I needed to kill some time in between running errands and appointments yesterday. Before I drove up to the Clairemont area, I was in Mission Valley. I looked up showtimes for matinees (Wednesday) at Mission Valley & Fashion Valley AMCs. No shows at either location did justice for the time frame I was looking for. Their earliest shows were at 5pm. Then, I checked out Reading Cinema and quite a few movies started at 1pm! Yay!!! For $11, you get a theater all to YOURSELF! Comfortable cushioned seats. Yes, outdated- they don't recline- so stop being bougie. Your butt is comfy and in air conditioning. Walk into the lobby and pay at the concession stand. Snack deals available- which I didn't participate in since I ate beforehand. Employees were friendly. And if you know where this theater is located- it can't be beat! Next to the food court, Vons, Big Lots... tons of one stop shopping in a great location. Would I come here again?! ABSOLUTELY!
Joseph Abbinanti
Reading Cinemas, is an almoast lost neighborhood theater experience.And before or after, there are many food places just outside, which they may allow in the theater. I once told them the movie I watched a few minutes of, sucked, and they exchnged it for another, just let them know. I've been tempted to go Sundays, when it's 1/2 price food, and $2 hot dogs. Its clean, with courteous staff-they once did something like find my lost phone dropped from my pocket, so I tipped the whole staff-modestly. It's not too crowded on weekday evenings, there's a budget day, and once it was so empty I was the only person there for an early show, and they turned off the projector, but then on notifying them, rewound it, I missed nothing-an adventure. Long live Reading Town Square Cinemas. a nostalgic early California multi-plex!
JR P.
Discount Tuesdays 1/2 price tickets and $5 tubs of popcorn. What's not to like. Great way to catch all the nominees for Oscar.
Janet Tiger
Theater is always clean and the popcorn is always good and cheap.I went to see another great movie and I'm going to duplicate my five star rating! This theater has the most amazing old movies they show on Monday nights once a month and they are now introducing old musicals once a month. It is worth it to go and enjoy a movie and good popcorn. The people working there are friendly and I truly appreciate a community theater where you can park close.
Machette Art (Machette)
Dirty cinema. The men’s bathroom had a bad fruit fly problem.
Natalie R.
This is the best deal you'll find to see a movie in the city of San Diego! Sometimes, in this most expensive city we live in, you just want to see a movie - no frills, no waiter service, no reclining seats. And you want to pay $10 instead of $20+. When that's the case, come to Reading Cinemas Town Square. This isn't a discount theater per say, but it feels just like the theaters I grew up going to in the 2000s and 2010s, before Regal and AMC got so overpriced and boujee. Honestly, with Reading Cinemas' half price Tuesdays, it's even cheaper here! I don't recall EVER paying just $5.50 to see a movie! Also, the movie selection and customer service here are surprisingly good. Somehow it's not crazy crowded either, so it's usually possible to just walk in and buy tickets like the good old days, without having to buy online ahead of time. I am docking one star because sometimes the clientele is a little rowdy. I guess when movies are $10, this is where teenagers can afford to come, and considering how nostalgic this place makes me for my younger days, I shouldn't complain too much. Still, it's annoying when you're watching the newest Marvel movie and people are talking or kicking your seat for the duration of the film. I usually try to get seats in the back row, which eliminates the seat kicking issue at least. Long live movie theaters!
Jonathan Pace
$6 Tuesdays
Greg H.
This is a hybrid review -- a 5 star review for this location specifically, and a 1 star review for Reading Cinemas the corporation. 5 stars -- great local theater, cheap prices, surprisingly good food and drink options, and a well curated selection of films. 1 star -- in their online portal, you supposedly can buy tickets and get either a refund (sans service charge), or re-schedule the ticket for a different time. I re-scheduled my tickets a couple times due to plans changing, thinking I was in the clear. Unfortunately, they charged me for all the separate show times, even though the end result was me seeing the movie once. For trying to troubleshoot this, the corporate number listed on their website doesn't pick up, and their online web form obviously goes straight into the nether. I still haven't received any support whatsoever from Reading Cinemas the corporation. The local theater however was very supportive, saw the issue immediately, and opened a ticket for me with corporate -- unfortunately they have no actual ability to amend the situation themselves, and I haven't heard anything more for nearly two months. So basically I'm left to charge back through my bank which is its' own hassle. Lesson learned
They have great deals on movies and concessions!! Kids get to pick 2 candy treats with the kids combo and can get an icee!
Lina P.
Have not been here in probably a decade! Pros +plenty of parking +not at a mall so not crowded +staff are friendly +great movie specials (I think, don't go to many anymore so not sure how much AMC charges now) +great movie selections +movie quality was great +able to purchase tickets same day and get the seats we wanted Cons -used a flashlight to see our seat number and was super grossed out by how dirty the chairs and floors are :(. Definitely didn't want to sit on it but had to-next time I guess bring a blanket to put over it?? Also, didn't want to set my purse on the empty seat beside me. (If we didn't use our flashlight we wouldn't have known how dirty the seats are)
Better prices than AMC
Watched the UFC fight. Had a fantastic time.
