AMC Theatres

The best IMAX experience is at AMC Universal City Walk, if she was referring to 70MM IMAX (and Oppenheimer). Or, perhaps, she may have been referring to seeing IMAX at Grauman's Chinese. Anyway best movie theater is subjective; it's going to depend on what you're looking for. Modern/luxury theaters: AMC CityWalk, iPic Pasadena, Alamo Drafthouse downtown. Historic theaters with lots of character: Grauman's Chinese (main theater only), El Capitan across the street (Disney films only), The Egyptian (recently remodeled by Netflix, its new owner). There are also some classic/older smaller theaters around but I don't go to those (and will leave others to recommend their favorites). I like a happy medium: a big cineplex with nice seating and screens in a convenient location. I frequent AMC The Grove most often (before it was a Pacific Cinemas). Pre-COVID, I would have said Arclight (and the Cinerama Dome) but alas they closed. It will also depend on where you are staying and what else you are doing? Grauman's and El Capitan are convenient to the Walk of Fame, but your choices are limited to what's playing in each single theater. If you're doing Universal/staying up there, CityWalk is great (all the seats are recliners)... this one is also a good option if you want one convenient to public transportation. Alamo Drafthouse for same reason. AMC Grove is ideal if you're at The Grove anyway (or nearby). And then I'll throw in an additional rec: if you'll be here in the next month and like musicals, consider splurging and seeing Mamma Mia at the Pantages. It's my FAVORITE historic theater in LA--it was originally a movie theater, and where The Wizard of Oz used to play, with a gorgeous inside you can only see if you go to the theater. Now it hosts musicals, and the occasional concert or play. One of my favorite spots in the city. More on reddit.com

The theater you mentioned you used to go to is still operating at Montgomery mall, it was just bought by AMC. There are no waiters or anything there, the assigned-seating old rocker-style chairs have been replaced by recliners and there are now digital kiosks to order concessions but that’s pretty much the only differences. I saw Sinners there in their Prime theater and feel like it’s comparable to the Dolby theater at Tysons or the IMAX theater at Rio but the experience was better than both because neither of the later theaters have recliners (all the other screens at Rio do except for the IMAX incidentally). More on reddit.com

Although Alamo Draft House theaters are the best of their kind, the activity generated by “full service” food/drink is just too distracting to me. My current favorite is the Cinemark at Parker & Tollway as the food always seems fresh and there are dozens of available movie times. However, if I want some peace and quiet, early showings at the Cinemark at Lewisville’s Vista Ridge/Music City mall are great (and the ticket pricing is super low) More on reddit.com

Roadhouse, by a mile. They’re cheaper than the other theaters, the food is good, the drinks are good, the seats are cozy, everything about the experience is just so much nicer. I pick going there over any of the others every day of the week. More on reddit.com