Landmark Theatres West End Cinema

It is a small theater but I would say it’s very cozy and has that independent feel that you don’t get with big cinema chains. Don’t go to this theater if you’re expecting to see a huge blockbuster with great picture and sound, but if you’re looking for a quiet time to experience a film that you wouldn’t find in your small home town, this theater is for you.

Ok. Now, I do wish this theater could somehow still offer its same old world charm while providing more comfortable seats (maybe even stadium seating). I’m not always thrilled to sit for an entire movie, plus a little wait time beforehand, in charming seats that leave my bottom feeling like it’s somehow managed to lose areas of sensation. Sure, it’s also not my fav to have a tall person temporarily block my views of the screen from time to time.
However, you still absolutely cannot beat the experience of seeing a movie in a clean theater staffed by friendly people serving tasty popcorn and quality drinks, all while surrounded by bits of old Hollywood charm. This theater is one of-​a-​kind in the D.C. area, like a step back in time.
So, forgo the plush seats and stadium seating for a bit, the trade off is well worth it. Trust me. You’ll be glad you did.

So happy that Landmark took over and kept this charming neighborhood movie theater .
Nice staff, great indie films that one expects from Landmark– very grateful .
Very clean and small, just as these theaters should be since it’s not for the masses.

Hands down one of my favorite places in DC. It is a tiny theater, with only two screens where they alternate smaller, indie films not typically found in bigger theaters. Plus, the place is typically pretty empty, with only about a dozen people showing up to each showing. It’s newly reopened so who knows if it will be renovated, but don’t expect anything fancy here. That being said, it is the best place to pop in for a movie on a lazy Sunday or quiet evening. The small theaters and crowds give the place a more community type feel, where a group of film buffs gather to see these smaller name pictures. The staff is all really friendly, and they always say hello and ask how I’m doing, and even recognized me when I came back for my second visit. It’s a charming little theater, full of quirky movies and people. Definitely worth a visit!

They’re ba-​ack. Landmark acquired the old West End Cinema (emphasis on old), an odd choice given that there is a much larger Landmark on E street not terribly far away. Supposedly, this location is still to be renovated, but at the moment, it’s still rather bare bones. But what they have done is to show niche films, and seemingly to avoid overlap with their other theaters, which was the point of West End in the first place.
One can hope that the renovations and cash influx will bring more comfortable chairs and better sound, but as of now, it’s still what it was, for better and for worse: the place you go to see something that isn’t playing anywhere else.

Just moved to DC and the neighborhood… and love this place. Nice respite from the heat and good selection of movies.

So we came to West End Cinema for the first time this afternoon, after it reopened under the management of Landmark. I gotta say… not that impressed.
We arrived to a locked door — apparently we were the first customers of the day, and arrived at 2pm for a 2:15 Sunday showing, only to have the entire business nearly empty at showtime. There were maybe a half dozen other patrons in the entire theater — I wonder if it’s due to Sundays being a slow day, people not realizing they’ve reopened, or people not liking the new management. Perhaps a combination of the three.
The venue itself was very small and underwhelming, especially compared to E Street Cinema, Bethesda Row, or Shirlington AMC. The concession stand was out of hot dogs, sprite, and butter for the popcorn (seriously, after reopening a month ago?), and the prices were… fair. It’s a movie theater, you expect food to cost a decent dime (a little more than a pretty penny).
When we arrived in the theater, I was greeted with the most awkward screening room I’ve ever been in. The screen was about as big as a football fan’s plasma television, the seats were not symmetrically aligned throughout the theater, and there were more than a few large support pillars in the room, though it didn’t look as though they were blocking any views. As a tall guy (6 feet), I found the chairs to be extremely cramped — the rows were too close to one another, so my knees were about an inch away from the row in front of us. Crossing my legs was anything but comfortable.
When the movie started, the experience improved — they have a decent sound system there, and fully utilize multi-​channel audio, so you get a very immersive effect. The screen did still seem a tad bit small, but then again, this isn’t a Regal stadium seating theater.
The movies they show at this place are great, and are as off the beaten path as E Street Cinema, Bethesda Row, or Shirlington. They seem to offer a few different options than any of those places.
Being downtown DC, parking wasn’t very fun. I think since there are more residences and hotels in this particular area, I didn’t see quite as many underground garages as you’d see around 17^th street, so parking was a little bit of a challenge.
Overall, I’m not sure if I’d return; it really depends on the movies they’re showing, and whether I could catch one of them at the other theaters I mentioned, which honestly would be my preference.

The West End Cinema reopened on July 17^th as the Landmark West End Cinema. The concession stand isn’t open yet, but they are showing great films, including Robin Williams ’ last film, Boulevard, which is receiving critical claim as one of his best roles. Support this great local theater specializing in foreign and independent film and come on out!

