Film Forum
209 W. Houston Street,
New York,
NY
10014
209 W. Houston Street,
New York,
NY
10014
41 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 199 comments
Please update, the Film Forum opened on September 5, 1990. Please update, it has 4 screens and 479 seats.
Seating Capacity 1. 122 2. 152 3. 96 4. 109
The film forum has their own youtube channel as well.
In other words, try to avoid peak times of day, when one might not be able to change their seat.
The seats are new BUT…they don’t even recline a little. There’s more leg room, HOWEVER, the site lines are still the same. When someone sits in front of you you are once again rocking your head from side to side. That and as with the old chairs, people are constantly shifting and moving seats when someone sits in front of them. They seem to now show the repertory films in the far #1 theater. I preferred the # 3 as before. With the #1 theater I was there 2 weeks in a row and the same thing happened. The door constantly opening and shutting, even the employees are in and out making an intrusion of themselves. The other day as Mean Streets was coming to a close, an employee opened the door and kept it open as the movie was coming to an end, the light came in, the noise was loud and the patrons (myself included) were quite annoyed. The end of the movie was ruined. I suggest, they cover the opening of the door window so light won’t come in and we won’t see people looking in. Also they should keep the outside door closed that leads from the lobby to the theater, you can hear the loud employees and the sound from the lobby. On a tech note: While the projection seems fine, the sound could be brought up a tad. It has no power. I too have noticed that it seems that most of their rep titles now seem to be DCP. I prefer the 35MM. CONCLUSION: as for the remodel, everything seems to be the same except new seats, more leg room (BTW, the cup holders dig into your thighs, not too roomy) and new theater.
Alright – getting back to the point of this page – Film Forum is reopening on August 1st and they’re been previewing their new seats on Instagram and Facebook. They’re promising more leg room and improved sight-lines with tiered seating along with the new forth screen. Lobby features include new LCD screens.
Reopening features are Nico 1988, No Date, No Signature, Atomic Cafe (DCP) and The Smallest Show on Earth (in 35MM). The fact they’ve only slight off their original projection by a few days is remarkable for NYC – Alamo and the new Quad were months behind schedule.
I’m not sure what the specs of the new house will include but Film Forum (for better or worse) has been showing more and more DCPs of repertory titles (and in fact even tried to dispel anxiety around this with a “This is DCP” program a few years ago). Meanwhile other repertory houses have leaned hard into 35MM with Metrograph, Quad and Alamo showing at least one 35MM print every day.
You always have to have some idiot who ruins it for everyone else. Sad. Btw HowardBHass, we have 3 movies upcoming at Rahway in 35MM. I will post the dates and titles there.
All one has to do is check the website. Opening August 1st. The calendars are up already.
It’s July already…
The Film Forum is currently closed for renovation, which will include adding a fourth screen. They are planning to reopen in July.
Superman here seems like a joke.
Last I saw it was second run at the Criterion before the multiplexing. Brought a friend who had never been in the theater before and she was so impressed. Sad that that Astor Plaza bunker got first run films and the great Criterion which was one of NY’s top theaters was so quickly reduced to exploitation fare in the early'70s.
The one theater that you can actually see and hear Martin Scorsese introduce a fine restored film on several rare occasions.
When the Lincoln plaza closes, it will have no impact on this theater.
Superman 1978 is being shown here this week in honor of the upcoming justice league movie. I wonder if it’s a 35mm print or a DCP? Recently warner released a two movie set on blu ray containing the 2001 special edition and the hd version of the t.v. extended cut .
Nice picture.
wow…how is the projection compared to the bluray release?
HOUSE OF WAX in synchronized 3D – what an experience!
In two years this location will turn 20 years old.
Dunno.
Does anybody remember a popular clothing store for kids on Pitkin Avenue in the 1960’s? My Mam and Dad used to take us there for our dress clothes..easter dresses and coats…I can’t remember the name of it. Help me!!! Thanks.
It appears that the formally renowned Film Forum in NYC is becoming renowned for crappy presentation.
Last Friday, they ran Taza, Son Of Cochise in 35mm Dual Print 35mm. They ran the first half with the two prints about a second out of sync, causing any horizontal motion to have a ghosting trail, and everything to be blurry. One of my friends went out to complain, and he was told, and I quote, “it is a lateral issue” which is a bullshit answer. It was that one print was extremely out of sync with the other. They fixed it for the second half.
Last Sunday, they ran Revenge Of The Creature in Dual Print 35mm, and the entire film was about a second out of sync. Again, people went out to complain, and were told “It is just a movie, have a sense of humor” before the manager just walked away. What utter contempt for their customers. The second feature, The Glass Web was synced perfectly.
If the Film Forum can not find competent people to run 3D, they should not run 3D.
Oh well, scratch another classic film venue off the short list of theatres that I was willing to give my hard earned money.
I know what you mean, RHETT52. Those summer series (such as the Universal 100 or the fantasy/Sci-Fi series) were always a great time at the FF. A wonderful reason to take “mini-vacations” in the city.
I’m “keeping the faith” that they will someday return.
Moviebuff82…..Are you aware of the Landmark Loews Jersey in Jersey City? They have been presenting monthly “classic” film weekends for quite some time now. The only drawback is that the theater has to put those film presentations “on hold” during the warm summer months due to a lack of air-conditioning. Their film weekends return in the fall.
Too bad there’s no theater in NJ that shows classic movies only. The Rosebud in Westwood closed down awhile ago.
No way! Those are gimmicks that belong in the cookie-cutter big box theaters only!
they should renovate this place with recliners and reserved seating