Ojai Playhouse

Cute experience. Movie started promptly after only one preview. Not all the food on the menu was being offered and i came on an empty stomach. Good beer variety though. They did have organic popcorn which tasted amazing until i got a bad popcorn near the bottom. I would say sneak in your own food. Am i allowed to say that? So glad it's up and running ;)

The staff have been very kind to me anytime that I've gone, and have even recognized me and my partner from previous nights. The free screenings are very appreciated and they have a good selection of snacks, and even vegan options, according to the menu and staff. The experience inside the theater itself was really stellar too; pretty lighting, great sound, and I loved the vibes of the audience.

This is the best gift to Ojai in years. David did a spectacular renovation and his programming is fantastic. From vintage classics, to obscure documentaries, to children’s movies, to current movies….. and some screenings are free!! Excellent popcorn, amazing selection of snacks and drinks. Our town has lucked out completely to have this gem here.

Place is interesting one movie screen personal theater vibe. Great assortment of snacks, drinks and alcohol. Directors cut and at end she had a QnA with the audience. Best theatre in Ojia :)

Love this place. Grew up going to the Ojai Playhouse and am enjoying it even more with its newly renovated condition, staff and ownership. Small town experience at its best. Very nice, clean, very friendly and inviting and a great mix of movies and events including newer movies, great classics, and eclectic, unique and sometimes ‘Out there’ options which represent the traditional Ojai vibe really well. Popcorn is amazing and huge variety of concessions snacks, drinks, adult beverages and even a few food items. Jasmine at the counter is an absolute sweetheart. 100% smile and kindness even during the busiest of times. This team puts their hearts and souls into making this a fun, clean, safe and enjoyable opportunity for locals and visitors to unplug for a couple of hours and just be entertained an I couldn’t be more thankful to them. Anyone who spends time being upset about a few quirks or hiccups in The Playhouse’s evolving program as a new operation just really doesn’t get it. Take a deep breath, try to relax, let it all go and just enjoy the movie, snacks and great group of Ojai people and all of the effort they are investing in your good time!

We always love coming here as locals, so we took our parents for a special occasion to see Jaws. The guy with glasses in the front told my mom “there are rules here, mam” when my mom didn’t get her ticket ripped by him, by mistake. My mom called him rude, and he escalated it by following us into the theater to make us very unwelcome, saying we should leave since it was “his theater”. Bad, elitist vibes and not looking to come back.

A unique and tasteful theater with beautiful aesthetics that shows masterful flicks like Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle (it's the 20th anniversary this year) and The Truman Show. Bathrooms and theater interior were exceptionally clean. Blue lights on the ceiling in theater and in bathroom hall set a cool vibe. Eclectic snacks and drinks, I had a delicious Om Kombucha. Popcorn is good! There is also a soda fountain and variety for food from pizza and grilled cheese to big pretzels. The owner with the circle shades (I presume) was friendly to me and even let me charge my phone. If you haven't been, check their website for affordable movie showings. Highly recommend!

Fabulous venue and especially great movies from all genres. This is a wonderful and much needed addition to Ojai’s artistic culture. The staff is welcoming and friendly. Love it.

I love this place. Such a beautiful theater with a variety of treats and and an excellent array of movies.

My husband and I had a great date night at one of the free showings. I love the inside of this theater: it is so charming and warm inside. The sound was on the louder side and there's not a lot of space in the waiting area by the concessions but it's a super charming small town theater.

You can always measure the quality of a town by their commitment to preserving historical structures, especially theatres and playhouses. The Ojai Playhouse is no exception. The exterior is well preserved and maintains the original architecture. However, once inside it is a beautiful, modern theater. Great lighting, seating and sound system. I recently attended a movie screening, followed by a lecture. The whole experience was really enjoyable. Don't pass up an opportunity to attend an event here. Now, on with the show.

Such a gem in the heart of Ojai! The Ojai Playhouse was recently renovated and it shows--the space is beautiful while still keeping its historic charm. Watching a film here feels like a true small-town experience, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere you won't find in big chain theaters. I love that many of the screenings are free, which really speaks to how much of a labor of love this place is for the owner and the community. If you're in Ojai, this is definitely a worthwhile stop--whether you're a film lover or just want to soak up some local history and charm.

So happy to have the theater back! My only complaints are, the popcorn. There is no butter to be found. Organic popcorn. Sorry, kind of lame. Other than that...fun experience to walk to on a random night.

10/10. Very happy to see this theater reopened. Saw a midnight screening of The Substance last night. The interiors of the theater are absolutely beautiful. The sound system and the projection are top notch. Every gory/fabulous moment of monstro elisasue were on display without flaw. But what really stood out to me was the core intent and passion of the owner who I met prior to the movie. I will happily support any endeavor that seeks to serve the community and the art of film. Hope that you will too. I'd rather spend $20 on a movie ticket and snacks here than at some corporate, soulless, big box AMC Regal Edward megaplex. My monthly pilgrimage to visit my suegra will now be supplemented by some good cinema in a warm and welcoming setting.

Wonderful theater, the acoustics and the lighting system are amazing. Great snacks. The only drawback at the moment though is that I think something is up with the digital projection system. The last three movies I've been to have a little bit of a 'motion smoothing' TV look about them, a little bit soap opera, high-frame-rate looking. I've seen each of those movies before and even checked one on blu-ray when I got home, and they aren't supposed to look like that. Maybe my brain doesn't deal with laser projection properly or something, but I've seen laser projection at other theaters without this effect. Last one I went to was in January so maybe it's been sorted out by now?

We are thrilled to have the Ojai Playhouse in Ojai. It is such a special place to enjoy a movie. It has a small town feel with the single theater, carefully curated movies and the owner there helping make sure everything is running smoothly. At the same time it feels like a very advanced theater for its size. The sound system and picture quality are incredible. The lighting throughout the theater is also really nice. Please don't go there expecting big lazy boys seats. They are still comfortable though. I'm so glad to see so many people out supporting this local treasure and spreading the positive buzz.

Opening nite at Ojai Playhouse to watch Heat was such a fun and amazing experience. The place is absolutely beautiful now and has not lost the intimate charm that those of us remember as kids (50 years ago!). Opening night was not without a few delays and a couple of easy adjustments but there wasn't one person in the crowd that I could see that was not happy and smiling and eager with anticipation. As a group, there were lots of cheers along the way as well as many folks exchanging and comparing stories of past fond memories. Really was such a refreshing evening where 200+ people came together to celebrate a place that has been through so much and means so much to so many. Two additional stand out observations: 1) Staff: what a great team! Soft-opening' is a major task and all staff managed it with maximum effort, grace, warmth and friendliness. 200 people ordering concessions and finding seats is a daunting task and they all did a fantastic job. 2. If, like me, you are extremely fond of great popcorn, then you must try the Playhouse's corn.... Fresh, Organic, lightly salted with real butter.... Wow is all I can say.... The best I've ever had and I'm not ashamed to admit I may have eaten more than 1 bag! I do not know the owners personally but from what I can see, this has been a labor of love and they have gone way above and beyond and done a fantastic job that all can and should be proud of and excited to support. Big personal thanks to ownership and their wonderful staff. Amazing job!!