Somerville Theatre

Movie theater · Somerville

Somerville Theatre

Movie theater · Somerville

1

55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144

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Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null
Somerville Theatre by null

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Vintage theater with indie films, concerts, beer & wine  

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55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144 Get directions

somervilletheatre.com

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55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144 Get directions

+1 617 625 5700
somervilletheatre.com
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@svilletheatre

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Aug 8, 2025

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Where to Drink at the Movies in Boston | Eater Boston

"Owned and operated by the same company that operates the Capitol Theatre in Arlington (Frame One Theatres), the Somerville Theatre has been in operation since 1914. It has some of the most sophisticated projection booths on the East Coast, and it regularly projects archival 35mm and 70mm film prints. Have a beer across the street at Mike’s, and then have a beer at the theater while watching something beautiful in this stunning old movie house. (Note: The Somerville Theatre routinely hosts concerts performed by national touring musicians, too.)" - Terrence Doyle

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-date-movie-theaters-alcohol-boston
View Postcard for Somerville Theatre

J. Yeh

Google
My first time here, to see Ran by Akira Kurosawa. I like old theatres. They have a special feel to them. The main hall was spacious and the seats were older style but the leather was comfortable. The staff are kind and helpful. There's also metered street parking around the area, but it is a busy area. There's a nice public space right outside the building to meet others for a show or grab food before a show.

Vikaasa Ramdas

Google
Nice theater, decent acoustics from the mezzanine section in the balcony. There was a lot of heavy bass so I think the reflections from the dome doesn't help. I think the first floor acoustics are probably better. Plan way ahead for parking, this place isn't great for any parking (paid garage or street).

Vincent

Google
Love this place! Not exaggerating when I say the repertory film screenings are making me reluctant to move from the area, I just love them so much. Absolute favorites were seeing Sleeping Beauty in 70mm years ago (WOW!), and one time they did a Mann double feature with Heat and Manhunter both in 35mm. Plus I love the old school seating in the main cinema, folding seats placed on a gradual slope. I do not care for the trend of assigned seating or the gigantic lounge style seats many other theaters have adopted 👎 I also do not want waiters bringing the person sitting next to me buffalo wings and curly fries while I am trying to pay attention to a movie. What is that? Do people really like that? I don't get it. I try to visit frequently to show support for these fantastic offerings. Apparently the place was sold recently to some former employees and the place has continued to be top notch, it is obviously in good hands and I hope they continue for another 100 years.

Bryan Windrow

Google
We went to see The Hindley Street Country Club and the band sounded great. This is a cool little theater, that takes you back in time. We were on the balcony and the seats were a little tight, but we were fine. The band had a meet & greet in the lobby after the show… thank you Summerville!

Sydney

Google
The MicroCinema experience is amazing for custom events (up to 30 people). You’re able to bring in your own food and play whatever show/movie/video games you want with a full bar provided by the venue. We were able to connect a PS5 with VR as well as a Nintendo Switch. When you sign the contract for the reservation you agree to pay the full price of the rental when you show up - $200 for 3 hours is UNHEARD OF in the economy. So worth it, will recommend endlessly. Also for food, Mortadella Head is right around the corner and has awesome pizza/wings for catering purposes. THANK YOU TO THE SOMERVILLE THEATRE TEAM 🫶🏻 surprise bday went off without a hitch

Mich Bartolo

Google
Feb 2024 The environment is very nice, the style is kept from the original architecture so it has history I personally enjoyed that. Enjoyed an interesting film with pop corn and added some kettle corn flavor. They have a self serve water station- so cute.

Darshan Kalola

Google
I went to see Oppenheimer in 70mm in the main theater room in mid-August 2023. PRO: - The theater had a beautiful vintage design, which was a refreshing change from the flat and conservative design of most chain theaters. - The staff was friendly. - The temperature and seating in the main room were good. IMPROVEMENTS: - There was no water fountain, though I expect this was an intentional choice to drive concession sales.

shriti jaiswal

Google
Well! If you are look for opera and old school like of theatre this is the place to go. Low old school seating, magnificent screen. All I could image was history that were created here. We came to watch Oppenheimer in their 70mm theatre. Seating is first come. Got ample of seats to choose from. Would recommend one visit to this theatre for the experience. Snacks & drinks are available.
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Alison S.

