Davis Theater, Chicago

We hosted an event at The Davis for about 60 guests and I can’t say enough good things about the experience. The staff was wonderful, helpful, and energetic. Set up was easy and supported by coordinators. Everyone was extremely kind. My friends & family had a great time and loved the vibe of the theater. So happy to support a neighborhood spot that we’ve been enjoying for years. Love your nachos and your popcorn - you guys are amazing. THANK YOU!

I was very impressed with my first time coming here. I wish I knew to come here sooner. The lobby, restrooms and theater was very neat and cleaned quite well. The staff was very welcoming and kindly helpful. Snack bar is pretty standard as selection goes, but fairly plentiful. I'm eager to go back again.

What a gorgeous art deco theater. We happened to host our Girl Scouts graduation ceremony here and stayed for a movie. I can tell this is an iconic and cherished establishment of Lincoln Square.

Warning: when purchasing tickets on the website, make sure you get the correct date before check out. I purchased 3 tickets for the wrong date and immediately noticed when I received my confirmation email but was unable to change my dates after calling during business hours and leaving voice messages 3-4 times, days in advance to the movie date. My emails also went unanswered. I ended up wasting those tickets. *update after leaving this review I have since received a refund.

I saw the movie “Sinners” on two consecutive days in two different theaters. My first viewing was at Alamo Drafthouse, where the movie looked and sounded amazing and clear. My second viewing was at the Davis. I had been very excited to share this movie with my wife. The moment the film began I was immediately disappointed knowing my wife was not going to have the same experience I did with this film. The screen at the Davis was far dimmer that at Alamo. Much of the composition of the film was muddied by the dim projector bulb. Many of the night scenes with darker complexioned characters were difficult to parse as a result. The sound at the Davis was also a let down. This film is driven by music and fantastic dialogue that sounded muddy and indistinct in this theater's bass heavy sound system. I want to love my neighborhood theater, but please do better.

Love the Davis. It’s an older theatre with a classic aesthetic but actually modern, comfortable facilities. They do a good number of events as well.

A beautiful small theater with soul, unlike the huge chains. Appreciated them hosting a lecture by visiting glass artists recently.

I went there to watch Dune Part 2 movie. The like the theater. Even though it is not too big, it is quite spacious and also the seats are really comfortable. The restroom is clean. The staff are friendly.

I recently came here because this theater hosted an event for the IFA Chicago (Independent Film Alliance) and thought it was a beautiful place for the event to happen at. It definitely seems like it's been remodeled several times inside, and they have a great bar space area off to the side where we got drinks prior to the show. They had your typical food for a theater and it wasn't outrageously priced either. The seating inside the theater we were at was interesting because I don't think I had ever been that high up before while watching a screen, but nonetheless - the seats were clean and everything went swell. Definitely a great theater and glad to see this isn't too far from where I live!

The Davis is a nice theater, but really wish they were not closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Everything was great except for the volume in theater 2. It's not that large of a space to be so deafening.

Our time at the Davis Theater was so enjoyable. The theatre although old is quite relaxing. The seats were very plush and comfortable.

Great location to see a movie in Chicago. Reasonably priced and great selection of movies. Comfortable seats

It's a really cool little space, they get first-run movies and some less-well-known stuff, but WHY is a small drink at the concession stand almost $6???

The Davis Theater has made a lot of updates in the past year or two, and it has really served in their favor. The theaters feel larger, the rows have a steep incline between them (which means no one can block your view! Amen!), and the seats are comfy AND recline. I was one happy camper! I will say, I miss their old ticket prices. I know I can't complain too much, because $9 tickets before 6pm is still a total steal, but I do wish they were back at $5 like they used to be. Popcorn and candy also went up slightly in price as well, but it's still pretty cheap-- $5 small popcorn, $7 large popcorn and speciality candies at reasonable prices. You are also able to bring in food and drink from Carbon Arc, which has an easily accessible entryway between the theatre and restaurant. Overall, ESPECIALLY because Davis Theatre is within walking distance from our house, we'll be back many, many times :)

