I absolutely love this theatre! It's been around for as long as I can remember and its longevity in a busy area when so many other businesses around it have gone under really says a lot. The popcorn truly IS the best in the galaxy. Everything is reasonably priced, the staff is nice, and you can't beat the birthday party package!! We had my daughter's party here and it was such a hit that 2 of her friends followed suit and requested theirs here, too. The staff were incredibly accommodating and kind to the kids. Thank you for so many great experiences! read more

This is best theater to go to if you just want to see a movie in theaters at a cheap price. All movie tickets are $8. This is a small theater with only 3 show rooms, but they do have the main blockbusters right when they come out. Because they are a small theatre you are not able to buy tickets online. Instead you have buy them in person. If you are worried about them selling out, you can come earlier in the day to buy tickets for any showing for that day. You do need to choose a seat as it is assigned seating. The seat number is printed on the tickets. If you were not specifically looking for it, you would easily drive by the theater. It looks like any other small shop in that plaza. But they do a pretty good job decorating the place. When you walk in, there are a few classic claw or prize machines. They do sell concessions (popcorn, candy, drinks, ice cream) at the typical inflated movie theater prices. They used to offer any sized popcorn for just $3. Now the small is $3, medium - $4, and large - $5. Still a good value considering that they always fill them to the brim and then some. The building it is housed in is kind of old and dingy and parts of it show particularly in carpeting, bathrooms and movie rooms. Sometimes you can hear the sounds coming from another movie playing in the adjacent room through the walls. The seats are the regular pull out ones with cup holders in the armrests. No recliners. But the staff has always been friendly and come in to clean up the theater once the movie ends. Overall: good budget theater. Don't expect the extras like IMAX, Dolby Atmos, or 3D showings. read more

University Mall Theatres - Shang-chi - Cinema Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

If you want to go to a theater on a budget this is the theater to go to. All tickets are $10! I'd recommend buying tickets online since the line to buy at the theater was out the door. The concessions were also very affordable, a large popcorn was $6 and a water bottle were $3.50. The concession stand has all the basic items you could want at the movies, nothing too fancy. The theater itself is small with only three screens for movies. The theater we watched our movie in was shaped like a shallow bowl. You will want to try to get seats in the middle for the optimum spot. The seats are basic but comfortable enough. Overall, the theater is older and basic, but definitely worth the price. read more

University Mall Theatres - Concession stand - Cinema Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Attended a Birthday Party that was held for the kids with a viewing of Sing 2. You cannot beat having a theater reserved for your just your group. Each kid (adult) received a drink & popcorn. I asked my cousin the cost, it was way way less than expected. The Theater is clean and the viewing of the film was pretty good. They clean the theater & seating after every group. The guy that was working when we arrived was great, had a Harry Potter Bow Tie, and he handled all the kids & requests well. Definitely will keep this idea as an option moving forward. read more

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I went for the first time this past weekend w/ my four year old to see Migration. The ticket prices have to be one of if not the most affordable around. Even the concessions were affordable, relatively speaking. Food-wise they have a bit of everything, from popcorn to candy to more substantial things like chicken tenders and pizza. They even have beer! I think the popcorn could've used a bit more salt and butter but my son loved it regardless. The staff were all nice and polite. The theater itself was fine. It looks a bit dated but the screen and sound quality were perfectly adequate. The theater itself seemed pretty clean. My only real issue was the seats are not conducive to younger/smaller kids who are sitting far back against the seat as it runs the risk of the front part popping up--I sat w/ my leg holding or across my son's seat to keep it flat. The armrests lift up, which is always nice. I think this is a great spot for an affordable, low/no-frills theater, especially for a kids movie. I'd definitely return. read more

Fantastic crew and participation. Not to be missed. Great venue and staff. Will Def be back. Had a great time last night. Lots of costumes and good people read more

All around great theater- including films, prices, popcorn, and atmosphere. Sane, science-based policies during the pandemic. We've been going there for years! read more

