r/AlamoDrafthouse

I've been enjoying this chain for over a decade. It's super close to my house, they have a great selection of movies, and the food and service USED to be excellent.

But now, I'm noticing not only is the QR code nonsense a problem, it's the general theater population too. Yes, there have always been obnoxious theater-goers, but it's really gotten worse lately since they've gotten more corporate and generic.

The theater chain used to attract more serious movie-goers and lovers, but now I almost always only reserve seats on evenings or nights when it'll be nearly empty, lest I have to listen to everyone next to me whisper (we can HEAR YOU whispering and it's even more annoying), shriek, giggle to their friends/partner and basically act like a complete moron who cannot shut their trap for 1-2 hours. It feels more like an AMC crowd, even at cool indie releases, and it's such a shame.

The "no talking" warnings are also totally or mostly ineffective, and no one seems to care (or be paid enough to care) to monitor guests. I miss the "SHUT UP WE'RE SERIOUS" energy they had before, and because there's no consequences, people have learned it's all a gimmick at this point.

Is this happening at yours too?

Zero issues. People order and put their phones away. Have been to three showings this month. All were fine and service was prompt. No one talking. Ordering this way actually seems easier. I don’t have to talk to a person and hand them my card and make sure they got every little detail of the order right (ranch instead of BBQ or whatever).

Since there now will apparently be a post for every single person who claims they will never go to another Alamo showing, just seemed like it made sense that we should post if we are going to continue to go to our location, as I intend to this weekend.

I was trying to catch a showtime for Is God Is, which is really well reviewed and only came out a week ago, and yet they already only have noonish showings? Anyone else seeing this?

Every time I try to get a seat it comes up with an error.

I've been loyal to Alamo for years. I was sick the last few months and haven't been to the theater at all, and I read posts here recently so I knew that they switched to QR codes. I still wasn't prepared for how much it sucks now.

I wasn't going to order anything because of the codes and the prices but I came right after work and I haven't eaten. A cheeseburger is $20. A single cocktail is $16.50. I ordered mozzarella sticks. The marinara came out ice cold. I asked for warm marinara. They said they would be back with it in "Maybe 10 minutes but if we forget just hop back online and request it again." 18% gratuity for that and I don't even think the servers get any of it. They also give a speech that sounds like a used car salesman's pitch now, to every single customer, explaining and apologizing for their "corporate overlords."

I hate it all so much. Fin.

ETA: I never got the marinara. Never saw that server again. And I got a fucking TEXT before the movie EVEN ENDED to tell me to close my check online or I would have to pay an additional 5% tip, which would have meant a 23% tip for awful service. FUCK.

Cancelled my membership, unfollowing this sub.

I’m just over it. If anyone at Alamo corporate checks these, add me to the list of people who are just done. It’s no longer better than other movie theaters experiences, it’s worse because I feel so frustrated every time I’ve gone. Always something goes wrong with the QR codes, and people are using their phones now and that was the whole point of Alamo Drafthouse :(

The price hikes on the food and the QR system suck and make me not want to order food.

I’m done! Bye bye!

Three posts in a row like this and I'm just joining in

I've been a Drafthouse stan since '06. Honestly, it's the only brand I ever had any loyalty to. And for the past 2 years its been fraying

Anyways: I'm done now. I'm using every red cent of gift cards I've been given asap and now I'm literally an AMC girlie

Because fuck, if th Alamo isnt gonna stand up against phone users and mouth users and aren't gonna give us decent Queso halfway across the country... what matters anymore?

(almost flaired "austin" because of where I started. But it's been over a decade since then and I literally only moved to places with a local Alamo. Very betrayed.)

I understand why it’s not really a huge priority for staff but come on…

Long rant incoming! I have been a frequent patron of Alamo Drafthouse St. Louis for over a year now. Because I’ve frequented so often, I’ve accrued gift cards from friends and family. I’ve come to learn with time how much the Alamo Drafthouse system sucks when it comes to gift cards. You can’t refund them through the app, and when you call about not being able to make it to a movie you get told that refunding a gift card is a “long and complicated process.” I’ve been told multiple times that it would be easier to just swap the ticket for a later date, which was no issue for me since I come so often.

I had been doing this with little to no problems for months, until last week. I had a ticket that I had to swap a few times due to being under the weather. I called to ask what I can do so that I don’t have to keep swapping the same ticket, and I had a manager take over the call who accused me of “cheating the system.” He said that I never purchased a ticket, and that I would not be allowed to use the movie ticket that I currently had. I had no idea what to do with this information, since losing this ticket means losing the $16 from the gift card I spent to purchase it. I was told that I could speak to someone else, and I was given an email I could use to contact someone higher up.

