Rialto Cinemas Elmwood

We went to Elmwood Theater to see Dune. We needed proof of vaccination (that was important to us), and a mask to enter. I like that Elmwood is a vintage theater. It has been around for over 100 years. It has style. When you go, make sure to check out the bathrooms. We also found the seats quite comfortable, and the staff is friendly. Also, I liked how clean and well maintained the grounds are. Something that could use improvement is the sound insulation. In the quiet parts of our movie, we could hear explosive sounds from the other theater. I recommend going to Elmwood Theater!

Kinda messed up that there were NO concessions available for the first show! Not happiness. Luckily, I brought my own food!

I ❤️ our local Elmwood Theatre which specializes in Indie, foreign and specialty films in a retro setting. Thanks to KALX I even won tickets to see Jeff Buckley in It's Never Over. Fun times!

A beautiful old school theatre with amazing charm. They always play the best movies. The concessions are top tier.

Great staff, great movies, great location, a theatre for true movie lovers. More of a collective than a corporate entity that subjects you to endless commercials.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recently went to see the new movie *Fly Me to the Moon* at this theater and had an absolutely wonderful experience! The theater itself is incredibly cozy, making for a comfortable and enjoyable viewing environment. The staff were friendly and attentive, ensuring that everything ran smoothly. The food was top-notch, adding to the overall experience. Plus, the location is fantastic and easy to get to. I highly recommend this theater to anyone looking for a great night out!

We went spur of the moment and were greeted warmly, assisted with lighting on the aisle, and offered help getting food/drink which we didn't take Comfortable seats tho not recliners and a responsive collect of movie viewers

Quaint, clean, friendly staff and excellent popcorn.

Love to come to this old fashioned movie theater-- a locally owned alternative to AMC! Great artsy films, as well mainstream flicks. OK popcorn (have to admit AMC does best them in this regard...) & they have a few vegan sweets, too Give yourself some time for parking. Lots of options nearby for drinks, dinner, dessert-- make it a date night! SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS

Love this independent art house movie theater in the East Bay. We need more art house theaters in the East Bay!

Rounding up from 3.5 stars. This theater was once a single screen joint, that has been carved up, with the balcony now supporting two additional small screens. That's the same layout as the California theater was, and the Piedmont is. I've seen shows upstairs and downstairs. I mostly recommend this place based on their programming, and also the concessions. For such a small space, they serve a lot. The upstairs seats can be quite cramped, but the audiences are more respectful than most. Cheap movie Monday nights at nice, and occasional free classics, but get there early-ish.

Rialto on College is the last movie theater in Berkeley which is crazy to me. I saw an afternoon matinee showing of Didi and decided to also eat at the theater since I heard that they are now serving food. In addition to the standard popcorn, my friend and I also ordered the impossible chicken nuggets and the bagel dog. The food is pretty standard reheated frozen fare, but I appreciate the wider offering of food. Unfortunately, the seats in the theater aren't configured so that patrons can easily eat. There aren't any flat surfaces so we were balancing food on our laps and on the seats. There aren't any fancy seats or anything like that at the Rialto, but you'll find friendly service and a totally serviceable theater with lots of walkable options close by.

Berkeley's only remaining commercial movie theater. Somewhat dated with very small screens, but fun to go to.

The Elmwood remains a wonderful movie theater. It had several screens and yet it feels cozy. They feature National Theatre filmed plays from London as well as current Hollywood and foreign films. If all the films were to have subtitles, it would be PERFECT! And similar to Home.

Please please please fix the keystoning on your projectors. twice in a row, two different screens a month apart - both were really really badly keystoned for the main feature. Really love the theater otherwise and this is a super fixable issue in theory.

The most claustrophobic viewing experience of my life. If you're seeing a less popular film, please see it somewhere else. The small theater packs in a dozen more seats than it should, resulting in steep poorly lit stairs to narrow rows with narrower seating. Poor ventilation meant for a sweaty screening as well. Audio issues rounded out the experience, as I got to listen to the sound of the Bob Dylan biopic next door as well as my film of choice. A two for one special if you're a glass half full kind of girlie.

I go with my friend about every other week. Don't like big movie blockbuster theaters. This one is never crowded or loud or cold. Their concession stand good. Only go other theaters if I must see something they don't show. And when I do, I regret being in the commercial version of a movie theater with no comfort . Too loud too cold ridiculous concession prices horrible parking options. I chose Elmwood over all.

