I think I will bump up The Grand Cinema to five stars for the simple fact as I have realized that they carry some programming content in the way of film selections that not even some of the Seattle art house theaters get. For example we watched a movie called Dead Lover quite recently and apparently a few people came from Seattle to see it as it was not playing at any of the movie theaters up there. They also had a movie called Frybread Face and Me which was a great Native American film and one I immensely enjoyed. Afterwards they had snacks and tea in the lounge which consisted of frybread. It was quite good! These event and film combinations are a lot of fun here and the more I come to The Grand the more my favorability grows with it. Definitely keep a close eye on the film schedule because some films are only screened one night and that's it. read more

This is a retro theater that reminds me of the Admiral theater in West Seattle back in the 60's. The seating is comfortable and the staff was very friendly, and informative. I even gave them some ADA feedback for those with disabilities and they agreed. I was so impressed with theie response, I offered to help fix the issue. I'm definitely going back to enjoy more movies. read more

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Great old time style movie theatre. Love supporting this organization. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

I just love this place, and the quirky films it makes available to the masses. Often, you can't find them anywhere else. I live in Kent, WA, so it's a bit of a commute to come here, but it's always a special experience and well worth it. The staff are always pleasant and the price is right. I'm so grateful that the community stepped up so that they were able to raise the funds to buy the historic building and keep this cinema going for years to come! read more

This is a great community venue. The popcorn is a must! Come to weird elephant or crafting at the movies. Staff is awesome

10/10 shitter, 2 ply toilet paper AND a plunger would shit here again. I guess the popcorn and service was pretty good too but I'm all about the bathroom read more

Super friendly staff and a cool old vibe theater showing first-run movies. Prices for tickets and concessions very reasonable. They have delicious popcorn, beers on tap or by the can, wine, sodas, ice cream, candy, etc. read more

The Grand Cinema - Smaller theaters but seats Al have a nice view. - Cinema Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Vintage cinema in downtown Tacoma was a cool find! Had a girls night + watched Flow with my little girlies! If you get the opportunity to watch it- it was such a good film! So fun! :) cute little find! read more

The Grand Cinema - The Grand Cinema - Cinema Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Small, smells weird. Pretentious employees. Small theater. Uncomfortable seats. Pretty much every theater in the area is better

Came here because this is the only theater in our area playing Amy Adams' new movie, Nightb*tch and I'm so glad we were forced to come here because this was such a great discovery. This place is an independent theater so yes, it's nice to support a local business run by volunteers and if I lived in Tacoma I'd volunteer a day every week because I believe in the mission. It reminds me of some of the small theaters of the San Francisco Bay Area with small screens and intimate settings. The concession stand is nice and they sell alcoholic beverages, while tea and cider are free. Whaaaat?!? And it's the little things I love, like the $6 tickets, free screenings, holiday screenings. I wish I'd known about the Nightb*tch craft screening where you can bring a project and work on it while you watch the movie with lights up and captions on. Plus they play captions on the movies which is insane and I love it. They auction off the posters to fundraise for the purchase of the building and they also sell placards to put on the seats so you can be memorialized there and if your favorite movie is playing on that screen, how cool would it to be to sit in the seat with your name on it? It's the little touches like all the different seasonings you can sprinkle onto your popcorn and the Taschen book about movies from the 90s that make this my favorite place to watch a movie in this state. Gotta go now- gotta check the website to see how I can become a member. Even though I live all the way in Olympia, I feel compelled to watch every movie that I can at this place so it's worth saving. This place is my favorite find for 2025. read more

This is a step into the theater world of art and independent movies where the building and the theater rooms each have their own personality. They are small, so the feeling is intimate, the theater is staffed by volunteers the snacks are reasonably priced and the popcorn is exceptionally good! The only drawback is the seats are a bit old, but I've certainly sat in worse!!! read more

Super friendly staff and vintage ambiance. Very enjoyable experience, highly recommend. Went on a weekday and it was not busy, parking was available right outside. read more

Special movies. Free popcorn for members. Friendly ambiance. Cozy theatres. What's not to like?

Film integrity, dedicated volunteers, patrons and ownership. Love everything about The Grand from the films, to the vibe to their values.

