Remember when
upscale movie theater Muvico moved into town with its larger-than-life location in
Rosemont, boasting its wider seats, 21-and-up sections and an on-site restaurant?
Well, an Australian company is upping the upscale ante with its first of 50 or so U.S. locations in…(drum roll, please) northwest suburban
Barrington! The name --
Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas – doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as easily as say,
AMC, the major theater serving this area. But it is affiliated with Village Roadshow Pictures, the company that played a role in producing a couple little flicks you may have heard of—maybe Matrix, Ocean’s 11 or I am Legend might ring a bell? (The company's Jam Factory theater in Melbourne, Aus. is pictured above.)
With Barrington’s spendy demo, there’s no question that there are locals looking for the most luxe treatment they can buy.
But with tickets to the tune of $25-$30, we wanted to know what kind of royal treatment to expect. Here’s how it works: You reserve your seat ahead of time online, then show up early for a cocktail in the lounge, or skip the previews and show up 10 minutes late if that’s your style. The on-site valet will park your Range Rover/BMW/Lexus while the concierge escort you into one of eight theaters, inspired by private screening rooms and bearing only 40 seats—make that cushy leather recliners—per theater. Ring the service bell on your chair to order chi-chi snacks like ceviche or crostini, cheese and wine or chocolate and a cappuccino, or even full entrees running $10-$25. Then, soak in the digital projection and Dolby digital sound. And hope your neighbor keeps it down with the crostini.
The theater aims to open in October in The Arboretum of South Barrington complex at Route 59 and Higgins Road. In the meanwhile, we wanna know: Would you shell out $30 for a movie on a Saturday night?
Lisa Arnett is the metromix suburbs and shopping producer.
