Regal Pointe Orlando

Image: dionhinchcliffe, Flickr (license)

Just south of the Cinemark Orlando, you’ll find the massive shopping complex at Pointe Orlando. It’s like a mini-Disney Springs in that it has everything you could want for a night out: some restaurants, some bars, a place to entertain the kids (they always fun Monkey Joe’s), and of course a movie theater.

The Regal Pointe Orlando is, like other nearby theaters, a modern movie-going experience. It’s got recliners and digital projection and reserved seating and so on. But, most importantly, it also has the area’s best IMAX screen.

IMAX is a famed large-format projection system favored by cinephiles and documentarians. It’s very expensive to shoot in IMAX, but filmmakers like Christopher Nolan love to use it for its epic scale. Only some IMAX theaters, however, are outfitted to show IMAX films in their true aspect ratio. The Pointe Orlando IMAX is the closest thing to true IMAX you will find in Central Florida, and as such, it’s the best place to see shot-in-IMAX films like Dunkirk or Mission: Impossible Fallout.

The tickets are, no doubt, expensive. But, if you’re someone who loves movies — and large-format movies in particular — it’s a real treat to visit this screen. 

Epic Theaters at Lee Vista

Image: Epic Theaters

Just a bit outside the tourist corridor, and more near Orlando International Airport, the Epic Theaters at Lee Vista is a fantastic option for a high-quality, low-hassle movie experience.

Like most other modern theaters, it sports reserved, reclining seats, a bar, and two large-format screens. They aren’t quite as impressive as the Pointe Orlando IMAX, but they’ll do the job if you want to treat yourself to the next Marvel spectacular.

The service and attention to detail are what makes Epic Theaters stand out as a mini-chain. They aren’t quite as big as Regal, AMC, or Cinemark and as such, they’re more committed to each theater that they do possess.

If you’re staying a bit outside the traditional Orlando tourist zone, or if you’re looking for something to do before a late flight home, this theater is a great option.

Enzian Theater

Image: Enzian Theater, Twitter

True movie buffs, however, should be prepared to take a bit of a car ride north if they want to enjoy a classic Florida indie theater. The Enzian Theater, located in Maitland, Fl. a bit north of Winter Park, is the area’s best independent theater showing first-run indie hits and some repertory classics.

The Enzian is an eclectic space with a classically Florida look to it — lots of color and Art Deco styling make it look right at home as a place to see classic films. It also features a very loyal following and strong community, so if you’re a big enough film buff, you should feel right at home.

The theater is also host to the Florida Film Festival — an annual event in April that celebrates great independent film and serves as a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards. With a bar and great restaurants nearby, the Enzian is a great movie night out — particularly for the grown ups.

In all, Florida has theaters for all occasions — family movie night, a Marvel movie premiere, a whatever-is-showing-next rainout, or a movie obsessive’s mini vacation. Not a bad way to spend a day.