This is a very interesting movie house I have been through. This was a great experience for everyone because the employees are so friendly, attentive, and professional, and the whole movie house is set up so well for families and friends. Staff comes to your seat to take your order and deliver it all directly to your seat. Highly recommended!

Old school movie theatre. Super-clean. Efficient staff.

This movie house is clean, super comfortable, quiet, and in good condition. Perfect movie house for date night or friends to gather in the bar or lounge before the movie. Good food, decent prices, and the chairs are super comfy. The seats recline and they have a call button to place more orders so you never have to get up. Highly recommended!

Went to see Parasite at this fine establishment and I had an amazing night! The management and staff were all so kind and friendly. It certainly looks like all the personnel were one big happy family, they all had amazing chemistry. I had especially amazing service from one sharply dressed manager named Alex, he was an amazing human and definitely makes me want to come back every day!

Worst cinema ever!Screen is small and high, trailer is almost 30min. These are fine.I brought a small size backpack, the ticket checking person didn’t let me in, said there is a rule that people cannot bring backpack in. And they don’t help keeping bags. Most cinema doesn’t have this rule. How am I supposed to know? Should have noticed in the online ticketing portal, right? How am I supposed to do? I got my tickets already and I couldn’t get in!!!!

I really want to like this theater, but its policies make it not worth the visit. The screens themselves are not that impressive, but could be cute or quaint. However, the only reason I can think to come here is convenience. On the way home from work, like all sane people I bring stuff home. They have a bag policy that prevents staff from allowing backpacks in the theater, from searching backpacks, from recommending places to put them, from accepting them, or from doing anything helpful. Management is clearly bonkers. Their fear of losing profit to outside food and drink (perhaps hidden behind a fake safety concern) has lost them at least three local customers.

They chopped up one theater to make three. ...you want the main theatre, not the small ones where the seats are all at an angle. And you wont love hearing the soundtrack from the movie next door if youre watching a quiet kind of movie. No soundproofing at all!

CineArts has introduced a no-bags policy without providing anywhere to check your bags. What a move. Otherwise a fine theater.

This is an excellent place to see a movie with a get friends and has 3 surprisingly large theaters for the seemingly small size of the theater. The only recommendation to anyone is to make sure that you dont have a backpack or any other large bag because thay will refuse to let you in and they do not have a place for you to check them.

Nice theater! I would love some heating though.

Love those $5.50 Cinemark club Tuesday night ticket deals.

I expect that a CinéArts theater has less show times, smaller showrooms, and older chairs. I like that it has a feeling of watching a movie in a real theater. But this one just disappointed me because of the unprofessional service, especially the guy who checked us in. He told us that no backpacks are allowed inside and this is a government policy for all SF theaters (?? Need more research on this). I’ve watched movies in town recently and this is the first time I’ve ever heard about this! So where guests are supposed to put their stuff without proper storage which they don’t offer at all? What do they expect a guest to do when he came after work with all his stuff who had purchased a ticket and already missed the beginning??? That guy said to me that they assume people drive here to watch a movie. Excuse me???? With that said, do they think it is safe to put personal stuff in car？I saw other guests complaining so they must do something to avoid this. Also they really owe us apologies for the bad attitude.

Nice neighborhood theater. Excellent service from the staff.

We waited outside past movie start time and no employees where in the theatre to open. A huge line of people where outside wondering why no one was there.Many of the people waiting were elderly. It was windy and cold. I really couldn’t believe what a rude ridiculous theatre this must be to not even have someone explain something to everyone waiting outside. I will never go here again. Can’t even count on someone opening the place.

I just left a 9am showing of the new star wars movie and it is absolutely freezing in the theater auditorium. Its December and its warmer outside the building, than it was inside the auditorium.

