Brew & View At The Vic

Excellent concept. Great for a cheap, casual date. $ 5 gets you entrance for one or all (usually 2 – 4 movies/​night) showings. The bar contains all the necessities. The movies are usually ones that released in theaters 2 – 4 months ago, but have yet to be released on DVD. The sound quality is really quite horrible, but it’s $ 5! Definitely worth a visit for a chill night.

This is THE perfect slow, rainy day activity. Get there about 5 minutes early (at least for a Sunday 5:45 show) and grab a drink from the bar and relax. It’s so chill I can hardly stand it. Note — bring cash as the admission is cash only ($ 5 each) but the bar accepts cards. It was awesome to see a movie (we saw Trainwreck) that was just slightly out of the main theatres for only $ 5! And I live up the street on Sheffield so it’s über convenient. Drinks are decently priced — spent $ 48 on 6 drinks including tip. Not bad.
It’s just a great, fun, easy, low-​key thing to do. Makes me love Chicago all the more. Come and enjoy :)

Really fun for a casual date or hang out with friends. Entry for $ 5 is great, the concessions are a little pricey. My boyfriend, roommate and I got 6 beers and 2 bags of popcorn for $ 47. In total, about $ 6 per item is not terrible for Chicago prices, and watching movies in a big concert venue with beer on tap is possibly the best rainy day activity. Definitely recommended.

Just went back to Brew and View at the Vic last night, (Wednesday) evening and wanted to come back and update my review. I think I read recently where these guys were closed for a while for upgrades. I’ve got to give credit where credit is due and raised my rating for these guys from 1 star to 3. They’ve installed a new digital projector which improved the image on the screen about 100%. I don’t know if they’ve updated the sound system, but it’s great as well.
On the Wednesday evening that I went, the ground floor was closed off. I was told that the main floor seating was only going to be open on Friday and Saturday nights when there no concerts, the other days of the week, customers would be seated in the balcony. They now have two sets of updated restrooms, one set on each floor, so you no longer have to go in the dungeon to use the stinking restroom. The entire staff was friendly to me which is a nice change and I was no longer required to wear a paper wrist band. There is still a little ambient light bleed hitting the screen during the feature, but it’s not nearly as bad as before. This could probably be solved by installing some lower wattage bulbs in the exit hallways. You will see what I mean when watching the image on the screen, when the screen goes dark, you will see the horizontal bleed light coming from somewhere, for film freaks, it’s annoying.
Now, finally, for film buffs, the theater is getting a lot closer to being a good «rep» theater. It would be great to see film festivals and independent features play at the Vic, (similar to the Century Mall on Clark St.), but that’s going to take better management, or a person dedicated to running those type of programs, (I’m not holding my breath on this one). The popcorn is good, but not great and there’s no butter available, (so plan on bringing your own seasoning if you want that sort of thing). The Vic is lot more interested in selling you beers and mixed drinks than it is in selling you really great traditional concessions and that’s just not right. This could be remedied pretty easily, but again, it would take a dedicated management person or staff. As a film buff, I would now go back to this theater, just for the thrill of seeing recent films on a big screen with a nice sound system.

I used to love this place. It was a lot of fun to sit at the tables on the first floor, but now they only let you sit in the too small seats up top. I appreciate that they updated the sound system, but now it is way too loud. These opinions are shared by all the people I have gone there with in the last few months.

I haven’t been here since the late 90’s for a Backstreet Boys concert. lol
I had a groupon for the movie and popcorn.
I came with a buddy of mine they opened the doors at 5:30pm. The lady at the ticket booth was nice. We came yesterday thursday ⁹⁄₄ to see Transformer for the 6pm show.
We went upstairs to the concession stand. The guy was playing his cell phone on Facebook. So we stood there then he said oh sorry. I gave him the ticket for my free popcorn. So I wanted to get two sodas. So I opened my wallet and pulled out my credit card. He pours the sodas. THen he says oh we dont take credit cards cash only but there is an ATM machine right next to the concession stand. Now im like SMH who doesn’t take plastic these days. So I goto the ATM and its not even turned on. So I the guy about the ATM and said I will just take the popcorn. He tells me sorry again. I ask him for butter he said they don’t have any and that the butter is already a flavoring in the popcorn mix. So im like ok.
I walk into the theater it was beautiful inside. But all the seats and row are narrow. I am 6 2″ and my buddy is 6 4″ tall. We barely squeezed into our seats. So i go to the mens room. Then once I wash my hands OMG I had to hold my breath its smelled so bad from urine.
The movie was supposed to start at 6pm but for whatever reason not till 6:30pm. Numerous times during the movie the picture turned half screen. Idk why. Then during the movie few times there was a lound banging sound as if someone was banging a door upstairs idk were.
It was a good movie but never again will we come back here. Its a shame a nice theather like this.
The only reason they got 2 stars is because the archutechure was kept up so nice.

