Rantz: Bellevue movie theater is evolving with its audience
Aug 29, 2017, 10:48 AM | Updated: 2:24 pm
To say I’m excited for a new theater offering coming to Bellevue is a severe understatement.
Movie offerings, for a few years now, have been underwhelming. Sure, there are a few gems, but for every “A Monster Calls” or “Nocturnal Animals” there are unnecessary, embarrassing sequels like “Independence Day: Resurgence” or “Zoolander 2.” Going to the movies, at times, feels like a chore when navigating through the films you think will be good, but end up being duds.
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That will, however, change with the new Cinemark Theater at Lincoln Square.
Located on the third floor, this new addition that comes with the mall’s expansion is for adults only. It features six auditoriums, according to the Downtown Bellevue Network. No more parents bringing their loud kids to a movie they shouldn’t have been allowed into in the first place.
You’ll sit in relative silence, in comfortable lounger seats with seat-side food and beverage service! Their menu includes patatas bravas, pulled pork nachos, spicy fried chicken sandwich, poke tuna and much, much more.
I’m willing to bet we see more of these types of upgrades. The movie theater business isn’t nearly what it used to be and the movie quality isn’t the only reason. We have instant access to entertainment with on-demand and streaming videos. We have a number of professional sporting events to attend in Seattle on any given weekend, and particularly when the weather is agreeable, there’s plenty of stuff to do while not stuck indoors. To compete with our options and earn our time and money, movie theaters will need to evolve by offering us something new. It’s why Regal in Downtown Seattle recently added 4DX features.
The upgrades in Bellevue do come with an increased ticket price. You’ll spend between $13 and $23 per ticket, depending on when you visit the theater. But if you’re going to get a sub par movie, you might as well do it lounging in a comfy seat while eating a tandoori chicken flatbread pizza and enjoying a cocktail from their onsite bar.

