During these challenging times, Esquire is doing an amazing job of keeping up with covid-19 guidelines. I ventured out to see a movie there tonight and I was the only one in the theater. Was bitter sweet. A movie needs its audience.

The ambience of this theatre works in conjunction with the classic indie appeal of Clifton. A cornerstone of the Gaslight District; architecturally contrasting the strip, giving flavor to the streetline (if you will). The retro design of this place makes you feel at home. A present day glimpse into our recent cultural past. The service is phenomenal. I was able to get a crown and coke right outside my theatre.

Its a great, small theater in Clifton that is perfect if youre trying to avoid the crowds at a typical megaplex theater. The only two minor drawbacks are the parking is tight (I mean, it is Clifton, so it goes with the territory) and the sound system isnt the greatest, but overall, the prices are reasonable, the food is good, the staff is nice,, and its a great experience.

Love this theatre! Tickets and concessions are so much better priced than the big chains, plus its local. Doesnt get much better

Take a step back in time and enjoy a movie. The Esquire Theatre is an historical site in the city of Cincinnati, particularly The Clifton Neighborhood. Who can claim to love history and not love Clifton (Ludlow Avenue). Its a lively artisan neighborhood known for its boutique shops, restaurants, and walkability. Who doesnt appreciate convenience? Parking can be scarce and theres really never a day that is better than another day to frequent the area. It is a bustling place. The matinee, which is before 4pm cost $7.75. I believe that the Esquire has discounted rates for students and seniors, but Im not entirely sure of the conditional requirements. Last but not least, a concession stand and public restrooms.

This is a small theater with a bunch of rooms. They always have a couple of mainstream movies out for couple of weeks, but also pay a lot of attention to smaller productions. They also have premiered some movies from local makers as well as collaborated with UC in organizing a series of world documentaries with the makers present in the room - which was brilliant and very nice! Students get discounts.

Good theatre. The sound system could be better.

Hands down the best theatre in the city. Shows a lot of great indie flicks

Great movie. Covid safe.

In my opinion, this is a historical part of Cincinnati. My first time here was watching Kill Bill in 2004. They sometimes have showings of films that are in between the main movie theaters and DVD release. Great place, small rooms but comfortable, friendly staff and great movie snacks to buy at a reasonable price.

An odd first time experience. I bought 2 tickets for Fatima that were $7.75 each. I was charged $19.50 which is $9.75 each and my charge receipt showed no cost at all and when I asked, I was told that there was a $2 each Covid surcharge and their registers dont show amount charged. Hmmmm.

A Clifton icon! From new movies of all genres to classics, there is always something showing that will appeal to a wide audience. Plus, the concessions offered are always delightful. From fresh popcorn to candy, plus beers and wines, its easy to sit back and relax and tune out of the day-to-day of life.My wife and I have been frequenting the Esquire for over 20 years, and will keep coming back for many years to come!

Sweet little independent movie theater. They do a live performance of Rocky Horror Picture Show every other week Saturday at 12 at night, and have neat one time events all the time.

They are showing most movies that I could not even found elsewhere. This movie theater is simple not as fancy as big theater chains in malls. Staffs very courteous. The snack bar is great. Movies Tickets is affordable. You can’t beat the Clean rooms and hallways. check out the local shops on the street. Take note: Parking is hard to find, mostly street parking.

Love this theater! Such a nice comfortable place, a throw back to small movie theaters. Also, they show the best independent movies along with the mainstream favorites.

Fantastic cinema! I really appreciate the wife variety of films and related events that have been offered more recently. Thank you Esquire Theatre!

Historic little theater, in historic Clifton neighborhood. Good selection of movies every day, food/drinks, reasonable ticket prices and no crowds during the day. Plenty of good places to eat/drink before or after within walking distance.

This place is great. Best place for indy movie releases. Concessions just added alcohol too so thats even better. It doesnt have the fancy reclining seats but honestly its fun to go and remember the good old days of movie theaters.

Great selection. Good popcorn. Parking can be an issue if running late though. Best place for foreign films, docs, or re-releases.

A gem of Clifton, and Cincinnati as a whole for that measure. Lots of limited release titles you cant see anywhere else, and special runs of older films. Reasonably priced, fun location, good food. They also really support the local film community. My favorite place for a date night with my wife :)

Always a great place for a movie.

A gem of a theater showcasing a lot of great films and old classics. It has the old school nostalgic vibe l. They were showing The Graduate when we visited. They also hosted a indie film festival at the same time. They had wine and beer available, a d the usual popcorn and soda. I would highly recommend visiting this place and checking out a old classic film or one of the newer arthouse films. A great place for film lovers.

