Movies and Theaters in San José

There are movie theaters all over the San José area and in other large cities. Most of these theaters show first-run movies usually a month or two after they first are released in the United States.

The Sala Garbo shows first-rate films from Europe with Spanish subtitles. About 40 percent of all current hit movies shown in the United States make their way to Costa Rica sooner or later. You shouldn't worry about understanding these movies since they are all in English with Spanish subtitles. You can read the local newspapers to see what movies are currently playing. At present, admission is around three dollars. Several theaters have more that one screen, just like in the U.S. To see what's playing look in the Tico Times or any of the Spanish newspapers like La Nación. Information about movies may also be accessed at www.entretenimiento.co.cr (inSpainsh). In the Central Valley you can experience everything from old-time Paramount-style theater palaces to ultra-modern movie complexes in suburban malls. The Cine Variedades, up the street from the Plaza de la Cultura, is one of the oldest. The Cine Magaly in Barrio California, is a great theater for that old-time big-movie experience. It has over 1,000 seats and second story balconies.

The first of Costa Rica's megatheaters is found in the San Pedro Mall. It has five-screens and is located on the second floor of the mall. The Real Cariari Shopping center boasts the six-screen Cariari Movie Theater. Cinemark is a new U.S. style movie theater with 8 screens located at the Multiplaza Mall, west of Escazú. with a top-quality digital sound system and stadium seating. It is the best place to see a movie in the country. They serve snacks and candies from the U.S. and even offer hot buttered popcorn with real butter and free refills if you purchase the large size.

In May of 2000 the Magaly theater chain opened a new movie theater with three screens on the third floor of the new Outlet Mall in San Pedro. These theaters will mainly show nontraditional foreign films and have state-of-the-art DTS Digital and Dolby sound systems. You will also be able to purchase and reserve tickets by telephone with a credit card.

The Magaly movie chain also plans to open several movie theaters at the Mall Paraíso near the city of Cartago next year.

San José is purported to have more theaters and theater companies per capita than any other city in the world. Most live plays are in Spanish but there are occasional plays in English at the North American Cultural Center. The Little Theatre Group is Costa Rica's only English-language acting troupe and frequently presents plays in English. However, by going to plays in Spanish, you can improve your language skills. Current stage plays are also listed in the activities section of local newspapers.

Movies (CINES) in and around San Jose
Cine Cariari (6 screens) 293-3300

Plaza Real Cariari, across from the Sheraton Herradura Hotel
Cine Colonial 1 & 2 (2 screens) 289-9000

Centro Comercial Plaza Colonial, Escazú
Cine Magaly 223-0085
Calle 23, Ave. Central & 1 Barrio California
Cinemark (8 screens) 288-1111
Multiplaza, Escazú
Cine Omni 221-7903
Behind MacDonald's and the Plaza de la Cultura
Cine Variedades 222-6104
Ave. Central & 1 Calle 5
International (4 screens) 442-6100
Mall International, Alajuela
Laurence Olivier 222-1034
Ave. 2, Calle 28
Magaly Outlet Mall (3 screens foreign movies) 234-8868
San Pedro across from la Plaza Roosevelt and Kennedy Park Plaza Mayor 1-2 (2 screens) 232-3271
Main Road, Rohrmoser
Sala Garbo 222-1034
Ave. 2 Calle Cale 28 100 meters south of Pizza Hut Paseo Colón
San Pedro Mall (5 screens) 221-6272
Mall San Pedro
Cinematec 207-5732
Auditorium of the School of General Strudies, U.C.R.
Cine Universitario 207-4271
At the U.C.R. Law School Auditorium
Cine en el Campus, Teatro Centro de Arte del Cidea,
Universidad Nacional, 200 meters north of McDonald's, Heredia


Theaters (Teatros) In and Around San José
Teatro de Esquina 257-0223
100 meters south of the old Atlantic Train Station
Teatro Laurence Olivier 222-1034
Ave. 2, Calle 28
Teatro Arlequin 222-0792
Calle 13, Ave. Central
Teatro del Angel 222-8258
Ave. Central & Plaza de la Democracia
Teatro Melico Salazar 221-4952
Ave. 2, Calle Central
Teatro de La Aduana 223-4563
Calle 25, Avenidas 3 & 5
Teatro Capra 234-2866
Calles 29 & 33, Ave. 1
Teatro Chaplin 223-2919
Paseo de Los Estudiantes
Teatro Máscara 255-4250
Calle 13, Avenidas 2 & 4
Teatro Nacional... 221-5341
Ave. 2, Calles 3 & 5
Teatro Giratablas 253-6001
Diagonal to Kentucky Fried Chicken on the road to San Pedro
Teatro Tiempo 222-0792
Ave. Central & 2, Calle 13
Teatro Eugene O'Neil 253-5527


Why did you come to Costa Rica? San Jose?

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