Angelika Film Center

Ever since writing about the Jeff Bridges film series at the Museum of Fine Arts, I have had movies on the brain.  There is something special about seeing a movie in a theater, especially these days when renting is so much more convenient and affordable.  We can have movies delivered to our laptops, our mailboxes, and even directly to our DVD players and it becomes very easy to rely on that.  I think a great theater is worth the extra effort, so I won’t hesitate to jump on the light rail and head downtown for a show at the Angelika Film Center and Cafe.

The Anglelika is part of a chain of theaters with locations in New York City and Texas, but we aren’t talking cineplex here.  Otherwise-hard-to-find foreign and independent movies show at the Angelika, along with a few mainstream releases as well.  The original theater opened in New York’s Soho neighborhood in 1989; the Houston location opened in 1997.  Their success is built on a consistently wonderful selection of films, as well as some of the smaller touches that set them apart.  For example, they validate parking; simply bring your parking ticket from the Theater District Parking Garage (located under the theater) when you purchase your movie tickets.  The Angelika offers a “Student Monday” special, where a $7.25 ticket inclues free bottomless popcorn with valid student ID.   For kids and parents, the ”Crybaby Matinee” shows at 11:45 AM on Fridays and Saturdays; kids under 5 are free, a changing table is provided, and the movie volume is lowered to help keep parents and kids happy.  And of course there are occasional lectures and meet-and-greets with actors and directors, which you can keep tabs on via the “At The Angelika” Film Blog.

A theater, an art house, and an event space, the Angelika is the kind of theater that still makes a ”dinner-and-a-movie” date night an event.

Where: The Angelika Film Center and Cafe is located in downtown Houston’s Theater District at 501 Texas St. (map)

Ticket Prices: Adult $9.50; Child $6.75; Senior $7; Adult matinee (weekdays before 5 PM) $7.75

Photo from the personal collection of Christina Uticone and Joshua Payne