This is not your mama's neighborhood theater. Yes it is in the hood, but it has a very elegant feel to it. Kudos on the upgrade to The Davis as I remember it from back in the day. It was the go to place to see a main release movie after its hey day for real cheap, but now I think it is going to be my go to place because they have prosecco and will let me take a bottle (in a cooler) into the theater. For those that like draft beer, looks like they had a decent selection on tap. If you are a fan of recliner chairs, move on as they don't have them. But the seats are very comfortable and spacious. The screens are a nice sound and they have 7.1 Surround Sound. The bar/restaurant (Carbon Arc) is very nice as well. Prices for drinks and wine is pretty decent and the food was good. I got the Fried Chicken Sandwich (fried chicken thigh, pickles, white sausage gravy and what I thought was coleslaw). The mixing of white sausage gravy and coleslaw was strange and yet tasty. It is one of the items on the menu identified as one you can take into the theater, but I don't suggest it as it is messy as hell...had to use a knife and fork to eat it, but it was good. Sandwich came with fries...hot and tasty. The rest of the menu looks interesting and I will be going back to sample it as I will be heading back to The Davis to see Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

Awesome theatre. I've been going here since before they remodeled. I love this historical, classic movie theatre.

Nice work Davis Theater! Took in Rogue One a few weeks ago and have to say the wait was worth it. Between the new reserved seats, screens, carpet, and thank the dear sweet infant baby Jesus the BATHROOMS we now have an amazing local theater. Bonus is the new restaurant/bar next door for food and drinks beyond the usual movie theater fare.

I went to the theater for a charity event on Oscar night. I've seen pictures of the old theater and they have totally transformed the place. They now have two theaters, food, liquor and the usual candy, popcorn and nachos. It looks really nice in there. At the charity event, they served mainly champagne so I didn't get to try one of their many beers on tap. And the food from the adjoining restaurant was very good. Everything was first class. I like being able to eat right at the theater so you're not parking twice and possibly missing the show because you can't find street parking before the movie starts. I also like that you can sit and watch the movie with a beer! We sat in Theater 1 to watch the Oscars. It was TV so I didn't expect the crazy surround sound they'd have for a movie. But it was a comfortable experience. I'll be back!

We rented the a theater for our sons birthday and he and his friends had a great time eating popcorn and watching a great movie.

My go-to theater because it's not a huge theater and it has the feel of how it used to be years ago. But as much as I love the old feel, the remodeling makes it that much comfier. I go there to watch shows on my own and couldn't find it any more peaceful if I tried. They show only three different movies a day so before you head over there I would check online to see what's playing. Other than that, it's one of my happy places without a doubt. Friendly and quick service also. Just street parking can sometimes be a bit of a pain. Well worth it though!?

Love the Davis! Old school theater with modern day amenities. They typically have about three or four movies going at once, mainstream things. Online ticketing, beer/wine. Check their Facebook page for specials and events.

I've been coming here since before the remodeling and I love this place. Today I came with my mom and sister to watch Captain Marvel. We stoped at carbon arc for a few drinks and appetizers. Our server Amelia was pleasant and professional. She made us really feel welcome and helped us feel like we could enjoy ourselves. We had the charcuterie board, it was delicious. We also had the cheese curds which were crispy and the right amount of cheese in every bite. The overall experience was just right!

Davis theater is one of my favorite places in Lincoln Square. Love coming here. It's great

Awesome, clean, decently priced theater! I hadn't been here before the remodel- I moved to Lincoln square right when they closed for the upgrade. It is now a beautiful theater- it seems to pay homage to the vintage theater experience, but has a lot of modern touches that work well with the theme. I also like that (for a movie theater) their prices are decent. They have comfy chairs, and even though they aren't reclining seats, they are great for a couple hour movie. They also have an awesome snack bar with much better popcorn than any of the big chains. The staff is also always friendly- they don't seem like they hate their jobs, and that's always a plus. There's also Carbon Arc next door, which has a really good looking menu, but I haven't tried it. I think the coolest thing is that they have wood benches that miraculously turn into picnic tables outside- I waited to meet up on a bench and when we left the theater they were patio tables for the restaurant!!