I have to Up the ante on this theater. Again, years after my last review it hasn't been renovated, but who cares? You can rent out the entire theater to socially distance with drinks and popcorn included. Everyone including the management is super accommodating and chill. I would definitely recommend hosting an event here. We ended up renting the theater for a bunch of kids for the paw patrol movie. It ended up being at least bearable since we had the entire screen to ourselves. (I'm not a big fan of kids movies) read more

I really really love this place. Some of my favorite things about it: - homey atmosphere - cheap tickets! - classic movie theater feel - friendly staff - less crowded and commercial than chains like AMC and Regal - local University Mall Theatres usually doesn't show movies right after they come out, but they frequently have a great selection. The prices are unbeatable. I don't think I've ever paid more than $8 for a movie ticket. It's a really cute local spot, that makes me feel good about going to the theaters. It's really a no frills place. Don't expect the top of the line seats, facilities, or anything like that. What you can count on is good popcorn, friendly service, the ability to get a decent seat, and an overall positive experience. I love University Mall Theatre, and I hope they stay running for a long long time. read more

Where else can you go to see the movies for $4 bucks, and $2 on Tuesday's?!?! They show movies that have left the commercial theaters that charge you $12-$15 bucks, so you can see it on discount a little later. No problem for me. I honesly don't care when it was released. I care about the price!! And $2-$4 bucks is perfect. The movie theaters are huge, plenty of seating. No fancy chairs or anything like that. This place is simple and old school. Pick up a soda and popcorn and enjoy the film. I noticed the sound was sorta loud, which I don't mind. But for those sensitive to loud sound, you may need ear plugs. Polite staff. No complaints whatsoever. read more

Can't beat their prices with a stick! Since the refurb, the theatre is even better value. Always enjoy our visits.

This is my new favorite theatre! Movies are about $4 per ticket, a large popcorn is $5.50 with card and about $5 with cash! Pay with cash for more bang for your buck. Wonderful value, great place to take the kids, has a cute lobby with games and refreshments, one set of bathrooms. Only giving 4 stars instead of 5 because of the seats which are a little uncomfortable and the cleanliness of the theatres (mostly due to patrons, anyway) but that's nothing compared to all the highlights this place has! Leave AMC and Regal behind to come here! Movies are shown here once most big theatres stop showing them. read more

Love coming here. It's the best place to see a movie without breaking the bank. The people that work here are a pleasure to deal with and the popcorn's super tasty! It's in a cool location too. read more

This movie theatre has character. Back in the day before I had a job I remember $20 bucks was a big deal. They have $2 Tuesday and the popcorn is $4 bucks. While the theatre doesn't have recliner seats or the biggest screens it has an intimate feel. The people working there seem to like their job and you don't have to watch alot of commercials before the show. Since the movie theatre is smaller you feel more connected to the audience. Also, it's really cute they have name tags on the back of the seats. So to those of you looking for a budget date come on $2 buck Tuesday it's less than a cup of coffee :). read more

University Mall Theatres - Seat with a name on the back! A theatre with character. - Cinema Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Listen, this isn't supposed to be a high class overpriced brand new theater. What is supposed to be, and excels at, is a locally run, great price point, non-Marvel movie theater. For every movie that comes out I ask myself - do I care about surround sound, lazy boy chairs, and assigned seating enough to pay $20? If the answer is no (which it normally is) then the go to is this theater. The prices are to die for, the movie selection decent, and the popcorn is very good. My husband and I can go, share a large drink and popcorn, all for a little over what one ticket at the AMC would cost us. It is clean enough and the lack of bright shiny new equipment does not detract from movie quality. Do take a blanket - just like every other theater it gets a little chilly! read more

University Mall has been and will be the best movie theatre in Northern VA. During COVID the owner sells (the best & most buttery) popcorn outside to raise money for staff, and during regular hours you can see movies of all sorts, with new seats and they're digital now! Also you can go see Rocky Horror most weekends during regular hours, hosted by GMU cats I believe. Long live weird! read more

Hot and humid in the theaters. Not super clean. Not super fancy. But there are bargains on tuesdays!

