AMC Hoffman Center 22 — Attraction in Alexandria

Update 12/11/23: Popcorn is still a hit/miss on saltiness. There's days that it really good and days where it's best to return the popcorn and get your money back.

It's about time they got the IMAX with Laser. However, it's such a huge disappointment that this theater decided to go the cheap route and didn't fully renovate the seats. Still got the same old dirty cloth seats. Even though it's a 20+ minute drive for me, I was always going to the AMC in Tyson's corner for their IMAX laser and the better seats. I will continue to do so for the big new movies. If I don't feel like driving, this theater will have to do.

Initial Review, 12/10/22: Probably the best movie theater in the area. Love the IMAX and Dolby theater screens. They also validate parking up to 4 hours which is sufficient for those long movies with 15-20 minute previews.

The only issue is with the popcorn. Minus ⭐. I usually buy popcorn every time I watch a movie. However, the popcorn isn't consistent. It's hit or miss. It's perfect (just the right amount of salt) one day and the next time, it's way too salty. It's as if it's alternating or some of their employees aren't trained/using the right amount. They need to cut back on the salt and stop the overuse of their salt to cut back on costs. In doing this, I would be willing to buy more popcorn. It would be a win-win situation for...

The IMAX screen and sound were great.

The rest - not so much. I ordered snacks ahead for pickup - literally just two drinks. Went to the pickup area my order wasn't there. Waited a few min for the employee to finally come over, they ask my name. They can't find the order. They ran around for a few min and ultimately looked at my receipt and gave me my two cups. Took overall 7-8 minutes for a pickup when I could have just gone into the premier line and been done quicker.

Then, go to get my soda. The first soda machine has no straws or lids. OK fine go to the soda machine on the other side. There's no ice in any of the machines. I got maybe about 8 ice cubes for my large soda. Whatever - I'll deal with it. Fill up my drink and head to the theater.

The seats are super small and not very comfortable for an IMAX theater. Certainly nothing like the seats in Tysons. They are old, velvet covered, not reclining, and not particularly wide. Also had seats adjacent to the handicap seats - thinking maybe we would have space near us. Well someone not handicapped had taken all the handicapped seats. Nobody said anything to them. Oh well.

So I go to take a sip of my soda. Disgusting. Flat. Warm. No syrup. Lol. $8 down the drain for that.

Ultimately watched the movie and left. Can't see myself coming back again I'll just go to Tysons next time where everything...

I went to see a movie here yesterday and was extremely disappointed with my experience. Here’s a breakdown of the issues I encountered:

Ambiance and Cleanliness: The theater was absolutely disgusting. It was dirty and hot, making it uncomfortable from the moment I walked in. There were visible stains on the chairs, and popcorn was scattered everywhere. The general upkeep seemed severely neglected.

Quality and Comfort: The theater appeared outdated and in dire need of renovation. The seats were not only stained but also uncomfortable, further detracting from the movie-going experience.

Service: I did not have any notable interactions with the staff, but the overall state of the theater suggests a lack of attention to customer service and maintenance.

Overall Experience: This experience seems consistent with other AMC theaters I have visited recently, all of which have been highly disappointing. The declining quality in cleanliness and comfort is a significant reason why theater ticket sales are steadily declining.

Conclusion: I do not recommend this AMC theater and would never go again. If AMC wants to retain its customer base, significant improvements in cleanliness, comfort, and overall theater maintenance are necessary. Until then, I would suggest finding alternative theaters that prioritize the...