2023’s Best Cities for Movie Lovers

Friends having fun and laughing while eating popcorn in a movie theater.

We all know how great fresh, buttery popcorn can taste as the opening credits begin to roll.

Where in the U.S. can you have a memorable cinematic experience?

To Celebrate Global Movie Day on Feb. 11, Lawn Love ranked 2023’s Best Cities for Movie Lovers. 

We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on movie theater access and ratings, as well as streaming quality for those who prefer to watch at home. We also considered affordability of movie tickets, film groups, and festivals, among 13 total metrics. 

See how well your city indulges die-hard film fanatics with the help of our rankings below.

In this article

City rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

Note: For presentation purposes, not all ties may be displayed for some metrics above.

The upshot

And the Oscar goes to …

For the second year in a row, New York (No. 1) remains the best option for “Moonstruck” movie lovers. 

NYC has the most movie theaters and the second-highest number of independent theaters, giving you plenty of options when you need a cinematic escape. The city also boasts the most film societies and groups, as well as film festivals where you might discover your next favorite flick. 

However, cinemas might feel crowded in this city — NYC has a limited number of movie screens to accommodate its large population. Luckily for those who prefer to stream from home, New York has the second-best streaming quality. 

La La Land of indie theaters

Home to Hollywood, it’s no surprise that Los Angeles lands at No. 2 in our ranking.

The City of Angels has the second-most movie theaters but beats out NYC with the highest number of independent theaters. Sunny LA also has the most outdoor movie theaters. While screens in LA might be more crowded, its suburb Orange (No. 17) has the most movie screens per 100,000 residents. 

Movie lovers can thrive in other California cities like San Francisco (No. 3) and San Diego (No. 8). These two cities each ranked in the top five for movie theaters and have active film-loving communities.

Rising stars

You shouldn’t be dazed or confused by Texas’ top-ranking city, Austin (No. 6). Bat City has caught the attention of many independent filmmakers, as well as big companies like Netflix and HBO. ATX is also home to a number of industry icons like actor Matthew McConaughey, director Richard Linklater, and animator Don Hertzfeldt. 

The four biggest Texas cities placed in the top 20, thanks to particularly high scores in Access and Community. Austin has the sixth-highest number of movie theaters, while San Antonio (No. 12) offers a lot of opportunities for outdoor movie night. Houston (No. 11) loves its independent theaters, and Dallas (No. 19) has top broadband coverage.

The Lone Star State is great for starry-eyed filmmakers, too. Texas’ biggest cities each have abundant film groups to join and host numerous film festivals. All four of these cities ranked on MovieMaker’s 2023 list of the best cities for filmmakers, along with Fort Worth (No. 42). 

Box-office flops

Small cities landed at the end of the reel, with Worcester, Massachusetts (No. 196), Hialeah, Florida (No. 197), Killeen, Texas (No. 198), and Toledo, Ohio (No. 199), ranking alongside Pomona, California, in last place. 

Each of these cities missed the mark with low scores across the board and little to offer movie lovers. One exception is Worcester’s budding film community, which runs a few filmmaking groups and festivals. 

You might have tough luck hosting a movie night at home in these cities, too. Apart from Hialeah at No. 60, these cities experience lower streaming quality. 

Expert take

While some like cozying up on the couch to stream movies at home, others prefer the cinema for snacks, soda, and surround sound. Either way, movies are a great way to feed your imagination and feel connected to stories and characters from around the world.

What should we be looking forward to this year in the world of film? We turned to a panel of experts to find out:

  1. What is one of the best ways to discover new movies?
  2. How can movie lovers support local filmmakers in their city? Why should they?
  3. What’s the biggest advantage to watching a movie at an independent movie theater versus a national chain like AMC or Cinemark and vice versa?
  4. Why are concessions so pricey? What are your best three tips for treating yourself at the movies without spending a fortune?
  5. Are movie subscription plans or deals worth it? Why or why not?

