Regal Birkdale — Local services in Huntersville

It really is a shame because I discovered my love for movies at this theater when I was in middle school, but this place just continues to get worse and worse. The theater, located in Birkdale village, a popular outdoor shopping & dining center with apartments over top, which I’d say a good 97% percent of (restaurants, shops, and the village itself) has been neatly kept up with & cared for over the years, and is also currently in the process of an updated makeover. For how happening this theater used to be, and how happening Birkdale continues to be, Regal’s corporate management have not done their part in making sure that this theater is kept up to date, and neatly maintained. You can expect reserved seating, but you can also expect old fashioned squeaky & stained non-reclining theater seats. The RPX premium experience is not worth the price. The seats are stiff and even more squeaky than the standard seats, which are honestly more comfortable too. Over the past few years, even before the pandemic, this theater has continued to go down hill, whether it be sound issues in the auditoriums, cleanliness of restrooms, or poor customer service training of employees.

I am writing my review today because common sense is truly a thing of the past apparently. Apparently Regal now requires all concession lanes be “Credit Card/Gift Card Only” with the exception of one lane that is able to accept cash and card. The reason allegedly being for "safety”, and to “reduce the handling of cash” (even though there are no gloves to be seen either way) however asinine nonetheless. Over the past couple of months i’ve had some really unfortunate experiences in regards to the signage that is supposed to clarify which lanes are card only. There have been multiple instances where not just myself, but I’ve witnessed other customers wait in line, and then get up to the register only to be turned away and made to get in the “cash only” line because they don’t have the ridiculous minuscule signage that states which lanes are “card only” clearly visible. In one instance, the signage was halfway below the counter to where you couldn’t see it behind other customers in line, and a second instance was the signage was halfway hidden behind the cash register with only the top half visible, also not visible behind other customers in line.

But what I experienced today takes the cake!

I learned that all of the registers are meant to take credit cards right now, but only one is allowed to accept cash. Today, at 11:30am, I witnessed FOUR registers open, THREE were “card only” but there was only ONE "card only" signage posted at a register way at the end of the counter. How is it fair to make your customers wait in line, and then only after they order have the kid at the register tell them you have to move to another line because of a payment method! A little common sense can go a long way! Put signs on every register that is card only, and also a sign on the register that accepts cash. Train your employees to let customers know they are in a card only lane. It is unacceptable that there was no signage today stating that a specific payment wasn’t accepted at all registers but one. This shouldn’t be happening anyways, because it makes zero sense, but at least use common sense so customers can have a pleasant and...

Finished the date night with a movie. I have not been to a movie in about three years a lot of thanks to the pandemic. I am a Regal member for at least 8-10 years, and I had been to Regal Birkdale before many years ago. However, I was really disappointed with how run down this theater looks. It has not been modernized, and it is dire need of a makeover especially since Birkdale itself is ultra modern and upscale. This theater should be the pinnacle of the area, but instead is the eyesore of the area. Regal really needs to invest money in this theater. Now on to the good news. The online ordering was nice and convenient with my ability to select my seats in advance. Upon arrival, the usher asked if I had tickets and I provided to him my QR code which he scanned and directed us to where the theater is located. I spent my high school years working in a local multi-screen theater so I had to have theater popcorn which tasted exactly like I remembered. I purchased a large popcorn and a large soda to share with my fiancé. We stepped up to the well stocked and supported concession stand and we were in and out in a couple of minutes. After a quick bio break, we were in the theater. It was clean but outdated. There are no reclining seats and the seats were uncomfortable for any length movie. The theater sound was decent and our seats gave us a clear view of the screen. It was nice to look around and see others like us on a date. The teens in the theater were typical, noisy teens throughout the movie. I guess that it is good to see teens acting immature and like teens again as they have been denied so many other life experiences during their teen years. At least, they were not disrupting anyone else. Everyone in the theater was respectful and we all enjoyed a good movie experience. I would like to see this theater become a key staple in Birkdale and to make it a key point especially now that 2-tickets cost me $40 and other $20 at the concession. For this amount of money, I would prefer to spend it on a modern theater and not on this rundown, old looking theater. To me, the theater itself was the major disappointment of an otherwise...

I refuse to come see a movie here until Regal takes the initiative to come in, update the seats, and replace the carpeting that’s been in there for almost 20 years. It's currently April 2025 and I haven't seen a film at this theater since August 2024.

You're better off driving 10 extra minutes to AmStar in Mooresville, that has better amenities (including comfy recliners, sound and picture) and admission is much much cheaper.

Regal Entertainment Group & its theaters now fluctuate admission prices throughout the day based on time and the demand of a film. You could be paying almost $18 just for a regular format general admission evening ticket. That's insane!

If Regal would just make these long overdue updates, then the theater would be a much more pleasant experience, and certainly feel more up to par with the rest of Birkdale village. You will find that the lobby is a much cleaner and welcoming environment than sitting in the actual auditoriums to view your movie.

The staff here are usually friendly & I'll admit noticing vast improvements made over the past year or so (at least concessions wise), with the addition of selling movie merch and souvenir popcorn buckets/cups, and thankfully it seems that new food items have been added, other than the usual, which weren’t available for the longest time.

Now this more recent thing of slapping on 10 plus minutes of extra commercials (some even repeating multiple times) post advertised showtime and ahead of the 15-20 minutes of trailers actually coming on is just outright outrageous, but unfortunately I don’t think there is much that can be done about that - however you won’t find yourself in that situation (at least for that length of time) at other local cinemas. Even at AMC.

The seats are the clear issue, especially when you can go to another local theater that offers better amenities/recliners and not pay nearly as much as you do for a lackluster experience packed in like sardines...It’s 2025…what are ya waiting for Regal? You have recliners at other locations…I think Birkdale’s waited...