Why Alamo?

Innovative Theater Design

When you step into an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, you know it. Our designs start with a flexible prototype that can be adapted to each market and site.

But that’s just the start. Each theater is designed with an homage to movies, from the box office to the bar and everywhere in between.

Here are just a few examples of some unique design elements:

• We included tons of obscure movie references, including duplicating the orange hex carpeting from THE SHINING and many other design elements that pay tribute to the late director Stanley Kubrick in our South Lamar theater in Austin.

• The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Lower Manhattan features a unique photo op, a 12-foot tall statue of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man with gothic columns and terror dog gargoyles.  It also houses The Press Room, a museum, letterpress print shop, bar, and event space that displays selections from an archive of over 50,000 letterpress film advertising plates spanning the 1930s through the 1980s.       

• Our Chicago venue has a replica of the Ferrari from FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF crashing through the lobby. It also features a retro-themed video store and bar, Video Vortex. Guests can browse over 10,000 expertly curated Blu-rays, DVDs, and VHS tapes to rent for free while enjoying local craft beers and custom cocktails.

We love movies. We love fun. And we’re all about giving our guests an experience they won’t forget. It starts with our theater design but drives every aspect of our business model.

A Superior Dining Experience

You can’t pair a memorable movie experience with sub-par food, which is why we strive to offer a dine-in menu that lives up to the drama on screen.

Hallmarks of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema dining experience include:

• Offerings built around a blend of film-inspired and American classics.
• In-theater dining service, so our guests can enjoy their meal while watching a movie.
• All menu items prepared in-house, from scratch.
• 24 – 50 local beers on tap at each location.
• A craft cocktail menu that can challenge the best bar in the market.

Most of our venues also feature a stand-alone bar on site, so guests can extend their experience before and after the movie.

Best-in-Class Theatrical Presentation

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema venues are designed with best-in-class projection and sound, leveraging the latest in technology.

But even more impactful is our unique and diverse approach to film programming. By showcasing the very best first-run releases and also a mix of independents and classics, the average Alamo Drafthouse Cinema venue shows many more titles than other chains and offers something for everyone.

Also unique to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is the custom, engaging pre-show content designed to play before every film. And, because we know our guests want to focus on the movie, our strictly enforced “no talking, no texting” policy makes Alamo Drafthouse Cinema a sanctuary for movie lovers.

Powerful Branding Engine

How is Alamo Drafthouse Cinema different? Our unique, authentic personality is a key differentiator that has helped build a passionate community of brand enthusiasts.

 Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is known for creating and delivering outstanding cinema experiences:

• Iconic special events
• Movie parties
• Live performances
• Multi-course film feasts
• In-person appearances by filmmaking talent

Brand Loyalty for the Success of Your Business

Our franchisees also receive support via our brand loyalty programs, which is another strength of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema business model.

• Our brand loyalty program – Alamo Victory – rewards frequent guests for doing what they’re already doing: going to the movies.
• Alamo also offers a monthly subscription program, Alamo Season Pass, that allows guests to attend unlimited movies, up to one per day.

No matter what the experience, the ultimate goal at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is to ensure every guest has an awesome experience and is excited to come back.