If you have not been to a movie at Beechwood in a while, be prepared for some changes. The longstanding Athens movie house has recently undergone renovations to make it one of the nicest movie viewing locations in town. On one side of the theater, what is affectionately known as the “old” side, five auditoriums have been totally gutted and modernized. Gone are the tiny seats of old; in their place, moviegoers will find soft, deep, cushioned chairs that rival the theater’s Georgia Theatre Company family member, University 16. Though the seats lean back, don’t go mistaking these lounges for your favorite armchair; just imagine the aisle space needed for extendable footrests. You’ll survive without them. Just don’t get so comfortable that you miss the movie.

Maybe the newly added food and drink options will keep you awake. One auditorium has been sacrificed for the addition of Outtakes, a restaurant and bar with a menu including sliders, tacos, pizzas and, most importantly, alcohol. Unlike University 16, where alcohol can only be consumed in one specific, age-restricted auditorium (Oconee County rules), the beer and wine sold at Beechwood can be consumed in any auditorium. So, enjoy a craft beer while watching the latest blockbuster from a super comfy seat. Even the most vapid Hollywood release is better with beer (or wine). For old school movie fans, traditional concession fare, i.e. popcorn, nachos, candy, etc., are still available; those treats never go out of style.

Miss a hit movie and don’t want to wait until VOD, DVD or Netflix? Encore screenings, described as “Older Movies, Bargain Prices,” are another new feature. The five remaining unremodeled auditoriums are slated to play recent releases for discounted prices. Encore matinees will be half the regular matinee price—$4 rather than $8—and Encore Evening tickets are only $5, which leaves more money for goodies like popcorn and a Coke. Current Encore features include the Will Ferrell-Kevin Hart team-up Get Hard, which offers even more laughs per dollar at a reduced price; the middling Divergent sequel Insurgent; The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the older demo; and two choices for the family, Disney’s live-action Cinderella and Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom. 

Between Ciné, the new Beechwood, University 16 and the still under construction Carmike, Athens cinephiles will have their pick of diverse moviegoing experiences. From the arthouse to the multiplex, foreign films to summer tentpoles, Athens’ celluloid… er, digital dreams have become reality. As the late Roger Ebert beckoned, “See you at the movies!”