AMC Houston 8 — Local services in Houston

I have been to this particular theater several times, and have generally been underwhelmed. It is often understaffed, short or out of concessions items, and the theaters are generally somewhat dirty. Nevertheless, I have continued to come to this location as it is the most geographically convenient for me. However, after last night, I will not be visiting this theater again, nor will my friends. I bought tickets to see a 9:15 showing of Aladin last night. Yesterday was also Pride in Houston, which is located downtown within a few blocks of this theater. I work downtown and live quite near it and know that downtown tends to shut down after 5 and on the weekends. That to say, there are very few places for people to find amenities such as food, beverages, and restrooms during off times. When we arrived at the theater, we got in line to purchase snacks and beverages, although there was a young, black female in front of us, who had clearly been attending the Pride festivities (rainbow necklaces, rainbow themed shirt, etc.) and who was asking the counter person if she could use the restroom. Apparently, he told her that the restrooms are only for patrons, and she said that she was waiting for her friends and they would buy something and asked if she could go ahead and use the restroom. The clerk went into a back room, apparently to grab the manager, and returned and told her to stand a few feet away, which she did. Now, this young lady very obviously needed to use the restroom pretty desperately (or she's very talented at acting out desperately needing to go). While we were ordering our items, a woman (apparently the manager? White lady with mouse brown hair) approached the young lady and told her that was not allowed to use the restroom. The young lady again said that here friends were buying something and asked if she could go ahead. At this point, the manager and 2-3 other employees were standing right in the area. The manager told her could not use the restroom, and the young lady began begging. At this point, in the vein of BBQ Becky, Permit Patty, and Cornerstore Caroline, the manager called the police on the young lady. A police office came over and over the course of the next few minutes, while her friends were in the concessions line, the young lady continued to beg to use the restroom and was told to leave. My friends and I got through the ticket taker, and at this point the manager was wanting the young lady arrested. For needing to use the restroom. I told the manager that what she was doing was cruel, and she told me to F off. In short, a young lady (and member of the public) who had been attending a celebration of diversity and love, in an area devoid of restrooms, asked a business open to the public to use a restroom and was not only denied, but threatened with arrest. I get that this theater is downtown, and working in the area, I understand that indigent persons often try to access facilities which are for paying customers. However, this young lady was clearly not drunk or indigent, and there are circumstances were humans and businesses can make exceptions to help each other out. It would have cost the theater so little for the manager or another of the idle employees to escort the young lady to the restroom (if there were concerned she would sneak into a movie). I somehow doubt there would have been the same result if the young lady was white. A moment's kindness and compassion would have cost nothing. Yet, the staff at this theater felt the need to act inhumanely and for their efforts neither my friends nor myself will ever return to this theater. Additionally, I doubt that this young lady or her friends will patronize this...

Came to visit to enjoy Dr. DoLittle part two of a movie I’ve seen when I was younger. To my surprise this time attending this venue was not a good experience. The ticket machine could not print my ticket after I purchased it. I had to inform the gentleman that was checking tickets that it said for me to let him know.. After waiting when the movie was supposed to have started at 1:45pm and stayed on a movie start screen all the way until 2:18pm with no staff or management addressing those attending. Not even coming in to say if there was a problem and what was being done to solve it. Several of attendees left to ask questions and to find out what was going on.

One gentleman (attendee) returned informing that everyone would receive their movie ticket credited, a free ticket and credit for their food. I myself hadn’t purchased any food items. Therefore I went down to the concession stand to order a hotdog and a soda. I asked the lady behind the counter would this be, comp being I’m attending the Dr. Dolittle movie and provided her my ticket. She said that she dose not know if they where still doing that and called for a manager.

The manager came as he rudely interrupted his own employee when she was trying to explain the situation and then turn to me. I was surprised by his action being I myself is a manger and would never bluntly ignore what my employee had to say. I then informed him of the situation as I was cut off in mid sentence and informed that we not giving free food. Yet others where credited for tickets & food an was provided a comp ticket.

I asked for his information I was a form that he had no business card. I then ask for his general managers information he said he had something to do and never showed back to the counter. I informed the lady at the concession stand that I would return after the movie was over and if he brought the information I will pick it up then. I return after the movie was over and no information was left. I then asked the gentleman taking tickets to call for him.

As the time passed, I had stood waiting and asked what was the status of the manager coming or was he not coming. It was 24 minutes after the fact that he shows up with a customer service card. During that time I watch the police on duty check tickets, while the gentleman taking tickets fix the butter machine for the popcorn. The lack of staffing is not the...

Update: It’s been a year since my last visit and review. I decided to give this place another chance because of the convenient location & the fact that it has a bar. I booked two tickets to see Bugonia at 9pm on 11/10/25. I arrived at 8:45pm and was told the bar was closed, tried to order food instead, and was told the kitchen was closed too. How hard is it to get the four other concession workers TABC certified & at the very least serve beer & wine, or to keep the deep fryer on? This place is not serious about making money. Seats still suck and the water fountains haven’t worked for years, luckily my guest foresaw this BS & snuck in some snacks & drinks. The movie had a 9pm start time but AMC decided to play 28 minutes of ads & previews, this company has completely lost theirs minds. Im sticking to Cinemark theaters, even though they’re further away, they’re consistent, have better seats, & seem to genuinely care about the customer experience.

[Old Review: 2 stars] This location has so much potential, a movie theater in Houston’s Theater District. If AMC were smart they would buy/lease a larger portion of this building and turn it into an entertainment hub; movies, bowling, arcade, etc. Unfortunately, it’s only a matter of time before it completely shuts down as people like me stop giving it business. Every time I visit my experience gets worse and worse (I’ve been going to this location for years, when it was the Angelica, then the Sundance). The last two times I’ve gone the overhead lights were an issue. The first time they didn’t get turned off until after the movie started. During last nights visit to see Alien: Romulus they did not go down until right before the movie started, which ruined the viewing of the trailers. The seats are old and uncomfortable. There’s no supervision of the theaters. In a previous visit there was a large group talking loudly. During this visit there was a woman playing on her phone with the its screen on full brightness. You could literally do ANYTHING in those theaters and staff would be clueless unless another patron complains. The only reason I’m giving this two stars and not one is because of its...