Yelp
Love the theater, love what they show and their non-movie offerings are great, and YAY for locally owned businesses! All are great. But the BALCONY seats are PAINFULLY painfully small. Like maybe 12" wide. Maybe 13" but not much more if any. Fine if you are short (like under 5' 6") and thin, but it was painful for me. And not like airplane uncomfortable painful, but like me knees were over the back of the seat in front of me with my butt as far back as it can go. I am tall (6' 1") but everyone around me was shocked when they sat down. I had to sit on the stairs (and stand) first so my blood could circulate, and second because MY KNEES WOULD HAVE JAMMED IN THE BACK of the person sitting in front of me. Quite literally. The woman in front of me had just had her knees replaced (like 3 weeks previously) and looked ready to cry. I helped her walk up the stairs after as she was in so much pain. Also we were way off to the right, and there was speaker equipment blocking major parts of the stage. Not cool. Obstructed views should either NOT be, or be cheaper with a warning when purchasing tickets. I get trying to fit in as many seats as possible to make $, but it was really awful and painful. Won't get tickets up there again.
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Yangsoo S.

Yelp
My favorite theater in Somerville! I love that they show indie films and have festival with different themes. It is also one of the few theaters in the area where it shows 70mm films. I enjoyed watching Oppenheimer and Dunkirk here, as well as Dune Part II which was awesome! They also have a great option for concession bar, and snacks, etc. I should not forget to mention that it has a great vibe of old theater - I have been coming here for probably a decade or so and am always amazed how beautiful this theater is! Love the ambient and service is exceptional as well. The price is also very reasonable and the theater is continently located right next to red line Davis T stop! Come here and enjoy the shows!
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Gabriel A.

Yelp
Fun, queer-friendly, community-oriented theater that has a mixture of new movies and cult classics, community events (I saw rocky horror here, for example), queer events (I saw a burlesque drag performance, for example), but most of all, their popcorn is layered with real butter.

Baby L.

Yelp
Crystal Ballroom Sucks. Don't bother. The coatroom is slow as hell and you spend half your night waiting for your coat. They hire 2 bartenders for a huge crowd and everyone is thirsty. This is a poorly managed venue and that's unfortunate. It's uncomfortable and hot and not the best place for music with everyone breathing on each other, sweating and wishing they had some space.
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Ryan J.

Yelp
You can tell that the people who run this, and the people who go there, LOVE movies. Somerville Theater shows a lovely mix of quality new films and older gems. But it isn't pretentious. You are just as likely to find a black and white soviet film as you are a silly b-movie scifi flick. They appreciate both. The crowds are often great too. Movie lovers who fill the theater with laughter and joy. Sounds cheesy, but the collective viewing experience there is usually great. My only quibble is their popcorn! It just isn't very good. Chewy. Off flavors. Bland. Thankfully they have plenty of other great concessions.

Eva S.

Yelp
New to the area and was told I should catch a show in this historic theater. Went during the holidays for a burlesque show and was not disappointed. The theater is beautiful and the staff were all very friendly. I was surprised at the size of the theatre, it seems bigger on the inside! Happy to have this theatre close to our new home, I hope to visit again soon.
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Eric B.

Yelp
Here is a beautiful theater, but it has old-school charm. They just remodeled over COVID and are a local theater group. These people are obsessed with fill, not the new releases, but there are the whole series of vintage blockbusters, art films, and even silent movies with an organ player accompanying the film. Plus, they have an annual SciFi film festival that is wonderful. I like the concessions stand with a lot of choices and little extras. Plus, I can get a beer or glass of wine with my movie. The staff is so lovely. I prefer meeting people here to the big chain cinemas. The Davis Sqr has all the pre- or post-functioning options you will need. They have a small theater in the basement that you can rent for a small group gathering. I have been there twice for a birthday gathering and watched a favorite movie. Check it out for your next get-together. We brought our own film once.

Daniel B.

Yelp
Just visiting the theatre tonight I honestly didn't feel completely welcome there. But then again I often feel that way I guess when visiting it. Some people who visit are not entirely friendly and don't have good empathy skills maybe. I happen to be an individual on the autism spectrum and I find it frustrating and disturbing that such an atmosphere could exist at a theater like this. Lastly , the movie event I was there to see started late as well.

Clare S.