Stopped by for brew and view on a Sunday afternoon. Overall it was a great experience. The ticket is only $ 5 for all 3 movies. And concessions were not too expensive either. It is cash only which I don’t necessarily appreciate but today I happened to have some (they do have an atm on site). The theater is nothing fancy. The screen is sort of far away and the sound is not the best. But it was still a comfortable and enjoyable experience. I really wish they had refills available on pop and popcorn but oh well.

I’ve been here a couple of times with the Groupon deal (2 tix & a popcorn for $ 5) and have enjoyed the experience. The screen is fairly large but you’re seated at the upper balcony so you have to look down a bit when watching the movie.
Overall a good experience and a unique viewing experience.

There’s not many places where you can get 3 movies for $ 5 in Chicago. Actually there are no other places that I know of anyway.
I love the vintage feel of going here, we sat down stairs as opposed to upstairs in the theater seats, but I do look forward to going back and sitting up there.
If you catch them at the right time you may be able to see some new movies and possibly one or two that’s still in theaters.
It’s great to go to with a group of friends or a date and just chill watch movies, chat and eat. Oh and they have beers as well if that’s your thing. I’m not much of a beer fan so I have yet to experience the ones they have here. But a guy does come around toward the beginning of the film and asks if you’d like anything to drink, that’s pretty cool.
Oh and if you want to eat during the movie you can’t bring any food with you. It has to be delivered even if it’s a couple doors down. I think this is pretty silly but I guess they have their reasons for it. They do have a book with a whole host of menus of places that deliver their and you can always have a different place deliver.
I will definitely be back here to have a movie night!

I got a groupon way back in 2012 but never used it, but the amount I paid was still good. A few things:
— $ 5 per person (you can stay for just one movie or two or stay for all 3)
— Bar/​food area is located right outside the theater
— Cash only and tips suggested for food/​drink
— Beer was around $ 5 for an 8oz cup
— Pizza was $ 8. It was a frozen pizza which they heat up. Pepperoni, cheese or sausage. They give you a tray to eat it on
— Popcorn comes in 3 sizes, small, medium, large
— Pretzel is $ 4, but when we were there, they ran out of mustard
— they have a binder full of places you can call for delivery if you dont want the food at the theater. You call and order (keep in mind if they take card/​cash and delivery fees), then when they’re at the theater, you go down to the lobby to pick up your food. Then feast while watching the movie
— A server was walking around checking on you/​taking orders for drinks/​food which is convenient if you dont want to miss a part in the movie
— the theater is COLD. Bundle up
— You sit on the balcony so you’re higher up looking down at the screen. Not a horrible thing. Sound was pretty good too.
— Seating is tight. They’re cushioned but you’re def elbow to elbow. Or you can choose the seats higher up which are more like a long bench
— People get up and talk casually from time to time so it’s annoying if you’re trying to actually watch the movie
— they ask for your IDs and to check your bag when you come in. I brought in a bag of cheetos but the dude didn’t care and said I was good
— movies are semi-​new. We watched Anchorman 2 and Hunger Games 2; so I assume movies are usually at the vic 2 – 4 months after they’re released in the theater.
For $ 5 entry to possibly watch 3 movies, this place is the shit. Definitely a cool activity to do in the city. If you come with low expectations of seating and movie quality, this is the place for you. Very vintage.

I came here to see a movie. It was defiantly different than going to a regular movie theater. The only down falls were that they didn’t start the movie on time. They started the movie a half hour late! Also. It was so cold in there! If your coming to see a movie. Bring a coat because you will freeze! The cool part of going here is your able to buy beer, wine, food. And there are waitress going around throughout the movie!

