I prefer to be alone so I chose this place because it is very quiet, interesting, and was located near me. The room is soft and comfortable with an air conditioner at very affordable rates. The food was delicious also. I highly recommend this place to everyone.

Had an amazing experience watching Kizumonogatari part 1 Tekketsu-hen. Would love to visit again! :)

Great place to expand your life

The have the coolest unique movies. The theater is very small, but that is part of the charm. Helpful staff, always a great experience.

Oh, what a place!

Such a magical, sweet place to watch a film. Great out-of-the-box programming, yummy popcorn toppings, friendly volunteer staff, and of course, 16mm and 35mm projections!

Charming. Its an intimate theater run by people with an undeniable passion for film. Just a fantastic experience, and honestly the kind of date spot that could make you seem interesting without having to talk... if you need that sort of thing...

The Grand Illusion Cinema remains a true Seattle gem. Entirely staffed and run by volunteers it is a charming Seattle film landmark. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of their unique programming and tasty popcorn while Seattle is still cool enough to have something like this going! The other night I saw a wonderful Laurel and Hardy biopic there with the theater itself a perfect complement to the time period of the piece. I have been going here for almost 30 years seeing all manner of incredible Cinema; some good, some bad, and some totally bananas stuff! Regardless, I always leave loving that space. My last visit convince me to become a member and support them a little more actively. You should do the same thing.

Enjoyed this theater tremendously as I was visiting Seattle. Saw the incredible Sicilian Ghost Story and was very comfortable with the smaller screen format. Audience was polite with no chatter or cell phone use. Snacks and bottle sodas were perfect. Staff friendly and courteous with an intro/welcome by the house manager.

Theres a tiny cafe attached to the side for food and drinks and a mini concession bar inside the actual venue. Super cute and a little cozy. The atmosphere is perfect for a late night horror date.

This place is a gem. Were lucky to have it in Seattle.

Wonderful Theater with lots of good films

This little gem is charming as hell and completely ran by volunteers. Grand Illusion plays some of the best films in Seattle.

Didnt realize it was the old Vincent price movie. It madeus chuckle. Theater was clean. Popcorn and drinks best price in town.

You will not be disappointed going to see any movie at this theater. Its small but thats part of it you really feel the movie better that way. Support all film! Revolution Viva La film!

Went here for the one-night only screening of the Directors Cut of The House That Jack Built while visiting Seattle. Great atmosphere in the theater. Clearly a gathering place for cinephiles. The theater seats about 70 people, so its best to buy tickets ahead of time or get there early to make sure you can get seats, though Im not sure what attendance is typically like. Recommend to locals and anyone visiting. Id go regularly if I lived in the area.

Seattle’s longest operating independent cinema! This little one screen micro-theater puts their limited resources where it counts; their programming. Both on celluloid and digital. Everything from arthouse and repertory classics, to deep genre gems including horror, psychotronic and sci-fi, and contemporary indie, foreign and auteur hits. Completely volunteer run, their slight amenities is more than made up for by the quality of the film on offer. Plus the membership cost with discounted tickets are easily the best film deal in town!

Gorgeous little movie theater! The entrance is up around the corner from the sign, up a flight of stairs. They dont take card so bring cash. $10 for an adult ticket

Amazing. Great staff, films, and especially food.

Wonderful theater!! Fantastic volunteer staff. Thoughtful selection of films spanning genres and the world. The place has a fun, laid back vibe. I highly recommend checking them out. Often.

Saw a kung fu movie here with the wife and it was perfect. movie was good, but venue is even better. Its quaint, intimate and incredibly reasonably priced. A medium popcorn and 2 bottled sodas was $8. Tickets were $10. This place is a gem.

I had to cut back 3 stars due to the condescending guy working the desk on May 4th, 2019. He was shorter and worse glasses. I went in the theater feeling sadder than sad. And I even helped this couple with Venmo because they didnt have cash and I did. And the cashole rushed and took my money and told us to figure it out. Aside from his other SNARKY remarks, it was as if he were trying to catch me in some kind of lie. Perhaps he didnt like me because Im Asian and he was seemingly pleasant to every other patron. Or maybe he wanted to keep the evening with its Sausage Fest Vibe in regards to the programming. The programmer guy was nice. I wish that I couldve liked this place as a friend and I wanted to rent it for an afternoon but now well just go elsewhere._________Its a cute theater by an even cuter eatery. Prices are fair and while I wish that they had more programming, I love this cinema. Consider supporting this venue. Also, the popcorn is good - especially since I am vegan and its not overly salty and gross.

A small indie theater. I think the oldest surviving theater in Seattle. The staff are really friendly. The hidden gem is the secret matinee shows which run from January to March. Come and watch a movie without knowing in advance what you are watching. The selections are pretty good. Each show is preceded by a serial. The popcorn here is pretty good and not expensive either.Downside: no real restroom.

This is a jewel in the arts crown of Seattle, unprepossessing, and all the more powerful for it.

