Latest news with #TimLeague
Time Out
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The founder of Alamo Drafthouse is debuting a swanky new movie theater in Chelsea
How to get Tim League, the founder of the famously strict Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chains, to allow phones and chatter during a screening? Metro Private Cinema, his upcoming venture in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, is the unique, if pricey, solution. Opening sometime this summer (late August or early September is the current target), the 20-screen complex will allow cinephiles to rent plush screening rooms for groups of four to 20 people. Each four-hour booking includes a pre-movie dinner and your pick of flick. Recent releases are prioritized, with a rotating selection of classics (all-timers like Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and off-beat ones, like Donnie Darko and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, are first on the slate) available. Want to screen an even deeper cut? Metro will find it for you, for an extra fee. Speaking of fees, experiences range from $200, for the smallest room, to $1,000 for the 20-count. Meals are $100 per person with alcoholic drinks upping the bill an extra $50 or more. But League maintains this is a way to eventize moviegoing at a time when the practice is in peril of disappearing, and when social media is filled with complaints about bad behavior, service and quality at most multiplexes. On par with Alamo's creative upscale cuisine, menus will be seasonal, and some films will get their unique culinary adventures. (Look out for special Paddington 2 and Goodfellas menus, and Les Blank's 1980 documentary, Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers, will have a particularly pungent pairing.) And, from the looks of the theater's website, rooms will have vibe-setting features like vinyl record players and a variety of seating options, for those who prefer a spine-correcting stool over a comfy couch. Stationed near many of New York's most accessible subway lines, this first iteration will serve as a pilot for future Metro Private Cinemas.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alamo Founder Tim League Launches Private Movie Theater Experience in New York
If you heard that a new 20-screen complex was about to hit New York City, you'd expect that it would likely be a cluster of large rooms screening a Nicole Kidman commercial dozens of times a day. But Tim League, the man behind the film lovers' favorite Alamo Drafthouse, has something entirely different in mind. Coming soon — exact date to be determined — Metro Private Cinema will provide an experience that lives up to its name. 'It's a night out,' League told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview. 'If you're going to casually catch 'The Legend of Ochi,' you're probably going to go to the IFC Center, you're going to go to the Alamo, to the AMC. But if you want to have what we're trying to create, a very special experience with dinner, friends and a movie, I think there's an audience for it here.' More from IndieWire Superman's Underwear Returns: A Brief History of the Man of Steel's Red Trunks Peter Jackson Is Working on Three Screenplays: 'I'm Certainly Not Retired' Upon the opening in Chelsea, moviegoers will be able to choose a theater ranging in size from four to 20 seats — and we mean comfy, fancy chairs and sofas. Then they can choose the movie and a gourmet menu. The movie, too, doesn't need to be a current release. Patrons can select a favorite from a large library of retro offerings, as well. The meals will be only the finest — THR's coverage cited 'stone fruits, heirloom tomatoes, and summer squash' as samples. League, too, said that they hope to offer 'cinematic adventures,' as well, with themed meal experiences for popular titles. Its website already lists dining menus for 'Superman,' 'Goodfellas,' and even the fall release 'Wicked: For Good.' 'Whenever we've done that type of thing at Alamo, it's been some of my favorite moments and we're just trying to go even further,' he explained. It's not a typical night at the theater. Instead, it's a movie night that someone else is in charge of cleaning up. That said, it is pricey. The food is $100 per person — not including alcohol. The rooms range from $200 to $600 or even more, depending on the party size. League, who stepped down as Alamo Drafthouse's leader in 2020, has long advocated for creating unique experiences for film fans. In 2017, he penned an editorial for IndieWire expanding on his position. 'Cinemas are in the business of offering an incredible, immersive experience that you simply cannot duplicate at home,' he wrote. 'Our job is to put on a show and provide a great value proposition for getting out of the house, turning off your phone and enjoying great stories in the best possible environment. At our best, cinemas should also be local community centers with a real, tangible relationship to their surrounding neighborhood.' One difference, League said, with this new chain is that people will now be able to text and talk (an Alamo Drafthouse no-no), since they won't be in a theater with other strangers. 'It's just you're a worse person if you do.' Metro Private Cinema is anticipated to open in September 2025. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
