That new luxury movie theater we told you about back in March will open Friday in affluent South Barrington, IL. At $35 a ticket, you’re treated to valet parking, waiter service, individual reclining chairs, and should you require, blankets and slippers. And no, the food isn’t included.
From the Daily Herald:
The theater’s menu includes a full wine list, Dom Perignon champagne at $295 a bottle, and food items like duck tacos, Wagyu beef burgers and bleu cheese potato chips.
The South Barrington Gold Class Cinemas is the first in the country. Aside from South Barrington’s, the company has theaters only overseas in Asia, Australia and Europe.
Targeting upscale clientele and businesses looking to hold private screenings, Gold Class officials said they hope to open 50 theaters across the country in the next five years.
Luxury theater opens Friday in South Barrington [Daily Herald]
(Photo: Getty)
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We’re getting one close to us, in Fairview, TX. Cinemark and Studio Movie Grill (much like Alamo Drafthouse) are within a few miles, so people will be able to see the same movie for less than $10 per ticket. And, well, Studio Movie Grill serves alcohol and decent food (all you can eat pizza nights FTW) for less than that $35 ticket.
Not unusual in the UK. Its ruined normal cinemas for me now, couldnt possibly go back. I pay £12 for a leather reclining armchair that almost goes flat, 42 people (over 18′s only) in the cinema max (you cant even reach the next person easily) free popcorn & soft drinks, quality audio and free parking. Honestly, you havent lived.
I’d tell you where mine is but then you’d go and frankly you can all fk off its mine!
I would absolutely pay more for a luxe experience. I would pay that much just to not have to choke down my rage when some asshat answers the phone IN THE MIDDLE of Michael Clayton and proceeds to talk like it’s nothing. And no babies or teenagers or asshats. Def worth the money.
But what’s a movie theater without the sticky floor?
i’d probably go once… it would make for a nice date, but i still get to see a movie, and i don’t have to go to the theater with nice seats and stadium seating and an 82 health score (yes, 82. apparently, at last inspection, they had the hotdogs out on the roler-cooker at 80 degrees. oh, and this is the 3rd B-grade inspection. in a row.)
i wouldn’t mind that kind of theater
not having to leave your seat if you want food or beverages….
especially the no under 18′s
For $35 I could buy the Blu Ray version of the movie. Then for what I would spend on popcorn and a large soda, I could order a large pizza and a 2 litre bottle of soda. Not only is the movie mine forever, but better food and privacy.
i don’t see the point. i mean, it’s nice and all, but movies only last about 2 hrs at the most. it’s not worth it.
my mom always tells me about when she used to be able to go to the theater and see the movie as many times as she wanted when paying the one ticket price. when any beatle movie came out, she’d sit there like the whole day and watch it about 6 or 7 times before leaving and only pay $1 or $2.
ah. those were the days
i have been to a few Gold Class in Melbourne Australia. It is great. No screaming kids, no crowds, good food. Not an $8 hot dog thats crap. Or a $6, 1/2 bucket of popcorn and $2 extra for butter. Not a seat where you share the armrest with someone else you dont know, or someones head blocking your view. We need them in NY
Barrington is loaded with cash, if this can work anywhere it will work in this Stepford town. All those executives with their two years severance pay have plenty of time and cash to weather the downturn at the fancy theatre.
Personally, for thirty five bucks, I want the chair to stroke my thigh, delicately. I also want the chair to respect me, while whispering complimentary things, about my stuff, in my ear.
I just hit the drive in, bring your own food, bring your own drinks, $20 a car, two movies.
Do you remember video arcades? Know what killed them? Technology in the home video game experience caught up to the arcades. Now, home theater technology is at a point where it rivals the movie theater experience. With skyrocketing ticket prices, overpriced concessions and 20 minutes of ads showing before each feature, the theatergoing experience has become less attractive with each passing year. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear these places were trying to drive customers away. I believe that in 10 years you’ll start to see theaters shutting down in droves.
$35 to watch Legally Blond III? Slippers and blankets still don’t make the latest Hollywood crap palatable.
I think I’ll stay home, thanks.
The Alamo Draft House theaters in Texas have all of that except the Valet parking, recliners, and blankets. The Alamo also has a no kids policy there except for certain shows.
The same Alamo Draft house theatre that requires you to buy an entree before letting you use your free movie pass? Oh well, they ARE showing Cronenburgs classic movie “Scanners” in a few days.
10+ for a regular ticket is unheard of in my town. The theater I work in is 6 bucks for matinees or seniors, 6 for children, 6.50 for students and 7.50 for an adult ticket. I can’t imagine spending ten bucks on a ticket, let alone 35.
I voted yes solely for the pleasure of answering a question with the response “Pass the duck tacos.”
I have the feeling I will not utter that very terribly often in my life.
that phrase
might be a good idea for the well off. if you can afford to avoid the morons that tend to flood the multiplexs well more power to ya.
do not know if this has been said yet, but that movie better have a happy ending.
I’ve been very tempted to bring my own small-ish blanket to movie theaters (they always feel chilly). Instead, I bring a couple sweatshirts. I worry that the blanket would be frowned upon – but now I feel emboldened!
Drink service would be nice, but if I drank as much (soda) as I felt like it during a theater movie, there would have to be at least one bathroom break. If beer was delivered, that would be even worse. I’m all for bringing back the intermissions.