Such a cute cinema in the downtown area. Very quaint and cozy, private feeling. Not crowded and very few good snacks and prices. read more

The Grand Cinema - View from seat Right-J7. Not bad - Cinema Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Love the cute building and the combination of first run and retro film! The staff there were so nice and friendly. Parking next door. Please, please support these theaters! read more

The Grand is a grand ole place, with the best movies, reasonably priced concessions and an option to get a membership with a lot of perks. The volunteer staff are warm and friendly. The theatres are small but intimate. Love this place ( and the bakery next door is great for gathering after a show!). read more

Great service and a gem in the community! This place is what a local business should be. They host events, camps for kids and so much more. Can't say enough good things. read more

I love old school. This is a super fun old school cinema. I love that they have brought back older movies. It's really fun to see your favorites on that big screen. read more

I love this place!!!! It's a retro cinema and great selection of movies. Theater shows independent & foreign movies. I watched "Lion". It was a very emotional movie but really good story. It's a nice to see this cinema to watch such a good movies. Good to go to the grant cinema by yourself, or family or date. Personal I liked this cinema very much read more

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Loved the vibe of this place. I would recommend coming to watch a movie here. It is an older theater but sometimes it's the older building that have character. If you get a chance, stop in and watch whatever movie is playing. I'm sure it will be a good one. Watched: Ruby Sparks VIII.XXIV.XII read more

Classic, Volunteer run, movie theater. Best popcorn with real butter. I love this theater for it remaining authentic, although you won't find luxurious seats. The Grand shows some wonderful films that you will not find in the main stream. Another reason to support local vs corporate entities. I can't wait until things go back to normal. Next door is the famous coffee and pastries store, Corina's. read more

Yay - independently owned theater with cool movies and events. I am so glad we found this place.

I love The Grand Cinema, it's a Tacoma Institution. I like to support small local businesses. They have interesting independent films that you won't see in chain theaters. The staff and volunteers are friendly and they serve beer, wine and ciders! read more

This is the type of theater my husband loves. He has always loved going to movies but the feeling of the Grand is such a fun part of the experience. It is the kind of small independent theater that can be hard to find these days. They have a mix of independent and more mainstream films and we especially like their late night Weird Elephant showings. We have done 2 special events here, both were pre covid, an Oscars viewing and a showing of Cats. The Cats one was SUPER fun because they encouraged audience participation and it was fun to laugh with everyone at the ridiculousness. One of the best parts is the dedicated volunteers. They obviously enjoy being at the Grand and make the experience that much more fun! We still go to the Grand every chance we get and will continue to for years to come. read more

Cultural gem of Tacoma. Small theaters - big dreams. Uncomfortable seats - movie variety not found in 'big' chain theaters. The Grand is something each mid-sized city needs. An institution which provides opportunities to explore the world outside of major Hollywood blockbusters. The Grand shows first run movies - but they usually won't be the big money sequels or franchise flicks. Add in past run favorites, fan events (cat videos and an Oscar Party) and you can always find a movie playing which expands your views or lets you into a different element of cinematography outside of CGI. Snack bar is a treat - popcorn is first rate and they have a limited selection of beer and wine. Become a member of the Grand and get a discount on pricing and a free member popcorn, plus you know your funds are helping to keep the institution running. Staff are volunteers - so when things are running slow - know they are not professionals - save for a professional love of community and cinema. read more

I don't think I truly appreciated The Grand until I moved away from Tacoma and couldn't view Independent films unless I waited for them to rent. This is a a little place of Tacoma history. It's in a great location near Wright Park and run by volunteers. I viewed a movie today and was thrilled to see how well they are doing. Its also next to a cool, tasty little bakery that has vegan and gluten free options. read more

