Watching a movie gives audiences a chance to capture that moment’s resonant je ne sais quoi, which is French for “popcorn smell.” Rejoice in artful concessions with today's Groupon: for $5, you get one movie ticket and a large fountain drink or iced tea with free refills at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, valid at the West Oaks location in Houston or the Mason Park location in Katy (up to a $13 value). Patrons can opt to upgrade to 3-D viewings for an additional $3, due at the time of service.
At Alamo Drafthouse Cinema's nostalgically decorated locations, waiters hand-deliver cold drinks and casual fare to patrons reclining in cinema seating while independent, blockbuster, and classic movies parade across the screens. The projection palace sports a full schedule of mainstream cinematic offerings—such as The Adventures of Tintin, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and The Sitter. The absence of pre-feature ads makes for consistently punctual entertainment, much like a series of karaoke songs sung by an alarm clock. Cinephiles can peruse a full calendar of special events, which invite them to quote along with cult favorites, text quips and thoughts directly onto the screen of comically bad films during HeckleVision screenings, or practice aim with complimentary cap guns at action flicks. The theater also hosts interactive sing-along sessions for musical classics such as Grease, where audience members are encouraged to wield plastic combs and candy smokes while busting out alma mater chants, teenage duets, and soulful choir songs about polio vaccines. Patrons can keep throats hydrated with a 32-ounce drink, quenching thirsts with bottled water or Coca-Cola products.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Since its origins as a converted parking garage, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has ushered film-lovers of all breeds into its auditoriums, even gaining a following among Hollywood legends; Quentin Tarantino has been known to host five-day movie marathons at Alamo. The theater has earned that reputation by making moviegoing a personal experience, from the menu of handcrafted snacks and locally brewed beer to the completely ad-free presentations before shows. Alamo’s ninja servers pick up written food and drink orders throughout the movie and serve moviegoers directly at their seat. The staff enforces a strict no-talking, no-texting policy by kicking out any offenders, falling just short of yanking them from their seats with a giant's shepherd's crook.
Both first-run blockbusters and classics are projected onto Alamo's silver screens in crisp 35-millimeter or digital format. Meanwhile, surround speakers immerse audiences in the cinematic soundscape, whether they're seated in one of the expansive theaters afforded to blockbuster reels or the more intimate spaces reserved for indie films wound around tiny bobbins. Despite Alamo's vow of silence, fan-centric Quote-Along and Sing-Along nights encourage guests to shout their favorite lines, and actors, directors, and other celebrities often attend special screenings to lead in-depth discussions. These exclusive events have led to acclaim for Alamo from publications such as Entertainment Weekly, which called it “one of America's most fanatically unique moviegoing experiences,” and Wired, which opined that it "might just be the coolest movie theater in the world."