Music Box Theatre

Saw son of Saul. What a great atmosphere to watch this movie in. The place is vintage and eclectic but well kept and inviting. The bathrooms were impeccable and the staff was friendly and helpful. Great gem!

I think I probably go to the Siskel Center more often, but this is still my absolute favorite theater in Chicago, and probably always will be. It’s a gorgeous old building, immaculately maintained and with a working organ. The staff is helpful and smart, and they have a decent but not precious selection of beer and snacks (and if nothing strikes your fancy, there’s a million good places nearby to eat and drink). The seats aren’t the most comfortable in the world, but they’re not awful, and the rest of the facility, including the beautiful lobby, is terrific. Best of all, they have great sound, a newly expanded 70 mm set-​up, digital and film, and an amazing selection of some of the best movies going. Honestly one of my favorite places in the city.

We came here for the free piano lounge on Wednesday. They had half priced bottles of wine, which was a steal. We enjoyed playing the free games they had on their book shelf. Surprisingly, there was actually a decent crowd.

I’m really disappointed that I wasn’t more wowed by my experience in this theater. The place dates to 1929, and I am a big pop culture history buff, so when I heard about their special Valentine’s Day showing of «The Princess Bride,» I grabbed my guy and we went to the event.
We were met in the lobby by the dulcet sounds of the woman at the ticket desk screaming at everyone to get in line. There are only two theaters and the previous show hadn’t let out yet in the one for ours. She was seemingly the only one running things, and was trying to do too much at once, including yelling at people waiting for concessions that they needed to join the other line. I wanted to use the bathroom but was honestly afraid that I was going to get yelled at, so just waited til we were let into the theater, then doubled back (!!) Seriously, this was not a warm welcome.
It did get warmer as we headed into the theater and were greeted with «Happy Valentine’s Day!» from some other people and little bags… which turned out to be props and cue cards for «Rocky Horror”-style audience participation. Amusing (and they didn’t make it too complicated, mercifully).
This theater is historic, but sadly you couldn’t really see much… they didn’t have the lights on! Just two huge flood lights at the back. What? The sconces in the front corners (with huge urns) were back-​lit so you could see those a bit, as well as some Chinese-​style dragons by the ceiling, but basically people were tripping around in this weird cave-​like atmosphere to find seats. There are tiny lights in the ceiling that twinkle like stars, though (I assume on purpose…).
It should go without saying that this is not stadium seating: we’re talking old velvet chairs, no cup holders, not a lot of elbow room, and since it’s winter everyone has their coats etc. Just deal (unlike the cranky guy behind me).
Also, this is actual FILM. Not digital like you’re used to. We were worried for a minute when the movie (finally) started and it was all warped and bubbly right down the middle for a while. It did correct eventually, but that would have been a drag for the entire movie.
The show was set to start at 2, but at 2:15 people were still screwing around. What’s the holdup, folks? Finally a staff guy got up at the front and went through a rigmarole of calling up kids dressed in costumes, then doing a Happy Birthday singalong to some girl, then a trivia contest… Honestly, let’s just watch the movie!
Watch it we did, at last. And it was wonderful. The audience participation was fun and wasn’t too distracting, and it was great to see the classic movie that we love on the big screen.
Unfortunately, I was let down by the theater itself. There has to be a reason that it’s lasted so long, and seeing other Unilocalers give it high marks makes me feel like we got cheated out of a better experience! Maybe I’ll try again some time; with all their indie films and special events, it’s inconceivable that I wouldn’t find another event to tempt me, some day.

Gets two stars for the movie selection but they need to update the theatre seating. Very uncomfortable seats and the small theatre screen is small. This could be a unique theatre experience if they upgrade seats and screen.

The musicbox is one of my favorite places in Chicago. I’ve been coming here for years and it never disappoints. Every year I see Rocky Horror here and it’s one of the best places to see it in the city. I’ve also seen documentaries, foreign films, Oscar nominated movies, etc. They always have a great selection. And they’ve recently expanded and have a bar attached.