Ask The Experts

David Pierson, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor of Media Studies, Department of Communication and Media Studies
Nita Blum
Clinical Assistant Professor of Production, Sidney Poitier New American Film School
David Pierson, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor of Media Studies, Department of Communication and Media Studies
University of Southern Maine

What is one of the best ways to discover new movies?

I read the New York Times, which does a great job of listing and reviewing new feature films.

I also rely on meta-critic aggregate websites like Rotten Tomatoes, which if you focus on the top critics and their reviews, does a good job of pointing to new movies being released to theaters.

I’m also a follower of certain notable film directors like Guillermo de Torre and Jane Campion who both have produced two excellent films this year – Nightmare Alley and the Power of the Dog.

How can movie lovers support local filmmakers in their city? Why should they?

In my city of Portland, Maine, movie lovers are lucky because we have a thriving filmmaking community. Our local filmmakers include everyone from college student filmmakers to seasoned professional dramatic and documentary filmmakers.

Movie lovers can support local filmmakers by buying tickets to film showings at local theaters and on streaming platforms like Vimeo, and by contributing through crowdfunding sources like Indiegogo and Kickstarter. Supporting local filmmakers enriches our local film scene here in Portland and Northern New England.

What’s the biggest advantage to watching a movie at an independent movie theater versus a national chain like AMC or Cinemark and vice versa?

Independent film chains tend to have more flexibility in showing films from local and regional filmmakers and in showing films from foreign and independent producers, which tend to be more personal and expressive film stories and not part of an established Hollywood film franchise.

Why are concessions so pricey? What are your best three tips for treating yourself at the movies without spending a fortune?

Concessions are pricey because they are one of the few ways in which theaters can make money in the film exhibition business.

One tip to treat yourself is to make plans to dine either before or after attending a film and avoid spending money on concessions.

Bottled water over soft drinks is usually a good bargain at film theaters.

Are movie subscription plans or deals worth it? Why or why not?

If you plan on going to the movies at least once a week, then they can be an economical way to be a steady moviegoer. If not, then you might not want to purchase a movie subscription.

Please keep in mind that many online streaming movie platforms, like Netflix, Amazon, and HBO Max, also release films on both their platforms and to the movie theaters.

Nita Blum
Clinical Assistant Professor of Production, Sidney Poitier New American Film School
Arizona State University

What is one of the best ways to discover new movies?

Reading blogs written by publications such as the New York Times “What to watch” or joining curated newsletters produced by indie arthouse streaming services such as MUBI are ways to discover movies outside of the normal mass marketed Hollywood films.

Going to your local library is also a place you can discover old gems you might have missed otherwise.

Seek out your local arthouse theaters, they still exist in cities and need your support. They constantly play under the radar cinema and local filmmakers; you will be happy you found them!

Finally, checking out your local film festival will provide access to films you may miss in the large theater chains and streaming services.

How can movie lovers support local filmmakers in their city? Why should they?

You can check websites like Seed & Spark for local film fundraising campaigns. Most crowdfunding campaigns have video content where you can learn more about the filmmaker and film and decide if you want to support their film by contributing funds.

As a teacher at ASU’s Sidney Poitier New American Film school I see our students raise money on these sites to fund their senior film projects. With the support of the public these filmmakers go on to make films that are festival worthy.

Without your support the indie film community will wither. The community needs support now more than ever with a smaller chance of success to make their films with studio or “Hollywood” support. We risk the chance of losing diverse and authentic storytelling that doesn’t fit the homogenized typical Hollywood circuit.

What’s the biggest advantage to watching a movie at an independent movie theater versus a national chain like AMC or Cinemark and vice versa?

Independent chains tend to be locally owned and invested in the success and growth of their community. Independent chains are easier to access and communicate with those in charge and will more than likely be willing to work with the filmmaker on fees and percentages that are shared.

