Esquire Theatre

Thanksgiving Day 2024 was my first time at the Esquire. It was a very unique complex especially the way it it layed out. The smaller theatre (Number 6) was the right size to watch classic movies. The seats were the rocker type and were comfortable. The Popcorn and Soda was pretty good as well. The marquee is absolutely gorgeous, a throwback to the older days. My only regret is that I don't live closer to come here more often. I will still try to make it a few times a year though because it's to neat of a place to not come to. Highly recommend if you have never been here.

This quaint little vintage theatre is darling. They have a cute concession stand and a bar. They do midnight screenings of Rocky Horror with a shadow cast frequently too, and it's amazing!

Loved our visit to The Esquire! Staff was super friendly, and the popcorn was fresh and delicious. My friend and I loved that there were Japanese Kit Kat variety packs available. The theater seemed well maintained, and the seats were comfortable. I'm a large person (over 6" tall) and I was very pleased with how roomy the seats were, and the generous legroom in the aisles. I wish I lived in the area - I would for sure be a regular here!

Geniune Americana. If you want to see a movie theater at a great price come here. Located on Ludlow Ave, step back in time as you walk up to a classic ticket counter. When you walk in you are greeted by always friendly staff. The prices are great, the theater is nice. My favorite place to see a movie in Cincinnati

I recently visited Esquire Theater and was blown away by the nostalgic charm and exceptional service! Seth and Stone were fantastic hosts, ensuring our experience was top-notch. The theater was spotless, and the picture quality was amazing. If you're looking for a unique cinematic experience, look no further! Highly recommend!

Name a single other theater where I can go see Querelle in a packed house on, of all days, Wednesday. Just the best little place in the world. S/o Outer Cinema and Secret Base I love those guys!!!

Very great theater! Price was good, and staff was friendly. Felt super nostalgic, and theater was smaller sized. The screen was a little small compared to what I was used to, but was a great experience.

The ambience of this theatre works in conjunction with the classic indie appeal of Clifton. A cornerstone of the Gaslight District; architecturally contrasting the strip, giving flavor to the streetline (if you will). The retro design of this place makes you feel at home. A present day glimpse into our recent cultural past. The service is phenomenal. I was able to get a crown and coke right outside my theatre.

I love this theatre. Watching a movie here is so much more special than an AMC or other mega-corp. i am always happy to spend money here and enjoy a night at the movies.

I have given a few five star reviews lately because we have had some great experiences. I have a special place in my heart for old movie theaters and the Esquire is perfect in my eyes. We saw Dicks The Musical, because of Nathan Lane. Although I would not recommend the movie I would absolutely recommend the theater. It is over 100 years old and offers that bit of nostalgia. It appeared very well maintained. The seating is comfortable without encouraging a nap and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. We were in a smaller theater in the back. You could buy your concessions upfront and they have a full bar on the way back to the theater. It appears they have mainstream movies in addition to many special events. I would choose to see a movie here anytime.

I went to Rock Horror for the first time last night and the Esquire Theatre was amazing great experience. There were two wonderful people at the snack bar (Seth and Dean, I believe) who were very engaged in helping not just me but also other costumers. I felt very welcome and it was fun getting to chat with them. The popcorn is delicious, the seating was comfortable and spacious, and the event was so fun! I highly recommend catching a show here.

Nice little quaint spot in Cincy about 5mins from the of UC campus. Small but yet homey gives me the feel when I was in high school. Came to see Bob Marley

Quite possibly one of my favorite places in Cincinnati. The Esquire always has interesting films to offer. My absolute favorite, though, are their special events. I've gone to see Gremlins, Elf, and Jesus Christ Superstar. For Elf and Jesus Christ Superstar, the event was interactive, with people wearing costumes and getting into the spirit. Jesus Christ Superstar was a sing-a-long and was shown on Palm Sunday. We were giving goodie bags with a palm frond, a cow bell (for the farm animal scenes), and peace sign necklaces. I had an absolute blast!

