Landmark's Ritz Five — Local services in Philadelphia

I have been going to the Ritz Five on the rare occasion for at least 25 or so years. But over the past five years, after becoming a member of the Philadelphia Film Society, I and my girl screens pre wide released or small indie films or at the Ritz 5 or one of it's two sister theaters (Ritz East & Ritz Bourse) around 75 times yearly.

While the theater seats are in need of updating, they are clean and not shabby in any way. The screening rooms are always clean (no sticky floors), the sound is clear and the screens are full size. I estimate the largest of the 5 screening rooms holds 350 - 400 guests. The theater is not updated for 3-D films to my knowledge. No biggie for us.

This theaters claim to fame is it's focus on small films that you are not likely to see elsewhere. Be they documentaries or indie produced stories. The films are from all over the world and in their original languages, requiring sub-title reading sometimes. This can take some getting used to, especially if you are a slower reader because in some languages like Chinese where the speech is quick, you almost have to be a speed reading to catch everything. If you view this as a challenge rather than an annoyance, you will enjoy the experience better.

Our favorite foreign language film genre are Hong Kong crime films. Good stories, acting , direction and fantastic "bang bang, shoot em up" action.

However, main stream films are shown there also. So don't get the wrong idea that only "artsy fartsy" films are shown there. Wednesday is discount ticket day...all day long.

For years I have considered Ritz theater concession stands the best in the city. Because besides making available candy from other countries that you will be hard pressed to find elsewhere (although not as unique as it was years earlier because of the up cropping of upscale confection and desert shops over the last decade) it is only one of 4 theaters (the 2 other Ritz properties and The Roxy Theater) that serves real butter on it's popcorn! Not the artificial swill served as butter on popcorn at the big box movie theater chains. Yuck. Tip: If you say "layer it" when you order popcorn, the attendant will put butter on the popcorn in the half filled bag, fill it up and add more on top. Yum.

You can get Italian sodas (less carbonated), bottled juices, teas & water, premium ice cream popsicles, rich coffee, hot teas (lemon ginger is my favorite)...along with the common fare you expect to see at most movie theater concession stands. For reasons I have no clue about, they do not serve Nathans hot dogs like their 2 sister theaters. Bummer.

Lastly, while it is possible to find a metered parking space on the street, many times you may have to park in a garage. They have a discount arrangement with one multi-level parking lot on 2nd Street about 2/3 of a block from Ritz 5. Ask the theater attendant for a parking voucher and using it will get you 50% off of the parking fee. About $10.00 instead of $21.00....

5 screens 1,350 seats

The Ritz 5 Theatres shows a mix of American and foreign films, some with English subtitles.

With two auditoriums each having about 450 seats, and a third auditorium having 400 seats, it opened as the Ritz 3 Theatre on June 25, 1976. The Ritz 2 & 3 closed on May 19, 1985 to each be divided into two theatres. They reopened as the Ritz 5 Theatres. Ritz 1 retains its 450 seats, Ritz 2 has 250 seats, Ritz 3 has 225 seats, Ritz 4 has 225 seats and Ritz 5 has 200 seats. In February 2025 it was renamed Landmark Ritz V.

Byam enters the courtroom and sees that the midshipman's dirk on the table points toward him; he knows that he has been condemned to death] Lord Hood: Have you anything to say before the sentence of this court is passed upon you? [long pause] Byam: Milord, much as I desire to live, I'm not afraid to die. Since I first sailed on the Bounty over four years ago, I've know how men can be made to suffer worse things than death, cruelly, beyond duty, beyond necessity. [turns to Captain Bligh] Byam: Captain Bligh, you've told your story of mutiny on the Bounty, how men plotted against you, seized your ship, cast you adrift in an open boat, a great venture in science brought to nothing, two British ships lost. But there's another story, Captain Bligh, of ten cocoanuts and two cheeses. A story of a man who robbed his seamen, cursed them, flogged them, not to punish but to break their spirit. A story of greed and tyranny, and of anger against it, of what it cost. [turns to Lord Hood] Byam: One man, milord, would not endure such tyranny. [turns again to Captain Bligh] Byam: That's why you hounded him. That's why you hate him, hate his friends. And that's why you're beaten. Fletcher Christian's still free. [back to Lord Hood] Byam: Christian lost, too, milord. God knows he's judged himself more harshly than you could judge him. [turns to Fletcher Christian's father] Byam: I say to his father, "He was my friend. No finer man ever lived." [addresses the court again] Byam: I don't try to justify his crime, his mutiny, but I condemn the tyranny that drove 'im to it. I don't speak here for myself alone or for these men you condemn. I speak in their names, in Fletcher Christian's name, for all men at sea. These men don't ask for comfort. They don't ask for safety. If they could speak to you they'd say, "Let us choose to do our duty willingly, not the choice of a slave, but the choice of free Englishmen." They ask only the freedom that England expects for every man. If one man among you believe that - one man - he could command the fleets of England, He could sweep the seas for England. If he called his men to their duty not by flaying their backs, but by lifting their hearts......

The management this day was Savanna.

In my recent visit to The Ritz 5, a sanctuary for cinephiles seeking the unique charm of independent cinema, an unexpected encounter unfolded, casting a shadow over the much-anticipated screening of "American Fiction." Central to the allure of such establishments is the concession stand, promising an authentic movie-going experience. Regrettably, my anticipation was met with disappointment, stemming from an aspect as fundamental as the quality of the popcorn.

Previously, an impromptu visit had revealed the unsettling reality of stale popcorn. In hopes of averting a similar experience, I inquired with the concession attendant about the possibility of freshly popped popcorn, only to be met with a dismissive response that signaled a profound detachment from customer service ethos. The revelation that the popcorn had been sitting since the morning further diminished my enthusiasm for what should have been a simple pleasure.

Attempting to convey the significance of fresh concessions—a staple of the independent theater experience—I was met with indifference, crystallized by a statement of personal disinterest in popcorn from the attendant. This exchange culminated in an interaction with the management, where instead of addressing the core issue, the focus shifted to an accusation of misgendering, overshadowing the initial complaint. The manager's apparent indifference to customer feedback was disheartening.

As a member and advocate for the sustenance of independent movie theaters, this experience was jarring. The essence of membership and support for these cultural havens is predicated on a mutual understanding of value and respect. The concession stand, far from being a mere ancillary service, plays a pivotal role in defining the theater-going experience, contributing to the financial and cultural vitality of independent venues.

This incident underscores a broader concern about customer service and the imperative of aligning operational practices with the expectations of a loyal and supportive audience. It raises fundamental questions about the ethos of independent theaters and the importance of every facet of the movie-going experience in sustaining these indispensable cultural institutions.

I am willing to erase my review by simply allowing me to PAY for my ticket and receive freshly popped popcorn. If they can't do this I don't believe a MEMBERSHIP is worth it.

For context- I am a Masc Black Lesbian Woman so I know all too well the plight of misgendering, racism, and poor customer service. So to say that to me when the employee had on a mask and glasses is INSANE and unfair and a cheap excuse for not doing their job. TO POP...