I needed to kill some time in between running errands and appointments yesterday. Before I drove up to the Clairemont area, I was in Mission Valley. I looked up showtimes for matinees (Wednesday) at Mission Valley & Fashion Valley AMCs. No shows at either location did justice for the time frame I was looking for. Their earliest shows were at 5pm. Then, I checked out Reading Cinema and quite a few movies started at 1pm! Yay!!! For $11, you get a theater all to YOURSELF! Comfortable cushioned seats. Yes, outdated- they don't recline- so stop being bougie. Your butt is comfy and in air conditioning. Walk into the lobby and pay at the concession stand. Snack deals available- which I didn't participate in since I ate beforehand. Employees were friendly. And if you know where this theater is located- it can't be beat! Next to the food court, Vons, Big Lots... tons of one stop shopping in a great location. Would I come here again?! ABSOLUTELY!
Reading Cinemas, is an almoast lost neighborhood theater experience.And before or after, there are many food places just outside, which they may allow in the theater. I once told them the movie I watched a few minutes of, sucked, and they exchnged it for another, just let them know. I've been tempted to go Sundays, when it's 1/2 price food, and $2 hot dogs. Its clean, with courteous staff-they once did something like find my lost phone dropped from my pocket, so I tipped the whole staff-modestly. It's not too crowded on weekday evenings, there's a budget day, and once it was so empty I was the only person there for an early show, and they turned off the projector, but then on notifying them, rewound it, I missed nothing-an adventure. Long live Reading Town Square Cinemas. a nostalgic early California multi-plex!
Discount Tuesdays 1/2 price tickets and $5 tubs of popcorn. What's not to like. Great way to catch all the nominees for Oscar.
Theater is always clean and the popcorn is always good and cheap.I went to see another great movie and I'm going to duplicate my five star rating! This theater has the most amazing old movies they show on Monday nights once a month and they are now introducing old musicals once a month. It is worth it to go and enjoy a movie and good popcorn. The people working there are friendly and I truly appreciate a community theater where you can park close.
Dirty cinema. The men’s bathroom had a bad fruit fly problem.
This is the best deal you'll find to see a movie in the city of San Diego! Sometimes, in this most expensive city we live in, you just want to see a movie - no frills, no waiter service, no reclining seats. And you want to pay $10 instead of $20+. When that's the case, come to Reading Cinemas Town Square. This isn't a discount theater per say, but it feels just like the theaters I grew up going to in the 2000s and 2010s, before Regal and AMC got so overpriced and boujee. Honestly, with Reading Cinemas' half price Tuesdays, it's even cheaper here! I don't recall EVER paying just $5.50 to see a movie! Also, the movie selection and customer service here are surprisingly good. Somehow it's not crazy crowded either, so it's usually possible to just walk in and buy tickets like the good old days, without having to buy online ahead of time. I am docking one star because sometimes the clientele is a little rowdy. I guess when movies are $10, this is where teenagers can afford to come, and considering how nostalgic this place makes me for my younger days, I shouldn't complain too much. Still, it's annoying when you're watching the newest Marvel movie and people are talking or kicking your seat for the duration of the film. I usually try to get seats in the back row, which eliminates the seat kicking issue at least. Long live movie theaters!
$6 Tuesdays
This is a hybrid review -- a 5 star review for this location specifically, and a 1 star review for Reading Cinemas the corporation. 5 stars -- great local theater, cheap prices, surprisingly good food and drink options, and a well curated selection of films. 1 star -- in their online portal, you supposedly can buy tickets and get either a refund (sans service charge), or re-schedule the ticket for a different time. I re-scheduled my tickets a couple times due to plans changing, thinking I was in the clear. Unfortunately, they charged me for all the separate show times, even though the end result was me seeing the movie once. For trying to troubleshoot this, the corporate number listed on their website doesn't pick up, and their online web form obviously goes straight into the nether. I still haven't received any support whatsoever from Reading Cinemas the corporation. The local theater however was very supportive, saw the issue immediately, and opened a ticket for me with corporate -- unfortunately they have no actual ability to amend the situation themselves, and I haven't heard anything more for nearly two months. So basically I'm left to charge back through my bank which is its' own hassle. Lesson learned
Restaurantji Recommends
Great theater, easy to access, friendly staff
Good theater
Alot of parking good food and Movies lol
They have great deals on movies and concessions!! Kids get to pick 2 candy treats with the kids combo and can get an icee!
Have not been here in probably a decade! Pros +plenty of parking +not at a mall so not crowded +staff are friendly +great movie specials (I think, don't go to many anymore so not sure how much AMC charges now) +great movie selections +movie quality was great +able to purchase tickets same day and get the seats we wanted Cons -used a flashlight to see our seat number and was super grossed out by how dirty the chairs and floors are :(. Definitely didn't want to sit on it but had to-next time I guess bring a blanket to put over it?? Also, didn't want to set my purse on the empty seat beside me. (If we didn't use our flashlight we wouldn't have known how dirty the seats are)