The San Marco Theatre

Art house cinemas and charming old theaters are being pushed to the brink of extinction by gargantuan, sprawling cineplexes and the widespread availability of lesser known films on the internet through both legitimate and illicit channels. The San Marco Theatre is one of North Florida's few remaining bastions of independent cinema with a wide variety of offerings including cult classics, kitsch, retro hits, new independent film, and even current blockbusters (we recently saw the latest Batman film there). They're also not afraid to court scandal by showing highly controversial films like 2006's Shortbus, which included un-simulated sex acts.

In addition to the unique array of films, the San Marco Theatre has a few other unique features. First off, there's only one screen so you won't have a tough time choosing what you want to see. Secondly, there is more leg and arm room than a typical theater, due largely in part to the tables in between every other seat (which are set up in a staggered pattern so smaller people actually have a chance of seeing the screen if they sit behind a table).

Going beyond simply providing the standard fare of popcorn, candy, nachos, and soda (which you are still welcome to buy) the San Marco Theatre also offers pizza, quesadillas, hotdogs, sandwiches, and best of all, wine and beer. The bar in back serves up all of these goodies before and during the film. It's a sure fire way to liven up any movie.

Tinseltown might just be down the street but I'm more than willing to go the extra distance for intriguing movies in a more interesting environment.

San Marco Theatre
1996 San Marco Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32207
904-396-4845