If you’re a film lover NYC is the place to be. From hole-in-the-wall independent cinemas run by movie-loving volunteers to legendary cinemas dating as far back as 1948, NYC is filled with spots grab some popcorn, sit back and relax, and enjoy a film. And while NYC is full of many movie theaters across the boroughs, there are many indie theaters celebrating non-mainstream movies on their big screens.
Here are some of our favorite independent movie theaters in NYC, whether you’re looking for something fun to do on a rainy day or would just like to escape reality for a bit.
1. Metrograph, Lower East Side
One of NYC’s newer independent cinemas, Metrograph opened in 2016 in the LES and has been known as the go-to spot if you’re looking to watch an eclectic film. They screen rare, archival screenings on both 35mm and digital, as well as special premieres and Q&As. Metrograph is also home to a restaurant, The Commissary, a bookstore, and a candy store–making for the absolute perfect spot for date night.
See what’s currently being screened here.
Where: 7 Ludlow St
2. Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Square
The Walter Reade Theater screens the best of what cinema has to offer through the programming of Film at Lincoln Center. They screen films in 35mm, DCP, and other formats, and showcase a selection of eclectic films including everything from documentaries and foreign films to shorts and silent films. Pro tip: get yourself a series pass for the best deals.
See what’s currently being screened here.
Where: 165 W 65th St.
3. IFC Center, Greenwich Village
Opened in June 2005, IFC Center is a film-buff’s paradise. They host a ton of fun events, such as a monthly program featuring LGBTQ guest curators, a weekly documentary series, and cult movies on Fridays and Saturdays at midnight. They’re even home to DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival which is held every November.
See what’s currently being screened here.
Where: 323 Avenue of the Americas
4. Film Forum, Hudson Square
Film Forum began in 1970 as an alternative screening space for independent films, with 50 folding chairs and one projector. Since then they’ve expanded, upgraded the seating, legroom, and sightlines in all theaters and added a fourth screen. They screen a broad selection of classic films and exotic indies.
See what’s currently being screened here.
Where: 209 W Houston St
5. Angelika Film Center, Greenwich Village
Originally Angelika Film Center & Café SoHo circa-1989, Angelika Film Center plays an impressive and diverse mix of independent films, and has become the most successful and recognized independent movie theaters in the United States. There’s a cute and cozy upstairs café where you can grab a bite before or after your movie.
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Where: 18 W Houston St.
6. Anthology Film Archives, East Village
Opened in 1970, Anthology Film Archives is an international center for the preservation, study, and exhibition of film and video. They particularly focus on independent, experimental, and avant-garde cinema, and they screen more than 900 programs annually.
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Where: 32 2nd Ave
7. The Paris Theatre, Midtown East
Opened on September 13, 1948, the legendary Paris Theater is the longest-running arthouse cinema in NYC and Manhattan’s largest and only remaining single-screen cinema. The theater was built by the French distributor Pathé as a showcase for their films and is the home for exclusive theatrical engagements, premieres, special events, retrospectives, and filmmaker appearances.
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Where: 4 W 58th St
8. Roxy Cinema New York, Tribeca
Roxy Cinema is an Art Deco-inspired arthouse cinema that specializes in first-run independent films, rare archival prints, and 35mm cult classics. It also runs special cultural programming including film series, director and actor Q&A’s, and artist collaborations.
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Where: 2 6th Avenue Cellar Level
9. Quad Cinema, Greenwich Village
The Quad opened October 18, 1972 as the first theater in the city to have multiple screens under one roof. Their programming features a mix of everything, including foreign and domestic, fiction and documentary, arthouse and grindhouse. Films screen on 35mm and 16mm projectors and the theater also houses the Quad Bar, the perfect place to grab a glass of wine or a beer.
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Where: 34 W 13th St
10. Spectacle, Williamsburg
One of the lesser known independent movie theaters in NYC is Spectacle, a collectively-run screening space in Brooklyn that’s both established and staffed by cinema-loving volunteers. Programming here runs seven days a week and includes overlooked works, offbeat gems, contemporary art, radical polemics, live performances, and more. Majority of their films are screened for a great price at $5, with the exception of some special events which are $10 where noted.
See what’s currently being screened here.
Where: 124 S 3rd St
11. Cinema Village, Greenwich Village
For more than 3 decades, Cinema Village has been one of NYC’s finest repertory cinemas and is the oldest continuously running theaters in Greenwich Village. They have 3 different screens (which range from around 60-160 seats), and they showcase all kinds of blockbusters, indies, and more. They also are a part of many film festivals like The New York Short Film Festival, The Manhattan Film Festival, and more.
Where: 22 E 12th St