The employees were kind, the only option for food during the day is popcorn and nachos. They're closed in Mondays and Tuesdays, so we went on a Wednesday for a 12:30 matinee. They just opened and the popcorn was cold and kind of stake tasting. I hope the popcorn wasn't from Sunday still. But it kind of tasted like it. If their popcorn was fresh, I would've hoped it would've been hot... I would've been cool with warm at least but it was cold. Suffered through the popcorn. If you want food, you have to go to a later show when the restaurant that serves the food is open. But the popcorn and no other food options were the only downfall. Staff was nice, theater was clean and like the feel of that old fashion theater feel. I'd go back for sure

The remodeled theater is a great step in the right direction. The decor, staff, and location couldn't be better. Reserved seats are comfortable and easy to book online. They have 3 screens, 1 main and 2 smaller with less seating. There really isn't a bad seat. The attached restaurant is one if the highlights and shouldn't be missed. More often than not, my wife and I will arrive early for movie, grab a drink at the bar, and order some food (if we don't get popcorn) to be taken into the theater. They neatly package the food into a tray that fits into the cupholders. Would highly recommend it, but order something that's easy to eat with your hands and doesn't require much vision. I would like to give it 5 stars but the main screen room is so wide that it makes the screen seem smaller and, depending on what kind of movies are showing, you can often feel the subs and sometimes hear the adjacent movies. Overall, this is my theater of choice when deciding between the same movie across other theaters. We only go to other theaters when the Davis isn't showing what we're looking for. It will happen from time to time since they only have 3 screens.

Ventured out for my first movie in a long time tonight! Everyone spaced out and super clean. All staff had masks and there was sanitizer available everywhere. We grabbed an appetizer at Carbon Arc next door and they delivered it to us in our seats! Lovely date night if you need a safe escape from the house. Will definitely be back!

There aren't many screens but that doesn't even matter. Beautiful movie palace. With reasonable prices for food and snacks and booze. The interior design has that old school Hollywood vibe. The chairs are red leather and plush. Might make this theater the only movie theater I patronize in Chicago!

This place is the best mix of old school movie house and awesome new technologically advanced mega theater. Great chairs. Great food next door at Carbon Arc that you can bring into the theater. Not hot dogs and junk but awesome gourmet food. Plus liquor. You can drink while you watch.

Came in yesterday (July 9th) for our first movie since lockdown. My wife, son, and I really enjoyed seeing Wonder Woman on the big screen again. Felt very safe thanks to the precautions in place to ensure social distancing. Will be back to see Beats soon.

Love The Davis Theatre, it's a great little neighborhood spot. Food at the Carbon Arc is fantastic. You can reserve seats ahead of time, then just walk in, grab a cold beer and enjoy the show.

This is a cute movie theater. It's got an old-timey vibe, but it's all modernized. The staff are friendly and are not the vacant-eyed teens you find at other movie theaters. They do reserved seating, which I'm a big fan of. And with an adjacent bar / restaurant, it's easy to make a complete date night out of it. And you can take your food and adult drinks into the theater with you. I'm a fan.

I've had two good experiences here followed by one really, really poor one. I have only ordered drinks here, so I can't speak to the food. The last time I was there, my friend and I each ordered a Manhattan. Not only were we up-sold on the whiskey brand, which is to be expected to some degree, but the drink was TERRIBLE. My friend accidentally spilled much of hers, and we decided that was for the best because no way were we going to be able to finish them. Yuck! I wouldn't order a Manhattan in the future, or if you do, specify your bourbon/rye.

