Cinema entertainment in New York City
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A
Angelika Film Center
Angelika specializes in foreign and independent films and has some quirky charms (the rumble of the subway, long lines and occasionally bad sound). But its roomy cafe is a great place to meet and the beauty of its Stanford White–designed, beaux-arts building undeniable.
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B
AMC Empire 25
At this massive, 17-screen theater in the heart of Times Sq, taking the multiple flights of elevators with the crowds so you can climb up to your movie can feel a little overwhelming. But it’s pretty cool to gaze out of the huge windows that overlook lit-up 42nd St – and even more exciting to settle into the stadium-style seating, which gives good views from just about any seat. Though this isn’t the best place to catch mass-consumer Hollywood flicks, as the crowds can be massive and rowdy, it’s the perfect off-the-radar spot for indies, which show here frequently to well-behaved, manageable numbers.
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C
Clearview’s Ziegfeld Theater
The last true movie palace in New York City, this stunner, built in 1969, seats a whopping 1131 moviegoers and is often used for glitzy celeb-studded premieres because of its opulence. Inside, you’ll find chandeliers, fancy bathrooms and a gigantic screen. It screens only mainstream Hollywood fare, though occasional special series can bring classics into the lineup.
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D
Tribeca Cinemas
This is the physical home of the Tribeca Film Festival, founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal. Throughout the year, the space hosts a range of screenings and educational panels, including festivals dedicated to Brazilian films, horror flicks or kids’ movies. Check the website for upcoming events and screening schedules.
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E
Anthology Film Archives
This theater, opened in 1970 by film buff Jonas Mekas and a supportive crew, is dedicated to the idea of film as an art form. It screens indie works by new filmmakers and also revives classics and obscure oldies that are usually screened in programs organized around a specific theme or director, from Luis Buñuel to Ken Brown’s psychedelia.
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F
Clearview’s Chelsea
In addition to showing first-run films, this multiscreen complex hosts weekend midnight showings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, as well as a great Thursday-night series, Chelsea Classics, which has local drag star Hedda Lettuce hosting old-school camp fare from Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand and the like.
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G
IFC Center
This art house in NYU-land has a great cafe and a solidly curated lineup of new indies, cult classics and foreign films. Catch shorts, documentaries, ‘80s revivals, director-focused series, weekend classics and frequent special series, such as midnight screenings of holiday classics at Christmastime.
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H
Walter Reade Theater
The Walter Reade boasts some wonderfully wide, screening-room-style seats and hosts, every September, the New York Film Festival, featuring plenty of New York and world premieres. At other times of the year you can catch independent films, career retrospectives and themed series.
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I
Leonard Nimoy Thalia
Name any obscure French or Japanese or Mexican film and you can bet it's been shown here. This secret little cinema can be counted on to show the most eclectic and esoteric films from around the world and through the ages. It's a film buff's fantasy come true.
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J
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
A renovated Yiddish theater, the wonderful Landmark shows foreign and first-run mainstream art films on massive screens. It also has much-coveted stadium-style seating, so it doesn’t matter what giant sits in front of you after the lights go out.
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K
Old American Can Factory
Rooftop Films (www.rooftopfilms.com; Jun-Sep) stages some of its summer film screenings atop the Old American Can Factory, which incidentally hosts a farmers market on Sundays during the winter.
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L
BAM Rose Cinemas
The gorgeous theater at the Brooklyn Academy of Music shows independent and foreign films in spaces blessed with comfy seating, great sight lines, huge screens and a lovely, landmark design. You can also catch mini-festivals and revivals here.
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M
Film Forum
This three-screen cinema screens an astounding array of independent films, revivals and career retrospectives from greats like Sidney Lumet. Theaters are small, as are the screens, so get there early for a good viewing spot. Showings are often combined with director talks or other filmic discussions, and there’s a cafe in the lobby.
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