Renting an entire movie theatre for your own personal use sounds like something right out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. But these are strange times. Movie theaters are one of the hardest-hit industries of the Covid-19 pandemic, and they have had to think creatively about how to get people back inside the cinema. AMC™ now allows movie lovers to rent out an entire movie theater for as little as $99, and it just might be the cure for the winter blues. We decided to support our very own AMC™Courthouse Plaza 8 in Arlington and give it a try. Read on to learn more about this unique opportunity!
The booking experience
Reserving our theater at AMC™ Courthouse Plaza 8 could not have been easier! We just went to the reservations page, and pressed "book now". We were prompted to enter our zip code, and all of the nearby locations popped right up. Once we found a date and time that worked for us, we got to do the fun part - select our movie! AMC™ offers newer releases like Wonder Woman 1984 and The Croods: A New Age at $149. Older movies like The Lego Movie and Jurassic Park are offered at $99. We didn't see any G-rated options, but there were several PG options to choose from. There were also several nostalgic classics, like Raiders of the Lost Ark, that we thought would be really fun to see on the big screen. As a movie family, we loved that we could earn points toward our next AMC Stubs® reward when booking a private theatre rental at AMC™. Plus, A-List and Premiere members can use their rewards to book a private theatre rental too! We didn't cancel our reservation, but we appreciated that there was a cancel option in case plans changed.
The snacking experience
One thing that caught our eye when booking was the opportunity to pre-order our popcorn and movie treats! We didn't take advantage of it during the initial booking, but we were delighted to find how easy it was to go back into our reservation after booking and still be able to pre-order! When we arrived at the theatre, it was such a luxury to have our popcorn order ready and waiting for us without having to wait in a line. We felt like complete VIPs!
The movie experience
Watching the movie with our own private group was so much fun. We followed the safety protocols of wearing masks when we were not eating or drinking, but other then that, we felt free to relax and be ourselves. We could sit exactly where we wanted to, comment as loudly as we wanted on the previews, and make as many trips to the bathroom as our hearts desired. We didn't have to worry if younger kids were too chatty or need to take a break. The theatre was clean and sanitized for our arrival, and the staff were extremely kind and professional to our group.
Private Theatre Rental at AMC™ Courthouse Plaza 8 in Arlington - Our Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed our experience with a private theatre rental! It was a much needed night on the town with our loved ones! We booked our movie date with excitement and anticipation, and it was nice to have a special night out to look forward to. We think this private theatre rental would be a great option for celebrating a birthday or a special event, too!
What you need to know
Location: AMC™ Courthouse Plaza 8 is located at 2150 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201, in Courthouse Plaza. There is a parking lot adjacent to the theatre, and it is accessible via Courthouse Metro station as well.
Booking: Visit AMC's Private Theatre Rental landing page on book online. TIP - plan ahead - dates tend to fill up quickly, especially evenings and weekends! Also note, Virginia government mandates will limit your party size to 1-10 total guests.
Price: $149 for newer releases, and $99 for all other movies. You can view the movie selection here.
Click HERE to get a FREE kid-friendly event guide for Arlington, VA and surrounding areas, full of events and suggestions for activities! Have fun out there!
