Laemmle Monica Film Center

Usually, when my friend and I leave a movie, we are talking about the highlights (or lowlights) of the movie. Not in this case. Although they did a nice job with the remodeling for the most part, there is one major thing that isn’t working. The seats! The most uncomfortable I have ever sat in at the movies. So our conversation was about our astonishment that it appeared that the new seats were not tested for comfort (at least not for the length of a movie) before installation. It boggled our minds. Some might say it doesn’t take much to do that, but that’s beside the point. And my friend and I were sitting 2 different ways during the movie! So it wasn’t our position. We had backaches by the end. It would be an awesome experience if the seats were changed, I would be happy to revise my rating if that happens.

I came on Unilocal specifically to see if anyone else thought the seats at this theatre were a major issue.
I started to get a headache 30 min into the movie. Moved my body every which way to get comfortable. Leaning on my left, right, in between the seats, on my boyfriend’s shoulder. Nothing. The super hard leather headrest kept pushing the back of my head, pushing it and my body to tilt forward. And when I’d try to look up at the way-​too-​close screen to watch the movie that was slowly becoming torturous to watch, it truly was a kind of discomfort I’ve never experienced at a theatre before.
Just 15 – 20 min left of the movie, I couldn’t take it anymore so I got up and sat on the floor of the very back, behind the last row. By that point I was already in a lot of pain, but wanted to finish the movie. As soon as the credits started to roll, I jumped out of there to get air and stretch my neck. It’s been a few hours since I left the movies but I still have a headache.
This place has good films. I saw City of Gold today which is only showing on limited screens now, but I wouldn’t pay, and wouldn’t get paid either, to sit in those seats again.
It looks like people have complained for months now. Why doesn’t it get fixed? Why isn’t something getting done to give people a better experience? I was watching on Screen 5, and another reviewer said that the seats were fixed, but perhaps only be for some screens and not all? Why?

GREAT remodeling job. The only problem, as others have observed, was the seats, in that they did not recline. We caught a movie there a week ago and sampled the non-​reclining seats. It was a definite drawback. However, we went there last night and, to our delight, the seats were different. They now had some rocker built in, they were very spacious, and were set at a much better viewing angle. I phoned their administrative office and learned that others had also complained of the seats (the seats they received somehow performed differently than the samples they had tried), so they were in the process of making the required modifications and should complete it very shortly. PROBLEM SOLVED!
Also, for the hard of hearing, this theater has a new closed caption system and, having tried the systems at several other West side movie houses, Laemmle’s new system is by far the BEST of any of them. (This replaces the fairly worthless headphones they used to offer.) At present I’m told it is only available in some of the Laemmle theaters, but that the plan is that, in a few months, it will be in most, if not all their theaters.

The remodeled Laemmle theatre wasn’t as spectacular as I imagined, after a two year wait. The interiors were nice, slick concession counter, nicely lite wide hallways, but I found two things that were a disappointment for me; whatever butter or oil they use in the popcorn, it has a funny taste and the seats were uncomfortable. Those are two major bad strikes for a movie theater: popcorn and seats.

Not sure who wrote the reviews about the horrible seats but they’re not! I think you have to be like 5 feet tall for them to push your head forward and be uncomfortable for your neck. I’m 5’7″ and they’re perfectly comfortable and do lean back slightly with body weight. The seats are great and There are 7 rows of seats actually at least in theatre #2x Anyways I came here to see Vaxxed and there’s a freakin dog and a baby in this tiny theatre… wth. A dog and a baby? Great can’t wait to see how this goes… and if it’s a service dog I understand however… the owner is watching a movie so clearly she’s not blind… come on ppl. Why would someone not have told her to leave the dog outside?

