Theater chains saw the writing on the marquee years ago. That’s why so many people have ripped out every other row of those cramped old seats for new recliners with enough elbow and leg room to make a snow angel. They also started serving booze and tastier bar-grill options, and a few even offered black-light bowling lanes and boosted arcade games for extra sensory overload under one roof. .

Of course, all of these improvements meant higher ticket prices. In San Antonio, the typical Saturday night movie costs about $12 per adult and $9 per child. Add a jar of popcorn and a few sodas, and you’ve got a C rating for a family of four just to snack with the show. To see “Sonic the Hedgehog 2”.

So which San Antonio cinemas are worth your time and money on the big screen? What if we gave you five?

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For this list, we visited 21 first-run movie theaters in and around San Antonio. The goal was to find the multiplexes that offered the best overall cinematic experience. That meant vibrating screens with audio systems just loud enough to get you into the action without making your brain bleed. It also meant clean, comfortable recliners for all body types, and the closest thing to popcorn and other concessions to justifying their absurd price tag.

So relax and turn off your cell phones (unless you’re reading this on one, of course). It’s time for the main event.

5. Cinemark San Antonio 16

One of the popcorn butter dispensers was broken. Free drink refills were not available at this time. The small archway in the lobby could have served as a cheap man cave. And still, the Cinemark 16 beat heavy hitters like Alamo Drafthouse and Regal for quality and value.

The Northwest Side multiplex, formerly known as the “dollar theatre”, has abandoned its past of creaky seats and sticky floors to become a modest but modern marvel. Plush power recliners and a brighter-than-expected screen made “Everything Everywhere” all the more enjoyable. And the concessions, while spartan, come with online ordering or a convenient app, which you can schedule for pickup or have delivered to your seat for a $2 fee.

The big attraction was the ticket price. A single Hamilton covers all show times, with matinees around $6 and evening showings on weekends costing $9. There’s even a $9.99 Movie Club membership good for one movie ticket per month plus concession discounts, and you can roll over unused tickets. There are no frills at Cinemark 16, just fun for any movie buff on a budget. 5063 NW Loop 410, 210-522-9660,

cinemark.com

4. EVO Entertainment Schertz

The EVO Schertz and nearby Santikos Cibolo on Interstate 35 might as well be Siamese twins at the access road. Both multiplexes double as entertainment complexes with sleek bowling alleys, loud arcade and virtual reality games, a full-service bar, and fast casual fare of the Chili variety. EVO has outstripped its neighbor in the area that matters most: enjoying a real movie.

EVO Schertz clearly prioritizes moviegoers having the most fun for them. In the case of the EVX Enhanced Viewing Experience, that meant a wall-to-wall feature showcase in a ridiculously comfortable recliner with true surround sound and exceptional servers that are at your side at the push of a discreet call button. The ticket price is slightly higher than Santikos, but you get more than what you pay for. 18658 Interstate 35 in Schertz, 210-764-6986,

evocinemas.com/schertz

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3.Santikos Palladium

The Palladium’s towering Greek columns and ornate decor make waltzing in any auditorium a royal affair. So it’s only fitting that the palatial multiplex takes its posh movie game to the next level with The Mezz, an elevated cinematic experience in the mezzanine for 18+.

The Mezz caters to couples who want to go all out for their unique dinner and a movie – Mezz seats can only be booked in pairs. It costs $33 per couple, which at $16.50 each makes the Mezz the most expensive ticket in town.

That said, moviegoers get the royal treatment for that royal sum. Each pair of comfy Mezz recliners are surrounded by low walls for added privacy, while discreet call buttons and tray lights make it easy to order from The Mezz’s casual food and premium cocktail menu. .

A Saturday night date between the missus and Nicolas Cage, who now stars in “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” can cost upwards of $100, but it will leave you smiling and full. 17703 Interstate 10 West, 210-664-3348,

santikos.com

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2. Santikos Embassy

When the Embassy celebrated its grand reopening in 2016, Santikos Entertainment CEO David Holmes told the Express-News that he and his wife went to the theater of nearly 40 for their first date to see “Back to the Future”. Today, the remodeled Embassy remains Santikos’ best step forward with an eye to the past, making it the best legacy theater in San Antonio and almost the best overall.

The lobby itself is a signature layout, a chandelier-lit room with a round sofa in the center that channels old Hollywood. Then the real movie magic unfolds in the Embassy’s pristine auditoriums, where crisp digital screens and plush recliners can make “The Batman” or just about any movie feel both intimate and awe-inspiring.

The menu includes a $14.50 California burger draped in fresh guacamole, pepper jack cheese and bacon. There’s even a small popcorn and soda combo for just $6, a bargain by modern concession standards.

The embassy also has a decent craft bar for beers and liquor. Or you can drink from all the movie memorabilia, which includes Thor’s hammer from the Marvel movies and Will Ferrell’s powder blue suit from “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.”

A heroic return with class and style. It’s the embassy. 13707 Embassy Row, 210-664-3348,

santikos.com

1. Flix Brewery San Antonio

For a movie theater chain that debuted in Alamo City just a month before the pandemic hit, Flix Brewhouse San Antonio looked set to lose the dining room battle before it even started. Then, like a feel-good movie, Flix held on and triumphed, beating the other San Antonio theater chains at their own game.

Want an in-place service a la EVO or Drafthouse? Flix does this best by adding a lower level to each row so servers don’t block your view. Want higher level seating? Flix’s stylish recliners include additional foot and head adjustments as well as an easy-glide top that you can push or pull for added comfort.

As for the movie, a recent screening of Mark Wahlberg’s surprising “Father Stu” showed off Flix’s flawless laser projection and surround sound. And the real kick of this story: tickets cost less at Flix than at EVO or Drafthouse.

True to its name, Flix Brewhouse also serves up the foam with more than two dozen craft beers, half of which are brewed in-house in giant tanks that blend seamlessly into the brick-and-mortar setting. Food-wise, the menu includes a $14.50 Bacon Brewhouse Burger with remoulade on brioche bun. You can even enjoy yourself without the movies; the Brewhouse pub and bar are open seven days a week, no cinema tickets required. But go ahead and buy a ticket for the best cinema experience in San Antonio. Buckle 845W 1604S, 726-800-7500,

flixbrewhouse.com

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