The University Mall Theatre is a place I want to hate. Ever since I was little, family members would mutter, "I hope this place goes out of business!" every time they walked by, almost superstitiously. After living down the street for almost 24 years, though, I have to admit: there's something about this place that just deserves a solid five-star review. Why? Well, the value's good. There's no guilt about catching a movie here, since tickets are less than half the price of a normal show at any of the local theaters. The $2.00 Tuesday deal can't be beat, and you never have to worry about seeing an awful movie here as the only substantial investment you have to lose is your time. The atmosphere is fun, too. It's a cheap, no-frills place. You don't go here for a classy time, and you don't go to be seen; you go to see a movie, enjoy company, and snack on some cheap popcorn. When I was little, we'd go out of our way to avoid "those teenagers" lined up outside to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Since then, although I've never been myself, a bunch of my friends have. The location is good, too. University Mall is pretty central for both Mason students, local high schools like Robinson, and more. The crowd is always pleasantly heterogeneous, though, and you never have to worry about fitting in. At any rate, the movies might not be the newest and best, and the place might not be the snappiest, but there are good memories to be made here at the back of the strip mall. The summer my friends and I saw "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" and "Van Helsing" here I'll never forget, thanks to this place. University Mall Theatres, I hope you stay in business! read more

University Mall Theatres - Cinema Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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They Have Upgraded, New Seat and Basically New theater, hard working employees, most of them from the college right across the way at George mason. Very nice manager, amazing theater. Popcorn soda and more. Pretty cool theater, family owned. It's worth a visit! :) read more

University Mall Theatres - Out front of the theater - Cinema Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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This place is a TIME MACHINE! The only just barely saving grace is that it's super cheap. When they invite you to attend a movie for $2 on Tuesdays, who am I to decline? At Tysons it's about $12, so with that money saved you can get some shots next door at Fat Tuesdays since they also have a $2 special on Tuesdays. While this isn't a fancy place, or even very clean, the price is right. I can't even remember when tickets were sold for $2, can you? read more

This is a new review. I last reviewed on 11/8/2015. We were there for the first showing of the day today. The staff was nice. There were 5 overflowing trash cans lined up outside of our theater (forgot to take a photo). Maybe they don't take it out at closing because there have been mice around the theater during construction? Yep. I was right. They don't take it out at night...because a girl ran all of the trash down our aisle and outside before our previews started. Not very professional timing. Take it out before you open at 11:30 AM! We ordered a large popcorn - which was clearly saved from the night before. It was NOT crunchy, not warm, it was actually chewy and 1/3 of the tub was broken down into little crumbs - probably because it was bagged up last night and unbagged this morning - and the cashier filled the bucket then purposely mushed the top against the glass to pack it in. Huh?!?! Adding butter to the top didn't help. All throughout the movie I kept thinking I'll never be back for a first showing and pay full price for left over popcorn. I know they do this because I worked in concession back in the day. It's just what theaters do. Bathroom was clean. read more

University Mall Theatres - Video Games. - Cinema Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I am now a fan but I wasn't always. First time my hubby brought me here I was a little put off by the crappy seating and scary floor (think your feet are sticking and you really don't want to know why). To be fair, being in a theater with early teenage boys seeing a super hero drama that was so bad I was laughing out loud probably did not help with my first impression. Needless to say, I avoided it for a while. Then came a movie we wanted we see but had missed at other locations and so I begrudgingly agreed to try again. Needless to say we are now pretty regular patrons. The sound and picture quality has improved and the seating replacements are in full swing. The staff is laid back, friendly, and helpful. Likewise, I have to agree with the popcorn reviews. For some strange reason it tastes really good. read more

I have been coming to this place for years! Great place to catch a movie for a few bucks! Since they have renovated the place have been more popular. Maybe I should give them less stars right so I don't have to go so early to reserve a seat on $2 Tuesdays! Hahaha! read more

