Phoenix Theatres Great Northern Mall — Attraction in North Olmsted

We were excited to check out this new concept theater and drove from a nearby suburb about 30 minutes away. Overall it was fine but we all agreed it wasn't anything we'd go out of our way for again. I thought I'd share a few things we learned to help you if you visit. First of all, give yourself extra time to get there. It took us a little bit of time to find the theater inside the mall and you pass by a large kids play store, lots of claw/vending machines and giant chess board so if you come with little kids, expect some delays. 😆 Every minute counts. I don't think they have as long of previews as other theaters also, so factor that in as well. We usually try to get to movies a little after the start time since there's a good 15-20 minutes before the movie starts but this place seemed quicker. (Or maybe everything else just ate up more time than I thought, haha) If you don't print your tickets ahead of time you need to have them printed at concessions - there is no qr code in the app. We didn't know that and had to go back but fortunately it wasn't busy. The concessions are just the basics, which is fine, so if you are looking for anything more substantial than popcorn, nachos and candy just eat ahead of time. We normally just get popcorn so it wasn't a big deal. Offering beers is a nice plus though! I did like the self serve drinks and butter but it was a sticky mess and our shoes were sticking to the floor. It's great that they offer free refills and the price is much more reasonable than other chains but we didn't come close to needing a refill. Still a much better value than other places. I will give them extra props for actually displaying the size options for drinks and popcorn! Its so annoying to guess what each place considered a jumbo. Haha!

The theater itself had pros and cons. We saw a kids movie and two of my kids were uncomfortable because the sound was intense. I really liked the effects of hearing everything surround you and occasionally a seat rumble but the action scenes were super loud. We did adjust as the movie went on and got used to it, but if you have kids with sensitive ears Id bring headphones or maybe skip it all together. The large curved screen is really cool! The seats weren't as comfortable as I was expecting. They are a kind of rougher fabric but not at all uncomfortable - I just find recliners at other places more cushy. I'm curious how they will hold up over time to spills and butter stains but they did have a worker promptly inside the theater cleaning up so hopefully they stay clean. The heated seats were actually a con for us. Mine didn't work, which was no problem - it was pretty empty so I just swapped but the heat is intense even on the lowest setting and it only heats one very small area of your lower back. So while it was a nice feature, it wasn't this amazing, comfy cozy kinda vibe. One last note for sound level - we stopped at the bathroom on the way out and the whole place was vibrating and rattling and super loud from the sound of the adjacent theater. It's pretty loud. If that's for you, you'll definitely enjoy it.

It was a fun trip to the movies but nothing we'd go out of our way to go back for and, depending on the movie type we might skip all together based on sound level. I appreciate the free refills and think the price is great, just needed to understand a little more about these tiny details to make our experience go a little...

Today was my first time visiting this cinema with several members of my family. When we first arrived inside the movie, another family was taking up one of our seats. While waiting for the movie to start (Wicked), we noticed there was no sound. Even once the movie started, there was still no sound for some time. People were starting to leave the theater to complain. We were told the manager was working on the problem. Soon after, a customer (not an employee) came in to tell us the problem couldn't be fixed and that we would need to get a refund. As we exited the theater, employees were in the exit way, handing out blue tickets but didn't explain what they were for. As we went out into the lobby, we went up to the concession stand to find out what to do. The only manager on duty was frantically trying to process refunds on the tickets, refund the cost of concessions, and explain what the blue tickets were for. Apparently there was only supposed to be one line (on the far left) where people could get these refunds - but that was not announced to the customers, so they were lining up in all of the lines in front of the concession cashiers, only to learn once they got to the front of the line that they should have gone to the far left line. Some people started yelling at the manager, and she tried to explain she was doing the best she could to accommodate everyone, but she was only one person. She was in tears, and we felt so bad for her. The whole system was a mess. The ticket refunds could be made from the register on the left, but refunds for concessions had to made from the register the concessions were purchased from, so she was having to run back and forth to the registers to process the refunds. People in line were becoming more and more frustrated and saying they were never coming back to this cinema. Another complained that the heat in their seat wasn't working. There was a complaint about the popcorn being too salty. The only positive seemed to be that the prices were lower than other cinemas in the county. I would like to point out that in NO WAY was the manager on duty at fault. She was doing her VERY BEST to handle a very stressful situation, but there really should have been more than ONE manager on duty, especially on a weekend day. There also should have been better communication between the employees and the customers, as far as what was being done to handle problems, and where customers should go for their refunds. I suggest such problems be addressed in the future, or more and more people will be...

Review: The Phoenix Theater and Thunderbolts in Dolby Atmos Surround Sound

If you're a movie lover like me, there's no better place to enjoy cinematic magic than at The Phoenix Theater. My recent experience watching Thunderbolts there was nothing short of amazing, and it's all thanks to their state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos surround sound system.

From the moment the movie started, I was completely enveloped in the soundscape. The precision and clarity of Dolby Atmos brought every explosion, every whisper, and every musical note to life. The sound literally felt like it was moving around me, immersing me in a way that made me forget I was sitting in a theater. Whether it was the adrenaline-pumping fight sequences or the subtle atmospheric sounds that helped build tension, the audio experience added a whole new dimension to the movie.

The theater itself is as impressive as the technology it boasts. The seats were plush and extremely comfortable, the screen crisp and vibrant, and the staff ensured the experience was seamless from start to finish. The ambiance of The Phoenix Theater is warm and welcoming, making it a perfect blend of luxury and entertainment.

As for Thunderbolts, getting to enjoy it in this setting made the film even more exciting. The characters, the action, and the vivid storytelling of the movie felt amplified (in the best way possible) by the incredible visuals and, of course, the heart-pounding, immersive sound design. There were moments I literally jumped in my seat because the audio and visuals were so impactful.

Overall, if you’re planning to watch Thunderbolts or any other blockbuster, you owe it to yourself to experience it at The Phoenix Theater in Dolby Atmos. You won’t just watch the movie—you’ll feel it. Truly a 10/10 experience that I can’t...