During awards season, it always seem there is a lot of discussion about films you’ve never seen. Local theaters always play the big releases like “Star Wars” and “Captain America,” but it seems nearly impossible to find films like “Moonlight” and “Lion.”
There are a multitude of opportunities to see such films in and around Baton Rouge. From the Manship Theatre to Cinemark at Perkins Rowe, theaters in Baton Rouge offer a wide variety of shows and amenities.
AMC Theaters is the largest theater chain in Baton Rouge, with a 15 screen theater at the Mall of Louisiana and a 16 screen off O’Neal Lane.
While it is one of the larger chains in the U.S., the Baton Rouge locations have unique film screenings. The Mall of Louisiana location recently screened a Telugu film, “Shatamanam Bhavati,” and regularly offers limited engagement specialty films.
For those who are of age, the Mall of Louisiana location includes a bar, Macguffins, while the O’Neal location is under construction to include both a bar and lounge seats in its theaters.
Because they’re a large chain, the AMC locations offer more opportunities for viewers to save money.
By joining their loyalty program, viewers can earn rewards, as well as participate in $5 ticket Tuesdays. While the theater may not be as unique as others, it is a convenient, reliable way to go to the movies.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is the Manship Theatre in downtown Baton Rouge. The Manship offers a variety of special events from ballet and theater performances to specialty film presentations.
Located in The Shaw Center for the Arts, The Manship provides a more upscale filmgoing experience.
The Manship is unique because it only shows films as special events. “Moonlight” was screened earlier this month ahead of the Golden Globe Awards where it took home Best Motion Picture-Drama. In the next few weeks, The Manship will screen a variety of films ranging from “The Godfather” to “Neruda.”
Cinemark at Perkins Rowe offers a middle ground between the two aforementioned theaters.
It still shows wide releases like “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” but it also offers a selection of alternative films. The theater is currently screening two Telegu films, an anime and five films sure to be Oscar contenders.
If your desire is to see something different, Cinemark is the place. On select Sundays and Wednesdays, the theater has showings of older films — this week it’s “Rebel Without A Cause” — and it screens live performances from the Bolshoi Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera.
Ticketing is different at this theater, as you choose your seats when purchasing tickets. A few of the screens have luxury lounge chairs and the theater has multiple “Discount Days.” Most notably, tickets are less than $5 on Tuesdays.

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Augustus Stark

The Daily Reveille recently ranked Cinemark Perkins Rowe among other local movie theaters in the Baton Rouge Area based on their differences in price and movie offerings.