Imagine a cinema experience where there's no risk of a fellow viewer scrolling on their phone or rustling sweet packets. This is the promise of a new wave of luxury private cinemas, a concept now poised to make its mark in London, following its successful launch in New York.
The Premium Movie Night
The model is simple: for a significant premium, you can book an entire private screening room for you and your group. At establishments like the newly opened Metro Private Cinemas in Manhattan, a night out can cost between $50 to $200 per person. This price includes the private room, a curated film from either current releases or a classic archive, and the option to add gourmet food and unlimited craft cocktails.
The venture is the brainchild of Tim League, co-founder of the renowned Alamo Drafthouse cinema chain. League, who stepped down as CEO in 2020, focused on building this premium concept during the pandemic. Alamo Drafthouse served as one of its financial backers before its sale to Sony in 2024.
As League explains, this is not for the spontaneous cinema-goer. "If you're going to spontaneously check out a movie and pop in and get two tickets, we're probably not your theater," he said. "It's more 'hey, let's plan to get together and have a special night out.'"
More Than Just a Film
A booking at Metro is designed as a four-hour event. The first 90 minutes are dedicated to a seasonal, multi-course meal designed by a chef. The venue's current chef, Joshua Guarneri, landed the role after creating a forest-themed menu for the film Predator during his audition.
The experience is highly customisable. Patrons have booked screenings of V for Vendetta for Guy Fawkes Night and Paddington 2 with bespoke marmalade sandwiches. The theatre also plans to host specialised events, such as a mushroom-focused menu for a screening of Phantom Thread.
"The hour before and then the time after, having your glass of wine and being able to talk in a quiet room about 'oh my god, what did we just watch?' – that time with friends right after is the magic of the experience for me," League noted.
A New Direction for Cinema-Going
This model represents the high-end of 'experiential cinema', a growing trend aimed at luring people away from their streaming services. It sits alongside other curated experiences like scented candle screenings and 4DX amusement-park-style cinemas.
While the price point is undeniably high, League argues it represents value. He points out that the base cost for the private room and film is $50 per person, which is not vastly more than a standard ticket and popcorn in a major city. The additional cost is for what he describes as an "appropriately priced, reasonably fancy meal."
With the success of such ventures in New York, it's only a matter of time before similar luxury private cinemas begin to appear in London, offering affluent consumers and cinephiles a new, exclusive way to enjoy the big screen. The question remains: will British audiences be willing to pay for the privilege of a perfectly private, gourmet movie night?