Yelp
Workers are extremely rude and disrespectful. I hate to write a bad review for a small business, but the employees were very rude to my friends and I, even at one point treating us like children and saying, "Not a peep out of you". This statement itself is disrespectful, not to mention the fact that we are paying customers who had just walked in. It was not a joke in any way or said in a light hearted manner and they then threatened to kick us out for no reason. Because we looked young they immediately treated us like children, and as someone paying for a service I would not like to be parented by the employees. Will not be coming back and do not recommend for anyone, especially young people who do not want to be berated.
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Paul Z.

Yelp
Had a great theater experience in theater 3 to see a movie. Everyone is very friendly and the place has an old school feel. The concessions are reasonable priced for a movie theater and you can get a large popcorn and soft drink with refills for like under 10$. We were there for a matinee and it was like $8 so it was an affordable outing. The seats were comfortable and had plenty of legroom. The theater did get a little steamy during the movie but it was sold out so I get it.
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Erika R.

Yelp
The renovation is beautiful. The folks who work here are great. The offerings are lovely. But why is the air conditioning on when it is 34° outside? (Particularly when hosting an event benefitting a climate change organization.) Maybe scarves and mittens could be handed out with the programs? Also needs better signage for where gender-inclusive restrooms are. A lot of places are putting signs on all of the restrooms indicating where gender-inclusive ones can be found. We were told after the fact that there is a gender-inclusive one, but following the big "restrooms" sign didn't lead us to it.
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Elizabeth V.

Yelp
Somerville Theatre is the heart of Somerville. Staying very true to the culture of the town, it's old school and updated. I've been here several times to watch movies & the annual winter classic, the Slutcracker. It's refreshing to have a theatre with multiple types of refreshments (including beer). I highly recommend seeing a movie here.

Daniel C.

Yelp
Best theatre in the Boston area. Great food, service, and a wonderful selection of films.
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Dawn E.

Yelp
Oh, the Somerville Theater. How I love and loathe you simultaneously. Your seats are small and cramped and not especially comfortable. Your movie prices should be less for the seating you provide and the age of your theater. But the theater IS lovely. And you bring in some spectacular live shows... All this gets you three stars... but wait... Beer! And not stupid Bud either, but good, delicious, quality beer at reasonable prices. FOUR STARS!
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Cassie V.

Yelp
If you get a chance to see a film here, do not say no. Get a cup of coffee at Nine Bar, some tacos at one of the many taco joints in the square, and then settle in with your brewski and popcorn in this beautiful vintage theatre with super cheap tickets. My husband has been in many of the theater rooms here and they're all a little different, but I personally love the one with the two levels, the thick heavy hanging curtains alongside the screen, the paintings on the wall. It's just such a great experience. Limited seating, no bad seats, and totally intimate, it's just one of those slightly beat-up, truly independent places you can't help but love.
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Crystal C.

Yelp
Pros: Old timey theater. Love the decor. Cheap cheap ticket prices. Cons: I didn't mind the smaller screen or older seats. No attached parking lot and no street parking. For good or bad, the employees here are very unique characters. Especially the grumpy, but informative person tearing tickets.
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Jon T.

Yelp
There's a lot to love about Somerville Theatre... I started going here years ago, but for shows and not films. Like old theaters elsewhere, Somerville theatre doubles as a venue and you usually get a good mix of up and coming or indie bands stopping by. But of course, the films are the core of its business. Somerville Theatre usually has some of your more popular indie films as well as slightly understated ones. Their theaters aren't necessarily super comfortable, but I appreciate being in a theater that feels old and has retained an experience that's been long lost most other places. And I can't forget to mention that the Museum of bad art exists in the basement! While I have yet to visit, I've heard and seen previews of many good (bad) things, and appreciate its home is at Somerville Theatre.
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Cristina R.

Yelp
Where else can you enjoy a cheap flick in a 1914 theater with a pint in your hand? The Somerville Theatre is so Davis for me. A little rough around the edges but completely fun and endearing. Definitely the most affordable movie theater in the area. And they have snax! Popcorn and Richardson's ice cream. And they have alcohol! $5 beer and wine. That's literally all I need to survive. The main theater is impressive with a stage and balcony. You really get the old-school theater vibe, which feels oddly rebellious while watching a contemporary sure-to-be classic like Springbreakers. Sitting in the balcony is a unique vantage point that's worth doing once, but it did kind of throw me off since I wasn't used to watching a movie from above. The theater also hosts different non-flickular events. For example, I watched a dance performance on stage during Davis ArtBeat and The Slutcracker seems to be a popular way to get people in the holiday spirit. Every Thursday night, they host a comedy show in the small downstairs theater for just $5! It's a mix of improv and stand-up, a mix of good and bad, but always cheap and entertaining. Don't forget that beer makes everything better. And don't leave without a peek inside the museum of bad art (MOBA)! Every ticket gets you access to this downstairs gallery of truly horrible - and comical - creations. Make sure to come early for popular movies since there can be long lines or get sold out. Make sure to pace yourself with the beer since peeing every half an hour during the movie can be distracting for those around you. But most importantly, make sure to support the Somerville Theatre! Ice cream, alcohol, and cheap entertainment in a funky environment... truly all the best aspects of Somerville can be found here.
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Marissa V.