My family and I went to the Esquire Theatre for an interactive showing of White Christmas. I had never been to this theater before and wasn't sure at all what to expect with this kind of show, but it was wonderful! For about 30 minutes, they had various Christmas characters come out and perform a little live show, then go over what we needed to do for the interactive parts. They also handed out little baggies of fake snow that we were to toss in the air during certain parts, but we noticed that some people had brought their own as well, and I'm not jealous of the people who had to clean all that up! It was a nice family holiday event and we plan to return next year! My only complaint is that they run the showtimes so close to each other that everyone has to wait in the lobby for the theater to be cleaned and we were only allowed in about 15 minutes before the show started. That lobby is tiny and you have 100 people crammed in a very tight space with nowhere to go. I'd recommend spacing the showings out more so people could enter the theater at least 30 minutes before the show.

I love the nostalgia of this 110 year old theatre. What a cool experience to watch a modern movie in a historical theatre! Very clean and overall wonderful experience.

seth and both of the kylie's from the other night were the best! give them a raise and let them run the whole business. love love love them

We've seen two movies there now. Technically more like 1.1 movies. From what we've seen, the main auditorium, and only the main auditorium, is adequately technically set up for movies. We saw Everything Everywhere All At Once in that one, and it was fine! It went well! The staff was friendly, the concessions were solid, the screen was... decent? And the sound was functional. Not so with our second showing! We went to see the Northman, literally tonight, in auditorium 5. And it was bad. Sincerely just bad. Staff were nice, again. Concessions were decent, again (though the popcorn was slightly more stale this time). But the screen this time, was substandard. The picture was just a little too dark, nothing I haven't endured at a theatre before. Standard "we haven't upgraded our projector in ten years" problem. But the picture was off center and slightly tilted, and the curtains weren't even all the way raised. We brought this up with staff, and they finished raising the curtain, and nothing else really. And the sound! The sound was genuinely the worst I have ever heard in any theatre, ever. Home theatres included. The mids were absolutely blown out, completely peaked, and almost everything else was inaudible. The treble was tinny and weak, and the base was easily the quietest and most effete I've ever heard. Just awful, genuinely an intolerable viewing experience. We left during the first 20 minutes because we honestly couldn't tolerate it any longer, and we wanted to catch a showing at a half way decent screen before the night was over. I appreciate the independent small-business theatre vibes, but wow. I want to like this place so much but if they can't make the actual experience of watching movies go well, then what good is it?

Not quite an indie theater but more of a reminder how theaters used to be. Old fashioned marquis, concession stand, small no frills theater rooms, and even a bar. The most recent time I visited it seemed the screen quality has improved. Love this spot and will continue to return.

This is not so much a review. Rather, it is a public service announcement. (The Esquire is a funky little theater though! I recommend it for catching movies where you learn the history about words and situations like the one I tell below.) If you haven't seen Gaslight on Turner Classic movies or at a second run theater, like The Esquire, I recommend watching it. It stars Ingrid Bergman as Paula, the once promising singer who becomes the wife of a crook (unknown to her). The crook husband convinvces her over time that she is losing her mind to get to jewels hidden in her home. It is a classic story that, unfortunately, rings true today! There is a term in the corporate world called "gaslighting". The name and "brainwashing" tactics are derived from this movie. Management convinces an employee, who may be a rock star but now a target for elimination, that they are: doing sub-par work, not as good as another employee, or responsible for business issues/declines completely out of the employee's control. The employee may be constantly called out for or questioned about trivial or nonsensical business problems in meetings, or forced to complete unrealistc goals in an unrealitic time, etc., etc., etc. Don't be naive. It is a form of bullying. Those of us who are younger Boomers or older GenX are targets now for gaslighting. Please be aware that this really happens in the workplace.

For a great experience in a retro theatre setting, can't get better than the Esquire. Add to that the awesome bar right inside and also back among the screens! Very cool. Only took a star off because the show I went to was a music focused production and sound was a little off. May have just been me (or the bar's fault, ha!) but I'll be back for the next offering of nowhere-else-to-find showings! A Cincinnati gem!

