the romantic within. read more

The Castro - Organist and the grand opening credits.. - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Where else will an organ player rise from the ancient depths below on his magnificent organ to play this magnificent organ on the majestic stage for you lovely people before the film starts? Nowhere else. Maybe in your dreams. The Castro Theatre may just very well be the portal to said dreams - a portal and time machine. The Castro Theatre plays lesser known films that you actually care to see at a price cheaper than the big box theaters charge. I'm a fan of the annual Noir City festival myself. Beware: if it's crowded, you'll be waiting in line to use the restroom. read more

The Castro - 12th Annual Noir City Festival at Castro Theatre. - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

The Castro Theatre is always a good time. Stay up to date with their calendar as they have some great special events - especially if you're a big drag queen fanatic like I am and like inappropriate and or campy shows. It's definitely old school and I think the retro feel is why I love it so much. As soon as you walk in there's breeze of popcorn smells, and you're greeted by a beautiful lobby that opens up to the main room. Take some time to check out ceilings and other original decor still in tact. With this, the seats are pretty old too - in fact, if you're over 5'10", life might be a little bit of a struggle for you, so I encourage you to find an aisle seat so you can give those little leggies a stretch from time to time. Depending on the performance, they will have a cash bar that serves beer and wine. Nothing too crazy, but depending on what you're seeing, a little alcohol can go a long way. Plenty of spots to eat and drink before or after the show. Definitely recommend just for the ambiance alone! read more

I love the Castro Theater. We went for the Frameline Film Festival and got decent seats on the left side. I enjoy the organist who ascends to stage level and plays beautifully. I also like the artistic scenes on the side walls and the ceiling fixture which is just gorgeous. I was tempted to have a small bag of organic popcorn but I had just eaten so I passed. This is a wonderful place to see a variety of films. read more

See all

Wow an incredible venue for watching pretty much anything. I've seen a ton of different movies and performances here and it's always been a great experience to be in such a historical building with incredible artwork and detail that is rarely found in modern buildings. read more

The World According to Noelle Allergic Girl's Guide to Life My husband and I have never been to the Castro Theater. Our first time to the Castro Theater was last Saturday. We were there to attend, "The Power of Two" Bay Area Premiere Gala. This was a private event to screen a new documentary. According to the Castro Theater Website parking is difficult, your two options being metered parking or parking in one of two public parking lots. My husband and I had VIP tickets to attend the Power of Two Gala so we had VIP Parking in a private lot (half a mile away). It wasn't hard finding the theater. We arrived, picked up our tickets at will call and headed up to the VIP reception upstairs. The Castro Theater had a very old, retro feel. Inside the theater it had all the old Hollywood charm of yesteryear. Seats were tired looking as were the armrests where the wood was chipping away. Without a doubt its a beautiful theater, just not as beautiful as the Stanford Theater in Palo Alto. read more

Beautiful theatre located in the Castro area. Came here for the first time to attend an Inforum event and was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful it was inside. I loved the dome ceiling and the decorated walls. The chairs were spacious and comfortable. Definitely reminds me of going to the theatre when I was younger. I am sure this theatre is rich in history. It's conveniently located outside the Castro muni station, so it's real easy to get to. read more

The Castro - An Inforum event in the theatre - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

This review is for The Little Mermaid singalong only! I've yet to come for a normal movie showing. This theater reminds me of The Grand Lake theater in Oakland. Maybe that's why I like it so much. The architecture inside is beautiful! Before everything got started, there was an organ player performing to keep the crowd entertained before the movie started. He was fab! I wonder if he also plays at the Grand Lake! The singalong cost was roughly $18-19 with the service fee of purchasing online. It's actually a tad bit pricey, but the experience was totally worth it. When you walk in, you're greeted by people in costume handing you a "fun pack." It basically contains silly things that go with your movie/singalong. Right before everything starts they explain to you when to use the items in your fun pack. Blow bubbles when Ariel takes her first bath. Wave the wand when Sebastian conducts. Wave around your glows stick when blah blah. Make kissing noises when you see the couple together. Make hissing. Noises when you see the evil Ursula. You get it lollll. The crowd was so into it. At one point someone behind us started evil laughing. It was great. read more

