Chelsea Clearview Cinema
260 W 23rd Street
(between 7th Ave & 8th Ave)
New York, NY 10011 (212) 222-1200
- Nearest Transit:
23rd St-8th Ave (C, E)
23rd St-7th Ave (1)
23rd Street (PATH)
- Good for Kids: Yes
30 Reviews for Chelsea Clearview Cinema
I saw Funny Games a few weeks ago and found this a pretty good theater experience. Very large, lots of theaters, good selection of movies, big screens, comfy seats, sound and picture quality gave me no reason to complain (though it didn't wow me either). The lounge areas looked so cozy I wished the movie had an intermission. A bit pricey at $12 a ticket.
How do you know you're a tourist in New York?
You go see Sex And The City the week it comes out with a group of girls. Yes, yes, yes, I admit it, I couldn't help it. And how could I not? I mean, we were all wearing girly dresses and at a fancy pants mixer drinking Prosecco beforehand and the temptation frankly was far too great not to go for it.
As for the theater, I will say that the seats here are delicious. I actually loathe going to see movies, because, well, I don't like people :) Kidding. But I do like the option of being able to pause a flick, drink my wine and lay in my bed with my kitties and watch a movie instead of being confined to a chair, but here I didn't even mind. They are so damn comfy that they actually could give my bed a run for its money.
So if you are in the area and wanna catch a flick in comfort, I say grab your tickets, go across the street to the Trailer Park Lounge, have some cocktails and then go for it here. Otherwise, you can come over and watch it in 6 months in my bed. Wait, what?
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Chelsea Cinemas is my favorite theatre in Manhattan for a few reasons.
1. Location - easy to get to from anywhere in the city and for me it's easiest to get to from my home (15min ride on the PATH).
2. Staff - The staff at this cinema are very nice compared to other theatres like AMC Times Square where you can COUNT on having poor service every time. Have I had some poor service at Chelsea Cinemas? Yes...but it's rare, really.
3. Seats - They recline....sooo comfy.
4. People - The patrons are primarily adults, and are polite, unlike trying to see a film in Times Square where you get push-to-talk phone conversations in addition to the soundtrack. And, if you like handsome older gay men, step right up, they're here!
5. CLASSICS! Hedda Lettuce hosts fantastic classic films and deliciously horrible flops every thursday night...and it's more fun because Hedda is more of a comedienne than a drag queen. Very funny, and the films are only $6.50! You can afford the popcorn too! And there are door prizes sometimes they're really good ones. I have to say that Chelsea Classics has become one of my most-loved things to do in NYC and really make it home for me.
6. THE CHOICES - They play independent films, and limited release films. I have seen lots of stuff there that isn't playing at other theatres in the country or even the city. I love that.
NOW...I am not so happy with them raising the ticket prices and the prices on concessions. I used to be able to get the movie and popcorn and a soda for 20.00 (which is still outrageous) . JEEZ The more you raise concession pricing, the more you force people to smuggle outside food into your theater. Come ON! Won't you have more profit by making your snacks affordable? People WANT the convenience of buying it there, but when you have to spend 13.00 on a soda and popcorn, they can't or won't, especially when there's a Duane Reade, Rite-Aid, and CVS all within a block of the theatre to buy the candy at.
Tickets are $12. This annoys me to no end.
But the theater was clean and comfortable. It was not crowded on a Sunday afternoon (not shocking when they charge $12 for tickets) and there were couches and bar tables and stools in the lobby.
The seats in the actual theaters are large comfortable and set up staduim style.
I can imagine this would be a good theater to go movie hopping at if you were into that kind of thing.
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I went for the Thursday night Hedda Lettuce show. She is a drag queen who shows old movies in one of the theaters, has a raffle and minor show with the audience, and then provides hilarious commentary throughout the movie. I saw 1955's "Female on the Beach" with Joan Crawford -- a piece of crap movie that I loved to hate, all thanks to Hedda.
