Movies at Montgomery Mall

7101 Democracy Boulevard,
Bethesda, MD 20817

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, K-B Theatres, Loews Cineplex

Architects: James Thomas Martino

Previous Names: Montgomery Mall 3, P & G Montgomery Mall 3

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News About This Theater

Movies at Montgomery Mall

Opened by K-B Theatres on January 18, 1985 as the Montgomery Mall 3, the theatre is a relic from the pre-multiplex, pre-stadium seating sensory cinemas which have been the standard since 1995. This little triplex does has some appealing and unique qualities such as intimacy, ready access to both the concession stand and the restrooms along with covered parking.

Renovations were carried out in 2010. It was closed in May 2014, and will be replaced by a new luxury ArcLight Cinemas multiplex in the mall, which is currently under construction, and is due to open in fall of 2014.

Contributed by Jack Coursey

Recent comments (view all 21 comments)

Giles
Giles on April 28, 2013 at 10:24 pm

just the clarify the iPic theaters are opening up at Mid Pike Plaza (where the Toys R Us is) for some reason I was thinking White Flint ‘mall’. I’ve seen NO construction on the complex where the Silverspot cinemas are supposed to be. In terms of the Arclight there will be 16 screens and hopefully like the La Jolla theater have a specialty ‘wide-screen’ auditorium with Dolby Atmos sound(fingers crossed). As of February this year, there’s this new story and web video simulation of how the theater and the new food court will look: http://rockville.patch.com/articles/montgomery-mall-unveils-video-simulation-of-new-cinema-food-court

JodarMovieFan
JodarMovieFan on April 29, 2013 at 7:17 am

The expansion raises the issue of sufficient parking space. I used to work there for several years and parking is at a premium especially during the holidays. If you’ve got a 16 screen plex, with seating for a few thousand..where are they going to park if you don’t build a new garage?

On the other hand, it would be very nice to have an Arclight here where the presentations supposedly exceed THX standards. But..I’d be reluctant to pay more than $15 for regular fare. Then again, if its THAT good, I’ll have to drive there regularly since my friend is closer to that theater than to come to where I am. :P

JodarMovieFan
JodarMovieFan on April 29, 2013 at 7:23 am

I feel sorry for the people who currently operate this venue. They spent probably $50K for each digital projector..$150, plus more for the carpet and seating upgrades.

Maybe they should stay there and offer counter programming, or maybe second run movies at a discounted price and NOT close.

$5-$7 movies as opposed to $15 at the Arclight wouldn’t be too bad.

nextinline
nextinline on December 25, 2013 at 12:29 pm

This place unfortunately will close when Arclight opens. Silverspot pulled out of the deal so it looks like that’s not going to happen. Also it looks like White Flint is losing major tenants (Cheesecake Factory closed and moved to Montgomery Mall) and it appears that the theatre there will close at some point too.

Giles
Giles on January 29, 2014 at 8:37 pm

White Flint maybe losing it’s theaters, but actually the IPic theaters over at Mid Pike Plaza is now up and listed on their website: https://www.ipictheaters.com/ipic-locations.aspx no actual date, but it’s coming…

thebrat
thebrat on October 8, 2014 at 7:28 pm

One of the screens at the new Arclight may have Dolby Atmos. There is a video of an auditorium in the new complex, and it looks like it has room for five stage speakers, extra front surrounds, and overheads. Here is the video, starts at the 9 minute mark.

http://youtu.be/ezJCzbynvUE

Giles
Giles on October 27, 2014 at 3:06 pm

there are TWO Atmos systems – when the manager told me that – I think he noticed my jaw had dropped to the floor.

Giles
Giles on October 27, 2014 at 7:10 pm

from the video you provided thebrat it sounds that there are two auditoriums that can showcase 35mm presentations. I also like the fact that the representative states that the lighting is up to spec and in my opinion will supercede the crappy renovations that Landmark did to their downtown Bethesda location, which throws so much light from off the walls during the actual movie thus diminishing the pop and light from the screen itself.

Scott Neff
Scott Neff on March 28, 2015 at 8:52 pm

I was just at this mall tonight and took a picture of the boarded up space where the theatre used to be. After peering through the cracks in the boarding, it looks like the theatre has been partially gutted and is being used for storage.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 18, 2015 at 9:03 pm

The correct name of the architect of The Movies at Montgomery Mall is James Thomas Martino. It was one of his earliest projects, his practice having been established in 1983. The house was originally operated by K-B Theatres, opening on January 18, 1985, according to Robert K. Headley’s Motion Picture Exhibition in Washington, D.C.. The K-B chain went under in January, 1994, and this house was closed, but it was reopened in March of that year by Cineplex Odeon.

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