Yelp
Came here this weekend to see the Alloy Orchestra perform live to Metropolis with my sister. I've seen their show before at a different theater to Son Of The Sheik which was also fantastic. This was my first time coming here. It's a quaint little theatre that's been around for a while but the tickets prices are really cheap compared to a normal big time theater now a days. They had a stage set up for the performers , floor level seats and an upper balcony. The seats here are very standard seats , don't decline but do have cup holders. We had a great time watching Metropolis though, our only issue was the people in front of us kept shifting in their seats so we had a hard time reading some of the subtitles, maybe if the seats were organized at different heights we would have had that issue. But we still very much enjoyed the show and would come back again for a movie or special live event.
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Jiachen J.

Yelp
I LOVE THIS PLACE!! Coming here has helped me regain my love of movie theaters, which has slowly eroded due to a combination of high prices and weird rules and oddly hostile workers. This is definitely the cheapest tickets in town ($7 before 6, $8 or something like that afterwards) and while its selection is small, it's very very good. Movies I've watched here include: Deadpool 2 (twice) Two Identical Strangers Would You Be My Neighbor? The Best of Boston 48-hr Film Festival I love how I can come and see a movie I had no knowledge of and not be afraid of wasting money or time. Come here!!
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Grace Y.

Yelp
Came here today to see A Star is Born after checking almost every theatre in the Boston metro area for seats to no avail. We were happy to find that this theatre had good reviews and was only $10/ticket plus a $1 fee if buying online. Seats are first come first serve, so we arrived about 15 minutes early and got pretty good seats. The main theatre is very large, with two levels of seating and a stage for shows. It was a bit crowded and you can't beat the reclining seats at AMC, but I was overall pretty pleased with my experience here. I also saw that they served beer (not sure how much) and popcorn ($4).
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Gretchen B.

Yelp
I love the Somerville Theater. It's a wonderful little theater showing releases after they've been out for a couple of weeks as well as indie films and retrospectives. They also have other events/talks here. Come a little early and explore the Museum of Bad Art downstairs. It's great! They serve beer & wine here. A nice perk. Very convenient to the Red Line...you just walk out of the Davis Sq. Red Line station and you're there!
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Liz H.

Yelp
I wish I could give this theatre less than one start. Not for the movie selection, not for the food. All of that is fine. It is for the profiling my boyfriend endured this past Friday night. Here is the complaint I emailed to upper management of the theatre that I hope you will read: "I had just purchased tickets with a large group of friends for the 7:40 showing of Ladybird, which shortly after arrival was sold out. Around 8:00 pm, my boyfriend, a 33-year-old black male walked in late to purchase a movie ticket to meet me. On finding out that the showing of Ladybird was sold out, he purchased a ticket for another show and planned to go and find an empty seat in Ladybird as I told him there were still two fully empty rows. As he proceeded through the theater he was followed by your manager on duty for the night, Peter Mattchen. Keep in mind that Peter is NOT the person who sold my boyfriend the ticket. He saw a black male walk through the front doors of your theatre and on the grounds of what he called "suspicious behavior" followed him from the ticket booth, down the stairs, and to the bathroom door. Peter approached him as he was heading to a bathroom and proceeded to tell him that he was exhibiting suspicious behavior and needed to leave the premises immediately. Keep in mind that he is a paying customer like every other person that walks up to the box office to purchase a ticket. There were zero grounds for your manager on duty to follow him into the theater for "suspicious behavior". My boyfriend came into the theater to alert me that he was being kicked out, though Peter told him he could not set foot in the theater because he would "disturb the audience." I came into the hall where Peter began to explain the "situation" to me. Peter claimed that he would follow anyone into the theater who had purchased a ticket 20 minutes after a showing had begun. The piece that doesn't add up to Peters claim is that I have a white male friend who joined us late at the theater that night after the showing had sold out. This white male friend had purchased a ticket for a different movie and found an empty seat at Ladybird without being approached and told to leave. Peter seemed to have missed my white male friend's "suspicious behavior" but happened to be very diligent about catching my black male boyfriend's "suspicious behavior" upon entering your facilities doors. The most disturbing thing about this encounter is that they are both paying customers of your establishment, but one of them was severely profiled even before Peter realized that he intended to go to a different movie than the ticket he had purchased. With all this said, I understand you are a small theater and that those who purchase movie tickets for one movie are expected to go to the showing they purchased their ticket for. Peter could have handled this situation VERY differently. It was the way my boyfriend was profiled from the moment he set foot in your theater as a paying customer that is disgusting and wrong. He was so upset that he left after alerting me to what was happening. He did not receive a refund. " Needless to say, we will NEVER be going back to this Theatre.
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Damien S.

