AMC Woodbridge 5
4626 Barranca Parkway,
Irvine,
CA
92604
4626 Barranca Parkway,
Irvine,
CA
92604
6 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 94 comments
The wife & I watched Scream Factory’s new 4K UHD/Blu-ray release of the 1980 cult flick “Alligator” last night & while perusing the advertising extras found a print ad listing the Woodbridge as a featured theater opening day back in November of ‘80.
Never saw the film in theaters as a kid but remember those great TV spots with the alligator busting through the sidewalk. They’re on the disc as well.
New print looks great, by the way.
David S. Ward’s barely seen 1982 dramedy “Cannery Row” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (Feb. 12, 1982).
Adapted from the John Steinbeck novel, the film starred Nick Nolte & Debra Winger & was Ward’s directorial debut, nearly 10 years after winning the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for 1973’s “The Sting.”
Ward would later score a hit writing & directing 1989’s “Major League.”
Dropped by the Woodbridge Village Center on Monday (Jan. 31) & noticed the Irvine Co. wasted no time in removing all exterior signage from the now-shuttered Barnes & Noble, which closed its doors for good Jan. 23 after nearly 30 years at the center.
Looks like they even slapped on a fresh coat of white paint over the large portico where the large gold “Barnes & Noble Booksellers” sign once hung.
Funny, since most city’s vacated stores can sit for months if not years with the former tenant’s brand, or outline of a brand, over the doors. Not the case in Irvine, though.
I hate AMC’s website, by the way.
A quick check of AMC’s website today shows the Woodbridge hosting screenings again: three films (Spider-Man, Sing 2 & Scream) with no show starting before 4 PM, funny since there’s a big “Low Ticket Prices Starting at $5.49+tax (before 4pm)” banner under the theater’s name.
Guess their temporary closure wasn’t for a renovation, unless they finished it in two weeks.
Back when AMC bought Starplex, we were told they planned on eventually conducting a remodel (similar to what they ended up doing with the former Starplex sites in Bakersfield and La Mirada). After taking over the site a full facility survey was conducted and some preliminary plans were created. I remember questioning the awkward positioning of the freestyle soda unit and was told that they wanted to leave room for installing a bar later on (the area currently occupied by video games). I suspect the delay in starting anything was merely the result of timing; the company’s unstable finances, followed by the pandemic, forced them to place such plans on hold and keep the theatre operating as more or less of a placeholder.
Of course, I’ve been out of the AMC Woodbridge loop for a few years now and their plans may have changed. However, being that they signed a new lease recently, I’d assume the original plans are back on the books. The site’s track record, area’s demographics, and the Irvine Company’s willingness to reinvest/share in construction expenses hold too much potential for them to walk away from (someone else would likely step in if they did).
Thanks for the update, CTCrouch. Hadn’t heard or seen that announcement anywhere.
I’m a bit surprised AMC actually opted to renew the lease, especially when hosting only two screenings a day (4 & 7pm generally) for most movies, even on weekends. Can’t imagine that model, temporary or otherwise, turning any kind of worthwhile profit.
But to be making “significant reinvestments to upgrade the experience” sure makes it sound like they still believe in the property & it’s ongoing appeal to the community and who can argue with that. Actually sounds like what Starplex was interested in doing before the AMC acquisition, which you reported on your Cinelog site, I believe.
Anything to keep the Woodbridge going. We shall see.
This past fall the center announced that AMC had renewed their lease and there would be “significant reinvestments to upgrade the experience for guests.” So, they might be starting renovation work.
AMC website says Woodbridge 5 “temporarily closed” and to check back for future updates. Interesting.
Burt Reynolds' 1981 crime thriller “Sharky’s Machine” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (Dec. 18, 1981).
Featuring Charles Durning, Bernie Casey, Brian Keith & Rachel Ward, this was Reynolds' third film as both director & star and proved to be a modest hit with both critics & audiences alike, finishing the year as the 19th highest-grossing film of 1981.
I can remember watching it quite a bit on cable at a buddy’s house after school & loving all that gritty action, especially the houseboat sequence & that high-rise finale. Good times.
