Recently, my brother and I checked out the new high-end cinema that opened in Dana Point CA. Cinepolis is a theater chain that originated in Mexico. In 1999 they started offering VIP Cinepolis in Mexico, a luxury theater concept. In Mid 2011 they brought this concept to the United States opening a theater in San Diego. They currently have 3 theaters in Southern California and plan to expand nation wide.
What is luxury theater? Well first off it’s a bit more expensive than you are used to paying for a ticket. Tickets are $19.00 each. You do however get to select your seat at the time of purchase. The seat you select is going to be a leather lazy boy type chair that you can recline fully, like a first class airplane seat. In addition, each theater only holds about 150 seats per theater and they had 6 screens. The seats are set up in intimate sections of two, with plenty of aisle between the front, back, and on each side. The chairs also feature electric controls and a button for you to use to push for your waitress. We ordered two stone IPA drafts and a medium popcorn and that set us back $23.00 plus tip.
You don’t have to just get yourself popcorn of course, as Cinepolis offers a full bar and extensive menu of high-end pub food, appetizers and deserts. You can check out the full menu here: http://cinepolisstorage.blob.core.windows.net/sitecontent/menu.pdf Now say you did not want to just eat in your leather recliner and wanted to sit down at a table to eat. Well you are in luck as Cinepolis has a fabulous looking full bar with tables and lounge style seating in the lobby. Sorry, I did not see any beat up video games or any packs of screaming children. The lobby has the look and feel of a classy lounge in Vegas. The staff I met were highly polite, professional, seemed very eager to please, and were everywhere.
You can just show up at the lounge to eat and drink without a ticket if that is what you feel like doing. You do not have to purchase a ticket to enjoy the food and adult style beverages. As far as entertainment goes several plasma TV’s were set to sporting events when we attended the theater. They also offer free wi-fi. So if you get sick of all those damn hipsters hanging out at Starbucks and need a place to get some work done this could be your place.
Overall, my brother and I had a good time at Cinepolis. While the $19 ticket price is a bit steep for people who see a lot of films, if money was no object I would be here every week. As it stands, I would highly recommend Cinepolis as a special occasion theater or somewhere to take a date that you want to impress. It is easily the nicest place I have ever watched a film at, and as soon as I hit the lottery I plan on going back again.
So today’s hump day question is: After reading about the Cinepolis luxury theater experience, would you pay $19 for a ticket?
Here is a link to the Cinepolis USA site http://www.cinepolisusa.com/
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Probably not $19 a week, even if that kind of money was just a drop in the bucket for me. One time visit though, I’d probably entertain.
Rae it was really nice theater and my brother’s birthday weekend. Sadly I don’t see this being a regular stop for checking out movies.
It would be pretty tough for me to drop probably close to $100 for me and my wife to see a good movie. Maybe once in a blue moon. Sounds awesome if I actually had the money to burn for it though.
Bubba, I hear that, It would be nice if this was my usual theater but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. It was so nice it almost made sitting through Savages bearable.
If I had the money, hell yea. I think that’s pretty much going to be everyone’s answer.
I need to start cooking crystal like Walter White so I can afford to go to the movies.
It looks very cool. I assume all those lights do go off when the movie starts?
I’d probably would like to experience it once, but over here in the Netherlands we got unlimited cards for about the same price which allows me to see all the movies I want plus you can also reserve your seat in advance (as long as you pick up the tickets more than 30 minutes before the start of the movie).
Nostra, you would be correct that the lights go out when the film starts.
They recently started pushing some monthly unlimited pass here as well. However the cost was such that you would need to see 10 films a month to break even. Unfortunatly, I don’t have that amount of time to attend the theater.
I don’t want lots of drinks and food when I go to the cinema, I find it too distracting. I might try above concept once just for kicks, or as you say a special occasion.
Chris, strangely it was not very distracting. There is so much room between seats I really did not notice if anyone else was eating. Also we only got beer and popcorn so that may have had something to do with it. Agreed this is more of a check it out or special occasion theater.
So are they still upcharging for 3d on top of that? That is… a 3d ticket there would be like $25?