Do not get confused this place is great, I like the small movies rooms. This one star is for the Asian Guy who was very impolite, very disrespectful. I came late coming from my work, I was carrying a plastic bag, he stop me outside of the theater telling me that no food is allowed and he has to retain my plastic bag. I clearly said I did not come to have a dinner inside, I just want to watch a movie. I was not carrying food in my plastic bag, actually inside some items I purchased on Petco for my cat. This guy need to go to some customer services class, very bad attitude again people who spend our money, and our time to visit this place, same money he takes home to feed his family.

Nice local theater. Rarely crowded, clean, and location is great if you want to grab a bite to eat before or after. Best of all, the sound system doesnt leave your ears drums bleeding afterward like the bigger chain theaters. The only drawback is that you have to make sure the movie you want to see is on the main screen. The other two screens are tiny.

Ear-destroying volume, very cold, and ended the last Star Wars movie 30 minutes early. The movie froze and the lights came on in the middle of a crucial scene. It took them five minutes to get in back on.Im all for independent places, but they have to be well-run and this one isnt.

I use to really love this theatre and never had any problems coming to this theatre. I came straight from work to see a movie I had been looking forward to seeing and was denied because I had a small backpack. I find it is completely unfair and wrong for this theatre to allow purses in and for which most are larger than the backpack I had. The manager was extremely patronizing and rude as was the teller.

Great compact neighborhood theater that plays latest hit movies. Comfy seating. Neat environ.

When a mild favorite local movie theaters. Its a tiny neighborhood theater thats in a quaint part of San Francisco

Almost 100 year old theater, def not a place for a big screen or fancy sound system, but ifnyou want somewhere cozy and comfortable and a cool neighborhood gym def worth it to catch a movie here.

Love the Old School Theatre. Comfy chairs. I remember going there as a kid with sisters, mom & cuzns. Watched Dumbo, I clapped & a bit of a tear...Loved the movie. Even though my mom forgets to share the popcorn..Happy Day

The chairs are very squeaky and if you go see a quiet movie next to a Sci Fi war movie then all youre gonna hear is loud booms while the characters onscreen try to have a heartfelt conversation . The new method of getting seats w the screen takes loads of time so good thing the previews were around 20 mins.

Love the old movie houses like CineArts at the Empire. Usually the patrons are a lot quieter who have come for a good show. The movies at these old houses arent the block busters everyone wants to see. These movie houses tend to show a lot of foreign flicks and less popular more sophisticated movies. A good way to spend the afternoon.

AWFUL. Subpar Sound. Literally locked a theatre full of people outside the theater until 5 minutes before showtime because no one was there to take tickets. Seemingly NO VENTILATION. By the end of the show it was ridiculously stuffy and hot, and this was on a cool SF night. Chairs are even uncomfortable. Prices arent even cheap. Terrible experience :)

Love those $5 dollar Tuesdays

This theater is small but its perfect for small dates or a way to end the day with friends! It is also surrounded by plenty of interesting shops and stores as well!

The theater is small with three screens. It is clean but parking in the area can be difficult as most parking on West Portal is metered during the day. I went to the Early Bird at 11:30am which cost $8.75 cheaper by almost $2 than other theaters. At this hour total number to watch Avengers Endgame was maybe 8. Seating in theater 2 is good but angled so you want to sit on the left side of the aisle to feel like you are looking straight at the screen. The screen is not super large. Seats are okay but not like newer theaters where you have to reserve a seat Their snack bar is small but the prices are reasonable.

Great neighborhood theater. Service is friendly and it’s like going back in time. Usually not very crowded which is convenient for getting decent seats and getting in and out easily for a comfortable experience. Screens are a bit small but enjoyable enough for me. Location is nice next to many restaurants too.

Lousy theater they had the AC on all the time they could even turn off the AC Very horrible Ive never had so cold in a movie theater everybody was freezing. Pay money to be cold The lousiest service in this movie theater

Its ok, seats arent comfy and there is no room for someone small to see...the quality of just the theater isnt great, but find for a budget movie theater

Super cold (about 60 degrees) in the large theater. Most people kept jackets and hats on. 28 minutes of ads and previews before the movie (Star Wars) started!