The Castro - So much fun at the little mermaid singalong! - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

We attended the Frozen 2 Sing-a-long this last weekend and it was so fun! The event hosts were hilarious and dressed up as the characters. They also gave us goody bags with interactive items for key moments in the movie: glow stick, bubbles, crown, and party popper! The popcorn was excellent and everyone loved the event! In addition, the architecture and decoration is amazing and a man excellent time period display. The live organ makes for a fun and festive theater atmosphere! read more

I'm an SF native and had never been to the Castro theatre before. I went to see "Sorry to Bother You" as part of the SF Film festival. The movie started at 6:30 and I got there around 6. The line was 2 blocks long WITH tickets but I was impressed by how quickly and efficiently the staff got people in. I was in my seat by 6:15. The theatre is big and beautiful architecture inside. The place was PACKED. I was in the balcony at the end of one of the rows and still had a good view. The concession is slightly cheaper than chain theatre concessions. They serve Coke brand beverages and organic popcorn. They popped it fresh right on the spot. The butter has absolutely no flavor so if you're like me and prefer to just have butter and no salt, you'll NEED salt, otherwise, it tastes like cardboard. The theatre was fairly clean HOWEVER, a MOUSE decided to join me and the people next to me during the movie. He made himself really comfortable crawling around the chairs and underneath us. You kinda expect it from a large place like this but I've been to other theaters, old classic ones (Grand Lake) where I have NOT been harassed by mice. They need to control that. Overall, it was a decent experience. read more

Great theatre old fashion organ playing prior to the movie. This is a cozy place to go for a date night. They do have current stuff and sing a long days. read more

The Castro - Balcony box seats - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

This theater from the 20's has all the beautiful art deco architectural details expected from that era. Red velvet seats, an ornate ceiling and an organist. The movie line-ups are always well chosen. They have classics, indie, double features and sing-a-longs. My favorite are the sing-a-longs as it really embraces everything that is unique in San Francisco. You can participate by dressing in costume, the more original the better! They even have a costume parade and a prize for the best dressed adult. Sing-a-longs are popular so line up early because the line will often wrap around the block. The good news is even if you are in the back of the line there's room for everyone. Since it's right in the heart of the Castro there is plenty of good food and drinks to be had before or after. The website says cash only at the box office, but I noticed they had square and people were paying with plastic. read more

The Castro Theatre is amazing. Great movies, friendly staff and beautiful decor. I love stopping by here when they play Hitchcock movies (and wish they would play more)! Only complaint is I wish they could lower prices a bit. read more

The Castro - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Crazy to think that the only reason I came to this place was because of the premier of La La Land by the SF Film Society. This place has the feel of a classic old movie theatre on the outside but that of an opera theatre on the inside. This place has tall ceilings with a dome in the middle with a large downstairs and balcony area. It was cool since they had an organ player performing to kill the time until the movie premier. He was on a platform that lifted onto the stage so everyone could see him but the platform moved up and down so it wasn't in the way during the premier. Seats aren't the most modern but none the less somewhat comfy. Smaller lobby but large seating area. Definitely try this place since it's a classic! read more

Honestly, there's nothing I like more than catching some really cool flick here. I saw "Milk" here back in '08 and it had special meaning for me, obviously. Recently I saw a Frameline Film Festival collection of short films called "Fun in Boys Shorts" which was amazing, hysterical, and just so so fun. Good memories. History. Just an amazing place. I didn't have the heart to dock it a star for lack of legroom since people weren't 6'6 when they built the place. read more

