Once upon a time, these iconic metro Phoenix movie theaters were the go-to spots for locals seeking a few hours of escapist fun. Today, they’re nothing but cherished memories for Valley residents.
Local Reddit users reminisced about these legendary local cinemas in response to a recent post on the r/Phoenix subreddit asking people to share their favorite theaters, past and present. A few currently operating spots, such as the ever-popular Pollack Tempe Cinemas, were mentioned, but most responses focused on now-defunct theaters like both Super Saver Cinemas locations and the old UA Christown Mall Cinemas 6.
Here’s a look at the bygone Valley cinemas that Phoenix Reddit users still remember fondly.
Super Saver Cinemas 8
3660 W. Glendale AvenueCurrently: Maya High School This discount theater near Glendale and 35th avenues in west Phoenix was a favorite among longtime Valley residents and local budget-conscious cinephiles during the '90s and 2000s. To wit: The aptly named Reddit user u/BargainScotch shared fond memories of the venue from his childhood.
“Not fancy by any stretch, but I was a kid and remember catching ‘Ace Ventura,’ ‘Dumb and Dumber,’ ‘High School High’ and ‘Jurassic Park’ all at Super Saver Cinema on 35th and Glendale,” BargainScotch wrote. “And I think we did a field trip to go watch ‘Casper’ for some reason. So this place holds some nostalgia feelings for me.”
Super Saver Cinemas 8
2710 W. Bell Road, #1125Currently: Vacant This similarly named cinema at the Bell Canyon Pavilions shopping center on Bell Road in north Phoenix operated from 1990 to 2020 and was equally beloved by locals. Reddit user u/Chris4477 described it as “cheap as hell with a cool retro design,” while u/edtehgar stated it was “my go-to if I was ever bored with nothing to do especially on Tuesdays.”
Working there was just as enjoyable, according to former Super Saver Cinema employee u/ollieollieyessiree. “It was honestly one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had. Free popcorn and soda for the whole shift, and I’m pretty sure tickets were like half the price for employees,” they wrote. “I worked there right before it closed to Covid, rip.”
Harkins Theatres Arcadia 8
3975 E. Thomas RoadCurrently: Planet Fitness What’s now a Planet Fitness along 40th Street just south of Thomas Road was once a thriving Harkins Theater location at the shopping center formerly known as Tower Plaza (now Desert Palms Power Center).
Operating from 1988 to 2014, the theater was a beloved spot for nearby moviegoers, including u/Sharp-Chapter52, who lamented, “I miss the Arcadia 8 Harkins, still a shame it turned into a Planet Fitness.”
Reddit user u/SubtextuallySpeaking recalled attending late-night screenings at the Arcadia 8, sharing how they “saw many a midnight movie there.”
UA Christown Mall 6
1546 W. Montebello Ave.Currently: Christown Spectrum Mall Old-school Valley residents fondly remember this six-screen theater inside Christown Mall, which debuted in 1974 and featured a setup unlike any other local cinema. Moviegoers purchased tickets at a detached box office on the mall’s ground floor before taking a one-way escalator up to the second-level auditoriums.
U/DeadSharkEyes was a patron of the theater. “I have very fond memories of seeing movies inside (the) old Christown in the 80s and 90s, when it was up the escalator and had a smoking section upstairs,” they wrote.
U/Live_Principle_8000 shared memories of attempting to sneak into the UA Christown Mall 6. “Tried to buy tickets to see a Rated R movie in middle school and got denied. Later, it was such a fun experience. I saw some horror films with a full and raucous audience.”
Harkins Centerpoint Cinema
730 S. Mill Ave., TempeCurrently: AMC Centerpoint 11 Decades before it became part of the AMC chain, this two-story cinema in downtown Tempe was built by Harkins Theaters in the early ‘90s and screened countless blockbusters.
Local resident u/IGIW remembered seeing Keanu Reeves rage against the machines at the theater back in 1999. “My young mind was blown away by the original Matrix movie,” they shared.
Meanwhile, u/asu_lee reminisced about pairing a visit to Centerpoint with a meal at the nearby Islands Burgers for the ultimate dinner-and-a-movie outing. “Islands for a burger before the movie. Such a great call!” they wrote.
FilmBar
815 N. Second St.Currently: VacantLocal cinephiles were heartbroken in 2022 after owners of FilmBar in downtown Phoenix announced its closure after 11 years in operation. The repertory cinema and nightspot paired an extensive drink selection with a curated lineup of indie, arthouse and foreign films and special events like a qualifier for the Air Sex World Championships.
U/Spock_Jenkins summed up the void caused by the spot’s closure: “I’ll always maintain that Phoenix lost a big part of its cultural accessibility when FilmBar shut down,” they wrote. “Not having an arthouse movie theater — especially not one owned by a corporate entity — is something that is cataclysmic for a city’s film community.”
Harkins Camelview 5
7001 E. Highland Ave., ScottsdaleCurrently: Ocean 44The Camelview 5 was a unique place to see a movie. From its distinctive Frank Lloyd Wright-esque lily pad structures outside to the indie, foreign and arthouse fare that was shown inside, the theater was a local treasure. Opened in the 1970s by Harkins Theaters as a two-plex, the Camelview later expanded to five screens and became a regular destination for movie buffs.
In 2013, plans were announced to close the place in favor of a larger multiplex at nearby Fashion Square Mall. Despite the efforts of local preservationists, the Camelview closed in 2015 and was demolished the following year.
Reddit user u/a-tribe-called-mex was a frequent visitor to the theater. “I did the math and I believe my wife and I went on approx 250-300 dates here over an 8-year period before it closed. Some of the greatest times in my life here. 2009-2017. Rip og camelview.”
An exterior photo of Phoenix's beloved Cine Capri Theatre at 24th Street and Camelback Road.
George M. Aurelius
Cine Capri
2323 E. Camelback RoadCurrently: 24th at Camelback office building The Cine Capri was the crown jewel of Phoenix’s bygone movie theaters and the epitome of luxury and grandeur. Opened in 1966, the iconic 16,500-square-foot cinema at 24th Street and Camelback Road featured elegant dual colonnades outside and a massive curved screen inside its single auditorium.
Over its 32-year lifespan, the Cine Capri showcased a host of legendary films, from Charlton Heston’s historical epic “The Agony and the Ecstasy” to the original “Star Wars” trilogy. The theater closed in early 1998 after screening “Titanic” and was demolished later that year to make for several high-rise office buildings.
Several local Reddit users cited the Cine Capri as a favorite, including u/FatDudeOnAMTB. “I saw ‘Contact,’ the ‘Star Wars’ re-releases and something I can't recall at the moment. I liked seeing the big velvet curtains opening for the trailers, then really open wide for the feature.”
The now-demolished Cine Capri, the gold standard of old-school Phoenix movie theaters.
George M. Aurelius
Despite the homage, Reddit user u/thereverendpuck says it doesn’t measure up to the original Cine Capri. “Zero reason it needed to go away,” they wrote. “The McBusiness building could’ve existed half a block in any direction. I refuse to go to the Scottsdale location as it isn’t the Cine Capri, just a soulless theater with a big screen.”
