What I Look For: If you're talking going to the movies, you're talking popcorn. Honestly-ask someone who is a lay person what they love most about a night out at the cinema, and if the word popcorn doesn't come up, assume they've been inhabited by an alien from another planet. Personally, I want popcorn that is flavorful (even without butter), is going to come with real butter (because then I can convince myself I'm doing my body a favor while I'm shoveling it down my gullet), and bonus points if it comes with some sort of discounted refill. I know other people are really into the flavored salt station and into the caramel/cheddar popcorn that is starting to become more en vogue, but that's not my jam so I'm skipping that as necessary.
The Best There Is: Emagine Willow Creek is my favorite movie theater in the Twin Cities for a lot of reasons (most of which you're about to hear about), but top of the list is the popcorn. It's fresh tasting, doesn't need the real butter it comes with (but that's an option), and if you buy it in time, you'll get a bucket with $2 refills. I literally moved away from this being my primary theater about 18 months ago...and I still drive the extra time to go to this theater. Other solid popcorn options include any of the Landmark theaters (particularly the Lagoon, as I've found they're the least stingy with the butter), Kerasotes in West End, and the Riverview. This is where the AMC chain takes the biggest hit for me-I can't stand their popcorn as it's too dry.
What I Look For: Most of the time I'll stick to popcorn and a bottle of water-that's all I really need to get into the movie theater. However, occasionally (especially during the week), I'll be going to the movie theater at the same time I'd be eating dinner, and so I want to have the option of substituting my supper into the concessions budget. I usually like variety-no one wants that disgusting hot dog or pizza that has been sitting under a lamp for hours like we're at a Shell gas station. Having actual bar food options (and hell, a beer doesn't hurt) is what I'm looking to get here.
The Best There Is: AMC has added mac-and-cheese bites in some places, which are delicious, and I love their chicken tenders more than my doctor would recommend I do. Willow Creek will actually deliver the food to your seat, which is amazing and all theater chains should start this, and has a really good quesadilla (both Kerasotes West End and Willow Creek also have solid bars). Landmark loses most of its points here as they don't do hardly anything other than quality coffee when it comes to unique concessions, so they aren't in the conversation here. I'm still undecided, though, on the new Mall of America theater. It's clearly a concessions variety pack, to the point where you practically get a food court before you go into the movie theater, but who wants to cozy up at the next Batman movie while eating a salad?
What I Look For: This is sort of intangible, but what I'm searching for in a movie theater is one that has the ambience, staff, and formatting that makes me believe that this is a theater that actually cares about the movies they're presenting, and doesn't just consider them disposable objects that will be replaced week-after-week, but instead places to make memories.
The Best There Is: The Twin Cities does this better than anywhere I've been to other than New York City, so I'm going to sing a lot of praises right now. Our independent theater chains are awesome. St. Anthony Main has its Film Society screenings while the Uptown has its great art deco to go with midnight movies & oftentimes will get filmmakers to come to the theater. Both Willow Creek & Trylon have "secret movie nights" where you buy a ticket for a film that you don't know what it's going to be (it sounds fun, and it's still more fun than it sounds), while the Heights Theater feels like you're walking into a movie theater that might have also transported you back in time (they have an organ they play before the show!). Of the AMC theaters, my personal favorite is the Eden Prairie one, which is filled with an entire hall of movie stars, and not just the obvious ones (Maggie Smith and Catherine Deneuve stand alongside Humphrey Bogart and Marilyn Monroe). Last, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Alamo Drafthouse, which I've heard marvelous things about but haven't visited yet (it's on the list!)
What I Look For: Amenities here mean a few things. First, there's the rewards programs, which are critical if you're like me and go to the movies a couple of times a week. Secondly, you have the seating options, which are becoming more varied (I used to not care about this and fought the "reclining seats" for a while, but I'm older now and need to relax). And finally, there's show time frequency-are you able to maybe pull off a double feature or go at an opportune time?
The Best There Is: Rewards programs, at least on the market currently, nothing can beat AMC A-List. For $25 or so a month (I think mine is cheaper since I got it opening day, but it's around that marker), you get three screenings a week, and they're making it easier to plan movie dates with friends or, well, dates. Emagine's is also solid, as I'm constantly getting free concessions, but AMC takes the cake. Willow Creek has the best seats, though there are days I kind of love the Mall of America's weird table seats (though not always-MoA is one you should definitely go to, especially if you're a local trying to find your movie theater haunts, but it's an acquired cinematic experience). In terms of showtimes, try the suburbs over the more mainstream theaters. Mann Champlin will start showings as early as 9:30 on weekends, meaning you can go to a matinee AND still have the rest of the day for the Sunday Scaries.
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