Metro Cinema will have 20 private screening rooms that can accommodate between four and 20 guests.
New York’s cinephiles will no longer have to slum it at AMC or Regal. An exclusive new cineplex with 20 private screening rooms is coming to Chelsea.
Metro Cinema is the brainchild of Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League. He wanted to give New Yorkers a way to watch movies in private, knowing that the vast majority of city dwellers don’t have the space for a home cinema. Each private cinema suite can accommodate between four and 20 guests, meaning you can bring the whole crew or just a few of your favorites. The suites will also feature giant screens, immersive sound systems, and motorized recliners or loveseats, ensuring a truly cinematic experience.
“With Metro Cinema, we wanted to reimagine moviegoing from the ground up and create something more intimate, more elevated, and more memorable," League told Robb Report via email. “You’re not just booking a seat, you’re booking the whole room, and enjoying a fully curated cinematic experience. It’s about sharing great movies and food with your friends. We’re excited to bring this vision to New York."
The projectors will throw everything from recently released blockbusters to curated cult favorites. And if you want to screen a movie that isn’t in the library, the cinema says it will get it for you for an extra fee. Speaking of which, for a four-hour booking, the four-person theater costs $200 and the 12-person theater costs $600. Food and drinks cost extra, but they are worth splashing cash on.
Metro Private Cinema
Much like Alamo, Metro will offer more than buttery popcorn. Chef Joshua Guarneri will whip you up multi-course, family-style meals that are often inspired by the film you are about to watch. Some of the standout menus include a Downtown Abbey afternoon tea with classic sandwiches, buttery scones, and bite-sized cakes; a Goodfellas dinner with charcuterie, cannelloni, and other Italian classics; and a Planes, Trains and Automobiles Thanksgiving dinner with a turkey and all the trimmings. There is also a signature menu that rotates with the seasons.
Metro Private Cinema
Drinks, too, will be delivered to you throughout the movie, with craft cocktails, mocktails, and an exceptional wine list on offer. Metro also touts “ninja service," so you won’t be interrupted during the flick. As for Alamo’s strict “no talking, no texting" policy, the private suites mean you can chat as much as you like.
Metro Private Cinema
League is hoping all the extras will help lure New Yorkers away from Netflix and the lounge. Adding a more upscale twist to the cineplex has certainly worked for him before. The first Alamo Drafthouse opened in Austin, Texas, in 1997, proving to be such a success that the chain now has 45 locations across the country. A further testament to that growth, Sony acquired Alamo in June 2024. Metro could be on a similar trajectory: League is testing the waters with the Chelsea location but told The Hollywood Reporter that “the intent is to open more."
Metro is set to open “late summer," but the exact date is still TBD. The cinema is located on 8th Ave in Chelsea.
From the article by Rachel Cormack