Friday, 1pm show of the Sound of Music Sing a Long was great fun. http://www.yelp.com/biz/Xcikc9FJKrz6saBOF3z2lw $15 if you purchase from the box office or $15 plus $3 handling fee for online purchases. Theater opens around 12:40pm and you are given a goodie bag of SOM swag to help participate in the movie. Ie. sprig of eidelwiess, swatch of curtain, etc... The women's restrooms are small for the number of people, 3 stalls, so long lines during a 30 minute intermission, the theater is large and grand but a little tired and the seats are old school so sitting there for almost 4 hours gets uncomfortable. The lobby is small with a good sized concession stand. By intermission, they ran out of many items. The movie doesn't start til around 1:30pm, organist playing SOM show tunes on the Wurlizer, there is a children's then an adult costume contest then rules on the how to behave during the movie and how to use your goodie bag during the movie. All seats are pretty decent viewing. Place was pretty full and the theater is large. Balcony was closed. Ton's of kids though, some talkative and cranky. Many families and straights. The management requests the audience to not have a potty mouth during the movie....too bad! There were some nuns, some Austrian peasants and other costumes like spiderman and snowflakes on nose and eyelashes and woolen mittens. Next time I know to bring more movie accoutrements like a flashlight, whistle, water spray bottle, so clever of people to bring these and other things to accompany the movie. I would like to go to a night show to see more people dressed up. 8pm show is Dreamgirls, http://www.yelp.com/biz/PwLzRapAR9_yedhas8FfOQ#hrid:BUyTpFLp9ksg0XVDuhOnKg/query:dream%20girls so only can imagine how people will dress up for that show. Heard there are more upcoming sing a longs like Grease and Wizard of Oz. read more

See all

I think CA is blessed with theater like Castro. Though the place is not bigger but who cares I came early and got my seat. I am coming next Friday again. read more

The Castro - owwo - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

So last week, I had tickets to see a screening of the new movie, Super 8, which was showing at the Castro Theatre. Never having been to this theatre before, I quickly hopped onto Yelp to look up the address and briefly skim down the reviews written here by my fellow Yelpers. While the movie was suppose to start at 11pm (actually didn't start till around 11:30pm), we had to get there early to make sure that we were going to get in. By 8:30pm when me and my friend got to the theatre, there was already a line that was wrapped around the corner. 2.5hrs BEFORE the show even starts! YIKES! While waiting outside in line for 2.5hrs though, I got a chance to take in a brief glimpse of the Castro night life and the surrounding district in general. While the neighborhood seems to be very safe at night, with many pedestrians casually strolling the streets on a wednesday night, the visuals of the nearby homes, streets, and shops are not one that I will be forgetting anytime in the near future. First off, there was the apartment with disco strobe lights illuminating the street facing windows. At first I thought they were having a kicking party inside. Then I noticed that the rest of the lights were off and it was just a regular lighting decoration that apparently no other passerbyers even took a second look at. Then there was the lamp post next to me in which roughly 20mins into my wait in line, someone came and plastered a ton of postcards advertising "Red Meat at the Meat Locker" and prominently displayed a guy wearing a very tiny thong. While I can't say that I'm an insecure person, it was awkward having nothing else to look at except these postcards smack in my face. Halfway through our wait in line, my friend commented on how he was rather hungry and mentioned seeing a cookie store farther up the line. We discuss grabbing some cookies before entering the theatre and began to imagine all the wonderful cookies that were awaiting our hungry little tummies inside. By the time the line moved far enough up that we made it in front of the cookie store, I noticed the store was named "Hot Cookies" and despite myself, could not help but wonder if this was indeed a cookie store or another "Meat Locker" esque shop. Looking inside however, we were quite relieved to see that they were actually selling cookies. However I couldn't help but notice the big collage on the right wall of pictures of random men in their thongs. Now mind you, while I have driven THROUGH the Castro on a few occasions when needing to reach certain other parts of the city, I have never actually WALKED through Castro. So what I saw that night might have simply been limited to the part of the Castro district that I was in. Of course all that is fluff and ultimately what you came here to read about was the theatre. So here it is........ My initial impressions of this theatre from the outside was of curiosity. It was one of the few theatres left that still had a single boxed ticket booth in the center of the theatre. Once inside the theatre however, that curiosity turned into awe. Me and my friend had the pleasure of sitting in the upstairs balcony and I can say that the view was breathtaking. While the theatre itself was not large, the domed ceiling was very high and intricately designed. It looked like something you would see at a grand opera house. At the stage below, the had a fellow playing an organ which rested upon a platform that actually lowered itself into the ground when not in use. The acoustics in the theatre were also phenomenal. The seats however reminded me of the old seats we use to have back in the high school auditorium and were a little disappointing in the fact that it lacked a cup holder =( While I would probably never come out of my way just to see a movie here, if anyone happens to be nearby and was considering watching a showing here, I would highly recommend! read more

