Showtimes & Tickets

The environment is great: Big chairs, relaxed environment, animated movies with the family on weekend mornings, Mr. Zucchini is such a hit with the kids, watching a movie with a crowd who you know is there ‘cuz they like that particular flick that you like too, paying less than the usual cost, being around people instead of just renting a dvd or watching cable…and the fact that you can eat there, defeats the fact the food kinda sucks, although the spinach salad is fresh and tasty and the service is good. So I hope they don’t change a thing.

My wife & I found this place back in the 1980's (when dinosaurs roamed), for a Halloween showing of "Ghostbusters." We've been haunting the Drafthouse ever since. The Drafthouse is not your typical movie theater. To start with, they serve alcohol. And you can smoke (sometimes). For a Depression-era price, you'll see the latest second-run movies and an occasional live-music or comedy show in a vintage theater. Most of the traditional seats have been removed in favor of tiers of counters and table seats. And there are still a few old-fashioned theater seats beneath the projection booth where they offer tray-service. About the service: Spotty, at best. The only sure time the waitron will show up is to give you your check 10 minutes before the movie ends. The food can be tasty, if you choose wisely. (Try the potato-skins and the personal pizza, made in-house.) Virginia is a traditional tobacco state, and many screenings allow smoking in this well-ventilated venue. But, as of March, '09, when the General Assembly passed a smoking-restriction bill, the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse will probably become non-smoking at all times by 2010. And loyal patrons will continue to drive their cancer-spewing SUVs up to this classic theater.

The seats are very comfortable (and they just replaced them!), the service is excellent, and it's possible to find decent food. (I stick with the pizza, which is OK.) It's less expensive than a regular movie ticket and you can drink. They rotate the movies around and they pick good ones. They've also got live acts. The Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse is on our short list of places to go when we want to go out and do something unplanned. We end up going there eight or so times a year.

It's cool that you can drink there and they have some good events but honestly the food is terrible.

I love that we can drink and watch a movie. It's outstanding:).