Academy Theater — Attraction in Portland

This would have been 5 stars when it was a second-run theater. The owner needs to get their schtuff together or it will fail.

I don’t mind raising the price for first-run films, but at least upgrade something in the business. I DONT COME HERE FOR THE BEST MOVIE EXPERIENCE. That’s not what Academy is about, so don’t price it that way. We come here for a charming neighborhood atmosphere. Academy Theater is currently trying to compete with high-end theaters and it will lose. Play to your strengths.

In addition to 1st run, play true classics a lot more. Have date night specials, trivia, 20 minute open mic before a film; get locals in your doors. No one thinks of Academy when they want to watch a blockbuster.

All of the other small independent theaters are out competing them in every way. They all went first-run as well. I won’t mention Mcmenamins since it has a multi-million dollar chain supporting them.

—Laurelhurst Theater has online tickets and assigned seating, higher quality seats, and cheaper matinee prices. They also have a pizza oven to warm up slices instead of heat lamps. I had a 1pm showing at Academy today and the pizza was stale AF, how is that possible?! Was it from the night before?

—Cinemagic has better projector and sound. They don’t sell pizza but they allow you to bring in outside food.

—Hollywood Theater has a better variety of films, cheaper drinks, cheaper tickets, 70mm projector, and online ordering. —Roseway Theater has the best sound system in Portland, cheaper tickets, and subjectively the best popcorn.

I don’t know if it’s the owner or manager, but raising the ticket price without adding anything new is a terrible idea. Any other independent theater is cheaper and with better amenities. I understand this theater is failing, but it’s because it’s pretending to be something it’s not.

I want Academy to succeed, but it will surely fail if it doesn’t attempt to compete with other small independent theaters. We want an experience, and having a 1990s 2nd-run theater showing 1st run...

We love Academy Theater and never go anywhere else anymore!

My hubby and I grew weary of paying $20 to sit in a crowded theater with screaming children and crabby attendants and be forced to pay $5 for water! (Crazy). So when we moved to Portland and discovered this little gem in our neighborhood, we decided we were quitting the block buster style theaters. In three years we have ONLY attended Academy and we love it!

If ever they don't have a movie that I was wanting to see, we end up getting it through Netflix quickly. But for the most part, they are so in tune with what Portland is watching that we are guaranteed to see it there!

I love that I can have specialty local foods. The food is delicious! And how cool that they even put nutritional yeast out for your popcorn (not to mention all the other seasonings)... a little personal tradition of my own. I also commend them on having water and cups out for their customers. I have a very active conscience about having to buy water bottles at other big theaters or concerts, etc... (sometimes it gets tricky sneaking in your own stuff). But at Academy, I don't have to worry about that because they already get that about me as a customer.

I love their special deals on Monday and Tuesday nights. We take advantage of them! But even if we want to go on a Saturday night, I know I'm not breaking the bank. That's so important these days.

I don't have kids yet, but someday I will and I appreciate knowing they have childcare...

Went to see Valerian and the City of A Thousand Planets, it was my first visit to Academy.

First the good: Loved the feel, friendly staff, clean, comfy seats, had to wait for another pizza, but that was delicious as well, for fairly reasonable prices. The screens are really small, but so are the theaters so it isn't too bad. I wouldn't want to sit anywhere near the back though.

The not so good: The popcorn tasted a bit burnt, the staff was friendly, but barely listened to my order, I repeated it twice, and they still got it wrong (I hate ice in my soda, and asked for no ice twice). The other guests were not great, There was a person with their bike helmet, massive bag, and snacks who came in and out several times yanking on seat backs and hitting people with all their stuff, then, around us we had lots of children, the ones behind us were old enough, but talked through the entire movie, the one on one side got up a half dozen times for the bathroom or food or something, and to the other side was a very young child, parents kept covering her eyes, on top of the mom trying to explain everything in 3yr old terms. Even on a Wednesday, the theater was packed, which isn't a big deal with peaceful people, but this rowdy bunch made the movie not nearly as enjoyable as it should have been.

I will go back, but I will only go back for something R rated that hopefully won't have any kids/parents, then the one or two annoying adults won't be...