‘Did you have a Flix Brewhouse movie theater in your area?’: Texas man goes to Alamo Drafthouse. Then he realizes the chain made a major change

For almost 30 years, Alamo Drafthouse reigned as a popular choice for moviegoers. Its revolutionlized the moviegoing experience. Its most notable dine-in feature allows customers to enjoy high-end, guilty-pleasure food and drinks as they immerse themselves in a film in silence.

After a recent lackluster visit, one man claims the beloved bougie theater has lost its cinematic spark.

An Alamo Drafthouse Disappointing Trip

“So, I recently went to go watch Devil Wears Prada 2 at Alamo Drafthouse,” TikTok creator A.B. (@bertokpu7ta) says. “That’s my preferred cinema to go to and that’s why I have my subscription to watch free movies.”

Then, he explains how the latest trip fell flat to over 4,800 viewers.

“The service has changed. It’s the self-checkout of going to the movie theaters,” he says. “I kind of like the whole experience of going to the movie theaters. You get to interact with the staff and get your food. The people who have worked at Alamo Drafthouse have been super nice and inviting.”

In addition, the content creator believed the company revamped its menu for the worse.

“Now, you have to order through the app; they got rid of a lot of my favorites that I had on the menu,” @bertokpu7ta shares. “The pretzels tasted like they were straight up from Cisco. So, I’m assuming they also changed their vendor.”

Overall, A.B. thinks the cinema’s flare was extinguished, shifting from inviting to detached.

“It has the touch of someone who doesn’t really love cinema,” he describes. “It seems impersonal, it seems very cold and it’s not the same anymore.”

In the meantime, he is currently searching for alternatives.

“I might have to go to Regal or AMC at this point if I’m gonna ge that type of experience,” he says. “I used to love Alamo Drafthouse and now it just doesn’t feel the same anymore.”

“Hopefully things will get better and they listen to the public,” the content creator concludes.

A Deeper Dive

A.B. told The Mary Sue he’s been an Alamo Drafthouse customer since 2014. Prior to this encounter, the last visit he made there was in 2024, where there were minor tweaks.

“Last time I went was to watch The Brutalitist when it came out,” he shared via TikTok direct message. “There were still no changes other than they got rid of tipping unless you wanted to since they added a certain percentage charge to better pay employees.”

The content creator didn’t have a problem with those. However, the ones he mentioned in his video at the Austin, Texas, location were the only changes he observed and does have an issue with.

What Did Viewers Think?

A.B.’s video resonated with many who have noticed the same trend.

“I’m with you bro. I have the same complaints. it used to be my go to spot. not any more,” one viewer commented.

“Yes service is bad! They said they were short staffed but continue to charge that 20% fee for what IDK!” another concurred.

“I completely agree with you! Alamo Drafthouse used to be my favorite, but the last time I went I left frustrated. The plot has been lost,” a third echoed.

Because of these perceived shifts, others have already switched theaters.

“Do you have a Flix Brewhouse movie theater in your area? They have become our go to theater,” one commenter shared.

“We went for Wicked in November. So disappointing!! No actual service. We have to use our phones so defeats the no purpose policy. No refill on soda. And mandatory tip. I’m sticking to Cinemark,” a second revealed.

“I’m back at the old school theater. Popcorn, coke, candy, etc and tickets half the price of Alamo,” a third stated.

Why Do People Believe Alamo Drafthouse Has Gone Downhill?

In 1997, entrepreneurial couple Tim and Karrie League opened Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, to revamp the movie-theater experience of enjoying snacks while watching movies in silence, coining the signature “no talking, no texting” rule. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2021, the company was on the verge of shuttering its doors until Sony Pictures bought them out three years later, according to Variety. 

Although the fan favorite theater was saved from bankruptcy, it wasn’t without criticism. Fans mourned in a r/AlamoDrafthouse that “it’s no longer special” and was “getting worse for years now but it’s now crossed a line.” Many pinned the blame on “Private equity ruined Alamo years ago,” and “covid definitely didn’t help drafthouse and sony is DEFINITELY killing the franchise.”

Moreover, the iconic cinema recently faced backlash for its newest controversial policy, replacing the classic pen and paper and call buttons for mobile ordering. At the tip of their fingers, customers scan the QR code next to their seat and order whatever they want through their phones during the movie. Critics argue that this violates the traditional no-phones rule.

@bertokpu7ta Alamo Drafthouse has definitely changed. #movies #movietheater etheater #alamo ♬ original sound – Stimming and Whatnot

The Mary Sue reached out to Alamo Drafthouse via press email.

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