Oh man, I am not a fan. This revitalized theater is close to home, but I will likely not be back. It was the single most uncomfortable movie going experience I’ve ever had. The screening room is tiny with just 5 rows. Five rows. Five rows which are super close to the GIGANTIC screen.
On top of that, you’re sitting in these super stiff, very UPRIGHT leather seats. The tall seats push your head forward, making it difficult to angle your head up to look at the screen. It was a claustrophobic torture device. Awful. I couldn’t get comfortable at all. I slumped over into the seat next to me. Nope. I sat sideways. Nope. I turned the other way. Nope. I tried placing my head in the crack in between seats. Nope. I’ve been far more comfortable watching a movie on a plane in coach.
How are you going to put me THAT close to a giant screen, but not allow me to tilt my head back? Makes no sense. Seats need to either recline, or height needs to come down so head is higher than the top of the seat. The way that it currently is does NOT work, do you not see that?

Contrary To others I found the seat comfortable .but yes no recline
Vastly smaller theatre seating and unless your in the back row screen is
just overwhelming in my opinion. Very clean .yes its new and Nice Staff
Has advantages for a date night though…
Price right and nearby parking but pay of course its Santa Monica

This theatre is right next to Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. It was a Thursday mid-​afternoon and the streets were filled with crowds and cars but we managed to find parking in the structure.
We walked into the theatre and was surprised to discover that it was empty (except staff of course)! They were kind and helpful [:
Our documentary, Hot Water, was playing on the 2^nd floor so we headed up the stairs. There were art pieces all over the walls and couches to relax and enjoy the huge window views. It was nice to have the theatre room to ourselves (decent-​sized screens with around. 20 – 25 seats?).
The only downside to this theatre was the SEATS. Initially, I was excited because the material was of high quality when compared to big corporation theatre seats. BUT. The seats don’t recline and my neck and head was forced into an awkward position. I started getting a headache and my neck was in uncomfortable pain after about 10 minutes into the movie.
Overall, it was a cheap and fun new experience

This place is fantastic. It’s beautiful. Feels like a real movie theater experience.. It’s not the big corporate theater’s like AMC.. Or mann’s. The people who work here are nice and friendly. And happy to be here. It reminds me od a small town theater. Yet it is right in the middle of the 3^rd Street promenade santa monica ca. One block from the ocean. And across the street from the greatest outdoor shopping mall in california. And laemmles has a new restaurant opening under the same roof. With a fantastic menu. This is the theater experience I’ve been waiting for in Los angeles. And directly across the street is a safe and secure parking structure owned and operated by the city of Santa Monica. Fully automated. With the first 90 minutes free. Without having to validate somewhere for the free 90 minutes. No strings attached. And the top of the parking structure has a fantastic view too.
Thank you laemmle for creating a beautiful theater. At a fantastic location. At great prices too.

It’s so disappointing to have the Laemmle in Santa Monica open again after so many years in the refurbishing, only to have the seats give me the feeling of a herniated disc in my neck! I’m 5’7′; average height for a female. The neck padding in the seat forced my head forward like those badly designed headrests in your car (but at least I can take those out of the slots and turn them around.) I had to spend the movie with my head to the side of the neck/​head padding, hanging off to the side of the seat. I don’t care that the seats don’t recline and am willing to sit upright like in the old days (yeah, I’m that old) but I sure don’t want to have to see a chiropractor after I leave the theatre. I only went to one movie in one of the theatres thus far, but if they’re all like that, I won’t be going back to what use to be my favorite movie house. Bummer.

I couldn’t wait for your reopening, but am sooooo disappointed.
I walked into theater #4 and gasped!!! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat! I could hardly believe my eyes… The screen is sooooo close that I had to sit down and try to focus my scrambling eyes. Sitting down only made matters worse~ My god the seats are stiff, and uncomfortable… but hey I’ll just recline and make the best of it this ONE time… NOT…the joke was on me… the seats don’t even rock let alone recline!!!
I left with a headache and a sore back… Not gonna return~

I am here to add to the chorus of complaints about the uncomfortable seats. Went to the Monica eagerly yesterday, 2/​11, glad that it had finally re-​opened after all this time and to see the documentary shorts. Before watching the movie, friend and I walked around and looked at the theater size and screen ratio to room size and thought that this time the Laemmle people had gotten things right (unlike the Royal, where theater 2 is horrible because the screen is too big for the size of the space). But then we started watching the movie in Monica theater 2, and we experienced these horrible non-​reclining seats where the lower back slot pushes out into your back and the head rest pushes your head too far forward. I thought maybe it was the fact that friend and I are 5’3″, but reading these reviews I see that someone 6’3″ was equally unhappy. This is something that could have been avoided, had the seat designers and installers actually sat in the seats and watched a movie. Shame on you, Laemmle. I live in Santa Monica and was looking forward to being able to walk down to the Monica again. Unless I find out that the seats have been fixed, you’ve lost me as a future customer.