You have to love a discount movie theater. Comfort and frills don't interest me whatsoever, and I don't care about the picture and sound unless I'm seeing a high-tech blockbuster, which happens rarely. This place reminds me so much of my small hometown cinema (small as in the town and the theater): four screens, mainstream selections, several notches below state-of-the-art facilities, but good enough for almost any kind of outing. Over the last couple of years I've seen The King's Speech, Sherlock Holmes 2, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Prometheus here. Maybe a couple of others. No complaints whatsoever. Well, maybe just the cramped and dingy men's room. At this point, the Davis is the first theater that I check whenever I'm interesting in seeing a movie. It boasts two key attributes--cheap and close to home. That's pretty much the whole package from my point of view.

I really enjoy this theater. They don't have a lot of screens, but lots of indie film festivals as well just fun films. The bar next door has drag nights as well as great food (that's for another review haha) They have regular candy as well as local brands. The gummy bears were so soft I fell in love. There's also fancy popcorn like Carmel and cheddar. The seats are reserved. This is a good place to take parents if they come into town. The neighborhood is really safe as well.

As a new Lincoln Square/Ravenswood resident, I thought it would be reasonable to acquaint myself with "the old" before exploring "the new". Old is definitely an understatement when it comes to The Davis. The poor theatre for sure has seen better days (as the Robbie Seay Band song "Better Days" runs through my head)...but it's all a part of the antique cinema culture. Come on! A new-release movie for $5.50 (that is matinee before 6 pm--otherwise it's still only $8.00 for adults)!!! Sweet and salty delights (candy and popcorn, of course) are SUPER reasonably priced too (all under $4)! Entering the actual theaters, the black paint on the floors have corroded away to its foundation by all the past sticky, poisonous pop spills... And you won't think twice about deciding to test your bladder's full capacity; not because you may miss a climactic chunk of the film but because the bathrooms have much to be desired. The fun chairs--definitely comfy and bouncy, but BEWARE when you sit down initially or lean back because I've seen some hilarious people-watching oopsies! Oh and lastly, I adore the old-fashioned "Welcome, turn off pagers & cell phones" screen intro. Not to be missed for nothing! I love to be reminded that the Davis is still present as a neighborhood treasure, not as a money-hungry business. Lincoln Square would not be the same without you! I salute you (while sticking a specific finger up at the monopolizing Fandango/Kerasotes)!

This is an old theater in Lincoln Square with a sense of charm that the newer theaters do not have. The facilities here are not the newest or greatest, but they do show first-run movies and there are a handful of "loveseats" that are perfect for couples. Cash only, but you will spend a bit less cash for a flick here than at most other movie houses.

Nice old school theater that still has cheap matinees...around $5 bucks and some change. I actually enjoyed coming here as it wasn't one of those stadium like experiences that we have all become used to in most theaters now...def will comeback and watch more movies here.

There is nothing I don't LOVE about The Davis Theater. They typically have great movies showing, and they have the best special screenings and film festivals in the Chicago area (I.e The Massacre, live organ w/ Jay). Plus, the beer selection at the counter is great, not to mention the full service bar/restaurant that is conveniently and completely accessible next door. So lucky to live so close to this wonderful community theater.

The remodeled Davis is comfortable and worthy of the neighborhood's support. The screens are small like the big chains, but the leather-like rockers are a tip of the hat to the original Davis Theater. The remodel is not as fun as I had hoped, but much better than I had feared.

First time coming here, came here to watch Deadpool 2 and chose this theater because I wanted to check out something new in the area since I never come up to that part of town much. Theater is beautiful and gorgeous inside and out. Even the stuff at the movies are reasonable. Cleanest bathrooms around. Love the memorabilia inside the movie theater as well. Will strongly return

Davis Theater, when did you get so fancy? My brother used to live in the area and he told me how he once fell in a big hole in the seat at Davis. Of course that was years ago, but that stuck in my head for a while so I never thought of visiting. Until my friend Joanne suggested we meet here for a movie. And JW has impeccable taste, so I agreed to meet her. I was pleasantly surprised. It's clean, it's cozy and everyone working was friendly/helpful. There snack bar has the usual favorite--popcorn and candy and soda. But don't overlook the specialty candy from Amy's candy bar! The OMG Bar, the malted milk balls...Amy's candy rocks! It's assigned seating, so we got to choose our seats when we bought our tickets. Well, our ticket clerk chose our seats and ensured we were ok with that. It's all stadium seating and the sound system is comparable to the big chain theaters too. The seats aren't as comfy as the reclining seats in the big chain theaters, but I could forgo that for interesting movie titles. There's a restaurant attached--the window showed the menu and a weekly specials. It looked really interesting and worth another visit. A very charming neighborhood theater!