This is a fun place to see movies (okay, FILMS, if you insist) that aren't shown elsewhere. We just saw an amazing film, Parasite, on a recent Saturday afternoon. The experience was...strange. Buying the tickets went okay. But at the concessions counter the woman snapped, "What are you having?" And as my husband was telling her, she interrupted him with: "Are you a member?" She had done the same thing to the previous customer. Look, we know the cinema relies on memberships -- we're just not in a position to buy one at the moment. I understand they have to ask because members get a deal, but what about greeting the person with a cheerful hello first, and THEN asking if they're a member? Rather than asking for the person's order and then cutting them off? At the end of Parasite I wanted to see some of the credits, so we were a bit late getting out. Another delay happened when my husband had to use the restroom afterward. I sat on a bench across from the restroom and waited, holding my leftover popcorn. It was neatly folded up and I hadn't dropped or spilled it. I wasn't creating any sort of nuisance or issue, but every staffer (or volunteer) in the place was staring at me. It was a bit bizarre. The lobby was empty except for us and the staffers, who continued to gawp at us. As my husband and I walked together toward the exit the glares just intensified. It seemed as if they were perhaps expecting an interaction with us, so I called out, "Thank you!" to the ticket taker, but he turned his head away and pretended not to have heard me. I still can't feature what happened. We're educated and employed. We looked normal. We didn't dress in costume, weren't drunk, had no facial tattoos. We're pretty much the people-equivalent of wallpaper. And we'd just given them our business. Maybe we were fucked because we weren't members? I wanted to return because I love Almodovar and they're showing his latest film next week, but I'm having second thoughts. We've lived in Tacoma for a few years. This is our neighborhood movie house, but I don't feel welcome there at all. Perhaps the workers just need some customer-service and courtesy training. As an Aspie I'm not all that great with social stuff, but with some guidance and practice I've been able to learn the basics of helpful interaction in the jobs I've held, so that customers don't feel dismissed. The Grand Cinema could fix this issue. But I'm not holding my breath it'll happen. read more

I love the Grand so much! There aren't enough words to express. The staff is fantastic and knowledgeable, the building has charm that is out of this world. The movies are almost always spot on. Become a member and you receive so many great perks like a free popcorn every single time! You also support I depend theaters and small businesses by becoming a member. I truly feel like I'm visiting a friend when I go here. Try it out!! You won't be sorry! read more

The Grand Cinema - Cinema Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

C- ute as heck! I- mperfect, yet perfect cinema N- onprofit makes it that much more E- ndearing. We saw the Late Night M- ovie which wasn't playing A- t most theatre locations. If you're looking for a particular movie that you can't find in other mainstream theatres, check here! You won't find large, reclining lounge chairs, but you will find character. The seats will be small for some of the taller guests. I subtracted one star because our showing had yellow subtitles. Personally, I found that distracting and it wasn't noted anywhere to expect this. The price is good. Bonus- they sell wine! read more

We are from San Francisco and moved up here 4 years ago. We were starving for some good independent movies that we were used to seeing in the Bay Area...So we say: Thank God for the Grand Cinema !! They show movies that you can't see in most of the commercial theaters.and although the movie may not stay very long, at least it's there [available] to see. The Cinemax and other theaters in Lacey/Olympia all play the exact same movies !!- no difference in the billings !!- so we are truly grateful for The Grand Cinema and joined it last year as it is a treasure !! read more

We rented out a room for a private show and had a great time. Nice place, staff was great, price was reasonable, and all in all we had a great time. We'll be doing it again for sure. read more

This place is awesome! It's definitely an alternative to large megaplex. It's an art house theater run by volunteers....which is amazing. We have seen three movies so far and plan to come back. Seats are small so be prepared...don't expect reclining seats but it gets the job done. read more

I've discovered a gem! This theater and its staff are wonderful! I only wish I had found it sooner, this will be my theater of choice from now on. I love the fact that I can bring my own refillable water bottle and they serve freshly made popcorn topped with real butter! read more

My 23-year-son wanted to me to see "La La Land" (his 3rd time and my first) and the only theatre showing it in our area was The Grand Cinema, which has been converted into a small multiplex cinema. Never been there before but it was easy to find. The first thing that was off-putting was the parking. Only 2 hour parking on the street. Next to the theater is a pay parking lot which turned out to be a huge hassle. You can only pay by phone and the company's automated phone system is crap. It took me two tries and almost 10 minutes to pay for parking. A person behind the ticket counter at the theater said they usually have vouchers but they had run out of them. At least inside the theater I got the senior's discount and my got the student's for our movie tickets. OK, onward to the theater. There are just two seating sections and we chose the smaller one on the right. Seats were OK until a tall woman who wore her hair up chose to sit in front of me. Her hair blocked the bottom part of the screen. Luckily enough, there was an empty seat next to my son so he slid into that one and I slid over into his seat and behind a much shorter woman whose hair was below the screen. Before the movie started, we learned that Wednesdays were open-caption days for the older patrons (much of the regulars are senior citizens). That proved interesting and distracting since I'd never seen a movie filmed in English with captions at a movie theater. But it also proved helpful with some of the movie dialogue and song lyrics that were hard to understand. The positives for the theater were, surprisingly enough, for a small theater the stereo sound was excellent and the screen was nice-sized. The one negative was that the theater showed the movie in standard definition, perhaps not even in digital format. So while the colors were great the image itself lacked the sharpness and resolution which is standard for state-of-the-art theaters these days. Now, the theater was packed for the movie, including a lot of younger people besides the seniors like me. The staff seemed very friendly. But I don't plan to go back there. Turns out "La La Land" will be playing at my favorite multiplex theater closer to home. That's where I'll be seeing it again. read more

