Art House Theaters in Chicago Area
13 theaters
Chicago's art house scene punches above its weight with a mix of historic single-screen theaters and innovative newer venues. The city's neighborhood-centric culture means each area has its own cinema identity, from Logan Square's vintage charm to the Loop's upscale programming.
Highlights
- The Music Box Theatre is a 1929 atmospheric theater with two screens and a rooftop garden
- Gene Siskel Film Center downtown is affiliated with the School of the Art Institute
- Facets Cinémathèque in Lincoln Park pioneered home video distribution for art films
- The Davis Theater in Lincoln Square combines first-run and repertory in a 1918 building
- Doc Films at the University of Chicago is the longest-running student film society in the country
Neighborhoods
The Music Box anchors Lakeview's Southport Corridor. Lincoln Park and Lincoln Square each have their own indie film culture. Evanston, just north of the city, offers suburban venues with urban sensibilities.
Tip: Chicago's winters are brutal—but there's no better time to catch a double feature at the Music Box, where the ornate interior makes any screening feel like an event.
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