Heard the news last week that the Barnes & Noble store a few spots down from the theater in the Woodbridge Village Center will close Jan. 23, 2022 after nearly 30 years in business.
According to a B&N Facebook post, the Irvine Co chose not to renew the lease (a bookstore associate told me they actually “broke” it) so they could develop a preschool site.
Spent many a time at the bookstore before & after a movie at the Woodbridge throughout the ‘90s. It was a nice neighborhood store that had the intimate feel of the old mall bookstores in the '70s & '80s. Pretty sure it was the oldest B&N still operating in OC.
My wife & I enjoyed taking a quick spin inside every now & then when in the neighborhood. We’ll both miss it, as will the community, I’m sure.
Terry Gilliam’s beloved 1981 fantasy-adventure “Time Bandits” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (Nov. 6, 1981).
Featuring David Warner, Ian Holm & Sean Connery, the film was Gilliam’s breakout hit in the U.S., opening at number one & remaining there four straight weeks, finishing the year as the 12th highest-grossing release of 1981.
Brian De Palma’s 1981 neo-noir thriller “Blow Out” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (July 24, 1981).
Starring John Travolta, Nancy Allen & John Lithgow, the film was not an initial hit with audiences & started a downturn in Travolta’s career that would last until the end of the decade, but it has since developed a cult following & is now widely considered one of De Palma’s finest efforts.
1981’s “Arthur” starring Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli & John Gielgud opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (July 17, 1981).
It became the fourth highest-grossing film of ‘81 & won Oscars for Best Original Song (“Arthur’s Theme” by Christopher Cross) & Best Supporting Actor (Gielgud).
1981’s “The Great Muppet Caper” starring Kermit, Fozzie & Miss Piggy and “Stripes” starring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis & John Candy both opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (June 26, 1981).
1981’s “Superman II” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago today (June 19, 1981).
Still considered one of the best super-hero/sequels movies ever made, it was the third highest-grossing film of 1981 (one of three make over $100 million) & won the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film.
1981’s “Clash of the Titans” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago today (June 12, 1981), starring Harry Hamlin, Burgess Meredith & Laurence Olivier.
1981’s “The Legend of the Lone Ranger” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (May 22, 1981), starring Christopher Lloyd as Butch Cavendish, Jason Robards as Ulysses S. Grant & newcomer Klinton Spilsbury as the eponymous Masked Man.
The first big-screen adaptation featuring the iconic character in more than 20 years, it was considered a major release for the summer of ‘81, backed by action figures, storybooks & a 1000-screen rollout over Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately poor reviews, the producers’ treatment of ‘50s Lone Ranger Clayton Moore & Spilsbury’s performance (he won the Razzie for worst actor and never made another movie again) sunk the film & booted it out of theaters by early June.
I was 10 when I saw it at the Woodbridge opening weekend, had collected all of the action figures prior to release, & enjoyed it for the most part. Still revisit it & the John Barry score from time to time.
The third theatrical re-release of “Star Wars” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (April 10, 1981). It marked the first time the texts “Episode IV” & “A New Hope” appeared at the beginning of the opening crawl.
Jerry Lewis' “Hardly Working” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (April 3, 1981). I was 10 years old & off from school the week of its release & couldn’t wait to see it opening weekend. Haven’t seen it since.
Michael Mann’s 1981 crime-noir debut “Thief” starring James Caan opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend.
The AMC Woodbridge has reopened for weekend business with two screenings each of four films Friday nights and three screenings (matinee) Saturdays & Sundays. Looks like one screen is reserved for private showings.
Happy 40th birthday to the Woodbridge 5, which opened on this date back in 1980. As someone whose family has lived in Irvine since 1971, we were sure glad to finally have our own theater after years of having to leave the city to see a movie.
March always reminds me of the Woodbridge, especially March of 1984. What a great bunch of titles there 35 years ago this month: Splash, Police Academy, Ice Pirates, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan and Romancing the Stone. I was in seventh grade back then and my buddies and I must have ridden our bikes there nearly every Saturday that month. I want to say matiness were $2.50. Remember it rained quite a bit, just like today in So. CA. Good times.