This is my most favorite theatre in the world! From watching the Rocky Horror Picture show to the LCD Soundsystem concert «Shut Up and Play the Hits» to 24-​hour Halloween marathons to Q&A sessions with Wes Anderson (in the première of The Grand Budapest Hotel) and with the parents of Meet the Patels, it is no wonder why my heart (and many hearts in chicago) belong here. I love how they play the most artistic movies, stay true to the visuals the director wanted (they still play off old reels), and maintain the original authenticity of the theatre. I am always more inclined to watch something here than anywhere else because there is a special feeling that you are part of making history and part of something very magical when you enter this venue.

Friends took us one year for the Christmas special and it had been a family tradition. We look forward to making it there for some other special shows.

One of Chicago’s finest theaters.

What’s better than a classic Christmas movie in an old theater? How about adding in a sing-​a-​long (complete with adult beverages to encourage the singing in public part) to start the evening!
I had an absolute blast at the Music Box Theatre’s annual Christmas Sing-​A-​Long & Double Feature.
Christmas movie and sing-​a-​long aside, the Music Box Theatre itself is very much worth visiting. It was built in the late 1920s and retains many of its early charms — a starry blue sky painted on the ceiling, intricate paintings along the walls, creaky old seats (but, hey — they have character) and an actual stage in front of the movie screen. And my absolute favorite thing about this theater is that it has a house ghost! According to staff the original manager died in the lobby and paces Aisle 4 (where all the neighborhood kids used to sneak in) to this day! Boo! :P
Now, there are some luxuries you’ll have to exchange for this authentic experience. The sound system isn’t state-​of-​the-​art, and the theatre is large, so you may not be as close to the screen as you’d like. Parking in this part of town looks tricky (glad I took the train) and there won’t be a cup holder at your seat. Just know it is all part of the vintage experience!
The theater served mulled wine, wine and beer along with traditional concessions, but I wish they would have taken the Christmas theme up a notch. It would have been so fun to enjoy some egg nog or spiked hot chocolate and Christmas cookies or peppermint bark for an all-​around Christmas-​y feel.
The night really did put me in a Christmas spirit, though. I half expected it to be snowing on the way out!

Just what you want from an art-​house theater: great films, great ambiance, nice lounge, good cocktails and beers.

Just a quick note about their popcorn. Unlike mega movie houses where you might get some squirts of butter across the top few kernels, at the Music Box, each and every kernel is completely coated. It was delicious! Plus, they don’t pressure you to buy a larger size for only a quarter. You get what you order.

My favorite old school movie theater in Chicago. They always have interesting shows, special screenings and Q&A panels on schedule.
The lounge room is inviting and staff members are very friendly.
I visited Music Box endless numbers of time, but the most memorable were Breakfast Club 30^st anniversary movie screening, seeing The Tribe and Digging for Fire with Q&A afterwards.
The best part about this place is its relaxed atmosphere with wine bar in the lobby. Old charming building in the very hart of hip neighborhood.
Well, the only negative thing that comes to mind is the parking. Finding a spot is an accomplishment. Side streets are by permit only and if you parked your car at the designated street parking, watch your timing, because in this area every minute of overtime counts. They are really strict about rules here. Actually, I was ticketed twice for my front plates missing in this neighborhood, while going to a movie. It never happened to me anywhere else in the city.
So, my only advice would be — take a train or a cab to avoid extra stress and expenses.
And enjoy your show ;)

I’ve been here a handful of times: once to see Listen Up Philip with a question and answer session with Jason Schwartzman, another time for a showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show, and most recently for a showing of The Room.
When I came here to see Listen Up Philip, there was a HUGE line around the entire block. I kept thinking, «There’s no way all of these people could possibly fit into the theater. I’m sure they must have sold too many tickets by accident.» But, lo and behold, there were no issues fitting everyone into the theater (or, at least, to my knowledge; I do acknowledge that there were plenty of people waiting in line behind us and I never discovered their fate).
For Rocky Horror and The Room, the crowd was muuuuch more modest. There was no waiting. All we did was show our tickets, and we selected our seats in the theater. I’m definitely a fan of the red velvet seats and the tall ceiling in here. It gives a historic vibe; it’s much cooler and unique than regular AMC theaters. Obviously, I had the typical experience at Rocky H

What a cool theater from the 70s or 80s and a really cool experience watching a movie in a theater almost built to have stage shows. There was a pianist playing live at the end of the movie credits!

