United Artists Theatres
Check the website for showtimes
Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 594-6525
22 Reviews for United Artists Theatres
The only reason I'm not giving this place one star is because they run a lot of obscure movies that I want to see, movies no other theater in the area will not play. Otherwise, this theater needs a massive overhaul. It's not dirty or ghetto, but it's small and outdated and just generally depressing.
Went here a couple of weeks ago for a night out with the girls. Saw Sex and the City with ~20 girlfriends on a Monday night, following the movie's opening weekend. The theater was not crowded at all, nor was there a wait at the concession stand. $10 per ticket was a bit steep considering the theater isn't anything special like the mega plexes with stadium seating popping up everyplace. This was a bit more old school. It's in a great center, with El Torito, Claim Jumper, CPK, Golden Spoon, Trader Joes and a ton of other eateries & stores.
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I haven't been to this theater for a while, and with good reason. One of the smaller auditoriums has horrible, horrible sound. Sort of sounds like a cheap home stereo system with the treble turned all the way down and the bass turned all the way up. I complained and the "couldn't care less" usher said that they don't have Digital Sound in all of the auditoriums. Then he rolled his eyes.
Why don't other patrons complain? Just look at them. The average age is 80 and their hearing is probably impaired.
For those of us who value pristine projection and excellent sound, this theater is a major disappointment.
It's not like they're charging $2 to get in, either. They're getting the going rate for first-run theaters.
Be warned. If you want good sound, stay far away from this shabby place.
WHY DOES THIS PLACE GET GOOD REVIEWS!? I understand it might give you good memories like an old theater from the 80's because that is the last time they remodeled it, eww. Unless they have finally updated everything my last memory of this place is a bad one. The seats are uncomfortable and the screen old. Maybe I am spoiled by the mega theaters but really, I can barely deal with going to the movies anymore, between texting, talking,babies crying and people just being rude, I need a nice theater to make up for that. I really wish they would update cause they usually have the popular movies for some reason.
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What a FUN theater. It's my personal favorite in Long Beach. I think it has character. UA can be looked to to play some of the fun indie movies that probably won't be in bigger theaters ever (unless they go Little Miss Sunshine), and if they aren't playing it, the Marina Pacifica down the street probably is. I prefer United Artists, however. I like to go on weekend afternoons- it's almost always pretty quiet then. My mom and I sometimes like to get lunch from the nearby Trader Joe's, eat it outside by the pond, and then go catch a movie.
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I've been coming to this movie theater since I was a kid. After Regal bought UA Theatres, they turned this location into one of their Cinema Art locations. That means now they have all the best movies showing all the time.
Like others have mentioned, it never seems very crowded here. We came today on an family outing to see Juno, and with the four matinee tickets we purchased, we got a coupon for a free small popcorn. Sure, the small soda I bought to was $4, but hey, I got free popcorn!
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This is a solid three-star establishment, but they get an extra star because you never have to look for parking; it's always right there waiting for you. Even on Sunday when it was rainy and everyone headed to the picture show, there was no fight for the closest space because they all seemed close.
Matinees (before 4 pm) are $8, twilight shows (from 4pm-6pm) are $6, and after that it's $10. If you're so inclined, you can purchase your tickets prior to the show on Fandango.
The snack bar always seems to move a tad slow, mostly I think because they only ever have one register open. But luckily since you don't spend 20 minutes driving around looking for a parking space, you don't have to sweat the few extra minutes in the snack line.
UA theaters are part of the Regal entertainment group (along with Edwards Theaters) so if you have a Regal coupon or gift card, you can use it here.
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We have decent theater choices in the Long Beach area. This old UA reminds me of the small, always-brown movie theaters I went to as a kid. While it doesn't have the flash and flare of its bigger neighbors, this is a great place to catch a matinee.
What, ask the readers under 60, is a matinee? Why it's a daytime movie, and yes, the crowd is definitely on the older side. But this theater is pretty clean and the movie-goers are mostly quiet, which is a big deal for me.
Because this place is on the end and facing away from the Marketplace shopping area, you don't seem to have that "trickle in" crowd of shoppers that you see at Marina Pacifica or the Long Beach Town Center theaters. As a result, crowds are a rarity.