I love my neighborhood movie theater... real butter on the popcorn and $5 Tuesdays... but is air conditioning really too much to ask for during a heat wave...? Still... Hella local...

Not bad, but not my favorite movie theater.

Great movie theater. Remodeled in the old style movie theater. Pretty good parking if you hit it at the right time or know where to park in the neighborhood.

A convenient spot for a movie night. Theres usually street parking available at night

I love this old neighborhood theater even though its not a single screen anymore, but a smaller triplex. First-run, first-rate movies in a clean, well-run theater in one of The Citys classic neighborhoods. West Portal has everything you need for a great family outing or that special date. And I dont even live there!!

Old school movie theater in West Portal. No fancy seats, no reservations, just standard open seating. It was clean and the picture quality and sound was good. Its a reasonable place to go see a movie and convenient to get to via public transportation.

Great prices, not handicapped accessible.

Nice refurbished theatre...I just wish they play old movies from 40s to 60s n get in the mood..dress up,etc...be fun

Replace theater seating please, nice bathroom remodel....patron of 50 years...

Wont be going here againThey didnt explain policy and wouldnt refund tickets that it was their fault I couldnt use. Didnt explain bag policy, didnt explain the ticket switching policy, and somehow thats my fault? Not to mention that they clearly oversold tickets to end game (and didnt even try to do anything about rampant line cutting)Go to literally any other theater.

Intimate little theatre in west portal. Only a few options for shows but they make up for it by having $5 Tuesdays.

Super nice staff. A great neighborhood location. Good enough video and sound quality. Grab some food or a drink in this nice neighborhood main street before or after the show if you like. Even better, its right on three Muni train lines and even more bus lines.

Favorite local movie theater

Was refused admission because my backpack was too large. Offered them to look inside it, and they didnt want to have anything to do with it. A wasted night for myself, except now knowing one cinema to NEVER give any of my business. Guess the movie house cinemas are not all hanging on by their fingertips. And they were very rude, to boot!

Its nice going to the theatre to see movies, but its hard to call it the big screen at this theatre, where its been cut down to size. But for $5 Tuesdays, its a good deal.

It reminds me of theaters from the 90s. They even have that patterned carpet. Remember that?? So, the seats are good, but not great, the picture and sounds are good, but wont blue you away. But for a neighborhood theater, it kicks ass. Plus, their process are excellent - especially for a first run theater

Im giving this theatre a 5 automatically, because its a neighborhood theatre, and not a huge multiplex. Its one of the few neighborhood theatres left in The City. Its in a great neighborhood (West Portal) with lots of good places to eat (and drink) before and/or after your movie. The staff there has always been efficient and courteous to me. Ive found that the place is kept clean. To me, going to a theatre in a neighborhood is better than going downtown. And, since its one of Cinemarks CinéArts theatres, they are one of the theatres in The City that will show Indie movies.

Good movies, good popcorn and snacks. Nice feel to it.

Its a small theater on the outside, but the rooms are large enough for a huge audience

Fans for decades.Our favorite neighborhood movie theaterVery old school. Great assortment of first run movies. Parking on Portola and the parking lot in the back.

Good theater in a good location, small & comfortable (though last time, there were a couple of distracting flies on the screen & a weird green haze on the images during the previews).

Good theater! They play most of the recent movies there. They started the $5 Tuesdays recently.

Great place for viewing movie s. The seats are elevated. I remember it when they would show so single features & now they have 3screens.

Long lines to buy ticket due to slow process. Small screens and uncomfortable chairs. Theaters are mostly empty.

Intimate and clean...never TOO crowded

While you can get screwed if your film has been demoted to the wonky little side theater with the crazy angled screen, the main auditorium is still a great place for a movie. The screen is big, and the house is not so deep that you feel like youre in the bleachers if you sit beyond the middle seats. Plus great popcorn with real butter. The staff is always super-nice here too. Being a block from the West Portal MUNI tunnel is great, although since I live in the hood I just walk. Empire has a lot of fun special events and deals, like passes for kids movies on weekend mornings, live showings of opera and other things. A very nice small neighborhood theater!

