Varsity Theatre
based on 5 reviews
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Edit
Category: Arts & Entertainment
Tags:
movie theater, popcorn
I am the owner of this business
Accepts Credit Cards: no
Parking: Street
5 reviews for Varsity Theatre
The Varsity has a wonderful atmosphere, and I've always found it exceptionally comfortable. The decor is homey bordering on chic, and it feels like you and a few friends are enjoying a private viewing in some rich acquaintance's private theater. Great concessions (some very ritzy chocolate), nice prices, good location, and fantastic art house selection. The Varsity was a favorite part of my UNC college experience.
The Varsity is the perfect theater to go to if you like independent films. The staff is welcoming and the theaters are just big enough that you feel like you are in the film along with the other movie-goers.
Along with reliable art house fare, The Varsity has great popcorn. It's not the bagged sodium puffs the major theater chains pawn off on us for top dollar(s). I'm grateful The Varsity is still there. A lot of these cinema jewel boxes have closed for good.
PS. Re: wheel chair accessibility, the restrooms are upstairs.
I was compelled to offer up a positive review to counter the single star given by another poster. The Varsity offers a perfectly solid movie going experience, with two good sized screens, solid art house selections with the occasional mainstream crowd pleaser aimed at their student audience thrown in, and a a convenient location on Franklin Street. It is reasonably clean, the seats are in generally good condition, the staff are pleasant, and the snack bar prices not overly exorbitant. The negative review commented on the slope of the floor not being up to par, but it's fine for an older theater and there's room to move around if need be, as there's a good amount of seating available for both screens. If you're interested in art house theater in Chapel Hill, I'd recommend the Varsity over the Chelsea as it's significantly larger. If the Varsity is the only screen in the Triangle showing a particular film, it's worth the trip to Chapel Hill to see it there. Call it three and a half stars, with an extra star thrown in for their art house focus. In short, I have had consistently pleasant film-going experiences there for a decade and a half and look forward to continuing to go to the Varsity in the future.
The Varsity makes great film selections, on a par with the Chelsea. But heed this warning if you like comfort:
the theater is often dirty, some seats are literally broken, many seats are soiled, and the slope of the floor is so minimal that a six-footer sitting in front of you means you will be bobbing and weaving for 90 minutes of so.