My absolute favorite local theater, love wine wednesdays!

Its a classic no-frills movie theatre. Ive never paid more than $8 to see a movie and Ive had a great experience every time Ive gone. Friendly and helpful staff, reasonably priced concessions, good seats, clean, and every time you go youre supporting a local business. Whenever I want to see a movie, the Esquire is the first place Ill go

Great older theater. Its got ambience and atmosphere. A little cozy in the lobby but very efficient staff.

I really loved it! I went for my first time to see the Joker! It was so amazing and reminded me of being a child in the theater. The popcorn is even better with real butter!

Best place to see limited releases. Friendly staff and great planned event nights. One of my favorite places in the city

I dont think its a stretch to say that this is Cincinnatis art house theater of choice.

What a wonderful theatre! The employees were so nice and everything was so neat and tidy. I cant wait to go back

Great place to check out a movie

Nice little theater. Saw The Color out of Space. Wonderful experience.

Its quaint and its small but the Esquire holds a certain spot in the heart of Cincinnatians. Great for an art house movie.

Saw Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice. Even alone it was a five star experience. Im sure there was a much larger audience earlier in the run. Katya at the refreshment stand gave me a chance to discuss the movie afterward.

Quiet . Abit chilly the last time I was there . But enjoyed it overall

I saw the rocky horror picture show here and it was one of the most fun shows Ive been to at the esquire!

One of the best small-town home-feel cinema’s. They usually have really good and very current movie (unlike other small cinema’s). Their service is also really nice.Also highly recommending to sign up to their newsletter to get perks such as discounts and GO TO THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW! It is hilarious!!

Great show!

Usually its great at the Esquire. Tonight the floor was so sticky I almost stepped out a shoe. Cat Video Fest 2020 was only a 7 on a 1-10 scale this year. Nothing you cant find on the internet & not that well edited.

Never been to an art house theatre before, this is definitely a great piece of Cincinnati history

I absolutely LOVED this place. The staff there was very attentive and asked if there was anything else I needed. Everyone had a smile on their face, except for this one guy at the food section. The tickets were cheap as heck and I love their theater rooms. It reminds me of the old school movie theaters where it feels like a small school auditorium. Also, their commercials before the movie starts has a lot of cool local events that are happening and some reminiscent music. Im definitely coming back to this place

Nice cozy theater. Just a little hard to find parking spot.

This theatre has been kept in really great condition. Never have I gone to an old theatre like this, but glad I did and would definitely go again. Parking is difficult to find, but doable. They accept Moviepass and was the only showing in our area of a movie we wanted to see, so thats why we ended up here. The theater room we were in held 115 seats and there were 6 screens in the building. Concessions was good. Large popcorn and drink received free refills. Prices for those were about $2 less than what you find at large theaters, so it was a better value.

Esquire was a dope theatre, very down to earth staff and very cozy Intimate feeling. Will be back to get that classic theatre vibe again.

Good place. Limited number of screens with limited seats. Well maintained. Parking available on streets.

Really cool theater in nice area. Theater gives discount to military and veterans.

Last weekend after working a lot for the past two weeks I finally had the the chance to see the movie Avengers: Endgame. I had a few dollars on an Esquire Theatre gift card and decided to go to my favorite neighborhood theatre. I dont live in Clifton but Northside is just across the viaduct and 2 miles down the road. I bought my ticket early for the 2 pm show at the concession stand/ticket counter. The three friendly student age employees provided great service. Later one of them was up front in the ticket booth. Showtimes before 4pm are $7.50. Screen 5 is of medium size & on the right side of the theatre. It was appropriately cool but not cold. The well cushioned seats are comfortable but do not have a headrest or fancy snack holders nor do they let you lean back. The sound system was clear and appropriately loud and the picture on the screen was of high quality. And the movie was great! The theatre lobby is nicely decorated with movie posters and merchandise to buy. There is street parking and validated parking in the lot across the street. I look forward to seeing more movies here especially on a warm summer afternoon or evening. Until next time be kind to each other. #yelpcincy #esquiretheatre

Great place to see new and old movies.. really good popcorn also.