There's something about the Esquire Theatre that fills the heart with nostalgia. If you're every lucky (or unlucky) enough to score a date with me, chances are, at some point I'll suggest catching a film here. Why? Because this is the most adorable date spot to catch a movie. Are the seats the most comfortable? No. Are the screens the biggest? No. But when it comes to charm, The Esquire Theatre has all the others beat. You'll catch some mainstream films here, but usually, you'll find lots of indy films here. Whenever there's an indy film that I see clips of online that catch my attention, I almost always turn to the Esquire, knowing that it'll hit their screen first in the area. Sometimes, this is the only theatre in the area that I can find some of those films. If you have never been to a movie at the esquire, it's a must-visit.

Today I did what I love to do on a rainy day watch a movie. I enjoy watching a movie at the Esquire. The theatres are small and the movies are unique. They are usually independent movies not playing at the bigger theatres. The popcorn is always yummy and buttery. The only downfall is finding a place to park. There is a lot across the street. This place is very nostalgic. Enjoy the show!!

Excellent facility, great selections, nice staff, pose to home, hey, what's not to love?

A nice little theater in the heart of Clifton Gaslight. The Esquire shows a mix of independent films, blockbusters, and those in between. The screens are small and the audio is fair - especially during previews - but for the convenience, charm, and location, I'm for it. If you want a higher-end technical experience, go elsewhere. If you want the best of Clifton and Cincinnati, come here.

Terrific theater with a retro feel. Like this atmosphere much better than the chain theaters. Great popcorn, too!

If I'm being honest, I come here for the popcorn. Was surprised to see they were showing Queen and Slim at a great time on a Saturday night. I'd been here before, years ago, but my date had never been. Coming in, I saw they were selling tickets at the concession stand which is good cause it's cold outside, but the line got pretty long. I also had to wait for hot popcorn to be made so I sent my date ahead to grab seats for us. Just a note, they don't show many previews because by the time I got the popcorn (it took maybe 8 minutes) the movie and got into the theater, the movie had already started. This isn't a multiplex. No cushy seats, and the sound system could certain use an upgrade. Still, there's something delightful about this theater. Even having to park on the street made me happy that I didn't have to walk through a giant Scooby-Doo land parking lot.

What a cool little theater! Honestly one of my favorite stops in Cincinatti. It's not like the huge digital multiplexes DON'T have their benefits but there's something to be said for an old school, smaller scale vintage style theater with film in the can and ticket prices that are relatively sane. And snacks--concessions, etc. including killer cupcakes and mixed drinks/beers that are FAIRLY priced? C'mon! The real cherry on top for me was that we could see cult/indie/classic films. The weekend we were in they were showing Japanese action-horror/cult jewel "Battle Royale" as well as John Carpenter's "Escape From New York". We wanted to do both but time allowed for just Royale and it ruled.

I go to esquire or marimont theaters about 2 times a week. Their popcorn is GREAT and the atmosphere has such character - like theaters I grew up with.

If the Esquire doesn't show a film, I will most likely wait until the DVD release to watch it...if I want to see it at all. Great films. (Art house!) Real butter. Generous wine pours. What more does a woman need?

One of my favorite theaters in all of Cincinnati. I don't get out to it nearly as much as I should. This is the go-to theater for art house films in the city. Structured like the theaters of the past, without stadium seating, let alone reclining chairs, its very charming in a nostalgic kind of way. I've never gone to an "event" here but they all seem like a lot of fun. Especially their Rocky Horror show..I definitely have to check that out one of these days. The movies that play here are the real draw. Some off the wall, some strangely charming, some way waay out there. I've seen some really good stuff here. Overall just a great theater to have locally, Cincinnati is really lucky to have a theater like this.

This is tge Best place to watch all. The Big Blockbuster movies. The popcorn is always fresh Butter hot i Love the flavor of salts , chedder, garlic, sea salt. And now there is Beer too, youcant get any Better than that., Im in Love with esquire theater. Cant go anyplace else.great neighboor hood in walking distance to good eats & shopping, groceries , ice cream, gifts, what ever you'd Like 15min to downtown. The park is right across the street , University of cincinnati, xavier university one mile away. Just go see for your self you'll be suprised.!