Sometimes they may even wave their cut all together in hopes of supporting the local filmmaker in their film’s success.

Why are concessions so pricey? What are your best three tips for treating yourself at the movies without spending a fortune?

As an avid health food eater, I am not tempted by all the concessions you must navigate by when at the movies. Not to say I do not enjoy popcorn occasionally.

Most big chains have reward memberships now that get you free popcorn and all that jazz to compete with the stay-at-home experience. If you are going to the movies a lot I would recommend one of those plans. Or perhaps have a big dinner prior and forgo it all together, hah.

Are movie subscription plans or deals worth it? Why or why not?

As mentioned above you save on the popcorn and perhaps you are an avid supporter of big Hollywood popcorn flicks, then the subscription pays off for you.

If you prefer smaller independent films, you may not see many in the theaters these days and might spend that money for a subscription to Mubi or Criterion collection streaming sites instead.

Behind the ranking

For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we gathered publicly available data on the factors listed in the table below. 

We then grouped those factors into four categories: Access, Quality, Affordability, and Community.

Next, we calculated weighted scores for each city in each category. 

Finally, we averaged the scores for each city across all categories. 

The city that earned the highest average score was ranked “Best” (No. 1), while the city with the lowest was ranked “Worst” (No. 200). (Note: The “Worst” among individual factors may not be 200 due to ties among cities.)

Sources

AreaVibes, Art House Convergence, BroadbandNow, Cinema Treasures, FilmFreeway, Meetup, MovieMaps, Yelp, and What to Watch

Local tips: Cinematic adventures

Check out the slideshow below to explore some of America’s greatest cinematic spaces and landmarks located in some of our top-ranking cities: 

A child admires a collection of Star Wars figurines at the Museum of the Moving Image
New York: Take in the history of film at the Museum of the Moving Image. You can also attend a film screening or exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, which boasts a film collection with more than 30,000 titles. 

Photo Credit: Marcin Wichary / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
The iconic Hollywood Sign overlooking Los Angeles on a clear day
Los Angeles: From the Hollywood Sign to the Walk of Fame to big studio tours, LA is like a fever dream for film buffs. Spy iconic film memorabilia at the Hollywood Museum, or learn about the science and history of filmmaking at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Photo Credit: Gnaphron / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Patrons walk toward the Castro Theatre, which is at the end of a bright and busy block in San Francisco
San Francisco: Attend a screening at historic cinemas like Roxie Theater and Castro Theatre. Explore Walt Disney’s life and legacy at the Walt Disney Family Museum

Photo Credit: Mike McBey / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Patrons stand in an art gallery, admiring “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” by Georges Seurat — a painting that is featured in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
Chicago: Take a movie tour to see locations from iconic films like “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “The Blues Brothers,” and “The Dark Knight.” Sit back and catch a movie at the Gene Siskel Film Center, or get tickets to the Chicago International Film Festival

Photo Credit: londonexpat / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
The colorful red, yellow, and blue marquee displays showtimes over the entrance of the Plaza Theatre
Atlanta: Explore the city’s most iconic film locations, featuring spots from “The Hunger Games” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Stay for a screening at ATL’s longest-running cinema, the Plaza Theatre.

Photo Credit: Lee Coursey / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
An interviewer stands on stage alongside a panel of filmmakers at SXSW 2022
Austin: Relax with a drink and a screening at the Violet Crown Cinema or Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Buy a badge for (and maybe spot some celebrities at) South by Southwest and Austin Film Festival. Or, take a road trip through Texas to explore one of the state’s film trails

Photo Credit: – EMR – / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Are you dreaming of “Greener Grass” but prefer to spend your weekend watching movies instead of doing yard work? Hire a local Lawn Love pro, and you’ll have a “Field of Dreams” in no time. 

Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Sav Maive

Sav Maive is a writer and director based in San Antonio. Sav is a graduate from the University of Virginia and is a loving cat and plant mom.