Took a break from work to go see Disclosure Day. Movie started 45 minutes after advertised start…read moretime. So many commercials. The theatre was warm. The sound was so loud it was uncomfortable (and I love to crank up the volume for music). The people who work there obviously loathe their job. WTF?!? Center City? Why can't we just have a great experience that begins on time in a comfortable environment. I go out to K of P for a much better experience. This is why we can't have anything nice in the city. No one cares. Gave it 2 stars because the seat was comfortable

This was our second time coming here. Since this was a late Friday night showing on the opening…read moreday/weekend of the movie (Jordan Peele's "Him"), it was much more crowded than the first time we came here (Sunday evening). Even though there were a lot of people, we didn't feel like we waited long for anything - coming in, ordering food and ordering drinks. General area and within the theater was kept decent. We like and enjoy the dine in your seats aspect. Food is decent and most people would be able to find something. They were low on stuff at the condiments bar, so we had to get some stuff from the staff working the concession stand. We got in the theater as previews were about to start and a staff member brought the food to our seats within minutes of us sitting down - so perfect timing. Good experience and we plan to see more movies here moving forward.

How is it possible no one has ever written a review of Secret Cinema? (I mean, aside from the fact…read morethat it is Secret)? I hope that by being the first to review Secret Cinema I'm not somehow violating some unwritten rule of Secret Cinema: "The First Rule of Secret Cinema is...you don't talk about Secret Cinema." Secret Cinema is a labor of love of its founder and his wife (?) who have been showing vintage movies (on film only, never video, as they will proudly tell you) for well nigh on 20 years, in various locations around Philly. However, their more-or-less permanent home seems to be the cinema at Moore College of Art and Design on 20th and Parkway in Center City. Their programs are typically 1.5 -3 hours long and feature a wide range of rare, obscure, and generally neglected but culturally significant movies, shorts and cartoons. I think they do maybe 10 showings a year, usually Friday nights, and admission is only $6-7 per show, making it probably one of the best cheap date opportunities around. The breadth of the programs is truly astounding. In the few years I've been attending, I've seen everything from classic cartoons from the 30's (the politically incorrect kind), corny educational films from decades past (including one sex-ed film from the early 80's featuring coitus between immense puppet genitalia which made everyone in the audience squirm), to almost-lost home movies of the Velvet Underground, to Saturday morning kid's programs, to a Philly premiere of the works of an almost totally unknown 50's-60's director, J. X. Williams: I am still searching for words to describe that show... Jay, its MC and creator, clearly loves rare cinema and is himself an encyclopedic resource on each of the programs he compiles. He prefaces the shows with his own (somewhat monotone and sometimes seemingly interminable) intros in which he provides the context of what you are about to see. That said, the selections can be somewhat hit-or-miss. One showing, which featured a documentary about Scottish agriculture in the 1940's, left me scratching my head to find the entertainment value: I guess it was a bit more 80's-style irony than I was willing to take. Some others leave me cold, as, apart from the historic value, the entertainment value of some of the programs can be very low for someone who is not specifically interested in that very subject. In other words, the selections can veer into arcana from time to time. But, you go there to have your horizons broadened, not to see more of what you would otherwise see in the mainstream media. So on balance I guess it's a good thing. So kudos to these folks for putting on consistently interesting (if not entertaining) programs which are clearly outside the mainstream. And kudos for being squarely in the Philly DIY tradition and staying true to that ethic all these years. Go and check it out.

I've been to about 4 or 5 of these underground film events hosted by curator and film nut Jay…read moreSchwarz. There is a certain ritual to it - paying $8, listening to Jay's informative droning introductions, not knowing what to expect. Secret cinema is a tribute to the dying medium of film. It's only film- no vhs or digital. He rescues film reels from flea markets, garages, libraries and cobbles them together with a theme. Some of what he shows is ironic, hilarious and cringeworthy in its racial stereotyping. It's a history and cultural studies lesson doled out in 5-7 minute chunks. I refer to Jay as a mad genius and hope he remains that way. His obsession with film and opening rare finds to the public is a great service. Secret Cinema isn't widely advertised. Getting on the e-mail list is the best way to catch these semi-frequent (every month or two) events.