So infrequently, I’ve seen a few movies here over the years. A few nights ago, was the first time I’d opted to see movies here in a few years (Blues Brothers and High Fidelity, but skipped Ender’s Game). Pretty much what Colleen said a few years ago is true (and it is still 21+ to get in), but I’ll also note that allegedly (my friend told me this, and the Unilocal tips on the app say this as well, so I’ll believe it) you can take food in, as long as it isn’t any food items that are sold here. I can’t remember, but I thought I saw pizza on the concession menu, meaning pizza would not be allowed to be taken inside. But at least their menu would theoretically mean I could take some food from Cheesie’s in, so I’ll have to try that next time.
It was a little bit cold in there, but I don’t think that factor was as bad as some reviewers say. As long as you dress up properly during cold months and have (preferably IMO) at least 1 – 2 layers under your existing clothes, you should be okay. The popcorn here unfortunately wasn’t good if you opt for concession food here, and I preferred the pretzel I ordered over the popcorn my friend got. The weird mustard (in taste) that came with the pretzel, aside. Wish the beer selection was a little bigger, and that they didn’t only give you tiny plastic cups for it. I got the impression that the beer and mixed drinks/​cocktails aspect would be a little better at the 400 or Logan, vs. here. Though I could tell they would serve you at least a mixed drink, if you wanted to order one.
The movies have had infrequent pause problems (no more than 1 – 2 times a movie, in my past experiences) from either being played off a hard drive (as was the case I saw Blues Brothers or High Fidelity), or from the film reels they have. I think this is one of the few theaters that hasn’t upgraded to digital projection (I recall my visit before in 2011 or 2012, they were still using traditional 35 mm projection then), so I hope that doesn’t cause The Vic to stop Brew and View. I personally enjoy seeing movies here every so often, and personally like the no frills aspect of this place, though I can see how certain others may not.

Wednesday was my first visit to the Brew and View. Apparently the Vic’s boiler had gone out and this was the first day the venue had been open in two weeks. However, the theater was freezing cold (we all wore our full winter attire throughout the entire film). Also, the bar was unorganized and the beer lines were frozen.
While I can certainly understand the unique circumstances, the Vic should not have been open. It was way too cold and the staff seemed unprepared. Moreover, I sent an email to the GM articulating my concerns the following day and have yet to hear anything back.
I was really hoping to enjoy my experience and it’s a shame that I probably won’t be back.

The Brew & View can be a pretty solid date night if the movies playing don’t require much attention to the dialogue. After purchasing a groupon my girlfriend and I came here to check out Mud a few months ago because it had stopped playing in theaters. Dinner and a movie was on our agenda, but we were sort of confused as to why we had to order delivery instead of being able to bring in our own food from restaurants that were right around the corner. I’m guessing the brew & view probably has some deal with these restaurants where they get paid as well.
When we received our food we settled down on this couch and had a pretty large area to ourselves. It got pretty chilly but for the most part but we were very comfortable and appreciated the all the space we had. Then the movie started and about 20 minutes in I started craning my head closer to the screen because I couldn’t hear a thing! My girlfriend altogether gave up and started playing games on her phone. About an hour passed and then the movie just stopped. For a good 10 minutes we saw the staff scrambling around apologizing to everyone for the technical difficulties. Impatience really started to settle in and we both decided it would be best to leave.
Definitely not one of the greatest experiences, but the setting and cheap admission prices deserve some star value. If they could fix the sound and prevented movies from stopping midway I could see myself here a lot more.

I wish I could understand why some people like to be so darn picky with the places they go eat, to theaters like the intriguing old, vintage gem «Brew & View at the Vic» is. It really is a vintage gem!
My hubby and I went here with a groupon, which was great, 2 tickets with 2 medium popcorn bags, which by the way was NOT stale like most people here have mentioned. My popcorn was nicely buttered with the perfect amount of salt — just like I love my popcorn to be. :)
As far as the movie watching, we only wanted to watch «Grown Ups 2», although we could have watched all 3 movies they played for the night! This of course only made the deal even better, but we were just fine with watching 1 movie that night.
Now to the real MINUS 1 star. I gave it 4 stars simply for the audio. We went on a Thursday night were they told us only the balcony part of the theater would be open. Now I’m not sure if this was the complete cause to the bad sound, but it seemed as if would’ve still sounded the same if we were to be seated in the downstairs area. Despite this however, I enjoyed the balcony view. It was pleasantly refreshing, and by that I mean bring a little sweater (it was quite chilly up there).
Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere this old vintage theater gives. The staff all seemed very friendly and helpful. Only downer was the sound, but on a normal night you only pay $ 5 for 3 movies– Super deal!!! OOOH and LET’S NOT FORGET the Beers and Drinks, which are reasonably priced.
I would definitely come again for a nice date out :)