It's a fun way to spend a Thursday night if you don't mind being surrounded by older gay gentlemen.
Oh, and it might be a good idea to bring a flask ;-)
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The seats are at a very odd angle it's true. Have not sampled the concessions as I don't on principle. Price of admission: $12-fuck people I thought 10 dollars was unthinkable. Projection and sound were decent.
Do not get here that often but my friend and I came to see the savages-one of the only theaters showing it; back in June saw La Vie en Rose here.
Crowds pretty dignified.
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$12 for a movie is ridiculous. $5.15 for a small popcorn is ridiculous.
The seats are odd. But the screens are a nice size. I have an issue with the fact that the lights didn't completely dim. And at the end of the movie, they didn't come back on.
The white cheddar topping for the popcorn taste like thick salt.
The bathroom was clean but it was funky. The soap dispensers are on either end and thus inaccessible in a crowded bathroom. The hand dryers are slow and old.
The movie played a bit loud, but I feel that's because it was fairly empty in the theater at the time I went.
Overall, not bad.
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Great theater--friendly, clean, no issues with sound or projection while I've been there. No stadium seats, but a good selection of indie-ish and foreign-language films. They also often have midnight movies, like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and free advance screenings, and it's one of the best theaters in New York to make your own "sneak" previews after your first paid movie. Convenient location for those taking the subway.
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Went to see 'No Country For Old Men' here. It's an OK theater, not great.
Wheelchair Access: Ok, but also not great. The theater I was in only had wheelchair seating at the top which I don't love 'cause every time someone gets up to pee they walk past me. I'm also close enough to the doors to be distracted every time they open and close. It accessible, just not ideal.
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Went here the other afternoon for a free screening of "The Golden Compass," courtesy of where I work and the holidays. We got free Pepsi and popcorn, but as one fellow remarked, "The soda is stale and the popcorn is cold. I hope the movie's good."
Speaking of cold, apparently, they don't heat the theater during the day, because it was freezing. Regardless, the seats were comfortable, if a bit low, and the screening was top notch. I'd go back for a proper movie; this experience was a little different because we rented the place out.
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The worst seats. In the world. Do you like staring up at the ceiling because your chair wobbles back and you feel as though you'll fall through to the floor? Then please, go here.
Everything else was decent. Good location, good size, but awful, awful seats. And the theater was absurdly hot throughout the entire film. And the screen was skewed all during the previews. I was not pleased. Fortunately, There Will Be Blood was one of the best American films I've ever seen.
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The seats are comfy, it's never too crowded, and most importantly: they sell candy by the pound from bins! and upstairs there's a machine that dispenses icecream bars. You can get a Chipwich!
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What a great change of pace. I'm so used to going to Union Square where you have to choose between the very first row or separate from your friend/loved one/movie partner. There was hardly anyone in this theater (it could have had something to do with the movie) and that's the way I like it. There was a couple totally making out in the back too, so I guess it feels private enough to encourage the youngsters to get after it as well. I'd definitely go back.
This is a nice smaller theater, though I must admit lately I've been pretty spoiled with stadium seating. It was clean theater and the staff was very attentive. The reason I didn't give it four stars? I wish someone would have told us there's a concession stand on the second floor. At least I know for next time.
Big cushy seats with lots of arm space - but no stadium seating and no perceptible ramp to the theater to make up for it. And of course the tall guy with the big hair sat in front of my short friend. As a tall person myself, I must take this opportunity to say to my height-gifted bretheren, if the theater isn't full, BE NICE AND DON'T SIT IN FRONT OF THE SHORT GUY!!!
All in all, clean and decently staffed. And the bathrooms were clean. Bonus.
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Oh Chelsea Clearview... you're definitely one of my favorite theatres in Chelsea. The gayest, the friendliest, the nicest, and the cleanest. Always so slick, and it got such a nice remodeling job. I remember a moment i once had here, where I went to see Hedda for the first time, and she was doing her dubbed version of Mommie Dearest. It was incredible. I just have a thing for this theatre, I dunno what it is!
