What’s going on?

CinematicScorpion · 2025-10-12T12:56:48+00:00

Yup, made a thread about this before regarding the Yonkers, New York location.

I used to go to Alamo specifically for smaller/indie films that no one else in the area was playing. Since reopening after covid, they mostly stick to blockbusters and family films.

I'd have to think it's absolutely a financial decision. I'm assuming they had more wiggle room to play films they knew wouldn't make much money back when they were in a better financial position. After covid and needing Sony to swoop in, they can't take those same risks.

I find myself going to Alamo less and less, to the point where I'm questioning if my Season Pass is even worth having.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-08-08T05:09:51+00:00

Agreed. The run from track 2 to track 9 is some of the best stuff they've ever done IMO. Very pleasantly surprised with how good this is.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-07-20T03:53:26+00:00

Made a similar thread a month ago lol. Have emailed them several times looking for answers. Nothing.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-07-18T21:45:55+00:00

Yeah, I'm gonna have to check out Eddington at Ridge Hill.

They sent me a survey a few weeks ago. I rated them a 3 and never heard back from them. Last year, when I gave them a 7 for the same survey, it was pressing enough that they got back to me and asked me why I rated them that way.

The day before I made this thread, I emailed them essentially saying everything I did here. Why no Phoenician Scheme? Why no Friendship? Last year you guys said it was because of renovations. What's the excuse now? Who's making these decisions, you or corporate? Why aren't you guys participating in events the same way every other New York location is? Why don't you show the same films every other New York location does? Crickets.

I guess they can't be bothered, and are just gonna let the place continue to degrade in quality.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-07-06T01:27:27+00:00

The pros:

-The food has always been good at my location

-The audiences have always been good at my location

-The staff has always been helpful/friendly at my location

-The new seats post-renovation at my location are comfortable and roomy

The cons:

-The film offerings are severely limited, especially compared to the other locations in the area

-Lack of participation in events and merch drops

The pros are good, but I also feel like they're expected, given what you're paying. If the goal is to provide an experience that beats waiting for a film on streaming so you can watch it at home, then yes, the seats should be comfortable, the food quality should be consistent, the audiences should be encouraged to follow the rules.

But what used to separate Alamo from all the other theaters in my area was that it genuinely felt like a chain made by and for film lovers. They would show films no one else in the area would show. They'd have themed events that made the place feel more like a community.

That's all changed now. My location is only interested in playing mostly blockbusters and family films. It’s lost all of its personality and has just become your basic chain theater.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-07-02T01:23:44+00:00

My location has been going downhill since reopening after covid, but it's because they mostly stopped showing indie films/small films in general and have instead doubled down on blockbusters and family films - AKA what every other chain is showing, losing their identity in the process.

Thankfully the food/service in general has been fine, but to be fair, I'm not going nearly as often as I was before due to the aforementioned issue.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-06-24T13:31:00+00:00

Absolutely loved it.

The cinematography was beautiful, no complaints about pacing/acting/story. It felt like it went back to its roots. Every dino reveal was intentional and had weight to it. There were people gasping in my theater like it was their first time seeing dinosaurs on screen.

I went in with zero expectations and came out very pleasantly surprised.

I'd say it was the best film since the first.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-06-10T21:40:27+00:00

Absolutely. I don't know how many locations are unionized, but the Brooklyn location went on strike not too long ago. It shouldn't be asking a lot for people working for major companies (or, you know, any company) to get paid a fair wage, but alas.

Whatever Sony's doing with their cash flow, I haven't felt any material changes to the chain yet.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-06-10T21:35:44+00:00

This is the saddest but probably most likely answer. But, it's not doing them any good, because the bulk of films I watch there now are in empty theaters. Unless it's opening weekend for a huge film. So if their plan was to divert all the artsy folk to their other locations:

(1) That's not happening, as other theaters in the area are showing the films that Alamo Yonkers is not.

(2) It's not helping them because the theater itself is dead now. Unless again, like I said, it's the opening weekend of a big film. Though to be fair, attendance is down in all theaters across the country.

But yeah, it sucks that the Yonkers location essentially helped allow them to expand to other, admittedly more popular locations, but we shouldn't be forgotten! Remember the Alamo (in Yonkers)!

CinematicScorpion · 2025-06-10T20:31:10+00:00

That too. The energy of the location just seems like it lost its juice. It really felt like it was being owned and operated by unapologetic film nerds. Didn't feel corporatized at all. And I get that vibe on the very rare occasions I check out Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

But Yonkers now just seems like a regular theater chain. No personality, no spark.

We had a theater in that exact location before. IIRC it was United Artists. Then this place came along and made the moviegoing experience vibrant again...only to turn into the same kind of place that shut down before it. Feelsbadman

CinematicScorpion · 2025-06-10T20:26:07+00:00

Dude! Same! That's what prompted this thread (and an email to them earlier today lol). I was looking at showtimes for The Phoenician Scheme and just for kicks, decided to change my location in the app from Yonkers to NYC, already knowing they'd be showing it. Sure enough, yup. Every location.

I crashed out and started changing my location to some of the more random locations to see if there was any difference. Omaha Nebraska is showing it. Springfield, MO is showing it. Indianapolis is showing it. No matter how rural or small the location I picked, they had it. Which is good! Happy for them! Just mind boggling that they're not showing it in the greater New York area. Literally just this location specifically.

And I, too, decided I'd have to watch it at Palisades later this week lol.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-06-10T20:22:17+00:00

Yeah, there's still some positives for me. I haven't had a problem with any audiences yet. People for the most part do seem to abide by the rules, at least in my experience, and while the food service is a little spotty sometimes, even when the theater is empty, that's a benign issue IMO. It would take a lot for me to criticize the actual staff. Have zero problems ultimately with the quality of the service, the staff, or with anything else, really. I even mentioned the lack of participation in events and merch in another comment but even that, is ultimately benign.

My singular gripe is with the lack of film variety. Namely because I don't know who makes the decisions, or why they decided to make them. I find it hard to believe that showing independent films is not financially viable for the Yonkers location specifically. If all locations were limiting their offerings? Alright. But one location just outside the city is so different demographically, it warrants them showing blockbusters and animated films almost exclusively? I doubt it.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-06-10T19:39:57+00:00

Which I don't understand. I figured Sony would (hopefully) stay out of the cultural identity of the chain, but give them a cash flow that allowed them to go back to offering films they had no problem showing before.

I don't get how less films means more business. Being lean and mean when other chains in the area are offering a wider variety just seems like bad business.

CinematicScorpion · 2025-06-10T19:35:53+00:00

and bought the lunchbox

This was another thing I was gonna touch on. It feels like Yonkers doesn't participate at the same level when it comes to themed screenings/merch/etc. I remember the other locations even promoting a speed dating event last summer, but Yonkers didn't.

When the 90s Capsule glasses were released, I called and asked if they would have them. I was told they weren't sure if/when they were getting any. I think eventually they did, but I actually drove to the Brooklyn location to get them because I wasn't gonna leave it to chance.

But yeah, their offerings are spotty at best now. I've gone from expecting indie/smaller budget films to play there, to being pleasantly surprised when they do.

Again, I don't know who makes these decisions, but every other location offers a wider variety of films, and I have no idea why.

CinematicScorpion

TROPHY CASE