This theater reminds me of the dollar theaters of my childhood. It is by no means a high end theater, and you certainly won't find fancy schmancy snacks here. However, it provides a nice experience without breaking the bank. The auditoriums are smaller and a bit dated, but everyone who works here is super nice and helpful. You can't beat their ticket prices, and the snack bar is reasonably price. Two sodas and a medium popcorn cost $13! The larger chains would charge almost twice as much. And most importantly, the theater is child friendly. It takes the stress out of the entire experience! We will definitely return. read more

Good if you want to see an older movie. Students get a discount with a Mason ID card. They only show like 4 or 5 movies though. Some are quite old. But it's dirt cheap. It's good if you just want to kick back and relax to an older movie in a theater that you hadn't seen yet. read more

This is the perfect second run theater. It's nothing special on the inside, but--it's only $2 (cash, $2.50 for card) on Tuesdays and $4 at other times. A great deal for a night out! The screens and sound were standard and the seats were comfortable. The only issue was with the air conditioning, which went on and off throughout the movie. It would be hot, then okay, then hot, then okay--perhaps this will improve once we are done with these fickle spring temperatures. read more

I decided to go to this movie theater with my girlfriend because it was playing Blade Runner, and none of the movie theaters in Tysons Corner or near me were playing that anymore. They have a way better selection of movies, or at least a selection of movies that I actually find interesting, than I thought given how it seems like a little hole in the wall. I think their thing is that they get the movies a little bit later than other theaters, but they also include movies that a lot of theaters around here that are more mainstream don't have, for instance they have the Foreigner, which I haven't seen too many other places and they have other more arthouse type stuff as well. It looks like they must do pretty regular screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show as well, which I've never seen but I've heard that they're kind of supposed to be little events, so maybe I'll even try that sometime. I expected the movie theater equivalent of a dive bar, and in some respects that is exactly what it is. However, the pictures on Yelp really do not do justice to the theater that I was in. On Yelp the screens appear to be very small, and while they certainly weren't as large of screens as you would see at Tysons Mall or IMAX, they were actually quite large. The sound was pretty good too, the only thing I will say is that the walls must be somewhat thin because I could sometimes hear the movie theater next door during the quiet parts of Blade Runner. However, overall this theater is pretty freaking amazing and we had a great time. The reason I like it so much is it as other people have mentioned it has a lot of character, it is extremely cheap without sacrificing quality, it has arcades which I wasn't able to partake in this time but will next time, and the people they're all seemed pretty cool and pretty nice. This is definitely going to be my go-to Theatres from now on rather than Tysons AMC. I don't know if the selection of movies is the same in terms of do they get the newest things or not? It doesn't look like it from what I can tell, for instance right now Justice League is pretty new in the theaters and they aren't playing it... However, I have no interest whatsoever in seeing Justice League at any point in my life although I probably will end up having to go regardless, though I'm sure they will end up playing that as well although most likely in a few weeks, at least based on from what I can tell. Nevertheless, if what I've described appeals to you, and they are playing the movie you're looking for at the time, I would absolutely give this place a try. I used a credit card, but apparently they encourage use of cash, as there was a sign hanging over the register that said as much. But the kid behind the cash register was happy to accept the credit card because they were running out of change for cash. Another VERY cool thing about it IMO is that you can put your own butter and salt on your popcorn at the stand, they have a little liquid butter dispenser, which is cool because you can decide how much you want yourself. They also have some sort of sugary thing that you can put on the popcorn as well, although I thought that tasted pretty weird so I didn't put any on. One large tub of popcorn and one pretty large soda, I don't know exactly how big but pretty big, was 10 bucks. I paid 5 bucks for the ticket, and my girlfriend used her MoviePass, so that's also an option. Plus it looks like there was a pretty popping bar next to the theater in the shopping center, so that's nice too. Can be a little hard to find because it's in the back of the shopping center, but when I used my Waze app it took me directly to it. Definitely give it a shot, I will be back for sure.. read more

