Going to the movies is a cine-magical experience. The lights go down, sounds of popcorn crunching and hurried last minute texting fills the room, the movie starts, and you’re transported to a place where anything is possible. But once our favorite films leave the theaters, we have to either buy them on DVDs (what are DVDs amirite?) or wait for them to come on the TV or Netflix and watch them on our tiny little screen (unless you are rich and have a home theater, in which case disregard this post and also can I come over and watch Mean Girls?). For those of us who want to revisit our favorite movie classics on the big screen once more, here are 5 Bay Area movie theaters that play #Throwback movies.
1. The Balboa Theatre
Nestled in the bosom of the Richmond district, The Balboa Theatre is a #Throwback itself, having been built way back in the 1920s when films were called “movin’ pictures” and you were entertained by a live organist before a film instead of Verizon commercials. You can see new movies at this historic theater like Jurassic World (not enough shirtless Chris Pratt) or Inside Out (cried the whole time, like the whole time) but the things that makes Balboa special are their theme series-es. They have Saturday morning movies, classic nights on Thursdays for black and white movies, and a fun summer series where every Tuesday they play a movie about/takes place during Summer (this can be kind of a depressing thing to watch during SFs “summer” but it’s still cool).
2. Paramount Theatre of the Arts
This Oakland theatre throws way back, so far back that during their Paramount Movie Classics they play their films on 35mm prints, show cartoons and newsreels, have a live organ serenade, and even give out prizes during their exciting “Dec-O-Win” game. Playing this month are Jaws, West Side Story, Jurassic Park (the first one, not enough Jeff Goldblum shirtless), and Mad Max (the original with Mel Gibson, pre-meltdown).
3. Castro Theatre
The Castro Theatre is the ultimate in San Francisco film fun. With a jam packed calendar of awesome #Throwback movies, cool events, and a beautiful, decadent, red velvety interior that makes you feel like you’re being wrapped in the arms of movie Theatre angels and floated transcendently to your seat. By far the best and most fun-tastic shows they have at the Castro Theatre are the Sing-A-Long and Talk-A-Long nights. From classic Disney films to cult favorites like The Princess Bride, you’ll never have a better time than you will singing “Part of Your World” at the top of your lungs with a bunch of strangers doing the same. The cupholders are weird though, it’s just a huge hole, zero cups fit in it.
4. Grand Lake Theatre
Another East Bay gem, the Grand Lake Theatre is a constant winner of the “best movie theater” awards in town and is one of the top ten vintage theaters in the nation! It opened as a Vaudeville and Silent Movie House and is almost definitely haunted. But like, with friendly theatre loving ghosts who shush loud popcorn eaters and mess with the WiFi so people can’t use their phones.
5. Clay Theatre
Another historic building, the Clay Theatre was built in 1910, is one of the oldest theatre in San Francisco, and first operated as a nickelodeon house (it’s weird that nickelodeon used to mean a place to play movies and now it’s where a sponge in pants is a thing). Here you can view tons of awesome indie movies, art films, recorded plays, and, most importantly, partake in the classic San Francisco pastime of the midnight movie. Midnight movies are the best, it’s late, kinda eerie, and you know everyone in the theater wants to be there, nobody just randomly decides to walk into a movie theater at midnight, midnight movies are a planned destination. Enjoy Casablanca, Dr. Strangelove, Alien, or even an interactive Rocky Horror, way past your bedtime.