Alamo Drafthouse Cinema New Mission

A great venue as long as you aren't Black. I've never seen tac vest security at this venue but they decided the late matinee for Sinners required extra security. Strike one. I've been here many times, though often in the evening so it may just be that your daytime staff is bigoted. My partner and I got in early because we really liked the cocktails in your bar. This time it noticeably felt like the bartender was avoiding eye contact with me or the one other Black person in the bar. This changed when the bartender noticed my white boyfriend. At that point he took our orders, proceeded to give me the wrong drink and didn't bother making the one I ordered seemingly frustrated that I still wanted the drink. Strike 2. Barring a bit of troubleshooting because my partner could not turn off his phone during the previews I wasn't especially chatty or disruptive. At one point I was the only person giggling about a particularly clever aside, but I chalked it up to the fact that non-Black people know very little about our culture. A little bit later a waitress decided to inform me that I was being disruptive. This was extra irritating because the people next to us actually were being loud, but they were never reprimanded. Strike 3. I've been coming here for years. The first time I came to this theater was Guardians of the Galaxy 2, but I won't be coming back. I dunno if it's because of all the issues with striking workers, layoffs or being bought out by Sony, but whatever the case it was unpleasant enough to sour me on the whole experience. I had no idea that laughing isn't allowed in their theaters. It seems odd especially when people bother to put jokes in their films, but they can do business however they want. And maybe next time they'll talk to the right people about being disruptive instead of deciding it had to be the only Black lady in the theater.

This is my favorite movie theater of all time and holds a special place in my heart. I have never had a bad experience here. The Food and drinks are always great. The Staff is wonderful, attentive, and fellow movie lovers. This theater is beautiful on the inside and the bar is a great way to relax and unwind before your movie. I love supporting this theater because it plays older films as well as current and has fun things like movie parties with themed menus and props, Special theme days like Terror Tuesdays and Weird Wednesday, Family Friendly screenings, theory 101, "baby day" showings and special screenings with Q & A with directors. They really do have something for everyone and you can feel how much thought and care goes into it all. They really want you to have a great time and it shows. They also offer a membership which has some pretty great perks. In a world of streaming and downloading I'm so grateful for Alamo Drafthouse for keeping the theater experience alive and making it special. Please keep doing what you're doing 🖤

I question the reality of the five star reviews here. It seems impossible. Anyway, as many have mentioned, this place has really stupid policies, such as not allowing anyone in the theater after the previews and not offering any refund or credit if you're late by one minute. They say they offer credit, but it's so limited that is almost unusable, so basically, you don't get credit. Then, they refer you to their corporate partner Fandango if you have a complaint. Moreover, it is super corporate, like entering a regal cinema, and plays mainly average mainstream films. So, it's not anything special in that way either. Also, it is EXPENSIVE. A beer is at least $8, popcorn is around $14, wine is at least $13 and a burger is a whopping $24! The bar located at the theater is dry and sterile as is the service staff. There is a waitstaff that is serving food and drink inside the theatre and so disruptive and annoying. So, not letting people in late is just stupid. Overall, an unpleasant experience for every possible reason. Incidentally, the Roxie is a couple of blocks away and is one million times better in every possible way. So, skip this stupid theater at all costs.

5 screens 536 seats The Mission Theatre was opened in 1907. It was a narrow theatre on the west side of Mission Street, between 21st Street and 22nd Street. It was renamed Premium Theatre in 1911 and renamed Idle Hour Theatre in mid-1913. In 1916, the architectural firm Reid Brothers reused the original theatre as an entrance lobby to their newly built auditorium of the 1,500-seat New Mission Theatre that sits on Bartlett Alley, behind the Mission Street storefronts. It opened May 6, 1916 with Mary Pickford in “Poor Little Peppina”. It was operated by Kahn & Greenfield. The entire building was now in a Spanish Colonial Revival style and the auditorium had 1,500 seats, all in the orchestra level. On November 15, 1917, a balcony was added, which was said to have 1,000 seats. In 1918 a 300-seat second balcony was added. In 1932, for the Nasser Brothers circuit, architect Timothy Pflueger transformed the theatre especially the outer lobby, marquee, and 70ft blade sign, into an Art Deco style wonderland with 2,012 seats. After closing as a movie theatre in the 1980’s, the former New Mission Theatre spent the next 25 or so years virtually unaltered as a furniture store. In 2001, the City College of San Francisco proposed to raze much of the New Mission Theatre and build new campus facilities inside the theatre’s building. Believing that more of a theatre could be retained while still achieving the school’s goals, a local group called ‘Save the New Mission Theatre’ lobbied to stop CCSF from executing its plans. In 2012, Alamo Drafthouse announced plans as its first venture into California, to convert the New Mission Theatre into a five-auditorium cinema with a total of 550 seats. Designed by architectural firm Kerman Morris Architects, the main original orchestra level of the auditorium retains its 1920’s proscenium decorated with friezes of horn-blowing nymphs on ponies, and has a 55ft wide screen, 320 seats, and waiter service. The other auditoriums range from 20 to 150 seats. Three auditoriums are located in the former balcony and the second largest auditorium is in the former balcony mezzanine. The New Mission Theatre was designated a San Francisco Landmark building on May 18, 2004. Included in the listing are lobby, marquee, the balustrade and the décor in the auditorium, and have been restored to their original lustre. The Alamo Drafthouse New Mission Cinema opened December 17, 2015 with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.

This place is my closest local theater. I wanted to like it. It has that local theater vibe despite being a chain. Anything is better than another empty theater in my city. The place has a nice building with some charm. Unfortunately, they have draconian and dramatic policies, and believe that allows them to treat customers poorly. The place seems well attended, so I suppose they have regulars who know the drill and get their jollies out of watching the other patrons getting rustled by the staff. The funny part is the rules are in the guise of a disruption free movie experience, but then they have table service inside the theater. There are much better movie experiences to be had in SF and the local area.