A charming, comfortable little theater in Chelsea. I will say that if I didn't work a few blocks away, I doubt I'd go out of my way to get here. The concession stands leaves a lot to be desired. My recommendation is to go to one of the billions of delis and/or grocers in the area and buy your own snacks. Otherwise, the Chelsea Clearview is a clean, enjoyable experience!
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Decent theater, I'm actually a fan specifically of one of the theaters in Chelsea West, the big one with stadium seating. That is a kick ass theater.
This theater is clean and spacious. Nothing more, nothing less. They seem to give ample amounts of time to allow the seating frenzy to play out, which is a very good thing.
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Pretty average, smaller theater. There was no sound during the previews but they fixed it before the main event. I saw Death at a Funeral.
went to see "juno" last night here. i must give it a star for location and easy access from the C/E trains. another star for ginormous popcorn. i didn't have any but sheer volume deserves a sparkle. the condition of the theaters were average. i like my theaters a little worn in and not too shiny and new. the bathrooms were clean, unlike some of the newer multiplexes i've been too. that gets another star. would go back for the convenience.
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The only reason I go here is because I get free movie tickets on Tuesday nights, thanks to Cablevision's Optimum Rewards program. (No, that was not a plug for the program, but it is a great benefit!)
The theater is clean and the screens are decently sized. I love the plush, reclining seats. It's too bad that not all the theaters have stadium seating, though. Sometimes the person in front of you is just too tall.
I've never ordered food, so I can't comment on that. Although I can say that you can easily sneak food into the theater in your bag and there quite a few decent take-out restaurants nearby... Shh.
Last night I also noticed that it's pretty easy to uh, see multiple movies in one night, if you catch my drift. Especially if your movie is on the top floor on a weeknight...
The selection of movies is decent, too. They usually have whatever blockbusters are new and maybe a smaller movie or two.
I wouldn't pay for a movie here, because I don't have to, but it's great when you've got free tickets!
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It's a decent clean theater but....
We watched half of the movie with the lights on.
In addition to 15 minutes of previews, we were awarded with 15 minutes of regular commercials you see on TV. Yay.
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It's a decent multiplex...the thing that really won me over were the seats. Very comfy - almost recliner-like.
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For a big multiplex, the place is pretty good. Picture quality was solid, and the seats were some of the most comfortable ever. No wonder it was packed. Even though we got the seats way off to the side, we still had a good view of the screen, though the sound seemed a bit off. Nonetheless, the comfy chairs take this up from three stars to four.
Oh, and the movie annoyances count was low: 2 cellphone rings, no audible conversations, no audible babies, one dog in a purse - but it too was silent throughout the movie.
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A perfectly adequate mainstream theater, with big screens and cushy seats with big padded armrests. I just expect something a little nicer for $10.50, like stadium seating. The lobby is an improvement on most, with a small cafe area with sofa, tables, and chairs for waiting for friends or killing time before the show. And no bargain first show is a bummer.
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Really liked the theater on 23rd & 8th (is there any other in the Clearview cinema group?). Almost empty, very clean, and the seats where huge and comfortable, like I was sitting in a lazy boy in the basement of one of my friend's houses. Lots of space, and they sell ICEES. A great place to go when its as hot as hell outside.
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Well, it's a movie theater, right? Yeah, so pretty much what you'd expect from a $10.50 movie ticket. I recommend checking out Chelsea Clearview West which is just down the street. They are owned by the same corporation but show more independently minded films
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I love this theater. It's always less crowded and feels cozier than the other big chains around Union Square.
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Comfy seatss, if that matters.
Most theatres are jammed during prime times.
Yes, the one west of 8th Avenue is good: went to Harry Potter film on Thanksgiving, as there are few kids in that nabe, and it was almost empty.
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convenient, not too crowded, and you can sit with cute old people during the matinees. also an accepting, non-judgemental environment for single moviegoers. they play good movies, usually a week or two after angelika, etc. get them
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