The battle for the title of Denver’s greatest, most high-tech movie show is at all times raging, egged on by each 3D, luxury-seat, cheese-fry development. As a prime nationwide exhibition market — in accordance with chains akin to Regal, AMC and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema — Denverites are normally those who profit.

The remainder of the nation, for instance, paused new movie-theater building in 2019. However that very same 12 months, nationwide exhibitors spent tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} on ground-up megaplexes and historic renovations in Denver. And but, we’re not simply in search of numbing sound and brightness and cocktails.

We need to run into outdated mates on summer time nights exterior historic artwork home theaters. We would like bizarre, cult showings programmed by bizarre folks. We would like midnight revivals, superstar pop-ins, costume contests and area of interest fests.

Briefly, we wish a purpose to go away the home. However final 12 months, audiences strayed additional away from theatrical experiences as in contrast with 2019 — save for the ballyhooed “Prime Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Approach of Water.”

What’s driving us away? Common film ticket costs are method up, hitting a document $11 final 12 months, in accordance with IndieWire. AMC Theatres final week launched tiered pricing to its ticket-buying system, which requires upcharges for higher seats on prime of some other prices. The Hollywood Reporter referred to as it “a dangerous wager at a deadly time,” and like Crimson Rocks reveals and Broadway excursions, it’s additional pushing megaplex films towards an elite pastime.

At the very least when you don’t know the place to look. Right here’s a rundown of highlights at metro-area film theaters close to you that may fulfill all of your cinema-going wants, no matter they might be. To see a listing of favourite theaters from Denver arts and tradition luminaries, see our sidebar. For extra on the Denver film scene, go to denverpost.com/things-to-do/films.

DENVER’S PRETTIEST MOVIE THEATER

Many of the traditional film homes from the previous century or so have shut down or remodeled into music venues, however a number of historic gems shine on, akin to Landmark’s Esquire Theatre. The general winner, nevertheless, is the lovingly preserved, Landmark-owned Mayan Theatre, which eschews bed-like seating and bowel-shaking audio system for intimate experiences in a trio of rooms (two small, one huge). The 1930 constructing is considered one of solely three theaters within the nation flaunting the intricate, Artwork Deco Mayan Revival fashion, in accordance with Landmark, and the wealthy, refined ambiance is exclusive in Colorado, and maybe the area. 110 Broadway. landmarktheatres.com

DENVER’S COMFIEST MOVIE THEATER

By default, every new movie show constructed nowadays is chasing developments like adjustable heated seats, full bars, and — as will quickly be the case in any respect AMC Theatres — up-charging for higher seats. Nonetheless, we haven’t discovered a extra snug theater than AMC CO 9 + 10, which opened in March 2021, after ready out the worst of the pandemic. The heated, touch-adjusted, spacious seating is a godsend for these three-hour Marvel slogs, but additionally taut, 90-minute dramas. And when you’re solely going sometimes, the $20 ticket is greater than value it. 826 N. Albion St. amctheatres.com

BEST POPCORN

It’s tough to select a No. 1 right here, given the variability and ever-changing qualities of this very important ingredient of moviegoing. And but, what’s so arduous about popping an excellent bag of popcorn? Most chains, even fancy ones, are inclined to serve up tongue-scoring, overseasoned Styrofoam peanuts instead of the good things, even when a few of us have develop into accustomed to faux butter and blasted style buds (Harkins is an outlier with its persistently nice popcorn). Nonetheless, we’re staking our declare on Landmark Theaters’ general high quality, significantly on the Mayan and Chez Artiste theaters. Contemporary, toothsome and completely popped — the way in which it’s presupposed to be — but additionally customizable for all of your seasoning and saucing wants. Numerous places. landmarktheatres.com

BEST BAR AND COCKTAILS

There are movie-theater bars, and there are movie-theater bars. The Sie FilmCenter’s 200-capacity Henderson-Withey Lounge is a real bar that simply occurs to sit down inside a movie show. It’s open however cozy, with areas to mill about, sit and jaw, or simply sip and people-watch. And in contrast to most movie show bars, save for the Alamo Sloans Lake’s Barfly, it’s a spot you wouldn’t thoughts hanging out lengthy after the screening has ended. Denver is usually faulted by outsiders for missing a movie tradition on par with greater cities, however they’ve by no means spent an hour or two dropping eves right here. 2510 E. Colfax Ave. denverfilm.org

BEST MENU AND SERVICE

The Austin, Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinema as soon as claimed a singular spot in movie-going, providing the primary widespread and industry-scaled full service menu and drinks, all delivered to your TV-tray seat with servile quietude. Most chains and plenty of indies have since adopted swimsuit, to various levels of success, however Alamo has saved it dialed-in. Not simply in issues like a youngsters menus or top-notch craft beers and cocktails, however the high quality and number of recent and fried plates. Even when you’re not going to the films only for the Brussels sprout pizza, a Cobb salad or an Irish espresso, you’ve at the least acquired that choice. Areas in Denver, Westminster and Sloans Lake. drafthouse.com/denver

BEST PARKING

Landmark’s Chez Artiste wins this one by a mile. Or relatively, dozens upon dozens of free, handy parking areas. That’s as a result of it’s tucked away in a strip mall off South Colorado Boulevard, but additionally island-like in its isolation from different companies. Some chain exhibitors might provide that of their suburban shopping-mall sprawl, however you’re sometimes competing for spots shared by eating places and retail retailers. Certain, parking garages and quick walks aren’t the top of the world. However it’s virtually not possible to be late for a film at this tidy artwork home. (Nearly.)

BIGGEST SCREEN

The road between IMAX and different huge screens is getting thinner, nevertheless it nonetheless exists — significantly in terms of format and projection. There’s no higher IMAX display in Denver for first-run films than the Regal UA Colorado Heart, the place Hollywood spectacles get their full due. Shorter, extra academic, however just-as-gorgeous titles are additionally working on the Infinity Theater at Denver Museum of Nature & Science, which formally opened this month after quiet, public testing the previous couple of weeks. regmovies.com or dmns.org/go to/infinity-theater.

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