Looking back over 8 years ago when I wrote my original review, I'll concede I was too harsh on this place back when I wrote that years ago. After all, it always was a budget theater over the years, though it trended less that way when it got some of the renovations in the 2000s like somewhat upgraded seats that leaned back, along with cup holders. Even then it wasn't up to par with other theaters, so I'm glad they finally did a renovation along the lines of what the Logan Theater did a few years ago. I'm now going to forgive my past annoyances about this place like angled seats, angled screens, little legroom between seating rows, and the poor bathrooms, since all of those issues have FINALLY been resolved with their amazing 2016 renovation! From what I read online I think it had to do with the terms of a historic preservation and renovation tax credit which didn't allow for them to add stadium seating in theater 2(their back 2 theaters are combined into a single screen now, theater 2 has 284 seats), but theaters 1(145 seats) and 3(139 seats) now have stadium seating in the back rows. All 3 theaters now have brand new seating, and I love how they have expanded legroom between each row now. Plus I loved how they took advantage of the space under the stadium seating of theaters 1 and 3(the front 2 theaters), and used that space to expand the men's and women's bathrooms! The old ticket booth area just inside the entrance is now gone(now you purchase movie tickets at the concession stand), replaced by an area where you can take a selfie picture sitting in a director's chair with the new Davis logo behind it. That's where I am slightly sad, since I wish they could've preserved that ticket booth area. Ah well its not the end of the world, since for me I was more hoping the movie viewing experience and small bathroom issues would be resolved, which it now finally has! It is a little more expensive now(mainly their ticket prices), but the concession prices are still at least a little under what you'd have to pay at an AMC theater. And the popcorn actually tastes decent here, unlike at AMC. I totally agree with my friend who I saw Rogue One with last night, that they should bring back the several popcorn seasoning varieties they used to have in the condiment area before the 2016 renovation. The new Carbon Arc restaurant and bar also looked really nice(built over the former spaces of La Bocca Della Verita restaurant and Ravenswood Used Books, the latter moved to Montrose/Damen), when I took a quick look inside it. Beer prices are mainly between $5-7(one beer is $8), wine prices by the glass are around $9-10, cocktails $12, and food prices seemed to be middle of the road, not too expensive nor cheap. There is a food menu section for Carbon Arc that lists the food items that can be prepared the quickest(5-10 min wait? I'll ask the next time I'm here how long these items take to prepare), if you need to quickly get food to go beyond basic concession food fare to take into the auditorium you're seeing a movie inside of. Think that's a great idea to emphasize the quicker to prepare food items to take from here into a movie you're seeing in one of its 3 theaters, IMO. Almost forgot to say too when I talked to a Carbon Arc employee, that they plan to have food service here till midnight, and 2am for drinks. I believe this'll actually be the closing times for most nights, but wouldn't be surprised if it infrequently closed early on off-peak nights if it was slow. And you're welcome for myself taking all these pictures of the theater and the Carbon Arc restaurant/bar, when I was here on its Thursday night reopening! Think the only thing I didn't upload pics of yet is the new Carbon Arc food and drink menus, which I'll do before the end of today. Finally, I have heard that they're planning to do assigned seating in early 2017 for movies here, but that for now all seats are general admission and first come first served. I'm not so sure if assigned seating is needed here(400 and Logan do fine without this), though maybe I'm biased since I hadn't experienced many assigned seating theaters other than Muvico Rosemont, and I'm pretty okay with non-assigned seating theaters? And since less often I go to movies on their theatrical opening weekend? Maybe this'll grow on me as I experience more assigned seating theaters in the future, who knows! So amazingly well done, Davis. I never thought you'd change me from a skeptic to fan of this theater, but you finally did! I'll hold the fifth star, till I can try the food at Carbon Arc soon.

