While Santa Barbara is sunny pretty much year-round, everyone goes to the movies sometimes. It’s not a cold- or dreary-weather exclusive activity. Did you know that the winter holidays usually bring in more movie-goers than most other days of the year? And hey, you’re on vacation. This goes without saying, but you can do whatever you want. It doesn’t have to be sandy beaches and fine dining and wine the whole time. We’re here to guide, not judge. Grab some popcorn, because we’re going to the movies Santa Barbara …here are our recommendations.
Lucky you for you, you’ll find your pick of the movies Santa Barbara downtown area
…All within walking distance of Marina Beach Motel along Cabrillo. None of these theaters is more than a 20-minute walk from our property. That little trip is a breeze on one of our complimentary beach cruiser bicycles, too!
Metropolitan Fiesta 5 Theatre
Fiesta 5 plays all your standard big-screen pictures, and no ticket costs more than $10.75. Find showtimes on their website here.
SBIFF – Riviera Theatre
The annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival plays special showings throughout the year at the Riviera Theatre. Catch all your indie flicks here! Just this fall, they’ve shown Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, Call Me by Your Name, and The Other Side of Hope. And heads up: The next SBIFF is slated for January 31 – February 10, 2018, so plan accordingly.
Metropolitan Metro 4 Theatre
Although the Metro 4 has fewer screens than its big sister down the street, this cozy theater features the same low prices but with some very cool Southwestern-style architecture.
Metropolitan Paseo Nuevo Cinemas
Grab a beer and settle in for the movies that aren’t quite Fiesta 5-tier releases, but rather those you’ve been wondering about. Think: Lady Bird and Murder on the Orient Express. Their theater sits among other great Santa Barbara shopping and activities, so you can do all your business in one place. (And yes, they abide by the same Metro ticket prices.)
What is your favorite movie? What movies have you seen recently, or what are you excited to see? Let us know. It’s time to head to the movies Santa Barbara!