Support your local movie theaters! This old timey theater house whose marquis is a staple of this little section of College Ave is a gem. Read, with caution, as I see from other reviews that there may be some concerns.... 1- I went to one movie, Opennheimer, in the main theater downstairs and the seats were large and comfy. Sound was great, although a bit crackly at times, but it could have been the movie. (Oppenheimer was incredible and some great Berkeley scenes in there!) 2. Staff is so friendly and belong in that indie movie house vibe. 3. Free family movies monthly - September is Jim Henson and Frank Oz's 80s hit: the dark crystal. 4. Free monthly old timey black and white movies! 5. Good snacks from popcorn and candy to what was advertised as a Nathan's hot dog! We joined the free loyalty club that includes free popcorn refills and $9 movie Mondays. 6. Located right on College Ave in Elmwood, making it a perfect dinner/dessert and movie date! Overall, in Berkeley, we went from 4 movie theaters to 1.... Let's keep it alive so we all don't have to schlep to the mall in Emeryville to see a movie. Go to this movie theater, load up on snacks and enjoy the film!

The last movie theater in Berkeley, and a neighborhood treasure in the Elmwood. Now showing several first-run films, including Oscar nominees, since they don't have to compete with other theaters. Comfy, good food, movie club discounts, sometimes free showings of family and children's movies.

Came here to watch all of us strangers. Very intimate movie experience. Our theater had 30 seats? but i wish they played the sound louder because I couldn't really hear from the top of the theater. I wasn't sure if the amps in the back of the theater were even on or off bc the sound was faint. They do offer bottled sodas at the concession stand so that's cool. Very simple snack stand which classic popcorn and candy.

(as of July 2022) Such a lively, vintage art house with impressively curated programming, including locally-organized events and nonprofit fundraisers. IMO, it's one of the last historic businesses that keep the spirit of Berkeley alive. I'm closer to the Cerrito Rialto so don't typically come all the way to Elmwood for movies, but getting tickets to this location meant a more convenient dinner-and-movie date night (who doesn't love the Elmwood area) :-) AND, they were showing Everything Everywhere All At Once-- how could I not go? The theater is dated, but well-maintained and clean. Minimal decor, even throughout the years-- not so much of an experience as Grand Lake Theater, but it's quaint and cozy. Staff were kind and personable. Concession prices were about average, nothing astronomical. When we were seated in the auditoriums, it's noticeably compact. I expected this of an older theater, but for two lean adults who are 5'8" and 6'2", we found ourselves having to bend or stretch our legs in awkward positions to feel comfortable. May be less egregious to shorter moviegoers. The sound and picture quality was decent, although it's unfortunate that you can hear neighboring films... Poor insulation. Sort of a bummer when you're in the grip of any emotional scenes with quiet dialogue and there's some wacky musical number or action movie explosion going on next door ;_; If you can get over that, still charming and indubitably a cornerstone of Elmwood. Their film selections are great and the atmosphere is nice.

This is a rounding up review. It's kind of a 3, but a 3.5 with heart. This theater is kind of like when you were a kid and would make a fort out of your couch cushions to watch a movie in. The screen was small, the space was small, but maybe the experience of what you watched was greater than the sum of its parts. This is not a theater that provides great visual spectacles or audio experiences, but they offer good stories in a fairly tight viewing experience - albeit in a good neighborhood with relatively decent human beings nearby.

We went to Elmwood Theater to see Dune. We needed proof of vaccination (that was important to us), and a mask to enter. I like that Elmwood is a vintage theater. It has been around for over 100 years. It has style. When you go, make sure to check out the bathrooms. We also found the seats quite comfortable, and the staff is friendly. Also, I liked how clean and well maintained the grounds are. Something that could use improvement is the sound insulation. In the quiet parts of our movie, we could hear explosive sounds from the other theater. I recommend going to Elmwood Theater!

Absolutely love the Elmwood. Wonderful National Theatre Live presentations, real gem of the Berkeley community and indeed the whole Bay Area. Stylish men's bathroom. Unfortunately the Elmwood has recently started playing divisive, tribalistic announcements before each showing. I'm all for earnest conversation and debate about all manner of social and political subjects, but if I'm paying to watch a film, the last thing I want is gratuitous polemics forced on captive audiences to set the tone of the evening and distract from the feature presentation. Our society needs less outrage, not more ubiquitous fuel on the fire. I hope the management will reconsider.

We love this local theatre! We love it so much that we want to help make it better. Might management consider a capital campaign for bathroom (#1 priority!!!) and sound improvements (major soundproofing improvements needed)?? I think many community members would contribute.