Esquire Theater is a true gem in the Gaslight District. Nuzzled right in between restaurants and quirky shops, Esquire delivers great entertainment value to the area. This Art Deco style movie theater is exactly what you would expect it to be. They offer a nice array of different genres with a focus on independent films. In addition to box office hits and off the wall flicks, Esquire premiers film festivals and frequently shows throwbacks. The inside is not overly impressive, but they have all of the movie essentials. Popcorn, candy, and even cocktails for our friends that are 21+. It is the perfect theater to sneak away and see a movie on your own (especially a good tear jerker). This makes a great spot for a casual movie night alone or even a date night. There are bars and restaurants surrounding the theater making it ideal for a one stop night on the town.

Yay to Esquire for old-timey fun and making going to the movies feel special again! Saw Blue Valentine with a friend and had a really good experience. Parking was a bit tricky, but everything else was great. I loved buying my ticket from the vintage outside booth under the marquee. Yes, it was $9.25 admission, but I can understand the markup being necessary because of having less seats to sell with the smaller theater capacity. A student ID will get you in for $6.75 though. Also, when you sign up for their e-newsletter, you can print a coupon for a free small popcorn. We got there a few minutes late and had to sit in the second row, but it wasn't bad at all compared to when you can't get the stadium seats at the bigger places and are stuck staring straight up at the screen. This was the only theater in the area still playing Blue Valentine and I'll definitely go back for other smaller-scale films. Also a huge plus: a more 'refined' crowd, at least in our show. I didn't hear one cell phone go off, no loud talking, and no chair kicking.

Best popcorn, ever! Seats are pre-stadium comfort, which isn't the best but still comfortable enough to sit through a movie. Cold air conditioner.

I love the Esquire. In general, I love local businesses and especially theaters because they keep the art of film vibrant. The history is significant to the neighborhood of Clifton and I like supporting institutions like that when I can. I also like that the Esquire (and their other theaters) shows a mix of indie and big budget/mainstream movies. They also tend to hold onto the weird movies a little longer than your typical AMC or Cinemark would. I like knowing that Esquire (or Mariemont) is the place I can catch a movie that might not be showing anywhere else in the city. My most recent movie here was actually my first time seeing Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live cast. It was neat seeing so many people show up to see it, and the Denton Affair put on a great show. The seats are standard and could use a little updating, and it sucks when you're stuck behind someone with huge hair, but I suppose that sort of is part of the charm.

This is a wonderful old-timey looking theatre that plays only indie films. They sell a large variety of snacks, and they even have a wine bar in the back section! They have $6 Movie Tuesdays, and plenty of BOGO coupons in the Bearcat Coupon book (conveniently, they have these in the boxes outside of Graeter's, which is a short walk away!). They also almost always have Groupon deals where you pay $6 for $12 worth of movies. Definitely one of the cheaper movie theaters around! They have pretty clean theaters, and the seats are comfortable (but not the best - armrests don't go up :P) Great service as well! And the neighborhood is cute and nice to walk around in. There are a variety of restaurants as well. Parking can be tricky on busy nights though - you just have to search a little in the residential areas. Most of the meters nearby only allow 60 minute parking.

Somebody told me that this place is really old and it is not a good movie theater. He was right that it was old, it is over 100 years old but it is modern at the same time. It is worth the bargain Tuesday which make the ticket price only 6 dollars per person. I was actually surprised by how clean the movie theater was and how kind the employees were. The movie rooms were a comfy size and not too big.

I loved our visit to Esquire. We saw Beautiful Boy. The drink and snack I purchased were both affordable. Staff was friendly. I'll definitely return when I'm in Cincy.

After working so many days in a row I finally had a free weekend afternoon. I really wanted to see the movie Avengers Endgame. It had been out for a little less than 2 weeks. I had read the reviews and several spoilers and was excited to see it. I attended the matinee and was lucky enough to have a gift card with a little bit of money left on it. I parked on a side street but could have used the parking lot that is across the street and down the stairs as parking is validated with a ticket purchase. I love the Esquire which has the old fashioned Marquee and the outside ticket booth that is open several minutes before the shows begin. Getting there early I bought my ticket inside by the candy and popcorn counter. The matinee price was $7.75 before the gift card discount. Evening prices are $10.25. There is one main screen straight ahead off the lobby and a very small screening room just to the left. Going down the hallway to the right there are several slightly smaller screening rooms. This is where I saw Endgame. The sound and picture quality were excellent. The seats while not fancy have cup holders and are comfortably cushioned. The restrooms are in the lobby across from the ticket counter. There is a bar/concession stand in the hallway that was open as I emerged from my movie. They sell beer here. They have a lot of special events here including free movies for kids on Wednesday mornings, the showing of classic movies from the recent & more distant past, Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings and much more. You should check out their website and sign up for their emails. To me this is like a neighborhood movie theatre as I live just down the road in Northside. I really like the friendly employees, the more intimate size screening rooms and the quite reasonable ticket prices. Until next time be kind to each other. #yelpcincy #esquiretheatre