I dunno. I would pay $20, its not a big deal, but not just to sit in a Lazy boy.
In fact, the fact that they serve beer and food during the movie is the OPPOSITE of what I’d pay $20 for. I want an almost sensory deprivation tank experience. If I can have permission to punch someone who turns on a cell phone or maybe if they hand out BB Guns under the seat or something so I could ping talkers in the head…
THAT I’d pay $20.
Fogs I am not sure what the 3D policy is.
I don’t think you would have to worry about sensory deprivation. Once the film started it was dark and quiet. I don’t know if the servers were still serving but I did not notice any. The seats are configured in a way that you really don’t notice anyone sitting near you.
One concern that I did have was that if it was film like War Horse or Hugo I might just end up falling asleep for two hours in that leather recliner.
I don’t think you’d be getting the same kinds of asshats who do everything as loudly and as obnoxiously as possible, since the tickets are so expensive. Also, I would bet the theater staff wouldn’t take shit from anyone.
I don’t know, One thing I have learned about living in super conservative Orange County is that their are plenty of rich asshats too. lol I do agree that if someone acted up too much they would be sure to get the bum rush.
I would easily pay that, but I highly doubt they have any of these in the UK
Tim I think they have one in Dubai so next time you are there on vacation you can check it out.
Oh i’ll go tomorrow then, thanks for the advice haha ;D
Just don’t get caught kissing in public.
Or dance, or drink alcohol, or sing. I love to sing on holidays haha
I would definitely shell out cabbage to see a movie in this environment. Given, I wouldn’t be able to do it all the time, but if I could manage it once a month, I’d totally do it. I see this as a place that the assholes who text and talk during movies most likely wouldn’t be going to and THAT is the main reason I’d pay.
Tracy, I think I might try and talk Mark into checking out the Hobbit at this theater later this year.
If perchance someone was talking or texting, I don’t think you would even notice due to the seat configuration. As an added bonus no kid will be kicking the back of your seat and the floors are not sticky.
Well damn Adam…..if I wasn’t sold on the idea before, I sure as hell am now! Think I’m going to have to plan a trip back down to Laguna so I can go here. I bet the Hobbit would be a great film to see here. Is it a standard sized screen or bigger?
It seemed like a normal sized screen but the amount of seats are pretty limited. For a big realease like the Hobbit I would think pre-ordering tix would be the way to go.
$19 would be a serious case of sticker shock to me. I haven’t even gotten myself over to the local IMAX yet because it’s $14. My normal ticket price is $6, with a $3 surcharge for 3D.
Did get me thinking about checking out a (relatively) new little theater in town, though, where they do a similar “beer and snack” delivery service to the seats. I don’t drink, but I was curious if they had a similar seating setup. Doesn’t look like it, though, looks just like normal theater seating, just a bit more spaced out. Cheaper ticket prices, though ($5), although it’s in a part of town that doesn’t have much parking. Tiny place, too, from the looks of things (50 max seating.)
Yeah I agree Morgan we usually hit up the Saturday morning $9 matinee. The idea of collectively shelling out another $120 to watch the same films pushes going to Cinepolis into the realm of special treat.
Let me know how that theater works out. We had a small theater like that in the town i grew up in. They had beer and pizza and it cost a whole $2 to get in lol
I have been to a similar theater in L.A.. Its a nice concept and if you tire of the mega multiplex and having teens talking/texting during the films this is the way to go. If there was something like this close to me I think I would go every once in a while (maybe once every three months). Its cool but can get pricey.
Hopefully you will get an Alamo Drafthouse soon!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamo_Drafthouse_Cinema
I think it is the best theater chain in that is up and coming–it started here in Austin and now spreading across the US. Matinee $7/$9 and Evening price $10/$12 ($2 fee for reserved seats) with beer and food served during the film. No fancy chairs, but a cool atmosphere and some awesome special events–like the upcoming Fantastic-Fest Film Festival (which is like Christmas for film geeks).
Yeah…I am a bit biased.
Shit man! I’d rather recline back at home and download for that kinda green. That’s some expensive shit bro.