Really great, intimate theater. Friendly staff, cheap popcorn. Films on both reel and digital. Occasional issues with the reels.

This theater is so cute! The theater is tiny with very pretty seating and the lobby has lots of fun posters. The volunteers working there were very friendly. Admission is cheap and the snacks are even cheaper!

The essential local art house and I couldnt live here without it

Its an okay theatre. The crowd can be kind of Otaku or Anorak. Theyll mind their own business. But if you want an argument or heated debate about the film you are there to see, all you have to do is strike up a conversation with someone. Theyll look down their nose at you because you cant name the films directors favorite place to eat.

There is almost no better place to see a movie in Seattle. The sheer variety of films on their slate is awe inspiring. But a membership for added cool exclusive events throughout the year. You wont regret it.

This theater is definitely an experience. The theater itself is really neat. I like the small vibe it gives but the indie movie we saw was way out there. But the popcorn was good, so that makes up for it.

Its a old and tiny movie theater but with a very intelligent repertoire.

Get here early, cozy theater

Great intimate theater.

I have been coming to movies here since 1986. Its small and cozy. Great popcorn. The films shown here are rare and eclectic.

Intimate theater presents a unique movie viewing experience. Lobby area has a coffee bar with light meal options.

Fantastic little volunteer-run theatre. Support local, quirky venues and off-beat films.

Oldest and greatest movie theater in Seattle. Great for horror films. Become a member.

Great (if small) community run theater that shows older revival movies, independant film and offbeat stuff. Good stuff!

Great art films, good selection of candy and popcorn, tiny auditorium with poor ramp so that heads block. I get a real sense of film community here, though.

I misordered my ticket online and they wouldnt let me change it. Also parking near the place is difficult and they dont take cards; cash or check only. Overall bit a bad theater but you can tell its definitely a non-profit organization rather than a traditional theater.

Small, classic art house theatre with a funky vintage vibe. Very helpful staff.

Grassroots movie experience. Super cheap concessions. Bring Cash!

SMALLEST THEATER THAT I KNOW OF. LOTS OF DIFFERENT FILMS, WORTH A TRY.

Quiet and cozy, this theatre is one of my favorite places in Seattle. Dont come expecting a giant screen playing big budget films. Instead, come check out a well-loved place run by volunteers who show crazy monster flicks and burlesque shows. Yeah, this place is crazy. Tickets are very affordable and it survives on the generosity of its patrons.

A real safe haven for the cinemaThey host amazing movies and give a chance for up and coming filmmakersIt is small, yet full of charm.A great destination for a true movie lovers

Awesome little cineme! Friendly staff

Awesome cozy little spot, bring a jacket if going when its cold out. Staff is really nice. Have been back a bunch.

Great place for a date night if you appreciate old films

An amazing vibe here not like anywhere else... very unique and enjoyable.

Love this place! Small screen, but its a very small theater. Cash or check only. Extremely well curated films.

Amazing old cinema

Small, cute theater with about 30 person capacity. Seats were comfortable. They have nutritional yeast as one of the condiments for my pop corn :)

Nice old theater.

Quirky little theater and cafe. Bring cash, no credit cards accepted.

Great theater doing older and odd-run movies. Memberships available! They are cash only, so be prepared.

A great cozy place with a cool couch in the back. Place is non profit so you feel good supporting them.

Great films here you wont see anywhere else in Seattle. Also, their popcorn toppings are killer. Go for the garlic bread one.

Small theater but a good one showing international films! They take cash only

Intimate theater run by volunteers. They play movies that they like.

Fun, quirky place with eclectic movies and cool people

Tiny, cozy theater that shows all kinds of rare movies. Really cool place.

Grand Illusion transports you to another decade, every time you goThe place is run by volunteers, so they play what they want. All the films are great!

The best movie theater in Seattle. Awesome volunteers, great concessions and a wide variety of movies on multiple formats (Digital, 16mm, 35mm and Video).

Great theatre that shows lesser known movies and is all volunteer run.

I love that it has this old historic vibe but the seats are tiny and if someone sits in front of you, you lose like 20% of screen visibility.

Seattle’s best movie theatre

Intimate theater (40 seats) showing a great variety of non-mainstream and classic cinema. Its the presentation piece of a local film organization.

Great little intimate place to watch a movie.

Excellent small cozy theater with rare, and wild movie prints.

Charming and cozy but cash only.

Such a unique movie venue. A tiny hidden gem in the middle of the big city.

Favorite Cinema hands down

Cool theater, saw its a wonderful Life

Too bad they dont serve booze.

Awesome place

My favorite movie theatre! Cheap tickets (especially with a membership) and concessions, non-profit, friendly volunteers, movies youre not likely to see anywhere else, an emphasis on analog, the list goes on.

A Seattle gem. Volunteer run and cash only.

Local classic gem.

Cozy place

Awesome gem!

Fun, fascinating

Arepa venezuelan kitchen in this place

Quaint charm.