It quirky with character, like most of the movies you'll see. This locals theater chain is designed to carry more independent films, midnight showings of Rocky Horror and Sing-a-long with Grease nights. While the atmosphere was clean, the venue felt too 20th century for 21 century prices. I like supporting local and will probably be back when the Sundance movies release to the US, as I am sure this is a good venue. However, compared with pricing, the 4XD bar service chain theaters, this venue is not worth the off street parking.

This is such a cool theater! No, this is not a deluxe cinema with giant reclining couch seats and food service to your seat. What's great about this place is how authentically old school it is. It's truly a neighborhood gem! The popcorn is tasty and fresh, and they even serve booze here! They show the most recent blockbusters alongside some fun throwbacks, so there's something for everyone. Would definitely go back!

I love this theater. It was one of my stomping grounds when I was younger and now that I'm living closer to the city, it's still a place I like to hang out. It's small and independent (though it's connected to the theaters in Kenwood and Mariemont). The Esquire plays movies that you wouldn't necessarily see in a larger theater - so when I'm looking something different to do for a night, I check out what's playing here. The seats are comfortable and each theater is small, so the experience is a little more intimate. My favorite thing to do is to grab a coffee, tea, or smoothie next door before the movie and then head over when it's time. A night at the Esquire could be a really nice (and cheap) date night and it's also a place I feel comfortable going to by myself. There's a fenced in parking lot behind the Clifton Market that is free to park in if you get your ticket validated at the theater, so there's another incentive for you to check this place out!

The art movie house in Cincinnati before indie films became mainstream. You can always find a variety of films to suit your fancy. No nonsense theater nothing fancy, you're there to check out good indie films. Recently they started having special film nights, I attended the sold out Sixteen Candles screening & had a great time with friends. They even served special Molly Ringwald drink at the back bar with a candle stir for the film. The Esquire is one of the few places around to catch the Rocky Horror picture show every other Saturday night at 11:45PM lets do the time warp now.

While in Cincy one day, a friend and I randomly came decided to see the Jimi Hendrix movie. Through a goggle search we found Esquire 6. What a cute, nostalgic theatre! I love the exterior because it's a historical theatre. The interior is nice and simple. As soon as you enter the building you will find the restrooms and concession stand. We went to a 5:45 showing. Tickets were only $7. The staff was ok. A bunch of young kids trying pass time. I like how you can grab a free poster for upcoming movies. The Hendrix movie was shown in a 68 seat theatre. So small, but it worked. Enjoyable movie by the way. My only complaint is that another patron brought in a service dog. I'm not sure why the girl at the ticket counter didn't notice the when these people entered the building. The movie started, then they decide to pull the people and the dog out of the movie after it started to discuss whether or not the dog could stay. Seriously the movie already started. Not a smart move. Despite this hiccup I enjoyed my experience and will still go back. Added bonus is that this theatre mostly shows independent movies which I greatly enjoy. Also it's on a really cool street near a local university full of restaurants, coffee shops, etc. There was even a small farmers market that day. It's a great street to explore before or after seeing a show.

