Movie theaters in the Keene, NH area are hard to find and somewhat dispersed. To find a good movie theater that is worth the money and offers a great experience the willingness to drive for up to forty-five minutes to an hour is key. This article will review the two movie theaters in Keene, NH and then expand the search to include Hillsborough County with theaters in Milford NH, and Merrimack NH.
- The most traditional movie theater in Keene New Hampshire is called “Keene Cinemas.” This is a basic movie theater with limited seating and not my first pick for a good theater by any means. The prices are steep for what you get; seniors, students, and children pay seven dollars, adults pay eight dollars and fifty cents, and a matinee (offered only on weekend days) are six dollars and seventy-five cents. The selection is lackluster at best and often times one has to wait a week or longer for the newest movies. The theater is not in the best condition with sticky floors and some of the seats have upholstery problems. This is not a recommended theater for this writer and I strongly recommend if you are going to pay the money and go to the movies that you drive to a surrounding theater, or see a movie at the colonial theater.
- The Colonial Theater does not offer just movies it offers live musical events, live theater events, and other events however, if you get the opportunity to watch a movie here it is strongly recommended. This theater is an older theater that boasts a balcony and a curtain that is pulled back as the movie begins. The colonial has only one screen and plays mostly art films however; it is well worth the ticket price. Adults pay eight dollars, students and seniors pay six dollars, and matinees are six dollars for all. The downside to this great retro theater is the concession stand the popcorn was somewhat stale on my last visit, and you cannot purchase fountain beverages. Additionally the seats do not have cup holders, which is somewhat inconvenient. However I strongly recommend this theater for the ambiance alone.
- Milford NH boasts a seasonal drive in theater. This is just a neat fun way to see a movie. The cost is high for a couple but also can be low for a family because the theater charges by the car-20 dollars a car full (up to six people) so a couple pays 10 dollars a ticket, while a family of four pays 5 dollars a ticket. If you can cram six people into the car you each will pay about 3.34 dollars a ticket. So go with friends. The movies are all double feature, which also makes this event worth the money. The other great thing about the drive-in is the concession stand that also acts as a restaurant. The concession stand serves up everything from traditional movie fare to pizza, chicken tenders, cotton candy and fried dough. The theater also has a small playground for children. This is an experience that should not be passed up.
- Merrimack, NH boasts a stadium seating “Cinemagic” movie theater. This theater is much more upscale than what Keene has to offer and with the stadium seating is well worth the drive from the Keene area. This theater has an abundance of showtimes and offers most all-new releases. Additionally, they have special events for example they play some Boston Red Sox games on their big screens during game times-a fun event for sporting fans. The concession stand is well stocked, and there is an arcade in the theater. All around this is a fun theater with all the modern amenities. The prices are seven dollars for a matinee and nine dollars for an adult evening ticket, but the stadium seating and digital sound make it well worth the drive and ticket price.
- Wilton, NH also has a local theater; called the “Wilton Town Hall Theater” this is a very small theater but also neat because of its size. Admission prices are six dollars adults, four dollars for seniors and children. The theater only offers two movies at a time and has limited hours; the showtimes are 7:30 pm Monday through Friday. On Sunday you can see a show at 2:00pm, 4:30pm, and 7:30pm. This theater does not usually get the latest and newest films but it is close by and it’s charm makes it a better experience than the “Keene Cinemas.”