I don't go to the movies in Philly often, but when I do, you better believe it's for those $6…read moreTuesday deals! If you're not going to the movies on Tuesdays the weekend after a movie comes out, seriously, what are you thinking?! It's the same movie for a cheaper price, y'all. Purchased my ticket online the day before. Unfortunately, these days there's always processing fees but I appreciated that you can join the rewards program for a cheaper processing fee. I showed up 15 mins after the listed showtime because I was coming straight from work, but I still made it in time to catch a few trailers and it was nearly empty inside. I'll admit, I'm used to the luxury of suburban movie theaters and their recliners but at this point, I'll take what I can get.

Bad experience despite comfortable seats. 30 minutes of previews. Sound levels way too loud. I…read morewill not come back.

Not the best movie experience. I came to Main Street movies a few weeks ago to see The Long Walk…read more I went to the last movie that was set to start at 10:30pm. The pre movie credits ran for like over a half hour.....so the movie pretty much started a little after 11. The seats were not clean and had trash in the cup holder. Overall I ordered my tickets online and paid like 20.00 for a medicore experience.

This place is filthy and the reclining seats were worn out and have seen better days. I was so…read morescheeved out that I put the clothes I wore into the washer as soon as I got home so they would not come in contact with anything else in my house. Should have gone to the suburbs instead of this place. They really need to revamp this location.

Great art house theater Combined the best new movies with…read morerespect for restored classics Courteous and knowledgeable staff. I've always been a donor to this type facility I'm now 80 and this is the best

Great experience on Main Street in Ambler…read more Ambler Theater is a very relaxed experience with a hand full of staff that makes you feel welcome. The movie theater is very old however it brings with it wonderful charm. My girlfriend and I have been coming here for just about a year now and are thinking of becoming members (this is a non-profit movie theater that exists by the support of its members). This spot reminds me of the Ritz movie theaters in center city without the hustle bustle. Definitely check it out for a date night or a reason to check out the quiant town of Ambler. As always people SYOY!!

Great independent theater. I love that they show films that aren't usually played by the major…read moretheater companies. The staff were all very friendly. Concessions prices are reasonable. Ticket price is a reasonable. The seats are old-school, not like the new recliners, but still very comfortable. What's a beautiful location

I like the Institute because of the independent and retro films they screen, but not all theaters…read morein this multiplex are the same. Or as comfortable. I appreciate stadium seats. I like walking upstairs to the mezzanine to find my perfect spot. (I may sound nuts, but I look for a seat where the screen is big and doesn't require a head tilt -- more of a 'movie' experience than watching Netflix at home.) Well, Theater 1 doesn't cut the mustard. The auditorium is one level, oddly long. To achieve my important no-tilt criteria, I sit far back. But then the screen looks small! If there's a movie I want to see, should I call the theater to find out where it's being screened? I probably won't. But I might! Fingers crossed that it's not in Theater 1.

First time at this theatre for the 33rd Philadelphia Film Festival and it's in a great location (5…read moremin walk from Bourse). Staff is super friendly and helpful and the seats and very comfortable with cup holders.

It's time to invest in some renovations...Especially the panels you can see are broken, they can be…read moredistracting during movies...The seats are stiff and cramped so by the time you leave, your back is aching...Fun to watch short movies on but for the price you pay you want them to last...such a catch 22... Try to sit high up if you can. I prefer the KOP IMAX...

As a self-proclaimed cinephile, I saw the 70mm print of "2001: A Space Odyssey" last night and had…read morevery high hopes since I had heard this theater is amazing. Well, it's basically awful (the theater, not the movie.) The uncomfortable seats don't recline, which really would be clutch since the projection is elevated, so, you're basically looking up the whole time. Legroom is at a minimum and you'll most surely get your seat kicked a few times if a large person is sitting behind you. Also, watching any narrative film will have you physically turning your head constantly to see the action in different parts of the blown-up frame. Also, this may not be a direct critique of the theater, but the film quality of "2001" was so poor, it seriously looked like old VHS quality. Every bright color washed out, and worse, you could see the actual screen panels clearly at various times, totally distracting you from being immersed. During loud moments, one of the sub-woofers was so annoyingly rattling, that I started to feel hoodwinked I didn't just watch this flick at home. The King of Prussia IMAX theater is so much better than this one, it's not even funny. If "great concession prices" is the high watermark of these reviews, then film buffs beware.