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I love this theater for mostly nostalgic purposes. It has no fancy-shmancy stadium seating, there are only about 5 screens inside, the ceiling is low as well as the lighting. Basically the place reminds me of the movie theaters of my youth. There's something comforting about this place with it's less than cheery colors, no drink holders on the seats, sticky concrete floors, seats that don't recline and only go up to your shoulders instead of your back and that certain slightly musty movie theater smell that old theaters have (and new theaters seem to be lacking).
They charge about as much as other theaters, except they do offer a student and senior discount. However, TWILIGHT SHOWS ARE ONLY $6! That's a steal for the L.A. area! I am a big fan of going to twilight shows here. They are also one of the few theaters around that screen limited released films, i.e. documentaries, foreign films, and independent films. Their snack counter items are priced the same as other theaters but I am a fan of their popcorn...I love me some movie theater popcorn! Sometimes I wonder if I like the movies so much, or if I really just like movie theater popcorn.
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This is where I go to watch critically acclaimed films. Just me and some old folks on a Saturday afternoon. They haven't told me to get off their lawn yet, so they're cool.
There's plenty of parking, as a matter of fact, there's so much parking sometimes I wonder if the place is closed. They can only dream of this much parking across the street.
The restroom is upstairs, a quirk fitting for a place that plays quirky films.
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This move theater rocks because it's hidden from the street and not too many people come here. If you want to see a movie during its premiere weekend, UA is the place to go. Not too many people, can get here 5 min before the 7pm showing and still get a seat, and there aren't many teeny boppers here! Granted, it's a bit on the run down side, but I think that's what keeps the trendy teens away. Shoo, kids!
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ehh... that's about it...the screen sucked due to the holes in them, pretty crappy seats
the only reason i came here was for a movie that was not showing anywhere else
never again...
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I've always loved this theater. It isn't rational, really, just a nostalgic sort of love. Just like Tina D. and others have said, it harkens back to those old days of movie watching, before the megaplex and stadium seating and tighter-than-a-*beep*-in-water security. It reminds me of going to the mall and jumping from movie to movie to avoid the summer heat.
And yeah, they do play the obscure, the non-mainstream, the artsier type of movie. That needs to be supported. Many of my friends call this place ghetto, but doesn't that reflect their snobbery?
I've never had a problem here. Always had a perfect view of the screen. Never found gum on the back of my seat. Never been interupted by loud drunken teenagers (like you always get at the Town Center). It just feels like the local cinema. Not perfect, but ours.
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I love this theater. I mean sure, they microwave your hot dogs, you have to go all the way upstairs to go potty, and they still charge $9.25 for a movie ticket, but...they always play the cool indie films, I have yet to see a line, or any other person for that matter, and you can find parking right in front on the theater! This is an old, old, old school theater, but I guess that means I'm old school because I'd take this place over an AMC any day.
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Remember the old theaters you and your friends would go to see movies that were $1 or maybe $3 and you'd smuggle in candy and watch multiple flicks, and then that theater went out of business and you had to pay the $9 at the regular theater and their security was more intense so you couldn't smuggle in your own stuff and you couldn't go to multiple movies???
Okay, so this theater isn't quite the $1 theater, but i want to support them in the way that i wish i would have bought more concessions at the $1 theater to keep them in business. They play a lot of indie & foreign flicks and stuff they don't play at any other theaters, which i'm so super down for.
The parking lot is dark and the food is stale, but i'm willing to shell out a few bucks for a pretzel & cheese and a soda to go see "Science of Sleep" or "A Very Long Engagement" or "Aqua Teen Hunger Force."
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Yup, everything that needs to be said has already been said! I remember when Yelp wasn't so popular and I was able to write the first reviews! DAMNIT! But i want to leave a star rating for sure. Great place to see indie movies (Bay Theater and Art are close by, but single theaters). No lines... chances are there will be only 3 other people in the theater with you. Rad.
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Well I just did a review for another movie theater (AMC Marina Pacifica 12) and mentioned this theater, I felt it was only appropriate to write one for this theater as well. So here I am.