Yelp
Live shows in a classic Victorian style main stage that just happens to illuminate the celluloid onscreen and crank out a juvenile crowd-pleaser like Ted during the week. $8 is the most you'll spend to see a flick, with $5 pre-6p weekday matinees dropping even new releases to ridiculous lows (provided you play hooky). Nothing THX-certified, IMAXimized or pushing the third-dimension*, but let's face it - even most Hollywood blockbusters use that shizz as a gimmick. Anytime I've anticipated a major release, Somerville Theatre's shown it. Any movie festival that's caught my eye has screened, at least in part, at the Davis Square institution. And if that doesn't tickle your movie-going fancy, here are the three things everybody else mentions, mainly because they warrant the love: 1) Real butter on the low-priced popcorn. 2) Owls with glowing red eyes will haunt your soul. 3) Beer. In the lobby. Go get you some. ------ * I've been informed that Cinema 5 is, in fact, REAL-3D ready. Glasses down!
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Tim G.

Yelp
This place is where you take your friends when they visit Cambridgeville for the weekend (Somerbridge). Matinees are insanely cheap ($7 or so) and the beer and drinks selection is great and also rather cheap. IF YOU GO HERE YOU *MUST* CHECK OUT THE Museum of Bad Art IN THE BASEMENT. It had me on the floor laughing. Nothing says, "I do Davis Square better than you do Davis Square" than going to this theatre for film festivals, matinees, or just to resee the Museum of Bad Art.
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Jeremy K.

Yelp
This independant movie theater is a landmark within Somerville and dates back to 1914. Yup, it's nearing a century of age and is still going strong to this day. I've been there on numerous occasions, whether to enjoy a screening of the Big Lebowsky or to see the Social Network more recently. Despite it's old age, the place is great and the prices are more than affordable. They've also hosted a plethora of events, including a private U2 concert for a pack of lucky fans. They are also the host to the annual 'Slutcracker" show during the holidays and many more events throughout the years. Concerts, plays and movies. They do it all and they do it well. But what really differentiates it from other theaters is their liquor licence. While you can't have any of the hard stuff, you can still enjoy a glass of wine, or beer while you attend a show there. And that my friends, is awesome. It's located just stone's throw away from the T stop as well and street parking is easily available. Honestly, I have no complaints about the place. It's great to have this in the neighborhood.
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Christie L.

Yelp
$6 a ticket before 6PM and $9 after!! I don't remember the last time seeing a movie at the theater was this cheap! The snacks and drinks are also cheaper than any big movie theaters. They also serve beers!! It is a small theater, so they don't always have all the movies. The inside is old/retro, but they also have the free Museum of Bad Art inside!
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Rachel T.

Yelp
I love this theater! They have such an old nostalgic feel to it! Would definitely host my next movie club here! I suggest you get there early to grab a good seat. I saw Get Out last week and we arrived 10 minutes before the movie started. The only seats available were in the front row (talk about a sore neck). Love that they have beer, and the usual popcorn/snacks. Can't wait to come back!
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Augusto T.

Yelp
Great for an old-timey theater experience. I have come here for both live shows and movies and it has always been a very positive experience. Watching the Hateful 8 in 70 mm was quite a treat. The prices are quite good, especially for the matinee. The seats are old but very comfy. It is a small theater, so they don't always have all of the current blockbusters, but their selection is always pretty good. They sell both wine and beer and I have never had issues bringing in some snacks from other places. My one small warning is that it can get full and showings sell out quite easily. Buy your tickets online or ahead of time and show up a bit early to secure good seats.
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Cathy Z.