THE BEST! This wonderful community asset allows low income folks to enjoy a movie night FREE if you have an EBT card, ID, and (maybe) proof of vaccination. read more

I won't try to wax all poetic on the value of theaters that feature independent and foreign film--my near-total ignorance of such film would be revealed almost immediately--but I will say, wow, I love coming to the Grand Cinema and I am really glad it's part of Tacoma's cultural and community fabric. We've been here many times this year and have really enjoyed the movies we've seen, and there is nearly always a great selection of dramas, comedies and documentaries to choose from. And, the films focus on cool and meaningful topics rather than on product placement and hot people blowing stuff up...I get that there's a place for those things, but I'm happy to know that there's a place like this too. Seats are comfy, popcorn is tasty, and the (mostly volunteer) staff is friendly and clearly cares about what they're doing. Also, there are great benefits for members, so dig a little deeper into your pocket to support this cinema and the important role it plays in Tacoma. Yay! read more

Update: I've increased my rating to five stars by virtue of the manager actually taking the time to respond to my concern. Thank you.

The Grand is Tacoma's indie movie palace and place of pride for TTown. There's a lot going on here. Shall we take a tour? First off, be nice to the people popping the corn and cleaning! With the exception of the projectionist and house manager, everyone working is a volunteer. The Grand is a non-profit operation. Besides, it might be me serving you - I'm one of the many proud volunteers here! TUESDAY FILM SERIES - Every Tuesday the Grand runs a couple screenings of a film. It might be a current foreign film like "Le Havre" or a golden age film like "The Bishop's Wife". In February they show all the Academy Award-nominated shorts. Check the web site for details. GRINDHOUSE - Projectionist Justin (formerly of Stadium Video) programs a nationally acclaimed series, with gems like "Silent Night, Deadly Night", "Phantasm" and "Cannibal Ferox". Shows are the 3rd Friday & Saturday, late night. TACOMA FILM FESTIVAL - October is festival month with an emphasis on Pacific NW filmmakers. Perhaps it's time to unveil your masterpiece... MEMBERSHIP - Your tax deductible membership truly helps run the theatre, but the perks alone are worth it: $2.50 off member's movie tickets, a free small popcorn with every movie, a parking permit for a nearby lot, and free movie days. Tacoma needs The Grand and The Grand needs us - small theatres across the country are being threatened with closure if they don't upgrade their projectors to digital in the next year or two. The cost? $75,000 per screen. Go here to learn more and help: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/thegrandcinema/grandcinemasgeneralfundraisingpage Now go see a movie!! read more

Man, I love this place. It's a seriously dedicated friend to the film lover in every way. It's not a big facility, and there's nothing fancy about it. In fact, sometimes you wonder whether they could benefit by adding a bit more soundproofing here and there, but it's never to the detriment of the film-watching experience, thankfully. It's an older building, and seems to have been purpose-built as a cinema, but I could easily be wrong about that. It's got a lot of sweet antique touches in the lobby and elsewhere, but the seats and screens and sound systems appear much newer. Most importantly, they go out of their way to book the most interesting films available on the art house circuit, often trumping what's available in Seattle--despite having only five screens compared to the two dozen or so dedicated art house screens up north. More than once, seeing a cool release on the big screen in the last few years has meant that you must trek to T-Town. As a 4th-generation Tacoman and film lover, I love this, even though this theater is an hour's drive from my place now. They have a great membership program for frequent filmgoers, and they depend on a lot of volunteer effort to keep the box office, concessions, and so on in operation. They're making a beautiful show of it, too--everything's always smooth and fluid. They have mined the retiree demographic astonishingly well for both customers and volunteers, but the programming here is definitely not stodgy. Always, always dig the Grand. read more