A former intown theater that's been turned into an art house for screening offbeat films, documentaries and festivals is something every city should have. Cincinnati's is the Esquire in the Gaslight district of Clifton, and it's good for doing exactly what it sets out to be: a refuge from the multiplex mass releases. Not a superhero in sight when DLW and I arrived for a late matinee. The ticket window on the street is still charmingly in use. The once single theater opened in 1911 according to the website, and survived until the 1980's, when it was almost demolished to make way for a Wendy's. A neighborhood crusade saved it, and now it is subdivided into six screens. The larger ones up front show the bigger draws, and the smaller ones in the back show smaller ones. Each area has its own concession stand, but the one in back is less diverse. It does serve beer and wine however, unlike the front one. Fifty or so seats in the smaller theater we sat in. Even small theaters nowadays have nice projection and sound systems, and this one did as well. Seats are comfortable and certainly bigger than the ones from a hundred years ago must have been to accommodate the audience's bigger butts. It's a rare site to find an independently owned first-run movie house these days, but there it is. If you spot a show you want to see there, please patronize it and keep this bit of history going.

This is our favorite theater to see movies. We were just at The Esquire on Saturday evening. It's a small, quaint, historic theater in Clifton. We enjoy the smaller venue and better selection of movies that they offer. There is a small bar in the back of the theater for alcoholic drinks. We usually order our popcorn from the front counter because, in our experiences, the popcorn in the back is never as fresh. It's also nice to be able to have dinner, stop by some of the shops, have some Graeter's ice cream and then end the evening with a movie. All on the same street. The only minor irritation is that I've been a member of the Critic's Club for a few years now and it's nearly impossible to get the young kids who work here to take my card. They act like it's a bother and wave it away. I finally got someone to take it this time (the first time ever) and saved money on our ticket prices and the popcorn.

I respect that they have a diverse program and show old movies (though digitally). But as the big art house theater in town, it seems a little lacking,uncomfortable seats, a little grimy, often understaffed and please please please, put up a curtain so that during the day whenever theater doors are opened the sun doesn't burst through and onto the screen.

Went to the shadow box show of Rocky Horror Picture show and really enjoyed myself. The cast was funny and enthusiastic. I would definitely recommend it if you've never been. Service at the concessions was good too.

I am so lucky to live near the Esquire Theatre! I haven't visited another theater since I've lived in Cincinnati. I really love patronizing a local theatre. I went to a preview for La La Land here, too, so it's great they do previews here. The prices are pretty reasonable, too, and I like there's a bar in the theatre. I took one star off because when my boyfriend and I went to see Moonlight, the theater wasn't heated. On the one hand, it wasn't heated so we had to sit in our winter coats, on the other, they let us in for free. Not a big fan of Rocky Horror, but this seems like a great atmosphere for that type of community event.

Cute neighborhood movie theatre that usually shows the artsy movies. Also serves beer, some mixed drinks and gourmet desserts along with the usual popcorn. Old theatre and not very comfortable seats. Small theatres. New perks card that gives you 10 percent off concessions. In the middle of clifton.

Oh Esquire, and your sister theaters, you do me right... I echo every other five star review on here for this gem. I ditto the long list of loves people share for you... And even though I reside in the suburbs now, I will still make the pilgrimage to you and your wonderfully charming films, your eclectic sensibilities, your reasonable prices for food and imbibe...your independent-owned spirit, your sing alongs... The Esquire theater is the penultimate movie theater; in and of itself, it very well could be part of a Wes Anderson film. I've been a huge fan since the day we moved to town...you can't go wrong, and there are so many specials during the week, special events, special screenings...it's worth every penny.

