Alamo Drafthouse Founder Builds Private-Cinema Concept

Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League is launching his latest cinema concept — a complex of upscale private screening rooms called Metro Private Cinema.

The Big Picture: The debate over the quality of movie theaters nationwide has reached a fever pitch over the past decade, as home-theater systems have improved in quality, while most big-screen chains have struggled to keep up with renovations. That’s why premium formats (like IMAX), quality dining options, and other luxuries have become key revenue drivers for the exhibition industry.

Behind the Scenes: Metro Private Cinema wants you to go to the movies… without strangers.

• The company’s first complex is set to open in NYC’s Chelsea neighborhood in either August or September, with more locations eyed for the near future.
• The theater features 20 screens that can seat between four and 20 people, a gourmet dinner menu served family-style before the screening starts (some meals are themed to match certain movies), and a dedicated attendant.
• Guests can choose to watch a new movie or a selection of older titles. If the theater doesn’t have something available to screen, it can get it for you at an additional cost.
• None of this comes cheap — a four-person screening room is priced at $200 for a four-hour booking, food is $100 per person, and alcoholic-beverage packages start at $50.

Final Credits: Since screenings are private, moviegoers can talk, text, or sing along to their heart’s content — practices that are (rightly) frowned upon in a typical theater and have even led some theater chains to experiment with scheduling dedicated showtimes for them.

Coming Soon: While private moviegoers miss out on the magic of sitting shoulder to shoulder with strangers to share an emotional experience, don’t be surprised if the big chains start opening their own private rooms in major cities to attract a higher-income or VIP audience.