Worst theatre ever!!! Me and my husband went here the other night to watch a movie and it is way to small of a space and its super loud like if you have sensitive ears and dont like really loud sounds I dont recommend this place to you cause it will make you feel like your going death

Bring your own bungie cord and block off seats for your dozen or so entitled friends who cant seem to get anywhere on time. Otherwise you stand in line for up to an hour before the show starts like the rest of the people who operate by the normal societal rules except for the people who cant seem to follow a normal line queue and just cut in front of whomever is already there. Could have used some ushers in the lobby.My first and last interactive show at the Esquire Theater. Lots of rude people here for a Christmas show. Also the ticket taker was very rude telling us that we needed printed tickets when the email clearly stated a green alternative of just showing your email with the bar code. Just call this our one and done.

Great old time movie theater in the heart of Clifton.

Nice venue with several small theater rooms under one roof. Courteous service, alcohol and popcorn....what a nice combo

Its a pretty cool little historic theater. There are actually multiple screens.....small to medium

I forgot about this gem of a theater. Still has the best popcorn in the city.

Cool theater, labyrinth like hallways add excitement to the trip.

Love this movie theater. Old school, small screens, art films, just perfect.

Love the limited, art house type movies they book there. Great date night. Park in the community lot and eat, drink, shop and see a movie.

This theater is awesome. Its right in the middle of things in a place you would never expect. Its a smaller theater, giving you that personal and quaint mom & pop kind of feeling. However its much bigger than it looks from the outside. Its clean and considerably cheaper than going to one those corporate places. They even provide abnormal concessions such as milkshakes and even beer! I was ecstatic, because it wasnt more expensive than going out to Graeters or to a bar. I watched Endgame here for my first time going and will definitely recommend it to others.

Love neighborhood, friendly theaters. Wish theyd shown Harriet in a larger theater.

Great vintage theater showing current movies. They are one of VERY few places in town showing Indie films and foreign language films. They also offer theme-based nights; Hitchcock nights, Audrey Hepburn nights, ANDsing-a-longs which are a hoot!

Really liked it, got a great selection of interesting and eclectic movies that really run the gamut from more mainstream fair to some amazing indie and off the beaten path films. Really only complaint is parking was a bit confusing for my first time going their. The street can get filled up real quick on a busy night, and if so you gotta loop around to a paid lot one street over, it wasnt too expensive especially since the theatre validates you for two free hours if parking, but it was a little difficult to find it when I showed up at night.Still, had a good time here, friendly staff and clean premises, saw Eraserhead here, the fact I can see a classic like that projected beautifully on the big screen should be more than enough to vouch for this places cred. Great spot! Thank you so much for bringing great cinema new and old to cincy!

Really fun for the old movie theater experience, especially if you go see an old movie but you have to understand that your butt is going to hurt from sitting in those seats because our butts have been so conditioned to the luxury recliners at large scale theaters. If you can endure the pain its worth it

Excellent independent theater. Has frequent special showings of classic and notable movies.

A wonderful and historic theatre. Also, you can buy beer and wine there and drink it during the movie. To quote Borat, very nice!

It was the first time in your theatre. But you need more lighting to dark to find a seatI almost sat on someones lap.

Great date night spot. Good films, art deco and historical atmosphere. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable too. This is my first choice theatre in Cincinnati so far.

My Favorite Theater in Cincinnati! I love the Esquire. Unique Films, Amazing Staff. Great places nearby to grab Ice Cream or Wine before or after a movie. I highly recommend! Locally Owned.

Very cool little community theater. A great place to catch off the beaten path documentaries and other flicks.

One of the best movie theaters in North America! Great selection of movies and programming of events. Park in the merchants lot a street south of the theater and ask them to validate your parking ticket.

Great local theater with big budget and lesser known movies

Went to see the lighthouse...first movie Ive been to in a while at a theatre..will always return to the Esquire. Great theatre, great staff, and the movie was amazing!

This theater really surprised me as Ive never been a in a movie house 1/4 the size (screen & seating area) of a normal old fashioned theater. The acoustics and seats are all very good and comfortable. The popcorn is delicious and the staff is very nice and welcoming. I recommend this theater for anyone looking for a great place to watch a flick!.....

Great People, great pictures. Are you a movie buff that has a hard time seeing the movies you want to see in Regal and Cinemark? Look no further. The drinks are good and the popcorn is delicious. Oh, youre a Rocky Horror Picture Show fan? Ibe got more good news. The Dention Affair shadowcast is fantastic and does Rocky Horror Live every other week. Its fun and hilarious. Go support this theater!!!

Small cozy theatre. Just right!