This is an old-​school theater for shows to be performed. I came to see a show recently. I really enjoyed it.
The location is nearby Wrigley Field. It’s good for people to watch a show nearby where the Cubs play.
The staff are really nice. They gave me the right order I had, except that I didn’t get butter on my popcorn when I asked for it. Also, they started the show when I was in a huge line for the concession stand. It was a bit ridiculous that they did start it early.
The food was good. My popcorn without butter was still pretty good. My drink was good as well. They also sold candy which is good.
All in all, great staff, good location, good food, but they should start the show when everyone sits down. I will be back here though.

Saw the 4k restored «The Third Man» here, outstanding art-​house theater. Good sized screen, clean theater, friendly staff and reasonably priced. Cute lounge next door/​connected through lobby too to relax before and after a show.
Volume could be a tad louder, but other than that… amazing experience. Will be back.

Went to the Wizard Of Oz event yesterday. They had a actress dressed as Dorothy host and she was perfect a lot of fun, in the moment. She did a sing along and a costume contest before the movie. What a fun time.
Nice lounge clean and well stocked concession stand.
We Loved it.

My first time here was to see IT FOLLOWS and I was really pleasantly surprised. As we didn’t want to be late i didn’t get to see much of the theater, but it was cozy and looked well maintained. They had a wide (for a movie theater) beer selection. The show was sold out but because of the small (ish) screen size, the film was easy to view even from the front row.
We parked at the elementary school one block north for $ 16 for 12 hours (plenty of spots at 7:30 on a Friday night) but according to the website there’s street parking available as well.
A real gem of a theater, I hope they will continue playing classics and limited release films for a very long time because I’ll definitely be back!

There’s something at The Music Box for everyone. They do it all, from the classics, the kids stuff, the new releases and the barely-​released. They’ve got cool programs that bring film artists to talk about their projects with the film audiences. (I saw Ira Glass talk about Sleepwalk with Me once upon a time. Pretty sure we made eye contact.)
The Music Box is even now better than ever, thanks to the swanky new lobby they opened directly north of the concessions. I’m pretty sure you don’t have to have a ticket to go to the lobby area — you can just go in and get drinks there. Did I mention it’s swanky? It’s swanky. They’ve even got board games (including Bananagrams, which we all know is the paragon of swank).
Unlike the rest of film buffs that I’ve met in my life, everyone that works and hangs out at the Music Box is a pretty decent human being. Little weird, too, but only in a good way.
Just go here. Trust me.

I love old theaters that are still used to show movies. Oh sure. .there won’t be reclining seats, tons of leg room or cup holders. But what you do get is a flashback to when movies were about the movie and not about the concessions and things that are now the «norm» in seeing a movie.
I was here to see an independent film which is what the Music Box specializes in. For a theater of this age, there was enough leg room for this tall girl and seats were actually pretty comfortable. Look up and there are twinkling stars on the ceiling that just add to the magic of the theater. And the fact that there is still an organ upfront leads me to believe that they still may do organ concerts here along with the films but no one was able to confirm that.
If there is a downside– it’s that the women’s restroom has about 4 stalls in in and you will wait in a long line if the movie you are seeing has a set intermission. This is not an issue for a standard movie where people just go when they see fit.
How great that this neighborhood has two of these old theaters that are still supported by the neighborhood. It’s a wonderful thing to walk to the show and have dinner or drinks in the area as well.
Movies in old movie theaters are still one of the things that make me smile. Thanks Music Box!

Above all else, the Music Box Theatre is about the experience. There’s something magical about seeing classic films on a big screen in the intimate surroundings of a vintage cinema. What else can I say that hasn’t been said already?
I got my first taste of the Music Box this past month at one of their annual holiday showings of White Christmas. I went expecting to see the same old movie, but I got drawn into something so much more. The owners have done an amazing job of restoring and maintaining the 1920s atmosphere of the original theatre. Everything about this place – interior and exterior – screams authenticity. Watching Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye tap it up in this environment was a unique experience.
The highlight of the evening happened even before the movie started. The audience was treated to pre-​movie Christmas sing-​a-​long led by Santa himself. The topper was the authentic theater organ playing Christmas carols and tunes from the movie. It was beyond cool.
The theater doesn’t rest with simply providing a vintage experience. They also provide some great modern conveniences like easy-​to-​use online ticketing and seating. In addition to the normal cinema fare like buttery popcorn and soda, you can also choose from a selection of excellent craft beers from the concession stand. It’s like a hipster Mecca.
Plain and simple, the Music Box is awesome. I can’t wait to go back.

