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Birmingham Theatre
Category: Arts & Entertainment Cinema Cinema [Edit]
211 S Old Woodward AveBirmingham, MI 48009
Neighborhood: Downtown Birmingham
(248) 723-6230
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
15 reviews for Birmingham Theatre
15 reviews in English
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Review from Alexandra K.
Astoria, NY
3/13/2011
Between the Main Art theater in Royal Oak, and the Birmingham 8, you can find a decent art-house film in the suburban Detroit area.
The ticket prices are more expensive than the Main, but they still have an interesting mix of movies, and the smaller space makes it feel more personal than the Palladium 12. Convenience: parking is right behind the theater. -
Review from jenny c.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2011
Birmingham 8 carries art flicks & documentaries you wont find anywhere else. The theater itself is newer and the sound is better quality than the Main, but DAYUM this theater is wicked expensive.
No student discounts, the snacks are inSANEly priced, and on a week night, its a ghost town. If there's a film playing you really want to see, go during the week before 6 to get admission for $5. Otherwise all films are a steep $10. So pack yr better mades & faygos into yr bag and pony up the ten bucks. Its the only way its worth it.
BIKES::: I bet you could lock up to a parking sign. -
Review from Katie J.
Birmingham, MI
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cute and charming. Small theaters. Pricey non-matinee tickets. But I'm sure that's the standard for the area.
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Review from Michael C.
Warren, MI
6/25/2009
They have a great selection of independents here, which others have pointed out, is probably the reason that the theater is doing well.
However, there are other annoying factors in my rating. The staff is a bit curt for my taste. Going there tonight for a screening was an ordeal. I don't appreciate being yelled at to wait for "the guy to check if there are seats", short man with the broken flashlight. You let a couple people go ahead because they had different color tickets than we did. BAH.
It seems weird to say this, but either the AC is broken or they're too cheap to turn it on. I was roasting through the entire movie. I shouldn't be sweating in a theater when I'm just in a shirt and jeans for Pete's sake!
So yeah, don't talk to the short guy and see a movie in your underwear and you should be good to go. -
Review from Henry B.
12/11/2009
I was here to view Me and Orson Welles with my wife and Mariah.
One staff member was wearing sunglasses and chatting away on his cell phone before helping me at the concession stand. Take off your sunglasses dude: You're indoors and you're not Puff Daddy.
Also, they had no idea there was a viewing of the movie and they weren't quick to help me solve the confusion.
I almost didn't get in because the staff was unaware of the viewing.
And....
This isn't the first time it's happened. They were also unaware when we had the 500 Days of Summer event....this past summer.
For the 500 Days of Summer viewing, I was turned away. An employee said the theater was full and nobody could come in even though we had tickets.
Mariah came out and said we were cool and took us in the theater. Guess what?
There were seats available. Quite a bit actually. Why did the guy at the door tell me my ticket was no good and that there was no more room? How can it be full yet there are many empty seats? It's a mystery.
The management here needs to tighten up on the employee etiquette here. -
Review from Tiffany D.
Detroit, MI
This is a downtown Birmingham landmark, and plays movies that the kids that go to the Palladium aren't interested in, making it my theater of choice.
It was built in the 1920s when people were apparently small with really short legs. The leg room isn't great, is what I'm trying to say. But it is a cozy theater without stadium seating. Unless a film has been getting a lot of press, most showings aren't sold out, allowing for your group to spread out a little bit, or at least get an aisle seat.
One complaint. The last movie I saw here, Vicky Christina Barcelona, the projector was off just a little bit, cutting out the subtitles when the characters started speaking in Spanish. It was annoying, but not enough to ruin the entire movie experience. It was the first time it happened, and if I had gotten up to complain I'm sure they would've done something about it. -
Review from kelly w.
Brooklyn, NY
7/18/2008
The marquee on Old Woodward is such a landmark for anyone who grew up in Birmingham. When you were in middle school (and occasionally high school) you would troll the streets of Birmingham on a Friday night-- but outside near the theater was always where it was going on. It was the place where you would run into your crush and just spurt out a nervous hi as you were walking past... where were you going? nowhere. I really don't get why it was "the thing to do," but it was.
Now, onto the theater. It was resurrected in '96 to house more than one screen, and boy was that a big deal. Back then, they had their sh*t together... since the opening of the Palladium I feel like the Birmingham 8 has suffered.
It takes forever at the concession stand.. why? Not because there is a line, but because I think everyone there is on snail time. There is no other explanation-- I wish there was.
I do, however, like the fact that they play more independent films, but typically you won't see the indies that are playing at the Main Art-- that would be waaaay too out of the 'hams comfort zone. -
Review from Antonio R.
Detroit, MI
5/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This is the older movie theater in Birmingham. It has 8 screens, and most of the theaters are small except for number 1. It is pretty big but the seating is divided into sections, so if your like me and like to sit at the top you might lose part of the screen depending on where you are.
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Review from o o.
Ann Arbor, MI
11/24/2007
I hate this theater but always find myself returning since they do get interesting films. Most of the theaters are small with one aisle, therefore you have to get up like five times per movie to let people relieve themselves. You also catch up on all your gossip here. The movie goers love to chat and they don't stop when the lights go out. Don't go unless you like cramped, broken, seats and if you are at all claustrophobic make sure you arrive early and sit in the aisle seat otherwise you will be experiencing your worst nightmare.
One star for presenting independent films. Come on Illitches invest a little dough and make this a classy place! -
Review from Andy L.