When I used this email and explained the situation, I got a response telling me that the next time I come in, I just needed to show my old ticket and exchange it for the new date in-person. So a couple days later I come in, with the intention of seeing my movie. The front-of-desk worker calls over the same manager I spoke to over the phone, and says “insert my name is here” this manager then tells me that I would not be allowed to use my ticket. I told him about the email, and was told “that person who responded isn’t allowed to authorize that” which is bizarre because I used the exact email address that he told me to use. I was then told I could contact the owner, which I did.

Two days later I get a call from the owner. I thought we were going to have a conversation where I would explain the situation, but instead he makes the same accusations saying that I’m “gaming the system” by changing the date on my movie ticket, and he tells me that I am not welcome back to the movie theater. I tried explaining to him that swapping tickets is what I have literally always been told to do by the people working at Alamo drafthouse, but he wouldn’t listen. Every time I tried explaining how ridiculous the situation is and that I have done nothing (to my knowledge) against the “rules,” he would say “this is not a court of law and I don’t have to listen to you.”

I am still confused about what I am being accused of having done. If I supposedly swapped a ticket too many times, or if I wasn’t supposed to do that in the first place, then how is that my fault and not the fault of the workers who did it for me? How is it gaming the system to change the date on a ticket that I already had? Why couldn’t they have emailed or called me instead of having me come all the way there to see a movie, when they knew they were going to turn me away?

This seems to be a constant issue with the Alamo Drafthouse in St. Louis, where if there’s any issue at all they immediately resort to treating you like a criminal instead of trying to listen, especially if you’re a woman. If it wasn’t for the gift cards I still have, I would happily never return again. I would just like to see this issue resolved since it sucks being treated like a criminal by a bunch of men that refuse to listen.

Title. Decided to walk back home when we were told it was down Monday.

Maybe a silly reason, but when the movie’s bad I’m at least halfway there for the popcorn :)

I'm seeing they don't have later showtimes Thursday night, 5/21, at least in DTLA.

Is that also going on at the other locations?

The last showtimes are from 7:30-8. Nothing after 8. They usually do 10:00 and 10:30. Anyone know what's up?

I used to go to Alamo in SF several times a month but I've only seen one movie there in 2026. The theater was remodeled in February and then QR codes were mandated. I haven't visited since then despite it being my closest theater. The QR code thing was extremely off putting and felt like a final straw after increasing prices and decreasing quality and quantity of food. So I haven't been back and I canceled my Season Pass..

This year's movie selection hasn't really made me feel like I was missing much. I've seen things in other theaters though vs really sticking with Alamo. Why? I appreciated their policies and people even though their theaters trailed in projection and sound quality behind others.

All this to say, I got this email today. Is this a normal thing that happens after canceling or are they starting to feel pressure finally of many people canceling their Season Pass?

https://preview.redd.it/946bljwx312h1.png?width=1192&format=png&auto=webp&s=2a413b52860558340dd85ef98eadd161234cbf9b

While the movie was really fucking good, the theater experience itself was a letdown. I'd just had brunch, but I still wanted my free birthday dessert and maybe some popcorn. I wasn't able to order a thing, though. The site wouldn't fully load, whether I was connected to their wifi or not. No menus or pen and paper to backup this what-should-have-been-foreseeable situation. Bravo, Alamo, you've absolutely played yourself with QR ordering. As a twenty year-long customer, I'm so disappointed in you, and I'm seriously in doubt as to when I'll ever be back.

I want to watch First Man tmmr at a nearby Alamo, but it’s under something called a free victory screening. It costs $5 and it says it’s also a voucher for a food item, but it’s also for Victory Members? I’m not a victory member. Does buying this ticket make me enter a subscription? Am I unable to buy it if I’m not a loyalty member? Does the food with the voucher still cost money? Do I even need to buy food?

Idk this might sound dumb but I’m still curious.

Are they still planning on showing Saw V and VI? I saw the first three but had to miss the fourth a few weeks back. Got confused just now when I saw all the found footage movies listed for June. Are they ending the series early? Did Joe mention anything during the last preshow?

I am heartbroken that alamo is not showing sheep detectives in SF proper. No I do not want to go to mountain view. Please alamo play the sheep detectives in sf please