I won't try to spend too much time comparing the two, so I will just say that I prefer this theater over the other one. When I want to see a movie, I would much rather go to the movies and have little to no interaction with the rest of the public and just be able to enjoy my movie and not feel as though it's such a chore even going to the theater, let alone all that you have to deal with at a larger place.
Okay with that said, I can move on to my review.
I love movies and in the past I would never imagine seeing 20-40 movies in the theater in a single year, especially not with the cost of tickets and then refreshments and then dealing with the people.
UA has helped not only save a few bucks, but a good deal of my sanity.
I usually hit the place between 4-6 on a Saturday or Sunday, their Twlight showings only cost $6.00. The place is never packed, you can always find parking and the crowd there is a bit different. Usually consists of the elderly, probably from Leisure World which is not too far away. There are groups of people my age (in their 20's) but you never have any of the "issues" you get with a crowd that age or younger. So my experiences have been pretty pleasing.
I love the the laidback atmosphere of the place and don't mind the smaller theaters, because you never even get to half capacity and
that leaves you with plenty of room and not having to feel boxed in.
Not sure what else I can say. You want to see a movie, bigger office movies or smaller foreign or independent movies and just have a relaxing experience, then go here.
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If you want stadium seating and a cup of steaming starbuck's coffee with your movie....go across the street to the Marina Pacifica theater.
If you want to be a witness to a drive-by shooting or stabbing, go down the freeway to the theater at the LB Town Center.
If you want to see a foreign film in somewhat limited release, are disabled, or a senior.....come to the United Artists Theater.
I'm not really an avid movie-goer but my sister is. I met her for a movie her that starred Judy Dench, or Helen Mirren.....one of those old English women. It was a great movie. Anytime I go some place with my sister I'm always prepared for drama. My sister is disabled and I'm always shocked at the insensitivity and lack of tact by some folks in the service industry.
This was one of the very rare times we went out and there was no drama. Not only was the theater accommodating to my sister. I was surprised at the number of disabled folks all in one place. It was like a little convention. Wheelchairs, motorized scooters, walkers, canes....all in one theater.
Normally this would have been too many people for the four seats in the back of theater that are reserved the disabled. However, this theater had several aisle seats removed where a wheelchair could be parked and a disabled moviegoer could sit closer to the screen if they wanted to.
You may never notice something like this, but if you are disabled this is a big bonus!
Four stars to the UA theater!
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God bless the theatres that actually play movies other than summer blockbusters... While the seats are admittedly not as comfy and the snack bar not as impressive, I still enjoy this place. No lines, no driving around the parking lot for half an hour trying to find a parking spot, and... I've yet to experience some bratty kid screaming maniacally in the middle of a movie. HUZZAH! If there's an independent or slightly off-kilterish movie that you're interested in seeing, this is going to the be place it'll be playing in Long Beach.
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It's a very ghetto theatre when compared to its neighbor, AMC Marina Pacifica. It's in a pretty shabby looking strip mall, I've only been here once, and was unimpressed. The seats were very old, armrests are filthy. I wouldn't come back =\ I only came here because it was the only place which was showing a rather obscure movie I wanted to see.
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True, you won't find stadium seating or enormous screens at this theater, but nor will you find throngs of obnoxious teenagers talking on their cell phones during the movie or some kid behind you kicking your seat. This theater shows mostly smaller movies, though, as Holly T. mentioned, for the real art house fare you'll have to go elsewhere. Still, even though it's old and not as fancy as the others, this is probably my favorite theater in Long Beach because it's always showing something I want to see, it's not usually that crowded, and the people that are there never seem to be the annoying types that make you stop wanting to go to movie theaters and just rent DVDs instead.
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I like this theater for its more non-mainstream movies and the fact that it still has a student discount. It usually has some of the smaller movies that are not across the street at the AMC, but it doesn't go so far as to have many arty or independent movies; you still have to go to the Art Theater or Bay Theater for those (or drive up to LA). If you want stadium seating, don't come here. It's a fairly old (relatively speaking) theater with old seats and tiny screens. I don't mind that, but I know it drives some people crazy when they are used to seeing movies with posh, comfy seats and big screens and good sound systems.
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