Regal Kingstowne — Local services in Franconia

BLUF: This place is dirty, disorganized, and overall terrible. This is not a premium movie theater by any stretch of the imagination.

The only reason I came here was because I thought it would be a "nicer" (Premium) theater. In the end, this place reminds me of why I never go to movie theaters anymore.

This was our experience

When we showed up, the line to buy the tickets was super long with only one attendant selling tickets (not really their fault but still frustrating considering they had a number of windows they could have been selling tickets at). When we are finally called up to talk with the agent, they tell us that we need to go inside to buy tickets (didn't offer an explanation as to why).

When we go inside to buy our ticket, the line inside was just as also long and we decided to try to use the kiosk to buy the ticket. We go to the first available kiosk and it is not functioning. We then wait in line again for the only other kiosk and wait some more. We get to purchasing out tickets and when it comes time to print the ticket, nothing comes out. Luckily, my girlfriend ran over to find someone to help and the general manager just said "It's fine, just go in. The machine probably ran out of paper or something".

We go through and then attempt to buy food. Once again, the lines were all super long and the people working the food counter are sometimes there and sometimes not. We try to get a few things and our first option are "not available at the time". We make alternative choices and then are sent to wait for the food at the other end of the counter. It takes 30 minutes for our food to come out and then we were late for our movie. As we were waiting there it was impossible not to notice how the entire place was just a complete disaster. There was food all over the ground, 1/2 of the people working there were doing everything in their power to avoid any customers, everything was disorganized.

All in all, this place was an absolute disaster. Not only will I not be going to this theater ever again, I doubt I will ever try going to another movie theater all together. I spent about an hour waiting in lines for my ticket and food, the theater was super crowded, it was absolutely disgusting, they didn't have straws, and...

TL;DR version: If you care about the movies and how they're projected, STAY FAR AWAY FROM REGAL KINGSTOWNE 16. If I could give this place zero stars, I would. They obviously don't care about how movies are shown to their paying customers. AVENGERS: ENDGAME was underlit and dark. How do I know? At the press screening the week before at a non-IMAX theater - AMC Mazza Gallerie - I was able to see fine detail, even in shadows. Kingstowne's projection was like trying to watch mud. The worst of it was at a showing of the MIDSOMMAR director's cut on September 4th. This film has subtitles, but they were unreadable due to the projector being set at the wrong aspect ratio - it should have been at 2.00:1, but the settings were on "scope" at 2.40:1. This resulted in the black matting bars at the top and bottom being larger than they should have been, with the bottom bar obscuring the subtitles. (The trailer for THE LIGHTHOUSE was also affected by this error; the evidence was displayed as early as the green MPAA band before the trailer played, as text was cut off by the matting.) In both instances, I left the theater twice to ask if anything could be done about it and was met with "That's just the way it is." In the case of MIDSOMMAR, why bother showing it? Cost-saving by burning the projector bulb at half-power at the expense of being able to watch a movie should be a cause to close your theater down permanently. Even more unforgivable is not correcting a very obvious problem which hampered the very act of understanding the movie. People are not trained well here, and the lack of care is an insult to movies and their audiences. If you care about the movies and how they're projected, STAY FAR AWAY FROM REGAL KINGSTOWNE 16. But if you want a free movie after 9:30 on a non-peak night (M-Th), go for a 10p show. No one's taking tickets and you can walk right in. I didn't do this - I bought my ticket online and no one was there to scan it. If I hadn't gone to get a bottle of water and asked "Where do I get my ticket scanned?", I wouldn't know that the concession stand attendants were responsible for doing that. So this place is not only hurting the viewer, they're hurting the studios as well with their lax attention...

Regal Kingstowne used to be my go-to theater when I lived closed to the Kingstowne area several years ago. Always busy and clean with a congenial staff made for a pleasant experience.

Unfortunately, my recent visit did not replicate past experiences for a weekday evening. Upon walking in, I immediately noticed the there was hardly anyone around; not even a theater employee checking tickets...anywhere. The floor looked dirty in certain areas with popcorn littering the area around the concession counter. While ordering, myself nor my teenagers could understand the person working behind the counter despite several polite attempts to ask her to speak up and/or repeat our order. I wasn't too concerned by that experience but her very low speaking volume did make my ordering experience difficult.

The food tasted good. The popcorn seemed not quite fresh but wasn't bad. We ordered bottled water so I am not sure about the other drinks.

Now the theater itself is what really drove my review towards the negative spectrum. Immediately entering theater 10, human urine smells hit me in the face. It was awful but seemed contained to the entryway. Rounding the corner to the seating area, I noticed the theater was empty but spotted five seats with cups and trash left in the seats and cup holders. Bad form, Regal Kingstowne! Otherwise, the rest of our movie experience was pleasant.

After the movie, we all used the restroom only to discover a toilet and urinal out of service and no soap in any of the three soap dispensers. Seriously?!

As I mentioned before, my previous experiences at this location were great but the establishment service in general. I doubt I will return as the AMC Hoffman off Eisenhower Avenue is better than this location. Think twice before considering a movie at...