Evelyn Rose is a junior and a reporter for the Fishers Tiger Times. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
I have watched a lot of films as a cinephile. The thing that gives me the most hope about the future of cinema is when I go to a movie theater and have a great experience. Going to the right theater can even change how you feel about a film. Here is my list of the five best and three worst theaters in Indiana.
Top 3 Worst Theaters
- KanKanCinema
I give this theater credit because it is a nonprofit theater that shows great indie films, but the screenings here take place in what feels like a college classroom where the professor hooked up a projector. There is not enough merch besides a sticker when I would wear a shirt to support this place. Another problem is that the emergency lights in the room shine directly into the audience throughout the film. The only other issue is that nearby there is an awful bakery where every treat is filled with salt. If I go here, it is only to see a film that the Living Room Theater across the street did not get.
- The Keystone Landmark Theater
Almost every time I go to the Landmark theater, I watch a great film. The problem I have with this theater is the employees and the pricing of their concessions. The employees are bumbling around life as though it has no purpose. They will not scan my tickets properly that clearly read “scan here” above the QR code. The employees would be fine if the popcorn here was not so expensive, but it costs $10 for a small popcorn and $11 for a large popcorn. I only go here if I want to watch an art film and would be a convenient driving distance for me.
- Emagine Noblesville Theater
I rarely use the word “hate.” I hate Emagine for a lot of reasons. It starts when I walk in the door because the concession line is ridiculously convoluted and incredibly inefficient to the point where the customer cannot find anything but displeasure. The prices here are expensive beyond belief, with prices averaging more than $5 higher compared to other theaters such as the chicken strips costing $13 while at AMC, they cost $8.
When it comes to the actual presentation, it is decent at best. Often there are issues with the audio system that make it hard to focus on the film, or the actual image is presented on the screen incorrectly. In the showing of “Wake Up Dead Man” I went to, the screen for some reason was presenting the wrong aspect ratio. I only come here when a Netflix film decides to have a limited release or when my friends invite me, but it deflates my hope for the movie when I remember I am going to Emagine.
Top 5 Best Theaters
- Living Room Theaters
I think of the Living Room Theaters as the cool older brother to the Kan Kan. Both are much more arthouse theaters, but when I watch a film here, I get engrossed in the experience. The workers are fast at serving and are understanding about the annoying parking situation in downtown Indy by giving grace if you are annoyed at them when you walk in. I have yet to try the dinner here because I never prepare ahead of time, but the food looks excellent every time I see someone being served and I end up a bit jealous. The presentation is one of the best with only minor issues every once in a while. I love watching more artsy films here and supporting non-chain theaters.
- Tibbs Drive In
If affordability is the name of the game, then Tibbs would be the best theater in Indiana. They have a ton of concessions that are incredible while staying under $5 for each item, such as a hamburger or a pork tenderloin. The employees are often fantastic at their job and are great if you report a problem. The presentation and audio are constantly being upgraded year after year. This year they have an upgraded audio system that will deliver better audio to each car. I always love to watch a summer blockbuster or horror films such as the upcoming “Evil Dead Burn” and “In A Violent Nature 2.”
- AMC Theatres Castleton Square
A lot of people complain about Castleton being dangerous, but I often find that if you mind your business and do not start a fight, you can have a great time. Every week I try to show up at this theater to support it because the employees are the best of the best here. Each employee also shows respect for their fellow employees compared to other theaters when it gets busy. If it is a busy opening night for a film, they always have fast and friendly service. The premium formats available here are Dolby Cinema and IMAX, two formats that make the moviegoing experience much better by providing brighter screens with better sound systems. The affordability is great here since AMC offers a monthly subscription for $20 a month where you can see up to four movies a week, often paying for itself by watching just one movie in a premium format.
- Franklin Historic Artcraft Theatre
If you wanted to travel back in time and watch “Ferris Bueller” or “American Werewolf in London” the same way your parents did while also paying close to the same prices they did for the moviegoing experience, then the Artcraft Theatre is perfect because of its low-cost ticket prices and even lower concession prices. My favorite part about this theater is the fact that they still play only 35mm film, making sure you can still experience the movie how the director truly intended while also being able to find a sense of community in their weekly traditions.
- IMAX Theatre in the Indiana State Museum
When I first thought about a museum having a theater, I assumed they would just be showing boring documentary films. It turns out that this theater has the biggest screen in the Midwest while also being one of only thirteen theaters in the United States able to play IMAX 70mm, which has the highest amount of detail compared to any other format. With a sound system that is just as accurate as a Dolby theater, it becomes hard not to want to go to this theater every day.
For a while the seats were uncomfortable and impossible for tall or slightly larger people to feel comfortable in, to the point where nobody could order popcorn because it would take up too much space. Though with the recent renovations, it has become the perfect theater to watch the upcoming “Odyssey” film or “Dune Part Three.” Both films were shot on IMAX 70mm, so they will take up the entirety of the 60-foot-tall and 84-foot-wide screen.
Conclusion
While there may be theaters that I believe are much better than others, I will always have more fun experiencing a film in a movie theater regardless of quality because, for a second, it feels like humans from all different backgrounds come together under the silver screen to disconnect from the real world. I hope cinemas stay alive for generations to come so that my future kids can continue to have that feeling of connection.
