8 Independent Theaters in NYC That Elevate The Film Experience

Bright lights. Bustling people. Speeding taxis. This is the NYC of movies, and the real NYC is a film buff’s paradise too thanks to its wealth of independent theaters. These spaces host beloved events such as the New York Film Festival, and they regularly screen new releases and old classics alike. They’re also designed for excellent viewing experiences, with luxurious seating and state-of-the-art audiovisual technology.

Find our favorite New York independent theaters below, along with tips on which cannabis products we recommend to take your viewing experience to the next level.

Alice Tully Hall

1941 Broadway at W 65th St, New York, NY 10023

The home base of the New York Film Festival, Alice Tully Hall — part of Lincoln Center — has built esteem as the city’s premier independent theater since its 1969 opening. The hall’s Starr Theater seats a massive 1,086 people, gathering New York film enthusiasts at an unmatched scale. Unlike many independent theaters, including others within Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall offers only reserved seating, so advance planning is recommended.

Walter Reade Theater

165 W 65th St, New York, NY 10023

Another Lincoln Center theater, the Walter Reade Theater, seats 268 people. It’s known for screening retrospectives on highly regarded film artists and running international film series. Open since 1991, it screens works from long before and after its founding. Head to this independent theater for the best of today and decades bygone alike.

Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center

144 W 65th St, New York, NY 10023

This Lincoln Center space houses two theaters, the 144-seat Francesca Beale Theater and the 85-seat Howard Gilman Theater. You’ll find current and revival films alike at these theaters, with retrospectives and international selections rounding out the programming. This film center’s amphitheater further enhances the programming, with insightful educational programs and moving talks with beloved film artists.

Brooklyn Academy of Music

30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Don’t let the name fool you — film is a staple at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, which is home to four cinemas with hundreds of seats each. Although you can catch movies with big-name actors and directors here, the exclusive screenings are the highlight. They include programming for the New York Film Festival, the New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, and the Academy’s own Next Wave series. Expect groundbreaking works you won’t see elsewhere for quite some time.

Museum of the Moving Image

36-01 35th Ave, Queens, NY 11106

During the New York Film Festival, the Museum of the Moving Image showcases several hotly anticipated films. Year-round, the museum hosts film retrospectives, themed screening series, and silent films. Come for the movies, stay for the exhibitions about all other kinds of moving images, from video games to the museum’s mini-festival centering a universal favorite: cat videos.

IFC Center

323 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014

Perhaps the most visible and best-known NYC independent theater outside the Lincoln Center, the IFC Center is hard to miss when exploring the West Village. Its programming includes monthly queer cinema screenings, cult films at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and premieres of feature-length foreign, independent, and documentary works. Its five cinemas are equipped with state-of-the-art sound and especially comfy seating for full immersion in your film of choice.

Metrograph

7 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002

Catch old classics on huge screens at Metrograph, a legendary independent theater in the Lower East Side. Alongside the regular lineup of iconic films, this theater almost always hosts several series at once, often centering a certain film artist or country. Grab the theater’s magazine as well — it’s packed with in-depth interviews with legendary film artists and immersive essays from artistic thought leaders, not to mention a film-themed crossword.

Film Forum

209 W Houston St, New York, NY 10014

Located just north of SoHo in Greenwich Village, the Film Forum has been a landmark for New York film buffs since 1970. A rare nonprofit theater, it hosts New York premieres of international art films and American independent works. It also screens repertory selections that span genres, director retrospectives, and classic films from around the world. With nearly 500 seats, it’s a remarkable venue for enjoying the greatest in film with a community of passionate viewers.

Tips for pairing independent theater and cannabis

Great films and premium cannabis both transport you elsewhere while you remain seated and immersed. To best pair independent theater with cannabis, pace yourself, consider timing, stay discreet, and ask for advice.

Start low and go slow

At first, consume only an amount of cannabis that you know you can handle. For first-timers, a microdose of 2.5 mg THC or a starter dose of 5 mg THC may be ideal. More experienced travelers may fly more smoothly with larger doses. In any case, always wait until your product’s expected onset time passes, and then only consume more if you’d still like stronger effects.

Use our guides to edible dosing and cannabis doses to figure out how much cannabis you should consume.

Time it right and keep it discreet

Smoking or vaping cannabis typically provides effects within just 15 minutes, whereas edibles such as THC gummies may take up to two hours to deliver effects. If you prefer edibles and you want to ease into relaxation right as your film starts, consume your edibles two hours beforehand. If you prefer smoking or vaping, light up right before you walk into the theater — but be discreet.

You can smoke or vape cannabis in NYC on sidewalks that aren’t within 100 feet of churches, daycares, schools, hospitals, and libraries. You can’t smoke or vape in independent theaters, so make sure you’ve consumed before entering.

Ask for help

Especially if you’re newer to cannabis, getting expert help can make all the difference. When you get your cannabis from The Travel Agency, you get that help alongside NYC’s best products. Our budtenders listen to your exact wants and needs, then advise you accordingly. You’ll discover which cannabis products to pair with your movie experience and when, how, and where to consume your cannabis.

The Travel Agency and independent theaters: a match made in heaven

Unwinding after a long day, getting super focused on one thing, losing yourself in an adventure — these all happen with cannabis and movies alike. Get your cannabis at The Travel Agency, a New York Film Festival sponsor, then head to your favorite independent theater and sink into the experience. Or, if your favorite movie-watching spot is your home, choose same-day cannabis delivery. Whether you’re on your couch or in a cinema, we’ll help you get lost.