Reasons to love Esquire: 1. It's not like there are a lot of options for independent cinema in Cincinnati. The two other theaters that are part of the Esquire chain, Kenwood and Mariemont, offer more mainstream choices. The programming at the Esquire is as good as it gets in the area. 2. Parking is easy. Esquire will validate two hours of parking in the Merchant Lot on Howell avenue. And if you go on an off night, you can easily secure street parking. 3. Matinee showings are only $6.75. 4. Management is responsive to inquiries: if there is a movie you're interested in, contact the box office and let them know! They won't always guarantee they'll get the film, but they do seem to make an effort to respond to customer demand. 5. The Critics Club loyalty program is awesome. Membership entitles you to free upgrades on fountain drinks and popcorn. For every dollar spent, you earn a point. When you've earned 100 points, you get a $10 Bonus Card you can use at the theater. 6. Another perk of joining the Club, which I have been unable to find advertised anywhere on their website, is the Thursday night Buy One, Get One Free Admission. It's an even better deal than their Tuesday Night Bargain Price of $6.00 for admission. 7. They occasional feature midnight showings of cult films like Big Lebowski and Rocky Horror Picture Show. 8. You can now buy alcohol at the theater. So if your girlfriend drags you along to an excruciatingly boring French drama with subtitles, at least you can catch a buzz. 9. The staff are really friendly. They also are right on top of clearing out any expired candy, so you know the concessions haven't been sitting under glass, gathering dust for years. 10. Sitwell's is right next door, so you can stop off for a cappuccino after the film to talk about that brutal castration scene you just saw. Room for improvement: 1. The Esquire caters to a somewhat professorial crowd. It would be nice to see management push the envelope with some selections from the vanguard. The independent films in the program are generally very good, but tend to be critically and commercially safe. I think the Esquire underestimates the potential demand for progressive cinema. 2. Technical aspects need some tightening up. You can sometimes hear the staff chattering in the box office if you're in the adjacent theater. Sometimes operators neglect to dim the lights.

This is the best movie theater in Cincinnati. Of course this is pretty much the ONLY art movie theater in Cincinnati as the Mariemont theater is run by the same owner. The owner brazenly disrespects the people of Cincinnati, by lowering the bar of what is shown in an art theater. His most deplorable offence was editing a sex scene in a film that he must of thought was too offensive for Cincinnatians to handle. (see http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-5919-esquire-cuts-sex-scene-from-center-of-the-world.html for more details). Less brazen but equally offensive is the movie theaters attempts to appeal to a mass audience. I'm okay with this if the art theater takes a film that's highly acclaimed with mass audience appeal like Inception, but instead the owners for some reason decided to play very lowly rated movie Glitter. For those who don't know what Glitter was, it was a critical failure and box office bomb that was a vehicle for Maria Carey to promote herself. No self respecting art theater in their right mind would play it, yet this theater has, and has played other Hollywood schlock at the same level for many years. While Cincinnati will never be a top bill place to show foreign cinema early like New York or LA, the owner should work harder to get some of these films to Cincinnati in a more timely manner. For instance the Animation Show which was a collection of esoteric and eclectic international animated shorts didn't even make it to Cincy until well over 6 months after it had played in New York and LA. It was made available to see in cities like Indianapolis and Columbus before it made available to Cincinnati. Cincinnatians if they have pride in their city's culture and art should demand better than this from their art theater. Yes Cincinnati is a conservative city, but its also a potentially amazing place that has some of the most unique historic architecture in the country. At one point in time Cincinnati had a world class art scene that has its remnants in its excellent art museums and classical music halls. Given the sheer amount of cultural heritage this city supports and its claim of being an excellent place for the arts for its size, its people should demand excellence and not the mediocrity that places like this perpetuate. Its a sad thing when in order to see more esoteric less Hollywood friendly indie and foreign films one has to either travel to another city with a better arthouse theater, or attend a Cincinnati World Cinema (local film club) meeting to see films that this owner deems too esoteric for the "conservative" Cincinnati audience. The owner of this Cinema shouldn't cave in and perpetuate stereotypes about Cincinnatians but should instead raise the bar and work to make Cincinnatians demand excellence when it comes to art forms that aren't highly established like visual fine arts, opera or classical music. I talked with the head of Cincinnati World Cinema not long after he had started his organization. When he started, he was able to play a fairly esoteric but highly rated classic arthouse film to a sold out audience, I wondered what was wrong with the Esquire Theater, why couldn't they do the same? The answer I feel is that a bit of respect for the audience and good marketing goes a long way. Both of these are things that the Esquire theater should strive for. Raise the bar and shatter bad perceptions about Cincinnati's conservatism. At one point in time Boston was known for being the place where it was so conservative that it banned books. With good leadership and people who care about its culture it has transformed into a vibrant city that is a cultural and artistic center again. Cincinnati has similar (albeit somewhat smaller and newer) historic roots and should exploit them to its fullest. Cincinnati should be almost as well known as Boston, yet the mentality of this theater's owner is a symbol of everything that is wrong with this potentially great city. What is wrong, is this city constantly settling for mediocrity when it has the potential for greatness. Seriously, what other art theater would show something as deplorable as Glitter and expect to have the respect of its city's residents?! Finally its worth a note to describe the theater itself. This is a classic neighborhood theater in one of the few neighborhoods in Cincinnati that reaches its full potential. The space is a great one, as is the neighborhood it resides in. Now if only the theater would reach its full potential and make Cincinnati just as interested in cinema as an art as it is in more traditional artforms like painting and opera.