Any gamer old school and new will love this there is a bar with food and drinks but games are free

I like the movie theater. They have great movies there. That area done there is right out of the 60s or 70s. It is like going back in time. Rather interesting characters on the streets. I always get down there a little early just to check out the street life

It had more than one theatre, which surprised me because it looks so small on the outside. The lobby was small, but comfortable. It was a great neighborhood theater like we had when I was little. I plan to go back again.

Always an interesting foray into cinema

I liked this movie theater, and would come back.Parking is really limited, and its preferably if you can to get walking. Parking could be nearby, or street, but it is a bit difficult (but it is most related how complicated is that street to park).Prices for tickets has been okay and good. They are actually cheaper than most big theaters, which make senses. It is important to understand this is not a big theater, but it is one who commits to make you feel comfortable and enjoy the movie. Popcorins here were delicious, and I love their name. I ordered the Previews Only one, and interestingly enough, it lasted for that long.Rooms are okay, not recliner or stadium seating. However, they do its purpose. I love the selection of movies they get to bring. Seats might not be the most comfortable in the world, but no complain about it.Id come back, and definitely suggest if you really wanna watch a movie, then this cinema will fulfill everything you ask for it.

The entire charm of the local shops in this area is reflected even in the movie theater. The snack bar is not outrageous and the theater is not as fancy as the big places at the mall it totally makes up for that with charm. Clean rooms and polite staff is certainly a place I still return to. They play the indie movies the big shops dont waste the time with. Go there and watch an obscure indie film and check out the local shops to make a day of it.

Great options to see movies not necessarily available at the big multiplexes. All of their theaters are well run, reasonably priced, good concessions, and very worth the trip.

I love this place, especially during matinées

Cozy, well taken care of, affordable and presents interesting intellectual, artful movies and foreign films. Its somewhat quaint but the overall experience is lovely and enjoyable.

Came here a couple weeks ago and it was very clean, super nice staff and an awesome theater in general

Good: $4 beers, nice staff, appropriate volume during the show. Bad: unbelievably uncomfortable seats, hard flat plastic arm rests.

Cute little movie hall.

Great small local theatre showing some small films as well as big. No reclining or assigned seats. But still a good venue.

The Esquire is one of my favorite places to see a movie. It has a great small Art House theater Vibe with lots of modern amenities and concessions. They play everything from arthouse Niche movies two big summer Blockbusters. They also have a full bar is a bartender who is more than happy to whip you up any cocktail youd like. The theaters are always clean and well maintained and the staff is very friendly. At least insofar as you could ever hope for a theater staff to be.

Just a great old theater. As it is in the very heart of a college campus, the crowd here is NOT the average mall teeny-bopper set, and the location has other advantages. You can buy a beer here, for one. The snack bar has way above average selection, and , sells them for prices that dont feel exploitive (HOW odd!!!).Saw Endgame on the opening Thursday. It was crowded, but there were seats, and you didnt have to fight through a crowd.On the downside: It doesnt have the super cool powered roomy and comfortable seats the multiplexes do, so youll have to somehow survive an ordinary chair...Also: On any given day, unless you are a full geek film fan (GUILTY!), on average, the odds that you have heard of more than 1/2 of the films playing this venue are very slim. But thats the BEST part!

The only movie theater that doesn’t exclusively show contemporary Hollywood blockbusters. Lots of great independent films and fun showings of older films. Truly the best movie theater in Cincinnati. Parking is a little inconvenient but not too terrible. Highly recommend.

Great local art deco theater. Current movies, historical and indie movies are shown. Sing alongs, informational events are well attended. Typical movie smacks, but there is wine and beer!!

Fun nice place to go see old time movies and theatre experience.

Best art house theatre in the city! Documentaries, indie films, foreign language films, obscure Oscar nominees. Real butter on the popcorn, beer and wine, gourmet desserts, friendly service. Oh, and dont forget late night Saturday Rocky Horror Picture Show!

Very nice vintage looking theater. We had a great time.

Hidden gem! And $5 All-Day-Tuesdays just cant be beat!

Great films, great staff, great deals.

Nice experience, seats are not very comfortable though.

Today 1/10 around 7-8 pm I found that I had lost my phone. I went back to the theatre to check if it was there. I want to thank the gentleman who was the manager around that time for being very helpful and kind in trying to help me find it. As it turned out I found it laying on the street but I am grateful for the helpfulness.Need I say the movies are good and the concession stand too? Love the theatre and the people who work there

Great place with a unique selection of movies

Older theater, so you get what you get. Great gourmet snacks available. One big main room. Other rooms are small & narrow. Take extra time to park.

Love this place. Go to for date night or a friends night out. Great selection of independent movies and nostalgic exterior.