I'm really struggling with how to rate the Davis and the Carbon Arc. The theatre is lovely and the restaurant and bar are way cool, with a cool concept. Definitely worth 4 stars. The food, however, was another story. The 2 types of tacos that I tried were terrible. I hate to be a hater, but I was really surprised at how bad the tacos were. I had the chicken and the pork. On a positive note, they were packed with ingredients and filling, which would have been great if they tasted ok. Both were super bland and just awful. They could quite possibly be the worst tacos I had in Chicago....or maybe anywhere. Seeing the other reviews, I think I should try again. I really think that perhaps something went very wrong....perhaps the chef maybe forgot something or was in a hurry....it had to be something, cause I'm not exaggerating at all. They were so bad! So anyway, I ended with 3 stars and I hope that on my next trip, they'll earn a 4 or even a 5!

So, yes, this theater is old, bathrooms are somewhat dingy (pretty clean, but old and patched and feels like a high school bathroom)... but I love it. 4 screens I think, all pretty small. A tiny line to buy tickets, but really friendly staff, cute t-shirts and first run movies...small theaters, but the seats are situated such that you can actually see the screen. If you don't mind skipping the bells and whistles, then definitely worth a visit to watch a movie!

Loved watching cruella here. Such a great theater with a restaurant connected. Staff was great, felt very clean. I recommend getting seats in top or middle rows

I got a chance to check out the theater a week or so before the grand re-opening and it is beautiful. There was a ton of thought and money that went into this place and I love supporting locally owned theaters, because the owners are so passionate about the business. The new food is really good, they have a full bar, and the sound system in the theaters is state of the art! If you went to the old Davis theater you are going to love this one! I would go here over any of the major chains any day!

The set-up of the theater is strange to me. You can buy tickets online and reserve your seat, which I like, but when you arrive you have to see a person in the hallway (not terribly well identified), where they look at your phone then print out your ticket, tear it right then, and then you step into the theater directly behind you. Seems like an added unnecessary step when they can just look at the phone. The seats were very comfy and I was glad to be able to bring in food from Carbon Arc next door.

Beautiful remodeled theater. You walk and are shocked to see how beautiful it is. Next door to a bar/restaurant. My boyfriend and I had a date night on a Saturday around 9pm. Tickets came out to $12 each plus you can purchase beer while watching the movie. The seats are so comfy and very intimate setting. Seats are assigned and while purchasing the tickets at the box office, the guy did ask if we wanted to sit in front, middle, or back. My boyfriend said he wanted the back. The bathrooms are near by as well. Once we got to theater one, we walked in and had to walk up the stairs. Seemed high but you can see all the movie without feeling like someone is blocking the view. I can't wait to go back. We found parking in front of the theater so street parking can be a problem depending the time and day.

So glad to have the Davis theater reopened and remodeled. I didn't try Carbon Arc, but had a really nice movie experience here, with comfortable spacious seats, minimal wait time for tickets and friendly staff. A couple of things I hope they will work out, that would elevate them to a 5-star: - Sound: Sound quality in theater 3 was sub-optimal. Not sure if it was acoustics of the actual theater or the sound system itself, but the sound wasn't crisp, so it was hard to hear some of the dialogue and songs in La La Land. Hoping this is the sound system and fixable, though there were other noises in the theater (e.g. people opening candy wrappers) that seemed more audible than in other theaters, so maybe a general acoustics thing. - Ticketing: There was a small table set up across from the concession stand where online ticket purchasers could check in, so there was no line which was nice. However, the ticketing process would be so much more seamless if they were to install a couple of ticket kiosks - no pre-assigned seating to hunt for in the theater, no handing over your phone to someone to punch in codes, would just be less friction and more user friendly. Hopefully these things are minor or in the works, after all, it's only been a few weeks since re-opening.