This is the gem of Ludlow Avenue and you will quickly agree when you walk or drive by and see this adorable little classic movie theater. They show both independant and major films and also offer discounts for students and seniors. The theaters range from teeny tiny to medium sized, since it is such an old theater but that's what gives it its charm. They have two concession stands; the front one will have your typical movie foods and snacks, while the back stand has some local baked treats and a bigger variety of menu items, such as alcohol.. wink wink*. Whether you're going for a date night, with some friends, or even just alone, the Esquire is always a treat to go to.. especially if you want to avoid the city movie theaters and their mobs of teenie boppers!

Here's the thing about giving the Esquire five stars: it does not, in itself, deserve them. It earns the rating mostly by default, for what it represents and for being the only theater that represents it. Here's what is wrong with going to this theater. Parking on Ludlow sucks, and always will. The box office is located outside the building, so that lines frequently form along the sidewalk--in certain kinds of weather, you can see how this might be a problem. Once you get in, you find the theaters are quite small compared to the larger chains. While this makes a certain amount of sense, because the clientele is much smaller and cavernous rooms would make little sense, the size and the low attendance have this unintended side effect of intimacy. Any talking from other moviegoers is terrifically obvious to you, and you feel unable to do any talking of your own for fear of disrupting them. Add to this the fact that, on a weekend night, the price of all this is very close to what you'd pay for the De Lux in Florence, which is all around much comfier and fancier. But the Esquire's trump card is that it's an independent theater, which simultaneously excuses many of its flaws (they'd probably go under if they didn't charge an arm and a leg, for instance) and elevates it beyond most other theaters in town, as long as you're the type who goes to movies because you love them, not because it's Friday and you need something to spend money on. There are always a handful of mainline shows, but these are typically limited to those films that are popular or in wide release while maintaining some kind of indie attitude or aesthetic (like The Artist). For the most part, the Esquire shows artsy, foreign, or otherwise less mainstream fare, and for that one service, the only one of its kind in town, I offer the highest possible rating. In many ways it's an inconvenient place to go, but once you're inside, once the movie is on, it's my favorite theater in Cincinnati. And when it's over, now that all the hard parts like parking are already done, you can always just hit up the rest of that wonderful stretch of Clifton, like Ambar or Sitwells. Make a hipster night of it.

In a world of flashy, soulless megaplexes, the Esquire is a refreshing, soulful experience. If it were a clothing joint, it'd be the quirky second hand shop that has the unique, killer goods and stands in happy (techni)color contrast to the Abercrombie and American Eagle stores. They screen both mainstream films (just saw "the social network" there) as well as the more art-house variety. That is, you can be just like everyone else and watch "Iron Man 2," but then also break the mold and go see "The Kids are Alright." Nice to have the choice. You'll pay about the same for a movie here as in the larger theaters, but there are decent discounts if you're a student or locate the promos the theater often offers in Bearcash and other pubs. The facility is clean and comfortable, the staff is friendly and competent. Its marquee lights up Ludlow Ave in Clifton every night with its large bulbs and hand-placed movable type letters. The smell of buttered popcorn greets you as you walk through the door, movie posters of upcoming films hang on the walls. The Esquire is both familiar and distinct at the same time.

Who doesn't love the Esquire? There is always something unique going on there. I went and saw Back to the Future one night - awesome. Also you can't beat the Rocky Horror Picture showings - be prepared if you're a "virgin"!!! Lots of fun. They also show the artsy films that aren't in the big theaters. It's a great location - you can grab dinner or a drink around the area. The popcorn is delicious. The seats aren't the most comfortable, but they aren't horribly uncomfortable. Definitely a place people need to check out at least once!