Four blocks North of Garfield on 21st Avenue, is an old brick building with a red neon sign outfront, sitting atop a glowing marquee. Under that marquee is a colorful mosaic archway framing double doors, through which you will find a small movie theater. This theater is Central Cinema, and for film lovers in Seattle, it is much more than a place to eat popcorn and watch the hottest new blockbuster. 

Central Cinema is what is called a Repertory theater, this means that instead of playing only the biggest, newest movies, they show a curated selection of old movies and classics, as well as local, independent films. They serve food and drinks straight to your seat on cushy benches and tables that replace the typical frighteningly sticky theater seats we’re used to. Over the years Central has also hosted a whole lineup of unique and wholesome programs such as Cute Night, where cute videos are played and everyone watches them together, or song parties. “The Sing Alongs are really fun and popular,” Jessica Acetia said. “It’s just a group of people that are singing in a room together, it’s really warm,” she continued. Acetia is the former film programmer for Central Cinema and the creator behind all these experiences. Other events have included Film Court, where movies are put on trial, Heckle Vision where audience members can text commentary on the screen while the film is playing and Science in a Movie, where scientists come and talk about whether the science in a movie is actually accurate.

“I think the theater does a really good job supporting local film makers and doing events that bring the community together,” Acetia said. The theater had to close for a year and a half during COVID, a break that could have been hard to recover from during this era of streaming and declining theater attendance. However, despite these challenges, Central made it through and is doing better than ever. “It seems like it’s actually more popular than before,”Acetia said about her event, Movie Cat Trivia. “Over the past six or seven months it’s been sold out every single show.”

Part of this success has to be attributed to Central Cinema’s loyal community of regulars. “I don’t know if it’s because so many independent businesses have gone away in Seattle,” Acetia said, referring to the increase in attendance. “I think people are just wanting to frequent the places that they love because they’re afraid that they’re gonna go away.” Thanks to the support of these movie lovers, the future for Central Cinema is looking bright.

Graphics by Morgan Watters