Looks like they’re closing today so this review is for my first and last visit. They apparently have three theaters, two of which are normal but smaller while number three is about 50 comfortable folding type chairs in an inclined room. Yeah the screen is kinda small but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected and I still felt like I was in a theatre.
Tickets are a bit pricey at $ 11 for old movies but welcome to DC on the prices. The popcorn is about the best I’ve had anywhere and isn’t too salty or covered with that fake butter that makes you feel sick. Oh and they serve beer, wine, and liquor too.
I’m definitely not an «arthouse» type guy and can’t see myself watching a film with subtitles or anything but this place does a good job and too bad they’re going out of business. I’d come back again of they weren’t closing and there was something I wanted to see. Staff is very friendly and it’s a small operation unlike the giant suburban theatre chains.

It always appears to be revolved around cinema doesn’t it? Well there’s certainly due reason for that. It had been over a week since our first fated rendezvous at another DC movie theater and I was continuing on the journey He had set to ‘illuminate the path of film’. (His words, not mine).
Considering that this theater is closing at the end of the month, we had made it a mission to catch a flick here before it’s timely demise. This theater also happened to be the only one in DC still playing the film we had planned to watch, Theory of Everything. I had never been to this theater before and He had previously mentioned they strived for an ‘art house’ feel. I went in with minimal expectations, the skittish nervousness from before had been quelled as a comfortableness had settled. The staff at the establishment was amicable and gave me a positive first impression. We were directed to the theater down the hall and as I crossed the threshold into the theater, I felt a sharp intake of surprise. Although I’m not typically a frequenter of movies, this was probably the most atypical theater I had ever been to. What felt like someone’s living room had been scattered with mobile chairs that were all directed towards a small, low quality projector. There was very limited seating in the room and the movie seemed to be filled with multiple disturbances of workers entering and exiting. While I’m certainly glad to have caught this film, the environment wasn’t very conducive to an enjoyable movie watching experience.
On a side note and slight plug for the movie, I’m definitely appreciative that West End was still playing Theory of Everything. The movie was incredibly moving and showcased an emotionally factual portrayal of human endurance. It may or may not have moved me to tears as I unsuccessfully attempted to hide my tear stained face from Him, although said devastatingly handsome life partner took it very well in his usual stoic manner. End shameless plug.
Rest easy West End Cinema. May your spirit find peace.

If you want to support small, local businesses, come to this theatre. It’s a no frills theatre, screening a mix of indie and box office hits. They have a tasty selection of traditional candy mixed with local baked goods. Craft beer and wine available. They also have the best popcorn! It’s always fresh and hot! Love this theatre. Keep doing what you’re doing :)

I absolutely love indie and documentary films, so this theater is one of my all-​time favorites. Very intimate crowds, great atmosphere. I came to see a film once and the director happened to be giving a Q&A at the end, very unexpected and cool. I come here fairly often + am always checking to see what new films they are showing. Highly recommend!

Is this place for real?
We wanted to see Force Majeure and the only location it was showing at was West End Cinema. I never visited the cinema but love most independent theaters I’ve been to, so we were looking forward to a change. We ordered tickets online (about $ 11), and showed up 15 minutes early for the movie. The lobby is really casually laid out with one person doing all the ticketing, including looking up your online reservation on one of two terminals, and letting you into the theater. The snack counter is pretty basic and offers nothing spectacular but you can also buy wine or beer there, which is a plus.
We walked in to the theater and were hit by a number of unpleasant surprises. The actual theater is probably half the size of my small apartment in DC, and the screen is small and pathetic. The chairs appear to be cushiony, but perhaps not really meant for a theater? Unfortunately although we were early, we didn’t arrive as early as everyone else and we had to take the last two seats available in the theater, which were in the last row of the theater, and were high top chairs.
Just as the movie started, a back door opened next to me in the theater, and someone placed two additional high chairs in the back row in the aisle next to me. Moments later, a couple appeared from the back door, sat in the chairs, and pulled out their strong-​smelling takeaway containers of dinner and started to loudly eat during the movie.
The entire experience at this theater was a letdown. I applaud them for playing the independent movies I love and might not be playing elsewhere in DC. But if it comes down to going to this theater or waiting until it’s available to watch later on itunes, I’ll choose to wait and watch in the comfort and lower expense of my own home. This place is a bummer.

I love going to west end. It is small and not what most people would expect at first glance, but the place also shows movies that are sometimes hard to find around here. Another WONDERFUL aspect of west end is that they are involved in their community, showing special movies and documentaries to any school in the surrounding area. In dealing with west end, Josh and the rest of the staff have always been so helpful and kind.