Yesterday, I went to the opening of "A Complete Unknown." We arrived early, expecting a zoo, and we were not disappointed. I have loved this theater for decades. Kudos to the staff for working on Christmas Day, and for their patience and fortitude with some outrageously rude customers. Some old people in Berkeley have forgotten how to go out to the movies. The manager had to advise one obnoxious, elderly couple to stop yelling profanity at him. They were saving seats for extremely late young people who waltzed in and sat down, oblivious. There were verbal fights all around the theater. Finally, the lights mercifully dimmed. After sitting through trailers for horrible, violent coming "attractions," our Bob Dylan movie mercifully started. It was worth the wait and Timothee Chalamet and the other actors are fantastic. So is the Elmwood staff.

I try to root for the independent art house film places, but this one was so small it was beyond uncomfortable and was literally painful. The seats are so close in front that at 6' tall I could not move my legs at all for the duration of the previews and film. It was painful. The theater was so small that when someone got up to use the bathroom their head would block the projector and thus the film on the screen. Majority of the people showed up after the film had begun and so no one who showed up on time could actually watch the film as everyone was standing up to let them pass. People who show up late just shouldn't be allowed in (Alamo Drafthouse theaters got this part right). It was also probably 85 degrees in this theater, and you could hear the audio from the film next door when there were audio lulls in our film.

I love supporting independent theaters and go to the movies a lot. The Elmwood is fairly disappointing unfortunately. Twice now I've watched a movie in theater 3. Both were pretty quiet movies. The issue with the upstairs theaters seem to be that you clearly can hear the other movie. I saw Tár last night, and Babylon was blasting from the left. Tár is dialoge heavy (and felt a bit too quiet to begin with). Hearing loud Jazz music really took me out of the movie I was watching. It's unfortunate as the theater itself is nice.

I want to support small local theaters but they make it so hard. My mom (who is partially disabled) is in town and wanted to see a Complete Unknown - it had left the big theaters but Elmwood was playing it and I had never been since moving here a few years ago. Bought tix online. I got there 20 minutes early since seat selection was not an option and was told it would be upstairs. My mom looked at her cane and asked for an elevator - none. I worked with my mom to carefully walk up the stairs. Took about 10 minutes. We get in the theater. Every row except the last one (at the top of another flight of stairs) is taken 15 minutes before trailers start. We painfully get her up to the top of the theater and have to look down at the screen - which is partially blocked by part of the ceiling. Every time someone stood up in the last 2 rows, their shadow showed on the screen. Finally the audio was bad. The dialogue portion of the audio only plays in front but the theater is not very acoustically sound. The back speakers where we were only played background noise like cars honking or people clapping in scenes with applause. It was awful.

LOVEEEE LOVE this cinema. Friendly service, beautiful bathroom, fun movie experience. Wish they sold icees.

Love it. We have recommended this business for several years. Staff were very helpful and the screen and sound were top notch! We referred friends and family!

Gorgeous historic theatre. They play interesting independent films and documentaries. Nice staff.

I'm really liking this theatre more and more. Why? Because of their wonderful showings! Today, we came to see Faces and Places - wonderful movie. Soon, they'll be showing Julius Caesar, Hamlet and MacBeth, from National Theatre Live. If you can't make it to see the live performances at the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland (which, by the way, is superb), this is a more convenient alternative. Plus, they'll also be showing performances from the Bolshoi Ballet (2018 season). Pretty darn cool, huh??!! Apparently, others are also taking a real liking to the Rialto Elmwood as well. The woman at the ticket booth told me that just last month they had 600 people come via Movie Pass, and that most of them had never been to the Rialto, but many came back again afterwards. I can see why. Enjoy your day at the movies here!!

This place is freakin adorable. I would hate for this place to close and I'm so happy they made it through the pandemic. My only wish is that they could update the interiors and have better sound proofing because we could hear the movie next door. Watching house of gucci while hearing 007 playing ain't the best experience. The good is that this place is so charming and old school that it makes me feel warm inside. As much as I complain about it needing updating the cuteness of having a small theater walking distance from my house is such a rare treat that I will overlook the lack of updates. I know it's been a tough couple of years for theaters. This place is still totally worth supporting - especially since they are asking for vaccination cards and giving us a safe way to come back to the movies and see films that you might otherwise not find in big box theaters.

Just went to see a new indie film called Shortcomings, based off the visual novel by Adrien Tomine. Movie was good but this is not review for the movie, this is for the lovely theater. Staff here are extremely friendly, there seems to be some great deals for loyal customers. They offer diet coke here which is awesome.. and their popcorn is quite yummy! Seating is limited compared to big chain AMC or Cinemark but it's a rather old timey like theater. So I think the atmosphere is still charming. Recommend visiting here, and considering their Movie lovers free membership...

