Published March 14, 2023

Best Movie Theaters in the South Sound

Written by Dawn Weisdepp

Best Movie Theaters in the South Sound header image.

Movie Night!

I don’t know about you, but I love a night at the movies. What’s better than escaping to a darkened theater with strangers, to get swept away in a story together. We laugh, we cry, we crinkle our candy wrappers to struggle for the last red vine…

I’ve rounded up a few of the very different options of the best movie theaters in the South Sound, for your viewing pleasure. You should check them out, if you haven’t already done so.

Century Olympia

The Century Theater, inside the Capital Mall, is one of the most popular theaters in the region. It features upgraded reclining seats, by reservation, plus offers a small arcade, a large snack area, and many screens to show all the latest movies to hit the screen. If you are looking to see the latest action flick or romcom, this is the place to be!

As a bonus, this theater is attached to the mall, so if you happen to be doing some local shopping, you can pop in to purchase a bag of popcorn to go!

Westfield Capital Mall

625 Black Lake Blvd SW,
Olympia, WA 98502

The Capitol Theater

The historic Capitol Theater, on 5th Ave in downtown Olympia, first opened in 1924 and is one of the oldest operating theaters in Washington State. Now owned and operated by the Olympia Film Society (OFS), this art house features foreign and art house options Monday through Thursday, and offers concerts and events on the weekends. This theater also has amazing balcony seating too. The Capitol Theater is truly an amazing experience, and definitely one of the best movie theaters in Olympia.

The Olympia Film Society is staffed by volunteers (I’ve done a few shifts in my day), which will score those helpers free tickets to showings. While this theater doesn’t have as many snack options as the larger, commercial theaters, it does allow you to bring in food from the outside! Check out some local restaurant options to grab some amazing takeout for your show.

The OFS also offers some fun options for the family, including an OFS Kids Club where certain showings are free for kids 12 and under (for instance, this month’s showing is Finding Nemo).

Olympia Film Society

206 5th Ave SE,
Olympia, WA 98501

Regal Martin Village

The Regal Martin Village theater is a giant, standalone theater in the heart of Lacey, which offers a large number of screens and huge options for snacks. This is also the only theater in the area that offers showings in IMAX and 3D. They also have different sized theaters, so top-billed movies can be enjoyed with a larger audience, and the smaller films are in a more intimate setting.

While this doesn’t offer reserved/reclined seating, like Cinemark/Century Olympia, this is a good old-fashioned theater like I recall from my childhood.

Regal Martin Village

5400 Martin Way E,
Lacey, WA 98516

Skyline Drive-In

This beauty is on the list because of the novelty of drive-ins. Established in 1964, the Skyline Drive In, out of Shelton, WA is a total blast from the past. Skyline is one of only a few hundred remaining drive-ins left in the country. Through the warmer months, this is a great place for the whole family to grab a hot dog and catch a summer flick. It’s also a very affordable option.

The Drive-In leverages a local radio broadcast to serve as the movie sound, so be sure to bring a radio if you are watching from the back of your truck bed. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and shows start at Dusk, which is generally around 7:00 p.m.