Normal Theater

One of the best parts of Blo-​No. The Manhattan Short Film Fest is my favorite thing thing The Normal does annually.
If they are showing something, you should go see it.
Keep your feet off the seats.

Went here as an ISU student for extra credit, and I’m glad I went. I wish we had more theaters like this. It has the 50’s friendly charm you’d hear your parents or grandparents talk about. Everyone that works there is very friendly. They play some of the greatest films and I’ve never had a complaint.

What a great and memorable experience watching Christmas Vacation on the big screen again. Everything about the place brought back memories from the good olé days! Even the Christmas lights lining the streets helped make this a perfect evening. Love going to movies when everyone applauds at the end. Fun Fun Fun!

A gem in Central Illinois.

I will never be able to say enough good things about the Normal Theater. This is one of the places I miss the most now that I don’t live here anymore. It was always wonderful to go see the Christmas films every December, and when cult classics like Princess Bride and Monty Python & the Holy Grail were showing, we were sure to go! It’s a magnificent place, it really, truly is.
The prices are excellent, though it’s cash only, so be prepared!

Over the holiday season we saw White Christmas at the Normal Theater with a packed crowd. I’m not ashamed to say I cried at the end when everyone joined in singing White Christmas. So incredibly magical.
There is something special about seeing a movie there. Everyone there has chosen to specifically see a show in that place. There is a camaraderie that comes with it that is different than any other movie theater I’ve been to.
I was recently walking past the theater with my four year old before a show. A staff member came out around the booth to the door just to tell us about all of the lights that were lit and flashing. My son loved it and I loved that the staff took the time (even though we weren’t even seeing a show).
Can’t recommend this place enough. A gem in Uptown Normal, indeed.

A classic theater in the heart of ISU, the Normal Theater is worth checking out. Your movie might not be in 3D ultra mega surround sound with a laser light show, BUT experiencing movies in a historic building a great experience.
I love that they show local ISU student’s movies. What a great way to be able to showcase the talent of students!
Many historical theaters have been renovated into something new, torn down, or abandononed. This theater has been renovated to the state which is was meant to be, how awesome!

You mean there is a place in BloNo that is not a chain? not a franchise? Impossible! Improbable! Unlikely!
So good luck navigating the parking in uptown normal, but if you succeed then you need to go and here is what you need to know:
— Cash only $ 6 per person
— All condiments are $ 1 – 2 yeah you read that right. Awesome.
— Keep your little ticket handy… they use it to raffle off a prize before the movie starts!
— Do you remember those old school chair desks? the ones that flip up? Yeah you get that so you have a place to stand your drink and place that smartphone you have on silent. I said SILENT!
— Oh and the seats are comfy velourish material in burgundy. perdy.
They should a variety of films…
— unique movies
— old classics
— cult classics
— new international stuff
— documentaries themed
It’s a Local gem. Become a patron and keep some character in BloNo!

Great alocal place for an off-​the-​beaten-​path movie

One of my favorite places in Bloomington-​Normal, the Normal Theater has a diehard following for a reason.
The good:
Excellent film selection. Films change weekly and vary immensely. I’ve seen documentaries, art house films, classics, foreign movies, and everything in between at the Normal theater. The common thread that unites the movies is that they’re all awesome. Never have I regretted spending an evening there.
Friendly staff. The staff/​volunteers really love what they do and it makes you feel good to know that there are people in Bloomington-​Normal who actually care about the town and want to give it something special.
Snacks! Popcorn and drinks are only $ 1 apiece, all the time! Candy is $ 1.50, I think. Either way, it’s not highway robbery.
The location. The only other theater in town worth going to is Wehrenberg, and it’s way out on the southwest side of town. Being downtown, the Normal theater allows you the opportunity for a relaxing promenade and perhaps dinner/​drinks before or after your movie.
The bad:
Some people think the screen is too small. It is indeed on the smaller side, but the entire theater is small. Only a douchebag would complain about the size of the screen in a small independent theater like this. You’re not a douchebag, are you?

I’m honestly shocked I’ve never reviewed this place, but I second all the reviews. Meghan covered all the points I would’ve made about this theater otherwise, myself.
Yeah the screen isn’t the biggest here, but once you watch a movie here and see how fun seeing a movie here is, who cares? It’s definitely up there with my other two top 3 favorite theaters in Illinois, which are the Patio in Chicago (finally reopened last summer), and the Pickwick in Park Ridge. I still miss this theater a lot, since I no longer attend Illinois State…

Cheap snacks, reasonable ticket prices and great movie showings. Love this place so much!

This is a great old movie theater. It’s not elaborately decorated with statues and ornate trimming like many old theaters, but you can’t beat the Normal Theater as a place to see old movies. The price is reasonable, concessions are cheap, they play a cartoon before most movies, and they usually have a drawing for prizes like gift cards to local businesses. They also offer a variety of movies, from classic drama to classic noir to modern foreign and some «alternative» films.

Honestly I feel like I have been missing out! I went to this Theater for the first time with my daughters class as a parent helper on a field trip. It is really just beautiful! They have done such a wonderful job! If you havent gone here yet… you need to!

We go to this theatre EVERY year to see White Christmas. There is nothing more magical in town. It is a night that I look forward to every year.
The theatre has been restored to perfection. It has comfortable seats and a concession stand. The projectionist does a ticket drawing for prizes at every showing.
White Christmas is Dec 3−4−5−6 at 7pm this year… mark your calendars and start an amazing tradition.

I just attended my first show here and I am very, very impressed. Like, «not sure it’s being done better anywhere else in the country» kind of impressed.
Let me count the ways:
— They seem to favor independent or niche films, which alone makes this a worthy theater to support and enjoy. See this list for the Beyond Normal series here (
) for a sampling.
— It’s located in the heart of a downtown, rather than on the Veteran’s Parkway, which is great. Most folks already know that this theater goes back to the 1930’s and has been restored and maintained since then. Let’s keep it up!
— It’s unique because it has only one screen. So you walk right in for the show. Concessions are even INSIDE the actual theater, rather than in the (understandably small) lobby. How cool is that?
— Not sure if it was a special connected to the food flick we saw, but popcorn and soda (whole if not local) were a dollar each. Whaa?
— Film itself was six bucks. This seems to be the rate for all their films. Which is still cheap these days, even if we called that «expensive» in the ’90’s.
— Before the film, the owner (or someone high up on staff?) PERSONALLY welcomes the audience, goes over the rules like turning off the cell phone, etc. (Really, why have a cartoon or spaceship do this?) Also gave away a prize for another local business or exhibit, which seemed to be a regular thing, and welcomed all the first timers by a show of hands and a warm greeting and inside joke for the regulars. Struck just the right note.
— One preview, for a cool film that is going to play here later.
— No commercials.
— Programs for the film itself are provided, featuring, from what this relative newcomer to the area can tell, are the the coolest local businesses.
— People clapped when the film ended.
I haven’t been a regular movie-​goer in at least a decade. I think this may change now.
I continue to find B-​N to be a hidden gem.

Of all the things in the Bloomington-​Normal area, this restored 1937 art deco theater has to be the coolest. Just driving by in the evening and seeing the neon sign over the marquee makes you feel good.
The Normal Theater shows about 70% classic films and 30% independent, foreign, and documentary films. Admission is $ 6 for adults and $ 5 for children. The lobby of the theater is tiny, so the concessions are inside the theater near the entrance. Refeshments are very reasonable. The theater seats about 400.
The theater is owned by the Town of Normal. It will soon be used for events in conjunction with the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center being constructed just next door.