Wonderful theatre, great ambience. Very relaxed and warm. It is important to appreciate such places.

If your movie is in the first floor large theater, it's great. But in theater 3 upstairs our movie was considerably impacted by the movie in theater 2. I was in the second row about 3 seats from the wall. Maybe try sitting further back and to the right.

My first time visiting Oakland and this vintage theater was a bright spot on my trip!

Finally got to check out this Berkeley institution! They were the only theater still playing Bohemian Rhapsody in the area. The good: customer service was really friendly and I really like the small, intimate theater setting. The bad: infrastructure needs to be updated. We sat next to the wall of our theater and could hear the movie next to us for much of the showing. The space is also super cramped. I have short legs and still felt like legroom was way too limited. I would hate to see this business go so I do hope they think about updating some of their space. Otherwise, it's a great local theater option.

My goodness, what is up with this theater? I know it's a small, very old theater, but I've never experienced anything like this. Felt like maybe only thirty seats. A very tiny screen. And where's my legroom? I thought I was on a tiny airplane with how very little room I had. And while I was watching, all I was doing was wishing that they showed this movie at the Shattuck Cinemas. Now that's a great Indie Theater. Oh well. Just hoping that next time, my choice of movie isn't relegated this this travesty of a theater.

The management was quick to respond to my concerns about ticketing, after my initial bad experience with an employee when I tried to express my concerns. They we're reassuring, contacted me by email, asked the ticketing company about adding a security icon to assure ticket buying was safe, and when I then went back to the website, the security icon had indeed been added. I bought a ticket on line as a result.

Such a great theater. Independent, old school, historic. Nothing too fancy: Like movies theaters should be! The staff is super nice and warm. Good customer service. The volume on the movie we were watching was too low, so we asked them to turn it up. They did and were totally nice about it. Great selection of films and other showings. Let's keep Old theaters like this in business. Please go!

Love the choice of movies, love the new seats they've installed in the downstairs auditorium. Love the fact that this theater still exists, even though the Shattuck, the Regal, the California and Act One/Act Two in downtown Berkeley are now history. My only complaint is the noise that filters in from the lobby when you watch a movie downstairs. I've complained many times about this, but the staff at the concessions stand continue to speak in loud voices that penetrate the theater.

Came here to watch part 2 of angels in American. The place is really an old school cinema with the short seats and small screen, but not crowded. It was a bit awkward during our visit because of a minor "fight". Two guys got into it because one guy was using his phone during the movie and got his hand smacked... and during the intermission (yup this show had not 1 but 2 intermissions) the other guy retaliated by getting up and smacking the other guy in the face and said "you don't hit strangers" and walked out... but they walked out together so not sure what was up. Anywho... I'm sure if I lived in Berkeley I'd come here more often... it's a bit nostalgic to see these theaters still around!

I am an Oakland resident and have been going to the Elmwood theater for 30+ years. Last night I went with friends to see "A Star is Born" at the Elmwood. It might have been a decent film, but I and my fellow theater goers wouldn't know because most of the dialogue was impossible to hear. Not just where we were sitting, but theater goers throughout the upper theater left loudly complaining about their inability to hear what the movie's stars were saying as they talked to one another. Not only that, but the sound from the theater next to us bled through the walls. I will not be going to the Elmwood again to see a movie- at least not in the upper theaters- until they have addressed this situation. Fix this theater!

3.5 Stars (Rounded Up) Gayle and I came here last Saturday to see Vicki Christina Barcelona. We probably should have seen this movie earlier, but we both lead busy and sometimes complicated lives. We also were here during bargain matinee time, so the first run - second run dynamic wasn't as severe. However, it's nowhere near the deal my folks back in Iowa get at a place that offers a 50 Cent special for probably third run movies. I really like small neighbourhood theatres, and it's always fun to stroll in the Elmwood before and after the movie. The theatre itself has a nice Art Deco design (including box office out front), good coffee, friendly staff, and at least on the men's side the nicest and cleanest restrooms I have seen in a very long time. We got one of the smaller screens upstairs which although a little funky, was significantly better that our experience yesterday at the Cine Arts in Pleasant Hill. Gayle would tell you that I'm biased towards this side of the tunnel, since I live in this "gritty" part of the East Bay. The movie itself was great. We both thought that this was the best American film we had seen Penelope Cruz. We also enjoyed Javier Bardem and quickly got over our previous "No Country for Old Men" image and haircut. Gayle also thought that the movie was a very accurate depiction of 2 young women in Spain.