A beautiful classic movie theater, dating from the silent film era. Often features classic/foreign/independent films, and hosts some of the local film festivals (including Jewish Film Festival and Silent Film Festival). Close to public transportation (including the Castro Muni Metro stop across the street). Street parking can be challenging at times. If you like this kind of theater, make sure to check out the Paramount in Oakland, which is much bigger and more ornate (I believe they give tours, which I intend to attend one of these days). read more

Wow, what a great old theater! It's beautiful, not a bad seat in the house, and is a great way to see and old movie on the big screen. Catch an early show if you like a quiet house, and for more involvement, go later and enjoy! read more

Now. Why aren't all houses of moving pictures this adorned and gorgeous? Why don't all of them have balconies, like they once did? Why don't they have wooden concession stands? And underground, creepy bathrooms with holes drilled through the stalls. Why don't they have a painted ticket booth with a sweet girl peddling films? Why doesn't a film like The Exiles, a masterpiece, a shattering piece of vanished 60s Los Angeles history, have a wider release after it's finally been restored? Why isn't there an old man playing a fucking Wurlitzer before every show at every theatre on an elevated stage? Because you wanted cheaper tickets. Because you wanted more parking. Because you have no taste. You prick. read more

The Castro - Mecca - Cinema Near Me - San Francisco, California

A 10-20 plus minute toilet line is poor form in 2018. Time for an upgrade. Otherwise, a beautiful and classic theater with fun crowds and a fantastic schedule. But really, past time for mgt to deal with its need for 21st century plumbing. read more

The Castro Theater is something you can't ignore when you visit San Francisco. It is a one of a kind movie theater. For die hard movie fans like myself that still wants to see movies from the past to present in it's original film print shown on a gigantic screen, this is what we would call our sanctuary. The added extra treat is a performance my an organist before your movie. Castro also offers special screenings, double bill features and triple bill features. Film fans: I can't stress enough on how important it is to visit this theater. To be able to see films again in 35mm(or other film mediums) or to spend a day watching multiple films from the past is quite exceptional. It will really make you wish you live in San Francisco just to experience this on a daily basis. Special note for first time attendees: If you're waiting in a line along the shops, stand outside the marked boxes. They indicate the entrance and walking room for the patrons of the other stores. Be courteous to the other shops. read more

Pretty nice theater and it's nice to see that it's chugging along in its will to survive from being repurposed into becoming commercial space (a la Walgreens on San Pablo Ave in Berkeley). This place is great and obviously has lots of history and continues to add to the vibrancy of the Castro neighborhood. However, it's pretty obvious that this place needs a few touch-ups here and there. Also, I wish the concessions weren't so darn expensive and that they took credit card. read more

Castro Theatre is a beautiful example of what a landmark should look like. Theatre also show's wonderful old movie's and some new foreign or independent films. California get's an A++ for landmark preservation. I drove across country to California and hoped to see all of the lights and old victorian neighborhood homes. Boy, was I impressed! They are still there. Great theatre. Go see an old flick and buy some popcorn....great neighborhood for dinner too. read more