Ann Arbor, MI
7/7/2009
Have not actually been to the theater but fyi the number above is for an automated ticket service.
You can talk to a real person with the direct line 248-723-6230
Matinee pricing until 8pm! $5 -
Review from Matthew D.
Detroit, MI
2/17/2009
Did you know that straight forward is the new complex? Simple is the new versatile? Clear cut the new comprehensive?
No? In a life where I don't know how to completely use half the things around me; my phone, my computer, my boss' instructions... thank god for a place like The Birmingham 8 that just keeps it easy for me to go in and enjoy a movie.
There's not a lot of thrill to this place, it's simple and straight forward and I like that about it. I would say that the theater we watched our movie in only housed probably 40 or 50 people and it was completely packed. It felt a little old school, where you'd go see the movie in high school the night it released and it'd sell out... not a seat to be had.
We saw The Wrestler as this was the only place in the area showing that movie (if you haven't seen it.... DO) and there's a lot of crowd noise and loud moments and the sound in this theater is the best in metro Detroit. Crystal clear and many times I couldn't tell if the cheers were in the crowd or the movie! (the first would be AWESOME, the latter more plausible).
The marquee with kids taking tickets in the window below it just can't be beat. Awesome job by this simple and clean theater and I'll be back for more! -
Review from Cheryl T.
Royal Oak, MI
8/18/2010
This is one of my favorite places to see a movie. I see there are a ton of complaints about the concession and the staff, but I haven't really ever had that experience. Although I also don't expect top notch white glove service from a teenager working at a movie theatre. :) I love the look and feel of this place, and it's WAAAAY quieter than the Palladium down the street, which I hate. Plus they usually have a great selection of movies.
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Review from Cherice J.
Detroit, MI
8/2/2008 1 photo
I agree with the other reviewers...this theater is sort of pointless. Especially with the Palladium right down the street. However, the pro's about this theater (and probably the reason why it is still surviving) is because of the independent films they show here. Now that Palladium has gotten a tad bit worse and filled with kids, I guess I would suggest Birmingham Theater for a cozy date. Trust me, because of the narrowness of the theater, it will be cozy!
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Review from Katia M.
3/21/2007
I really like this theatre. They play cooler movies than the Palladium, and they're practically connected to a parking garage ... even though it's the most ridiculously narrow garage ever and I duck if I'm in my parents SUV and wonder if we'll be able to leave. But seriously, it's a cool little art theater, and you can't beat the marquee out on Old Woodward. It's cool.
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Review from Dominic P.
Macomb, MI
8/21/2009
I really do like Birmingham. It's just the people that annoy me. I'm sure that shocks you. My much better half and I decided to go to the movies. Out of the two closest theaters near me only one was playing our movie of choice, The Birmingham 8. I haven't been there in a while so I thought it would be good to see if they were keeping up after the gigantic Palladium Theater was built. The Birmingham 8 is a 1927 theater that was restored in 1996. It still has that classic theater feel (albeit on the faux side) even with the "I played halo till 3am yesterday" geek serving me popcorn. I have nothing against halo or geeks or the melding of them together like pimply faced virgin Reese's peanut butter cups. I just think they could give them a little bit more of a uniform to go with the Theaters feel. It's not the biggest theater but it still plays some major new releases as well as many independent films. The concession stand takes up much of the front lobby's room. So it can get a little cramped at times. The stairway to the theatres makes it feel much grander than a typical theater. The Theaters themselves are decorated in a classic 20's feel with some faux deco-esque touches. The seats are not extreme high end but they are comfy and clean. Again, they are not huge theaters. So they fill up fast. And it can get a little cramped at times. Ok, now on to the important points, the people. Apparently every 45 to 50 something couple in Birmingham went to this theater on this night to see our show. And they all knew each other. Seriously people this isn't church. Don't reach across me to shake hands with twenty other people around us. And as if that wasn't enough, they all had to carry on conversations over my better half and I. I really don't want to hear about how hard it is to find good help and your stupid dog fluffy's poop problem. Yes, that was really the conversation. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Then this couple sits next to me. The woman takes off her fur coat. It wasn't that cold out but I guess she needed to take the dog for a walk. I mean it makes sense really. Going to the movies? Wear jeans, a sweater and take your full length fur coat. Don't take this the wrong way. I'm not going to throw red paint on her. I'm an adult. I'm just going to roll my eyes, laugh and point. So this 5 going on 50 year old woman hangs this dog coat on the chair and sits on it. Ok, maybe it was one of those k mart blue light special fur coats that she didn't mind ruining. Ill let that slide. To my shock out from under her arm came this fuzzy pink purse. Yes I said pink and fuzzy. I guess I'm not up on the latest fashion couture. I missed the article in ELLE where they raved about pink fuzzy purses and ratty dog coats as a mach made in Versace heaven. I'm thinking we are getting closer to my K mart shopper though. So this woman sits down and opens her pink poodle purse. I was whispering to my better half about my day but had to stop. This woman pulled out cheese and little Mini me bottle of wine. Really? Come on, is Ashton Kutcher going to jump out and start laughing waving that stupid trucker cap around? And of course it would be really tacky to drink to drink from the lollipop gang bottle of wine. So this woman pulls out a plastic cup, much more tactful. The movie finally begins. It was not bad. The sound at this theater is good when poodle woman wasn't laughing at the wrong moments and whispering. The Birmingham 8 is an all around nice place to see a movie. It doesn't fill up with gaggles of teens and pre teens. Other theaters tend to become a sea little mop top hair cuts and punky tennis shoes. Please people stop breeding.