Somebody remind me again -- why on earth would I want to pay first run prices ($9.50) for second run movies? Oh and they show ads! ... and there's significant audible bleed-through from the neighboring screening rooms ... and the hipper-than-thou staff can't be bothered to say "thank you." God knows I am trying my best to support the indie theaters, but honestly -- apart from the Parkway and the Embarcadero Cinemas, most of them suck!

This might sound strange, but what like best about the Elmwood in the wonderful marquee, and that they sell tickets from a classic box office that is surrounded by colored movie tile. The interior is plain and the seats are not very comfortable. The bathroom with a small lounge is upstairs; which might be a problem for some people I am willing to over look the seats because the Elmwood does screen movies that do not play anyplace else, even other Rialto theaters. And I have no problem dashing upstairs or, when I leave, to my car that no doubt will be parked blocks away. 3.5 rounded up. I enjoy small vintage neighborhood theaters.

What a Theater house looked like before they turned into bland cinderblocks with an iPad sized screen. Seats could be replaced but the theater is beautiful

I've seen a couple of movies here (most recently the new Fantastic Beasts film). They usually show indie films but occasionally they bring mainstream ones too. Ticket price was $12.50 for a Saturday night showing. PROS: - they have a deal with Donato & Co. around the corner where you can get free appetizers with a drink before the movie if you bring your ticket - it's a charming local theater that has been around for ages - cute date spot and you can get dinner or ice cream after nearby! - SO many popcorn spice options CONS: - parking around the area can be difficult - inside feels like it hasn't been renovated in a while (including seats, bathrooms, etc)

Old fashioned theater with the ticket window in the front. The ticket prices are fair, $8 for students, $8 for matinee, and $10 regular. Arm rests don't move up so you won't be able to really cuddle. Seats lean back really far and are pretty comfortable.

Great old school theater in the Elmwood area. Film quality is good and the theater usually isn't too crowded. If a film has been out for a while there Is a high chance that Rialto Cinemas will still be showing it. No student discount but a fair price for a movie at $12.50. Still a great destination to see a movie. Employees very friendly.

Sub-par movie theater with poor staff. Went for the first time to see "A Fantastic Woman", and was surprised to see that, despite the decent selection of films available, the theater is very rundown. Getting tickets took longer than expected for 4 people in line ahead of us (staff moving slow), and once seated, was prepped for a very uncomfortable couple of hours based on the seats we ended up in. Screen definitely left much to be desired, with an awkward looking aspect ratio, and what appeared to be essentially a consumer projector quality picture. Once the film started, the subtitles cut out ~10-15min in. Staff were immediately alerted, and while they were seemingly looking to solve the issue, they made zero effort to pause the film, or make an announcement to the audience. Eventually the issue was resolved, but the entire auditorium was left wondering was happened in the film during a crucial moment, and while promised, no announcement or effort to replay the sequence was made by the theater. After waiting for said promised fix or announcement -- which by now wasted more time than if the film was just restarted -- we eventually made our way to the lobby to request a refund, which thankfully seemed to be the only effort being made to correct this experience. Leaving they seemed to show very little regard for our wasted time (or money considering we had purchased a large popcorn and drink), and simply wanted to make sure we'd return again, and if when we were walking out of the screen the subtitles were functioning again. Not sure we will even return to use our replacement passes after this experience.

WE ARE SO FORTUNATE to have the Cerrito and Elmwood . Keep up the good work you guys. you bring in the best movies just like the great film houses in Manhattan. thank you

It was so wonderful to see In the Heights on the big screen. Fully vaxxed, I felt pretty safe to try this. While covid restrictions were lifted, there was basically a row or more for every group so good spacing, and everyone wore masks.

Elmwood Cinema is the best in the area. Their customer service is outstanding, Every employee is friendly, knowledgeable about movies and goes out of the way to provide the most enjoyable experience. The manager - Joey - is awesome. If you are into unique art house movies - they are the place for you! They are the only ones in East Bay showing London National Theater and Boloshoi Ballet live performances and some fantastic independent films. As for some posts here calling for the renovation of the infrastructure, I would take this theater over Shattuck Cinema with its recent renovation that left us with expensive and uncomfortable leather chairs.

"You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman" was an unorthadox choice for the soundtrack during the culminating scene of "The Green Knight", but that's exactly what we got thanks to the unacceptable lack of soundproofing between the theaters. They need to invest in soundproofing or only show one movie at a time.