Yelp
In my mind, this is what a local business is meant to be. Obviously, you can't beat the prices. Matinees are $7 and are defined as before 6pm, as opposed to Loew's, where you practically have to race over from lunch to qualify for the reduced price. If you don't make the matinee, tickets are still only $10. But even disregarding the great value, Somerville Theater is full of charm, from the owl decor to the intimate mezzanine in the main theater. I also feel like the projection is super high quality here, although the "please keep quiet!" reel is hilariously old and damaged. Although the selection is maybe not as comprehensive as you could find at a bigger theater, Somerville Theater almost always has something else going on, like midnight specials, concerts, or comedy. The Looney Tunes festival a while back was a big hit with the family. Everyone has mentioned that you can get booze here, but what about the fact that you can get a MILKSHAKE here, huh?! That made for some great Vicodin-tinted movie watching right after I got my wisdom teeth out. Opiates or not, this place is the best. Never change, Somerville Theater!
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Sally B.

Yelp
I never knew how much I needed a theater in my neighborhood, and now I don't want to live anywhere else. The Somerville Theatre is an anchor of Davis Square, and rightly so. In one building you can: - support a local business - eat delicious ice cream AND drink beer while seeing a movie - see a first-run movie for $9 or less (!! and this is in 2013!!) - catch great shows and live theater, including indie films and gems like the Slutcracker - get a mini history/art lesson. Between their exhibits in the lobby and the Museum of Bad Art in the basement, there's lots to see here even after your show ends. And do look at that dishware in the lobby - they used to offer it to patrons to encourage them to make the theater their date destination. I wish they still did it! The theaters are a little old but in good shape - even without stadium seating, the seats are comfortable and plentiful enough that you're never crowded. It's worth coming here instead of heading downtown for the good prices and the charm.
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Misty S.

Yelp
Great little local theater in Somerville! The first time I came here was for a good friend's wedding. Yes, you read that right- they rent out the theater for weddings! We all sat in the audience and our friends got married on stage. Very cute! I recently visited again for the Slutcracker- a "unique" version of the nutcracker (adults only, obv). The theater itself is small and you can the stage pretty well from wherever you are sitting in the theater. They serve ice cream and good local craft beers!! I love supporting local and with a great little place like this it's hard to find a reason not to. Parking around the back over near redbones is usually pretty easy to get.
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M J.

Yelp
Love an independent theater but IMO it's impossible to see a longer movie in their main theater - the old seats become excruciatingly uncomfortable. Unfortunately their site does not note which theater each movie is playing in so quite often I pass on seeing a movie here if it's at another local theater. I wish they would provide a bit more info. Can't even get through via phone.
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David M.

Yelp
This can be such a fun place for opening night shows. Aquateen with a couple hundred high teenagers, and a beercan rolling down the theater, Dark Knight till 2:30am on a work night... Somerville Theater is such a big part of Davis Sq, I can't imagine it going anywhere. The prices are better than the major theaters in the area, but they still have good equipment. And they serve beer! There's a CVS next door to sneak food in. Plus you get free admission to the Museum of Bad Art downstairs.
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John S.

Yelp
Support the hell out of this theatre. It is a locally owned gem with reasonable prices, Richardson's Ice Cream, an art museum in the basement, and a relaxed, friendly staff. It is The Perfect Local Theatre.
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Michelle B.

Yelp
Came here yesterday to see Little Women. Arrived 5 minutes late and the movie didn't start until 15 min after scheduled time (which was good for me, as someone who is chronically late). There were no previews so the movie started right away and was played on 35mm film. Tickets were $10, there is beer and popcorn for purchase. They show lots of old films here as well and host a variety of events. Would recommend checking it out! Great little theater.
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Alexandra M.

Yelp
Came for slutcracker and the theater itself was beautiful. However, a huge issue to my friend and myself was that we could only get 1 beer at a time and the bathroom was so far! Even Fenway lets you buy 2 beers. How can we leave during intermission and each get a beer and each go to the bathroom in the basement when we're in the balcony? Maybe I missed a bathroom, but that was where everyone went. Came a second time for a movie and the seats are comfortable and the staff were waiting right outside to ensure it was ready for the next show, which I appreciate at someone who worked at a movie theater through high school.
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David J.