Absolutely gorgeous old theater. If you are looking for plush recliners and stadium seating, this ain’t the venue for you, but the sheer ambiance and history of the Music Box certainly makes up for losing the feeling in your bum after sitting on the hard seats for an entire movie. There’s just something… different…about seeing a movie here. People seem more respectful. Or maybe just cooler (they do host Rocky Horror Picture show, after all).
Plays current short-​run films and old classics, so check in to see what’s up for that weekend. They serve beer (at reasonable prices!) for your show-​watching pleasure.

How have I never written a review for the Music Box?!
I love it here, & I am SO happy that I now live a few short blocks away. It’s like going back in time & having a legit movie experience. Great current short-​run films, and you can also always count on them to have some old classics that you want to re-​see on the big screen. I dragged the man to see Christmas Vacation last year & finally proved to him how hilarious it was. I’ve even been to book-​reading events here.
Yes, the seats can be rickity in the large main theatre, but there are 300 to choose from so if I stumble into one that sucks, I just move. They are getting ready to do a bunch of renovations as far as I know, and I can’t wait to see what they do (MBT, please keep the Curly Sue concession stand!!). Tickets are affordable, & you can do a discounted option, if you buy multiple tickets at one time, you save a few bucks off of each trip. Buy 1 Get 1 popcorn on Monday nights. I even love the small secondary theater & the new chairs in there are delightful. The list of awesome goes on & on.
Speaking of the popcorn, it’s amazing. Real butter, people. The only thing with that is, there’s one person in particular that isn’t amazing at putting the butter on said popcorn… we always end up with a giant wet chunk of corn in the middle of the bag. It’s at the point of being funny so I just eat around it when they are our butter-​putter-​oner.
I’m very happy to have such a great theatre nearby.

I’ve bitched before about how the American moviegoing experience is an absolute train wreck. So it’s refreshing to come to a theater that not only preserves the mystique, but enhances it as well.
There’s so much history and personality entrenched here, it would be a disservice for me to describe it all. The Venetian palazzo with twinkling star lights give this place an amazing feeling that no modern theater, no matter its architectural advancements, could ever replicate.
Then there’s their movie selection: an eclectic mix of fine arts films, foreign masterpieces, cult classics, and modern blockbusters play on a non-​stadium theater with an actual stage and an real theater organ. Whether you’re here for a showing of Rocky Horror or seeing an advance screening as part of the New York Film Critics Series, you’ll be amazed at the variety of films shown here.
Really hard to beat a concessions stand that sells beer and wine as well as popcorn with REAL BUTTER.
And then there’s the legend of the theater ghost, old Whitey…
There’s metered street parking and a lot down the block, but two El stops in walking distance as well if you don’t want to tempt fate.
I love you, Music Box. I love you with all my heart.

Want a unique night at the movies? The Music Box will transport you back to an other era of cinemas with conspicuous marquees, red velvet curtains drawn in front of the screens, Grecian statues, and ceiling lights that mimic stars in a night sky.
Now it’s time for the main attraction. Maybe you’re here at midnight for a participatory cult classic, like Rocky Horror Picture Show or The Room. Or maybe you’re here on the second Saturday of the month for a silent film. Or perhaps you are here early on the weekends to attend the ever-​changing matinée series. No matter what, you are probably seeing a film you cannot view anywhere else in the city.
One drawback is that parking around the theater is a pain. There is metered street parking, but on a weekend it is difficult to find a spot on Southport since the street is crowded with restaurants. And beware that many of the surrounding streets are reserved for permits. Luckily, the Southport Brown Line Station is only a ten-​minute walk away.
If you enjoy exploring films other than the ubiquitous Hollywood blockbusters, the Music Box will easily become your favorite cinema in Chicago.