What’s the best movie theater around Atlanta?
It’s a beloved Atlanta jewel that spent decades of its life as a movie palace. Though it serves many other functions these days, it still pulls out the big screen on occasion.
What is it? It’s your top pick for best movie theater in Atlanta, scoring nearly twice the votes of the No. 2 theater. Here are your picks.
And speaking of your No. 2 theater, it’s the one that topped our staff picks for best theater. We all love the reader’s choice, too, but it was edged out by an old reliable venue where we can see a movie — usually a very good one — any day of the year. Here are our picks.
Check back next week as we kick off another year of the Best of the Big A.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Categories: Winners


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By shopalot
December 22, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
The Fox Theater when they do summer movies.
By shopalot
December 22, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
IMAX at the Fernbank
By Sharon
December 22, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this
The Tara on Cheshire Bridge at LaVista. They always have interesting movies, you never stick to the floor, there’s plenty of parking and it’s not overrun by large groups of teens.
By brandon
December 23, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
Its the AMC at Cobb Parkway, it has the best sound and picture. And you dont have to deal with teenagers and checking there texts in the theater wild watching the movie. They love to do that at Regal Atlantic Station
By Mark
December 23, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
AMC Cobb Parkway is the best I’ve seen in over 10 years in the ATL.
By Zorro
December 24, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Fork and Screen, formerly Buckhead Backlot. Dinner and a movie and a few cocktails at one location. The rooms are smaller and the waiters are nice. This place and others like it that are springing up around town continue to be an experience worth having and for the moderate price is worth the drive to Buckhead.
By Linda
December 24, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Landmark Midtown Art shows great movies in well-maintained theaters. Several good restaurants are in the same center.
By ronnie
December 24, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
When I want to see a movie, I go over to that messiest house guy’s place. Then, we send out some more of those spam ads.
By Eileen
December 25, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
1, Loew’s Tara—the closest thing left to the now defunct Silver Screen and Garden Hills Cinemas. #2, Landmark Midtown Cinema for film variety, intown atmosphere and great hot dogs and brownies!By markp
December 25, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
AMC Barrett Commons on Cobb Parkway…by FAR!
By Mike
December 25, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
Are any of those Buckhead theaters mentioned a revival of the Buckhead Cinema ‘N Drafthouse? I used to love that place.
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December 26, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
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By Movie Buff
December 26, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
The Movie Tavern on Lavista. Movie tickets are less expensive; they serve food (burgers, wings, etc.), popcorn, candy, and BEER!
By Mike
December 26, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
AMC at the Avenue in Forsyth. All digital screens and great sound. And all the theaters are right off the lobby, so you don’t have to walk down the long dark hallway to get to your movie. Fantastic
By susan
December 26, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
Absolutely the Tara on Lavista and cheshire bridge. It has a wonderful variety of films and the audience is respectful of others.
By MA
December 26, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Great Escape Theater - McDonough
By Cecil B. DeMille
December 26, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
If you live in Sandy Springs, it’s easy in/easy out at Parkside, now known as Lefont Sandy Springs. No hassle, which is what I like. You can have Phipps and all that mess.
By Chuck
December 26, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
I used to enjoy the North Dekalb 16 (it’s near home), but it’s become an unruly mess filled with screaming kids and slack management… so, never again. Phipps is nice, but I hate driving all the way to Buckhead to see a movie. I went to the Regal Hollywood 24 to see Bolt in 3D and was shocked have to pay $12.50 to see it. Ouch! The Movie Tavern would be fun, but the food is mediocre, those ‘tables’ are awkward and the white wine ‘margaritas’ are, umm, unfortunate. And the last time I tried to get to the Landmark Art on a Friday, I ended up hiking about a half-mile from my parking space on Virginia Ave.
So basically, I’m not liking my movie theater options around here right now. Pay-per-view gets more attractive all the time.
By Cindy
December 26, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
Tara on Cheshire Bridge and Landmark Midtown Cinema.
By jaime
December 26, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
I highly recommend two theaters:
1) The AMC at Forsyth for more commercial jollies. 2) Tara on Cheshire Bridge Rd for your artistic side. I just love going to that place.
By moviegirl
December 26, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
UA Tara on Cheshire Bridge. Love to go to the Original House of Pancakes for breakfast and then a matinee movie on weekends.
I also enjoy the Northlake Movie Tavern - their food isn’t bad (isn’t great, but when you’re starving it works) and the matinee prices are the cheapest I’ve found. Plus their matinee movie times are later than all other theaters.
By Sherry
December 26, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
Great Escape McDonough 16, the only theater in Henry County.
By Maureen
December 26, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
The Georgian in Newnan. The manager, Sean, runs a tight ship. Movies on time, pleasant staff, the building is clean, and, best of all, teenagers are kept under control.
By Mark
December 26, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
The Plaza on Ponce de Leon!! Great 1930s theatre setting. Always something good showing....plus all the unique and cool special events theyre always having…like the Silver Scream Spook Show the last Saturday of each month (tomorrow night). Its a fabulous live spook show (think Pee Wees Playhouse meets The Munsters) plus a great 50s sci-fi or horror flick afterwards! There`s nothing else like it in Atlanta. Great fun…
By Dawg girl
December 26, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
Landmark Midtown. It’s a great movie theater.
By sadie
December 28, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
The Plaza and the Starlight Six - they’re both undervalued treasures.
By Colin
December 29, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
I see 100+ movies a year and certainly have my opinions about all the theaters mentioned so far. While I understand the votes for the art theaters since they do have the most interesting selections, I do wish they would update their systems. The Tara has some of the worst projection in the city with the movies often dim and poorly cropped. The Landmark is better, but there is horrible sound proofing between theaters, and a quiet film is always disturbed by the explosions from next door. Atlantic Station had my vote for awhile for best overall but lately I’ve seen several shows with flickery bulbs. I hope that the AMC Parkway Point on Cobb is indeed still a great place to “see” and “hear” a show which is really what its all about. I haven’t been there in a year since they dropped off the charity movie pass I buy each year. But they are back on it in 2009 so that’s where you’ll find me this next year…and besides…they always had the best frozen cokes in town.