The theaters have just opened and I’m assuming that over time it should look less ‘basic’ and unattractive. The issue I have I with the seats. I’ve never sat in a more uncomfortable chair. I’m tall (5’10″) but my friend is much shorter than me. Both of us were pretty miserable during the screening. I’ve never complained about a chair before. I walked out with my neck and back hurting. I think the problem may be that they’re quite upright and only tilt back a couple of inches. Maybe they’ll be able to adjust this problem in the future. I don’t know.

After waiting all this time for the Monica to reopen, I was terribly disappointed. Just as Michael L. said, (see review of 2÷1÷2016) these are the most uncomfortable seats I have ever sat in. I am about 5 ft. 5 inches and after a 90 minute movie I felt like my neck was broken. Half way through the movie I was leaning as far to the left as I could to stick my head between the seats.
As others have said, the seats do not really recline either. Perhaps if they could recline you could get your neck in a comfortable position. I’m not sure exactly what the problem is because my friend who is about 5 ft. 9 inches was also suffering from a very strained, uncomfortable neck. When we left we asked some random people what they thought of the seats and others complained to us that they were uncomfortable.
It was also disappointing when we commented (very politely) to the ticket taker that we could not enjoy the movie because the seats were awful. She never said she was sorry, nor did she acknowledge that anyone had made a similar comment. As we stood there someone else complained. We weren’t looking for a freebee, we just wondered if some adjustment was needed to the seats and had not yet been done.
We won’t be coming back. There are too many great theatres, with comfortable seats, in LA where we can see movies

I’d been waiting for a long time to experience the new and improved Laemmle Santa Monica theatres. With all the new competition in the area it was an ideal opportunity for Leammle to up their game and be a serious contender with Arclight and AMC. I went this past Friday, their first day open, to see the Academy Award nominated short subject documentaries. Before I go any further, I clearly understand that when any new business opens you need to give them time to get their act together. My single biggest gripe could not be blamed on the newness of the theatre. It was the shockingly uncomfortable new seats in the auditorium. Not only didn’t they recline… but…they were uncomfortable too. I’m a tall guy at 6’3″ but I’ve always found myself incredibly comfortable in the theatre seats of the competition. Laemmle… if you’re going to take two years to rebuild your theatre… and spend tons of money doing it… the least you could do is give your customers a comfortable seat to enjoy the experience in.
Also, I was looking forward to purchasing and utilizing the Laemmle Première Card which gives a slight discount when purchasing tickets. Not only didn’t they have the cards available to purchase but when I asked for the discount anyway (it wasn’t my fault they weren’t available yet) the ticket guy showed no empathy in saying no.
Welcome back to the neighborhood Laemmle. I’ll most likely be back… but I’m bringing my own pillow to sit on.

Wanted to check out the new theater, and so today saw a screening of the Oscar-​nominated short documentaries. The theater experience was an absolute delight! Decently comfortable seats, plenty of room, clean bathrooms, affordable concessions, beautiful artwork on display for purchase. Also, no fuss. It all just had a nice «vibe.» Not to knock on the new Arclight, which I also enjoy, but the Laemmle offers something a little more je né sais quoi. Can’t wait to return.

The old art house movie theater finally reopens after a long shutdown for remodeling. No more old and smelly screening rooms. The seats are big and comfortable with plenty of leg rooms, but they are not reclining. The hallways look a little bare as if the remodeling is still in progress. This is a big improvement and I am happy with the change. This is a great location as it is very close to Santa Monica Third Street Promenade and there are a lot of good restaurants nearby.