Perfect place for a cheap Tuesday date night. Brion's Grille, up the stairs from the theater, has $2.50 beer and $5 burgers, and the theater has $2 movies. They put some thought into which movies they show, and always have a good selection of action, drama, comedy and family movies. One of the few second run theaters I know of, I believe the only one in the DC area. Reminds me of my childhood going to "dollar theaters," even down to the old school MPAA ratings poster. Screens are small, but big enough. Quality of screen and sound is good. Usually attracts a great crowd, making the movies a really fun experience. read more

The prices are 5 stars. The parking is 5 stars because it is free and plentiful. However, the theaters are small but up-to-date with digital showings, so 4 stars. The theater itself has seen better days, as they have not used the recent influx of money to beautify but rather to update technology. So, the facilities, concessions, carpeting, hallways, HVAC and entrance are somewhat dated - 3 stars. When you sit in the theaters, there is one aisle, so, it's hard to be centered to see the screen. Because it's a smaller theater, those of you looking for the full big screen experience would be turned off, but, hey, for $4, who cares. The concessions are also reasonably priced, too. The price is probably why you'll go here, because, for the cost of a ticket somewhere else, you can buy your ticket and concessions (snack + drink).... so, yeah. The staff is nice, laid-back and helpful. No reason why I wouldn't go back here regularly except for... the long distance from the heart of DC. If you have time and are willing to drive, it's a great deal. read more

I have been going to this theater since I was a student at Mason in the 80s and for the most part, not much has changed (not including those new chairs and digital projector!). Look, here's the thing. Do you REALLY need to see every movie out there RIGHT AWAY? When I watch trailers I rate the movies either 1) must see when it comes out 2) U Mall Theater movie or 3) wait for it to come on cable . Most movies fall into the U Mall theater category for me. If you actually take a few months away from going to first run theaters, then everything that comes to U Mall is first run for you! Problem solved! I find it outrageous to spend close to 20 bucks to see a movie along with incredibly expensive concessions. Here, a large popcorn is 5.50 and can be refilled for $1. Let's talk about the owner (same guy own Cinema Arts Theater in Fair City Mall). This man is so incredibly selfless and is a pillar of our community. He has seen this venue go through a lot of changes but he has never let the area down. For 2-4 dollar ticket prices you can see a movie Monday-Friday here and pay less than than the 20 bucks you would spend elsewhere. People like this theater so much that the owner did a Kickstarter to raise money for the digital upgrade and for new seating. Loyal patrons stepped right up and donated enough to more than fully fund the effort. Sure, you're seeing the movie a couple months later but honestly who cares. Plus, they host Rocky Horror Picture Show on Saturday! Save your money and see that movie you were "on the fence about" or "was nominated for a lot of awards so you want to see it but it didn't look THAT interesting" come here. Don't forget about 2 BUCK TUESDAY!!! All seats are $2!!! read more

Mostly, theaters set a price that we are willing to pay based on supply and demand. Demand is high at University but the owner is not interested in inflating the cost. For that reason alone this theater has a cult of followers . Not bad either for the college student who can't afford $30 at the movies. Tuesday's are 3 bucks and Kids 5 all day everyday! This place was once equally to a dive bar before t it's been giving a mini face lift and is even better than before. I also like the fact they still show older movies , trilogies and specials for the Hoilday seasons. Tip: take a friend or a group and say tickets are on me . read more

Saved my kids birthday in covid time! Thank you! They had great popcorn too. We rented out a theatre and just invited one other family. It worked out great!!! read more

I am proud to support an independent movie house! With the price of going to other movie theaters being so high it is a relief to find this gem. Give yourself plenty of time if you want to go on a school holiday and be sure to bring cash to help the line move quicker. Even on occasions when it has been super crowded the staff is always friendly and helpful and does the best they can. read more