One of the last SF neighborhood cinemas, with many levels of dining or coffee available at over a dozen places within a few blocks on West Portal. Our favorite for an afternoon or evening with friends or family. Muni runs right to it. Parking within blocks, and you can always park to the south in St. Francis Wood, where the swells dwell.

I love this quaint but tiny place! It really reminds me of the movie theaters back in the day and its also really right next to the tunnel which makes it extremely convenient to visit.However, one complaint I have is how tiny the screens are. Its also tilted where your seats are at and that sometimes hurts my neck. Two of the rooms have small and tilted screens, but there is one that has a proper movie screen.Nonetheless, I would still recommend that you go try it out, you might like it... or not.

Clean, friendly staff, convenient walking distance to Portola Metro

Mostly good, but no talking and no cell phone operating rules need to be enforced more strictly. Three out of the last four times, there were quite a few chatty audience members and cell phone users. The bright lights and background noise from some audience members can be quite distracting and can ruin others good time.

The volume isn’t great. The lines can be long. No rsvp seats. They should have that. Food is expensive. Main theater is best. 3 movie houses total. Admin $13 for adults $9 seniors

Lovely old fashioned neighborhood theatre with modern projectors and sound.

Great theatre with comfy seats and concession stand. The main screen is large with good sound. Ill be back

Cozy local theater. Friendly staff and good popcorn :-). Since its a local theater its not really busy which is nice. However, 2 out of the 3 auditoriums are this weird diagonal seating. Not optimum for a blockbuster movie experience, so thats my only big gripe. But if youre seeing a theater in the main auditorium, its all good.

I wan’t allowed in because I had a backpack. First time I ever had this problem with a cinema.

Cute little theater in the middle of West Portal. Hard to find parking, but thats everywhere in SF

Small theater surrounded by really good restaurant options. They were playing a movie in one of their smaller rooms that was hard to find elsewhere. Makes for an overall great date night.

Empire Theater is a great community place to see a current movie. I always check to make sure the movie I want to view is in the main theater, it states wheelchair accessible this is on the main floor. The other two theaters are in the upper level and are small.

Oui oui...is funny that a lot of people who go see these foreign films like CHOCOLATE IN MY DOGS FACE OR THE KARMICHALY CHALLENGED SOLDIER OR DEAR UNCLE ADOLF shown in this wonderful restored theatre cant read or spell unless Google does it for them n or want organic salad w juice of that silly plant we cant spell....lets face it its kinda weird...why dont they show the movies that the theatre was made for n the people who dressed well.took their kids to matines n didnt have to worry wether they drank cokes,ate lots of buttery popcorn n everybody knew everybody so we all behaved n no one talk on the phone...they talked to each other...seeing the people that go there n the movies they show I wonder if in a little corner of the mezzanine sits an older lady,w hat n gloves n has a tear down her face....the theatre is wonderfully restored n gets five starts ..the ambiance does not exist nor sense of community...maybe if they show The Blob or The Tingler in which people got an electric shock when parts of the movie happened...now thats fun n we made fun of each other n no one sued you for defamation of character...yes right...everything is gotten soooo much better...I say complete the show n run old great movies n comedies n yes even those foreign films no one understands but think they were just divine...

Aside from movie theater snack prices theyre great.

Never crowded and open seating.

It looks a small little shop from outside but it has 3 decent size screens. There is almost always no lines even for the most popular movies. I always find a ticket. Staff is nice and friendly.

I like this location because its never crowded. You can catch Muni there or find a park in the neighborhoodIve been going there since the 70s and I would hate to see it leave.There are many restaurants in the are to grab a bit.

I love that you dont have to trek to the huge Cineplex theaters to have a movie experience. This theater is small, but its in the heart of West Portal and is a perfect date spot. Hit a restaurant and then walk across the street to see one of three movies they show.

