Metrograph

"Located on Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side, Metrograph is an independent movie house and a New York City cinema destination. When you walk in, you’ll notice that the decor is trendy, artsy, and has almost nothing in common with an AMC. You might overhear film buffs opining on French directors you never heard of, but hey, it’s all part of the charm. It shows a curated roster of films that includes exclusive archival screenings, special premiers, and Q&As with notable filmmakers; a few of the films playing on the current lineup in November include The Wall, a 1990 documentary about the Berlin Wall with vérité-style footage; Bill Cunningham New York on 35mm film, introduced by director Richard Press and producer Philip Gefter; and the classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, starring Elizabeth Taylor. Seats are assigned and booked online—to purchase in person, tickets go on sale a half hour before showtime. Seats are red-velvet-cushioned, and pretty comfortable. Bonus: The legitimate restaurant on site called the Metrograph Commissary serving brunch and dinner, where movie-goers can extend their outing with a meal or a round of drinks. You won’t find your typical movie theater slushies here—espresso martinis, steak tartare, and duck with rosemary are on the menu." - Melissa Liebling-Goldberg, Alex Erdekian

"Big picture: What’s the vibe of the place, what’s it like? Located on Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side, Metrograph is an independent movie house and a New York City cinema destination. When you walk in, you’ll notice that the decor is trendy, artsy, and has almost nothing in common with an AMC. You might overhear film buffs opining on French directors you never heard of, but hey, it’s all part of the charm. What kinds of events can we see here? Metrograph shows a curated roster of films that includes exclusive archival screenings, special premiers, and Q&As with notable filmmakers. A few of the films playing on the current lineup include The Wall , a 1990 documentary about the Berlin Wall with vérité-style footage; Bill Cunningham New York on 35mm film, introduced by director Richard Press and producer Philip Gefter; and the classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf , starrring Elizabeth Taylor. How are the seats? Metrograph has assigned seats, and to choose you have to book online. In person, tickets go on sale s half hour before showtime. The seats have red velvet cushions and are pretty comfortable. Good for kids? Well-behaved, mature kids with good attention spans are okay, but this venue is not at all tailored to kids. Anything in particular that makes this place special, from the programming to a unique feature it has? The theater has a legitimate restaurant on site called the Metrograph Commissary serving brunch and dinner, where movie-goers can extend their outing with a meal or a round of drinks. You won’t find your typical movie theater slushies here—espresso martinis, steak tartare, and duck with rosemary are on the menu. If we’re going to be in town, what—and who—do you think this is best for? Best for: A singular can’t-get-it-anywhere-else movie experience; geeking out; rainy afternoons." - Alex Erdekian

"Planning dates is stressful, so let the Metrograph Theater do the work for you. Their Tastermaker series is specifically food and wine-related, and it includes a wine tasting so you and your date can become wine snobs together. They’ll be screening Blind Ambition, a doc about a group of South African refugees who become sommeliers, this Thursday. More info here. " - neha talreja

"Make fun of us for embodying the parody Instagram account Nolita Dirtbag, but we’re particularly excited about the newly restored Dennis Hopper movie, _Out of the Blue, playing at Metrograph this week. Maybe it’s because Metrograph recently opened back up after two years, or maybe it’s because the movie has been described as “a cinematic kick in the teeth set against the backdrop of ass-end-of-nowhere smalltown Pacific Northwest.” Either way, you can buy tickets here, and be sure to read our updated review of Cervo’s so you’ll know where to eat afterwards." - hannah albertine

"After a more than year-long pause during the pandemic, the Lower East Side’s Metrograph theater is (almost) back in full swing. The two-screen theater reopened for in-person screenings on October 1, and now its ambitious, upstairs restaurant and bar have returned, as well. The Commissary is open for dinner from 5:30 to 11 p.m., Thursday to Sunday, with plans to reopen full-time, with brunch and late-night service, in the coming weeks. The Commissary opened shortly after the Metrograph theater in 2016, and is inspired by the backlot cafeterias of Hollywood studios a century earlier, where directors and key grips would rub elbows over steak frites and other affordable fare. The team is sticking to that theme for the reopening, with a revamped menu that now includes spiced lamb chops, chicken liver pate, and other bistro classics. Most dishes are priced between $10 and $25." - Luke Fortney