The Davis Theater offers the perfect blend of new and old. Carbon Arc is the restaurant/bar attached to the theater. Great for a pre or post movie meal or drink. Of course, you can also bring your booze into the movie with you :). The movie theaters are small, but they offer an intimate feel you don't get at large, packed theaters these days. Also love that this place is kid friendly and puts on so many different weekday events & specials. A true neighborhood gem that is fun for the whole family. On top of all of this, the prices are very reasonable. A matinee tickets is only $9 for adults -- unheard of!

Going to the Davis is kind of like going to a movie at the park. People come in with picnicking materials, and soon after the lights go out, you hear various bottles and cans opened up, food-filled tupperware pulled out of carry-in luggage, and feet kicked up lay-z-boy style for the show. It's rustic inside the Davis, as if you're entering a time warp into a venue from the early 1980's recession. Those were the good ol' days for some of us, filled with matinee memories of the Karate Kid, Transformers (the cartoon), and the Neverending Story. The Davis, with all its dust and strangely slanted floors, is just how I remember movie theaters as a kid, unlike today's sterile, airport-terminal-esque multiplexes. The prices are right at only $8, it has the comfortable feel of an old favorite sweatshirt, and they somehow always get top movie selections. 5 stars!

This is an update of my earlier review. Again, I really wanted to like this place. It's so close, it's indie, a nice neighborhood, and it's a dollar or two cheaper than the downtown places. I just can't do it. This place is willfully incompetent. I went to see District 9 last night. If you wanted to sit in the middle of the movie screen, you had to sit on the far left side of the theater- the screen is shockingly skewed, tiny, and way too high. It's like a drunk teenager stretched a white blanket across a wall at random, and never bothered to straighten it out. The entire movie was out of focus. I've never seen such terrible optics. And, District 9 had only been playing for a couple days, but there was a huge green vertical line across the right side of the film for the entire movie. Interestingly, the Hangover had the same green line, but I dismissed it as a fluke. Nope. They must be playing hockey with their movie reels. Even my girlfriend said she wouldn't ever go back to this theater, and she isn't anywhere near as technically fussy as me. I'd rather spend a half hour on the L and 5 more dollars than put up with this theater again. Sorry, Davis Theater... it's time we went our separate ways.

I love Davis Theater! Even before the renovations. Now it's even better. It's the best place in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. So much character. My only constructive feedback is their online ticket site. Why do I get the feeling I need to check my fraud protection service after using it? It looks like it was designed in the early days of the internet (1994?). Does not instill confidence. There's got to be a better online ticket solution out there.

One of the screens is on a slant! People in the theater sometimes are rude. I'm a movie snob. I like the Evanston theaters the best. The best thing about the Davis is the matinee pricing. And this is GREAT! I agree with other yelpers about the bad smells. The women's bathroom is really weird and could be used as a movie set for a high school horror film from the 50's.... that's the coolest part of the theater. They have a claw machine, too! I wish they hosted weirder, quirkier films to play up their shady image.... and then it would just be campy, instead of pathetic. On the positive side... it is convenient for me and a good fall back if I don't want to get on public transportation or get the I-GO to go to a movie. Honestly... the sideways screen is my biggest complaint! Can't this be fixed???

I suppose if I had grown up in Chicago and had a desperate need to see things from yesteryear, I could jump on the Davis bandwagon, but outdated doesn't even seem to be the correct way to describe it. My hometown had the outdated, dirty theater too, but at least it was wise enough to charge $1 (or when inflation caught up, $1.50) and show just-before-video releases. In the age of downloads, Netflix and streaming Internet films, my modest living room is more comfortable and better equipped for a movie watching experience. Even $5.50 for a matinee seems a little overpriced for a tiny screen, fuzzy picture and strange sound issues. The seats are not really that comfortable, more cramped than airplane seats (but without raising armrests) and make a horrible creaking noise every time you move. (Forget a bathroom break, as even shifting causes eye daggers thrown your way from other patrons.) The whole experience reminded me more of watching a movie at camp rather than a theater experience. Some might like the nostalgia, but I don't go to movies a lot, so I'd rather pay an extra buck or two for a real experience.