Local cinema. Great character

Its a nice traditional theater. Its a bit dated. But the staff are very friendly and its nice and clean. Prices are reasonable.

Would rate zero stars if I could.Clearly oversold on seating, no explanation of exchange policy or bag policy, and would not offer a refund. Go anywhere else. A waste of money.

Small nice theatre.Wish it kept some of the movies on longer but the staff is friendly and the seats are comfortable.Screen and audio are both great

OMG, all I can say is this theater has a lot of nerve charging regular prices! I knew it was going to be small because of location, but I was not expecting how terrible it would be.First, the seats in the actual room dont really line up with the screen. Then, the sound! There were visible speakers throughout the theater, but none seemed to be working except the two up front. The speakers in the next room over must have worked, though, because you could hear that movie very loudly over the one I was seeing.Im not sure how they plan their show times, but I am sure that any fool would know that, if youve got such limited space and staff, you shouldnt schedule them all to start at or around the same time! One ticket seller, one tiny concession stand and three bathroom stalls! If I hadnt had to go on Fandango to get tickets while waiting in the long box office line, i would have walked out and demanded a refund.Since the theater is so old and small, they should invest some money, make it one screen and show one movie only.This was the worst theater Ive ever been in.

Audio absolutely sucks here. DONT go just for that reason. Youre better off dusting off your old cassette tape player.

Nice neighborhood theater with very good sound. Comfortable seats. Clean restrooms.

Its my neighborhood.movie theater, close to many shops and restaurants and the people that work here are very friendly

Fun, neighborhood spot with a great movie selection and in a great neighborhood for restaurants. If the parking feels hard, its really not--just park on Portola or in one of the two city lots. Or, even better, take the train!

Fantastic place to watch a movie! The audiences are always engaged and Ive never encountered a ride person. Ice been going to the Theater for 22 years, which is as long as I have lived in San Francisco.

Good place for a small group hangout. Lots of food in the area. Snack bar inside and 2 small screens and one big screen ( usually the newest movie)

This place is great if you live nearby and dont want to drive very far. If you dont mind driving 10 more minutes its better do go to a bigger movie theater with more options.

Cozy place. Cant bring in food from outside. No need to allocate seats ahead of time.

Its the place to watch movies

Fantastic place to watch a movie! The audiences are always engaged and Ive never encountered a ride person. Ice been going to the Theater for 22 years, which is as long as I have lived in San Francisco.

Despite what other reviews may suggest, the main screen is quite large, and on par with a typical screen at the Metreon. (Yes, the two other screens are small.)Theaters like this are a dying breed, indeed many similar theaters in San Francisco have closed in the last decade. So I encourage everyone to support this landmark and enjoy a more friendly movie-watching experience.BONUS: The bathroom is very close to all the theater exits, so you dont have to sprint half-way across a multiplex for a quick break!

Big screen and small screen. Seats were comfortable. Warning: you will be turned away with backpacks.

This theater has a one large screen and one small screen. The large screen is very nice and the theater is usually not crowded. They take the Costco Cinemark discounted tickets. I come here for late night weekend movies when I dont want to deal with the crowds. There is almost always street parking within a block if you come after 9pm. Concession stand selection is standard.

Trailer volume was a bit too loud. Movie sound was ok. During the film I could hear sound from the adjacent theatre room movie which took away from my experience.

Theater is fine. Parking is a nightmare except on Sundays. It is all 2 hour parking so you risk a $60.00 ticket.

This is my favorite movie theater in SF. It is small and only plays three movies at a time--but thats the beauty of it. It feels very old school and has the friendly staff to back it up. They have a surprisingly large concession stand for a small theater--you can find anything youd find at the bigger theaters. Additionally, the neighborhood it is in is great. If youre early you can stop for a bite to eat, a drink or a coffee all within walking distance.

Love this neighborhood theater!

Great smaller size movie theater