Yelp
I'll start off by saying this is one of the only 3 movie theatres I go to in the city. I prefer smaller indie theatres (Brattle, Kendall Sq, etc). The prices are better and they're less of a zoo, in my opinion. This one sells beer and wine, which some people like... I'm more of a smoker, prior to a movie. This theatre has one large or main room and a couple smaller ones. I find the seats comfortable enough and the food (usually) fresh. I also really love their summer midnight movie series. The one gripe I have with this place is the customer service. The person who sells me my ticket is nice, the person who takes my ticket is nice, but for some reason I ALWAYS end up with the concessions person who's life is apparently falling apart. They're rude, condescending and take absolutely no pride in the food they're serving. If you think "they work at a movie theatre, what pride should they take?" Then you are part of the problem. If I'm paying $7 for popcorn, I'd like more than 2/3 of it to be edible. Not a soggy mess because the lazy person behind the counter dumps 3 cups of butter into one spot because they could care less. This happened last night, and was not an isolated incident. And also, it was 9:45 at night, there was no one in the lobby but me, so the staff weren't busy. And if you're going to half ass your job and take it out on me because I'm possibly the last customer of the night, well that's a fat lot more petty then me complaining about poor tact and soggy snacks. And for the record, I've worked at 3 movie theatres and 3 video stores in my life. Did I always love my job? No... but I did it correctly because that's what I got paid for. I'm not some snob, I just think a little human decency is in order. Never had this complaint about the Brattle Theatre, or Kendall.
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Gina S.

Yelp
This place is quaint and adorable. Perfect date night spot. If you go down into the basement, there's a museum of bad art, which is hilarious. Our movie was in the main theater. Others ordered beers and brought them into the theater- but I saw a sign that said beers had to be drank at the bar? You can also order ice cream and bring it in. Perfect little date spot.
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Tashombe H.

Yelp
Great location at the red line T. Not the cleanest cinema. the prices are much less for tickets and concession and wine/beer compared to other theatres. They don't play a lot of previews before the movie starts. Nice mix of New shows and classics and some live shows. All employees I've interacted with have been very pleasant. Don't count this space out!

Melissa M.

Yelp
While I'm sure this gorgeous venue is a delight as a movie house, as an event space, it's rough. I had the misfortune of having to organize an event here, and it was extremely difficult to communicate with the staff, they have no in-house resources of their own, and on the day of the event one of my vendors was told that they'd never heard of our event. If I had been in charge of actually booking the venue, this isn't the choice that I would have made. Fortunately it all worked out, but there are so many little details to know. Expect to pay an outside vendor for lights, sound, anything on stage. There's no direct phone number to get ahold of staff if you need to -- just the phone number for movie times with no option to speak to a staff member or leave a message. If you're looking for an event space, there are other options in the area.
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Robert C.

Yelp
This theater offers a nice selection of current, independent films accompanied by repertory series. While I applaud the tastes of the curator of these films, I unfortunately am among those who interacted with the less friendly staff. If you are quickly in and out: great. But don't expect to feel welcomed, and don't be caught off guard by rude behavior from the employees.
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savvy p.

Yelp
This is a very cool old theatre and it's genuinely difficult for me to leave this harsh review. However, if I owned this theatre I would CERTAINLY want to know if any of my staff were treating guests the way I was treated there last night. Before the movie began my girlfriend went to get a cider at the bar, I tried a sip and liked it and she went to grab me one. The girl refused to sell it to her as she had gotten the other too recently. Slightly annoying- but I guess I understand. So I get up and go to the bar (shuffling through a row of people) I get to the bar and she says she needs my ID. I am 37 years old. FINE. I shuffle back to my seat and get my ID and return to the bar- to buy what is now the most hassle filled cider that has ever existed. SHE REFUSED TO SELL IT TO ME!! I was stone sober, 37 years old and had now made 3 trips from my seat to the bar only to be turned away by a surly, rude young adult. She gave the reason that my ID was out of state, I just moved here from California. She out and out refused while I stood there embarrassed and outraged. Citing some garbage excuse about Mass state law that was completely incorrect. This is not hospitality. This person (Molly) should NOT be working with the public as she clearly hates people. From reading other previous reviews, I can see I am not the first person she has pulled these unprofessional, mean spirited stunts with. She has also refused to sell to a senior citizen and told another man he needed to wait an hour between beers. WHAT ON EARTH?! Management, please take note, this person might be better suited to another field as she is obviously HORRIBLE with human interaction.
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Yuel G.

