Is It a Nightmare at Regal Cinemas?

Original photo via bettyblade's flickr

We've been thoroughly enjoying Max Silvestri's rants and commentary over at the AV Club, and in his latest piece he takes on Regal Cinemas. The young lad is living the dream out in Williamsburg, just one 11 minute train ride from Union Square... and as such, from Regal Cinemas on Broadway and 13th. But before your face turns green with jealousy, Silvestri says:

"Bragging about that is like a teenager in A Nightmare On Elm Street bragging about how quickly he's able to fall asleep. That Regal Cinemas is the Freddy Krueger of movie theaters, in that everyone over the age of 16 realizes it's terrible and also that the townspeople should have done a more thorough job of burning it to death years ago. Broken ticketing machines, long lines, unhelpful employees, and bad sound consistently make that place reverse fun—everything about it is upside down."

What's going on over there at the Regal! And have you been witness to this new "in-line snack delivery system" they're forcing down the throats of audience members like a fistful of Jujubes?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on October 21, 2009 5:23 PM

Comments [rss]

InWoodside

Hey #13 - don't ever mention that place in public - it's he best kept secret and if people noticed how close it is to Manhattan we'll lose it!

nyorker555

What a whiner the writer is.

I go to this theater all of the time and its actually one of the better ones in NYC because all of the theaters have stadium seating. I dont buy food in a theater and I think it is hilarious when folks actually spend 11 dollars on popcorn. bring your own junk food.

The guy who wrote the article was just looking for something to write about and he failed.

Tower18

Don't go during a film's first week, don't go on weekend nights, and DO go to AMC 34th Street. Never had a problem following those rules.

gossipgirl

It's true... everytime I go to see a movie there I swear that I will never go back (my chief complaint is actually that it is always hot, makes me thirsty and my eyes burn!). But time and time again I go back, becuase yes, it is very convenient if you live off the L train.

But... can we really complain about this? We PAY to go see movies... if you don't like it don't go!

Boogie Down

Some people have such serious problems with which to contend.

iamdmg

I live in Williamsburg and when I want to go to a big, commercial type movie theatre I go to the Kaufmann Astoria in Queens.

They have a parking deck on the roof and its never too crowded.

Gothamist_Cynic

Regals sucks. The AMC on 34th is probably the best theater next to the Ziegfeld.

jimmy

i agree with #2. expecting a decent movie theater in the city is too wishful thinking. i've been to both regal union sq and regal times sq and they are satisfactory.

pigeon

Once when I was at this theater, I looked at the floor to see a rat run by just as the lights were going down.

ANGRYGOD11

That's a problem? It was the cheapest food source in that dump.

Liam

Battery park always

gossipgirl

It's true, it's my favorite too.

NYCSniper

Shhhhhhh!!!

ckl

Thought I heard this place has bed bugs?

Potty Boy

Doesn't Regal have a theater on 42nd where at the concession stand, they show you pictures of "combos", but without prices? So, in case you were too dumb to think of putting a popcorn and a drink together, they have pictures to suggest that to you.

T Howard

I hate when they don't post the prices for the combos. Really? You won't tell me? I won't buy it then.

My favorite is at the AMC Lincoln Square, where the combo prices are literally the same as if you just ordered the items separately. Shouldn't there be some discount? Even 50 cents, I'm not asking for much.

NannyState

The combos are there just to speed up ordering and move more people through. Instead of some 15 year old idiot trying to decide what he/she wants, they just say combo.

dandygeorge

That place is the pits! It's a terribly designed theater, I defy anyone to find a really good seat there. How anyone designed the theaters with the aisles running right down the middle? It's like some idiot copied the Angelika... The screens are all way too high, all bad angles.

littlepinkknife

I've experienced the "in-line snack delivery system" and it's pretty dumb. It's a guy with a cooler of Dibs strapped to his chest asking people if they want any. When I was there a group of girls behind me stole the popcorn seasoning shakers!

Steven

Seriously aren't cinemas out of date? With Blu Ray and HDTV why bother going to the cinemas? Hearing people talking on their cell phone, cell phones doing off, people talking, being treated like a criminal by the MPAA.

The only advantage I see is showing off to your friends you saw the movie before it comes on DVD.