A Ranking of My Frequented Chicago Movie Theaters

Photo of the Music Box Theater Marquee by me!

1) Gene Siskel

Now I've only been here twice but both times have been for amazing films (Magellan, Days and Nights in the Forest) and nice crowds. The sitting area in the space is also quite nice and their student discount is to die for (Seriously $9 on a usually $15 ticket, golden). I think the thing that draws me the most to Gene Siskel is the atmosphere because it's actually quite quiet and not as overwhelming as say Music Box or AMC. A packed house doesn't make me feel like i'm going to get run over by a heard of people.

2) AMC River East

This is my favorite AMC in the city, actually probably my favorite Chain theater of all time. And not like it's anything spectacular no offense to them I just find it very easy to get to and the theaters are a good size and everything. Overall no notes, I also like how they host the Chicago South Asian film festival, which is amazing I highly recommend going. They had a great midnight screening of Dune 2 at some point last year and that was also great.

3) AMC Roosevelt Collection

This is the pure middle of movie theaters, I have probably no real feeling about it, I only go when I want to catch a show on a whim. The most notable experience was when I caught Deliver Me From Nowhere there and cried for like 80% of the film. Literally no reason I was just happy to see one of my favorite Springsteen songs on screen probably (Atlantic City) I was the guy front and center sobbing and muttering "they blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night...blew up his house too..." so sorry to anyone who saw me in that state. Overall this theater is fine, I just find the layout a bit annoying because it's mostly automated.

4) Music Box Theater

The most annoying people you meet are a Music Box audience, who will Burst Out Laughing during a very serious part of a movie, and laugh for so long that you will not be able to hear the next pieces of dialogue. In all, it's a fine theater, I'm slightly biased against it because of how similar it is to my Favorite Theater in the World, Ann Arbor's Michigan Theater, but it has it's moments. I will continue to sneak in snacks their concessions are really expensive, and I do like getting to see new stuff early there, like I just saw the Speed Racer 4k print ahead of it's worldwide release and it was awesome.