Yelp
Great theatre always kind and affordable prices. I lost my wallet and I thought I wouldn't get back. But they called my bank and I got it back. Thank you!!!
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Tamar A.

Yelp
I'm a Bostonian born and raised, through and through, soup to nuts. But let's face facts: this is mean old city we live in, friends. (Friends? Friends, right? Please hang out with me.) I mean, its residents are transient, its locals are cliquey, its squares are random and disassociated. Community? Yeah. Not so much. WHAT FAAHKING OF IT? Or so I thought. Where are all the Boston hipsterllectuals? Why, they're hiding behind squishy seats, sipping their beers, being squinted at by wee owls. While the movies here are fairly second-run hit-or-miss (go to Kendall for the real consistent quality flicks), the diverse, eclectic, FABULOUS live shows are what melts our city's cold, cold heart. The crinkled ticket stubs I've found at the bottom of my purse include: Dar Williams, The Aimee Mann Holiday Spectacular, The Slutcracker (twice), Punch Brothers (thrice), The Magnetic Fields, Crooked Still, and the Moth Mainstage. I've kibbitzed with the talent out front, strolled through the Museum of Bad Art, inhaled all the reasonably-priced Junior Mints during the previews. So keep calm and carry on, Somerville Theatre. Your flaming hot stage is all the community I need.
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Alyssa J.

Yelp
Broke? Unemployed? Bored? Want to catch a flick? Want to grab a beer? A. Broke. Perfect, matinees are $6 and regular priced flicks are $9 B. Unemployed. See (A). C. Bored. Duh, Somerville people watching, plus movie watching, plus popcorn, ice cream and beer. D. Want to catch a flick. It's a movie theater, people. Why the hell else would you go? E. Want to grab a beer. They have several awesome beers on tap at pretty reasonable prices. F. All of the above. I choose you, F. I choose you.
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Steve S.

Yelp
This was a really cool place to go see a flick. First off, they have a great sign that says "No student discounts, we are already the lowest price in the city". So of course, I thought whatever, still going to be $11-$12 bucks at least. $7 bucks!!!! I was like sweet! We enter the lobby, and what do I see? A BAR. In the movie theater. They served beer and wine for $5 to $6 dollars per glass. Cant beat it. We went into the theater. It was small and quaint. They had cup holders in each seat that was nice to hold a beverage. There was definitely a slight scent of body odor in the theater, but that could have been somebody from the last show who left with their "B", but forgot to take their "O" with them. It could also be that the theater is 97 years old. I probably wont smell that great at 97 either. The only real reason that this place did not get 5 stars in my book, is that if you are going to a theater for the loud surround sound action that you get in a modern theater, this is not the place for you. While I could certainly hear what was going on, the speakers were really only on in the front of the theater. The room was a bit off center to the screen. (I was in theater 2). However, with that being said, it was not that big a deal. Great theater. Cool location right at Davis square. I will be back.
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Fancypants X.

Yelp
The spirit of indie theaters lives on in Somerville Theatre! The illuminated sign inside reminds me of vaudeville--a throwback to the old, old school. This joint's been around for 100+ years. The fireplace & spooky-looking owl is not decor you'd typically find at a moviehouse. Neither is the Museum of Bad Art in the basement. I believe it's Theater 1 that looks like a stage with curtains framing the screen & balcony seats. Gems all around. Prices are lower than anywhere I've ever seen; $9 for a first-run movie (no student discount.) They play a good mix of films: $2 family films on Saturdays (might just be for the summer, though), slumber party where cult classics are played at midnight, silent films, & film festivals. I've seen two films here so far: This is the End & The Way Way Back. I'll be back for more, especially since the theater is steps from the Davis Square T. PS: parking is a bitch. We circled for 30 min once & still couldn't find a spot! Take the T here!
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Rebecca Y.

Yelp
This is one of those times you wish you had a half star. Four stars for a $7 movie on a Saturday night. Four stars for putting LOTSA butter on the popcorn (I hate it when they skimp on the butter; I mean you are paying BIG BUCKS for popped corn, they could toss some extra butter on there...but I digress) Three stars for a theater that BADLY needed a fan (too hot and too many people is not good). Three stars for the nasty lady by the staircase who was yelling at me as if I were theater hopping. Butter and cheap trump heat and rude, so four stars it is.