I like West End Cinema in theory more than in practice. They have indies no other place in town gets. Their staff could not possibly be sweeter. They are glad you’re there and want you to have a good time. They will let you bring in snacks from Bread and Chocolate (next door) though they have a nice selection at their concession stand. Including (drum roll please) homemade marshmallows with Belgian Chocolate and sea salt. They are in the fridge.
That’s the good. The bad-​awkward seating layout. There are support beams in most of their theaters, so get there early so you can avoid the obstructed view seats. The seats are uncomfortable. I don’t mind the screen size so much because it’s not like you’re sitting far away. And anyway, they don’t show the type of movies that require a huge screen here. But the overall effect is one of watching a filmstrip in a classroom. I would love to see what this team could do with a bigger space and enough capital to make a reallly modern, comfortable theater. They would be unstoppable.

I am an Indie and documentary film buff so I love this little cinema. When you go to see a movie here don’t expect a large cinema or crowds, expect an intimate space and great atmosphere. It’s literally like you own private screening with like 20 other people.
The only issue is it’s located under an apartment building. The first time I went, while watching the movie the fire alarm went off in the apartment building. So they told us to stand outside of the room and they stopped the movie. Then everything was supposedly solved. We went back in and the alarm went off again. This happened one more time. Then we were able to see the rest of the movie. But other than that the staff was friendly and knowledgeable and it was a great space. The tickets are about $ 11.
I would recommend it if you are looking for something different to do or if you are really into Independent Film and Foreign Film. I believe they also have some different film series throughout the year.

This theater was not what I was expecting at all. It’s tiny, in every respect. The individual theaters are tiny, with barely any gradation in the floor, so if you have someone in front of you, good luck seeing the screen, which is also tiny. It looks like someone’s home theater. The movie didn’t start right on time, and we joked that it was because Dad was off getting a snack. There were a ton of previews, but once the movie started, it was ok. Some people mentioned having to sit on folding chairs, but we had actual theater seats in Theater 2. The sound isn’t as good as it is in mainstream movie theaters, but it was acceptable. On the plus side, it was clean — no gross, sticky floors — and the staff were friendly.

(4.5 stars) This was my first time going to an indepenedent cinema and I have to say, it was a lovely change of pace from the major movie theatre options. Seeing a movie here makes you feel like you have your own personal movie theatre.
First off, my movie going experience is heavily influenced by popcorn. A bad bag of popcorn will ruin any movie. I have to say that the popcorn here is fantastic and has no need to be topped with butter.
I know some other reviews complained about some of the individual theatres here, but I was in theatre 1 and I had almost no complaints with it. Yes, the screen was smaller than the ones you would see at most mainstream cinema but once the movie starts, you’ll hardly remember that the screen is smaller. In fact, given how close you are to the screen relative to how far you would be in a major theatre, I’d argue that this form of viewing provides a more intimate experience as there is less space between you and the screen. Although the volume was not extremely loud and I wish it were a tad amplified, it was high enough to hear almost all the dialogue and still be engrossed in the action scenes. Aside from that, the theater’s chairs were functional and sufficiently comfortable.
My one major complaint is that the screen is not situated that much above the ground and so, when someone needs to exit the theatre (which I think is easiest to do through the front given that everyone did that), they end up walking in front of the screen and blocking the image without fail. It would be nice if the screen were higher off the ground to perhaps mitigate this movie watching disturbance.
Overall, seeing a movie here was a complete joy. The employees were very friendly, the snacks delicious and relatively inexpensive (in comparison to other theatres), they have discount (student, matinée) tickets, and the movie I saw (Snowpiercer) was awesome!

This is, without a doubt, my favorite movie theater in the area. Yes, it has its issues, but it’s pretty much the exact opposite of all the big chain theaters: It has GREAT movies, tasty (and reasonably priced!) snacks, and polite patrons. If AMC and Regal are fast food, this place is filet mignon at Ruth’s Chris. This is a theater for people who enjoy movies, not just where people go to kill a couple hours.
In addition to the really good popcorn (with real butter!), you can also get a beer or a glass of wine. All the screens and theaters are much smaller than any big name place, but I think that adds to the charm.
For areas of improvement: If you see a movie in the small theater (on the right), it can get full and be difficult to find a chair. The seats in that theater are basically just padded folding chairs, so comfort can be an issue for some folks, although I didn’t have any issues. Another issue is that previously, when you ordered popcorn, they would fill the bag and dump it out to butter it, so you get an even distribution rather than all the butter on the top. I don’t know why they stopped doing this but they should start again! Also, sometimes the audio can be a little messed up. But these are all minor issues and this is overall a great place to see a movie.

This is one of my fav movie spots that I’ve reviewed before… But on today as I was walking down the stairs on my way to the front door, I fell… and I BUST MY BUTT!!! (And actually broke one of my 4 inch heels!) As embarrassed as I was, Jim (I think the manager or owner) witnessed the whole thing, yet made me feel so I unembarrassed. I think he probably even felt a bad for me and threw in a free soda & popcorn. [Moral of this story… don’t walk down stairs while texting!!!]
As for the movie theater itself, I absolutely LOVE the cozy, intimate setting. The popcorn had flavor, and the place was clean (as always), and the staff there never ceases to be warm and inviting. Definitely a place where I’ll come back again.