Like so many of you — my Groupons were about to expire. We got there one day before they did. I had others with mismatched dates. The guy at the box office was awesome and accommodating. We all got in — including some girls we had just met on the street outside.
Going to Brew and View at the Vic is a lot like going to a drive-​in movie. The quality isn’t perfect — but the setting is. Just this epic old palace of a theater with some good beer and reasonably priced pizza and popcorn. Plus you can bring in your own food.
This place is awesome. The staff was cool The bathroom was clean. The seasonal Blue Moon ht the spot. Love that place. Unless you’re a slave to the multi-​plex — you really need to experience Brew and View at the Vic.
The ghosts of rock and roll will hover over you as you enjoy the film and a nice cold beer.

I AM BROKE! THIS PLACE ROCKS; THE PERFECT COMBO!!!
So this place will matinée 3 movies (great selection/​combos too) for $ 5 but you can get buy one get one free for surveys or groupons so the price is just fabulous! They let you order food & you can get booze there though the booze quality sucks so I guess you get what you pay for. The seating can get tiring after 3 movies & I truly wish they would allow BYOB & bring your own food, but otherwise; OMG I love doing this! It’s a great Chicago thang! ;)

WIth an expiring Groupon and the need to use it my sis took me along. Sure, it’s $ 5 bucks for three movies but there was only 1 movie we were remotely interesting in seeing. Well, I didn’t want to watch Twilight so yeah, just one movie. The whole no outside food thing is confusing. They don’t really enforce it’s not a huge bother but why have a book of local restaurants that deliver but you can’t bring in the same food from said restaurant? Do they get kickbacks off of delivery fees or something?
The downstairs area was closed so everyone was in the upstairs area, much stumbling, tripping and cursing ensued. The movie was delayed for about 20 minutes and when it did some of it was difficult to make out. If I ever decide to come back and it’s open. I’d like to watch downstairs.
The beer selection is small, but it’s cheap, no-​frills. In red plastic cups, like a high school kegger. The lines for popcorn can get really long and I feel a little cheated, they’re not filled all the way, and it’s probably because the staff don’t seem to care too much either way. Depending on what’s playing I’ll probably come back but it would have to be two or three movies in a row.

Greeter is a jerk. Makes your experience terrible, before you’ve even gotten inside.
Beer/​Drinks are not a good price. Popcorn is salty, and just «okay»
The seating is weird with tables and chairs. Common, 3 movies sitting at a table is not comfortable. All the workers personalities stink. They make you feel like you’re making them do something. Its their job, and they act like they hate it.
The overall ambiance is horrific, and it is because of the staff! If I owned this place I would replace them immediately. This place could be so much better!
However, they usually have good movie choice, and for $ 5 its an awesome deal! Just missing the customer service. It’s 2012… people expect more

It pains me to pay the equivalent of a down payment on a subcompact for a few hours of entertainment, a trough of popcorn and a beverage. Brew & View to the rescue! Sure you won’t get to see the hottest new movies, but you will get:
* $ 5 ticket price to see two or three movies. It won’t be Dolby Surround Sound quality or cushy stadium seating; far from it, but it gets the job done and is air conditioned.
* Cheap popcorn ($ 3 – 4 bucks), although it’ll send your sodium levels through the roof.
* Beer! Relatively cheap at $ 4 – 5 per draft; especially when you consider that it would probably cost that much for a water at a regular theater.
* Food. This was by far the most confusing to me — per the website there is no outside food unless it is delivered to the theater, but I saw plenty brazenly toting sandwiches and other things in.
I wouldn’t recommend this for a movie on the more serious side; cheap-​ish beer means it will get loud and possibly rowdy.
Get there early if you want your choice of seating!