Spectrum 8 Theatres

Charming art deco theater showing a mix of indie, foreign, and Hollywood films at a reduced price compared to Regal cinemas. Offering delectable baked goods, coffee, candy, and popcorn at reasonable prices plus ample parking, tidy bathrooms, and good customer service.

Love this place! Reminds me of home — Angelika and Film Forum. They have great snacks — lots of baked goods (please offer some gluten free options) and popcorn with real butter. I love that there is a place in Albany where I can see new indie options.

Congratulations to the former owners for growing this movie house to its current level of success and further congratulations on their sale of it to Landmark… best of luck to both the former owners and the new ones. It has been one of the places in the area that make Saturday night special for us. I can count on them to have the films that I know I want to see and lesser known indie films that are sometimes most entertaining and/​or enlightening. It’s a neighborhood community theater with a conscience. Lower ticket prices than the big box places. Easy parking without a mall crawl. Snack bar with baked goods!

I’m proud to have been Unilocal’s First to Review the Spectrum almost eleven years ago. Now that the original owners have sold the business after 30 years, it’s time for a re-​review. The Spectrum is one of my sacred Capital Region places, and I’m sure it is for many other people. It’s one of the things you just don’t eff with. I go there, I use my union-​discounted movie pass, get a mint brownie and a coffee, sit back and watch some prestige film. I don’t want any of that to change.
What’s good: Anything that hasn’t changed so far. That includes the staff, the concessions, the film selection, the local advertising, and thank heavens, the mint brownies. Time will tell how long all of these stay consistent.
What sucks: The website — The old website projected the next few months of releases they would show. The new one website shows only a few titles, with no dates attached.
No coming attraction papers — I enjoyed reading these slips before a movie, but again, since they’re not telling you what they’ll showing in the future, these slips are gone.
Dumb ticket stubs — The classic cardboard stubs have so far been replaced with slips of paper.
I’m going back and forth over whether to ding them a star over my Coming Attractions grumblings, but since in essence the movie-​going experience hasn’t changed, I’m going to leave them at 5 stars. Kudos!

My entire family loves this place! If you’re looking for a movie that isn’t being shown in larger, more commercial theaters, they’ll probably have a showing at Spectrum. That being said, they also have a few popular movies to keep up with the competitors.
It’s typically quieter than most theaters you’d go to, so that’s a huge plus. It’s also super clean, which is always nice to see. In my experience, the tickets are a few bucks cheaper too. But in all honesty… the best part of Spectrum for me is the snacks.

Best theater in the area. Small but great selection of indie, foreign and more commercial films. I could see anything there. They just got a new owner – a company from LA? My fam and I are crossing our fingers they keep the quality – films, popcorn and carrot cake. Great location btw from New World Bistro and a little coffee shop, both good.

Great atmosphere, delicious popcorn, and affordable tickets! Will make this our regular movie spot.

We love this theater! It’s like time travel! Hometown feel. Delicious cakes n brownies. Friendly staff.

The Spectrum is one of those old time theaters… is a locally owned, independent movie theater that has been in operation since 1983. They have homemade snacks & great popcorn… There is a shop next door that I think might be owned by the theater not sure that has great smoothie’s also they have off street parking. They have movies there that you don’t see everywhere, documentaries, foreign films etc. Just an all around great place.
The movie Everest was great!

My whole family has been going to this theater for years! It’s very affordable, has amazing popcorn and sells Ben & Jerry’s– what could be better?! They play a lot of independent films that many chain theaters in the area don’t show, while also attracting a younger crowd by playing the big hits.
The service is awesome as well. All the employees are sweet and keep the place looking great. I highly recommend going here over Regal Cinemas for your next movie!

This theater is the best around this area because of the artsy/​independent movies they play and the ambiance.
Nothing like the spectrum for a movie and a delicious dessert; my favorites there is the carrot cake and the mint brownie. But it’s all very good. The only theater around that has real butter popcorn and who can go there and not get some of that hah. I can’t forget the hot chocolate but it was a warm day today so I had to pass on that one.
Make a day of it and enjoy other neat mom and pop stores in the area if possible.

Love this place. Small and cozy. They serve cake from Local bakery’s at the concession stand! Like what is better hen that? The art on the ceilings in the theater is awesome. If I’m in Albany and want to see a movie, This is the spot to go! Very hip and yet old school at the same time.

I love this movie theater which just so happens to be über close to where I live I go here a lot prices are good service is awesome MOM AND POP THEATER YES!!! when I go in here it’s like stepping back in time it’s old fashioned and I love it I will continue to go to this movie theater I support small business!!!

I live across the street from the spectrum theater and love to go there in my free time. They offer student discounts and allow you to bring in your own food which really helps if you’re a college student. The seating as small but comfortable with plenty of leg room. the theaters are smaller so no matter where you sit you always get a good view.

I’ve been to some not so fabulous non-​chain movie theaters in attempts to avoid masses of people. The ones where they’re in a little strip mall with hardly any lighting in the evenings. You throw glances every which way in case someone decides they want to jump you. Now who wants to risk their lives for cinema entertainment?
And then there’s spectrum. It’s cozy and homey, settled on a busy road but with ample parking spots settled behind the theater. It never feels overcrowded so even if the screen is not as expansive as the ones you’ll find at regal, you feel like the movie is there for you to enjoy in its entirety.
And besides, at what other theater are you going to be able to find banana bread as a movie snack?

Great movie selections if you’re into indie films. EXCELLENT selection at their concession stand. The popcorn is phenomenal. Not like the shitty popcorn from the big corporation theaters. Spectrum’s popcorn is popped with magic, it tastes so good. And what movie isn’t complete without a homemade brownie or banana bread?

Great movies
great cake
real butter on popcorn
And an art gallery.
The only thing that could improve it is a liquor license

Here’s what you do:
Stop by your run-​down neighborhood black bagger — grab a couple of OE 40’s, a handful of 25 cent airheads, and a few extra-​long beef sticks — and head on over to the Spectrum with your newly acquired St. Rose friend from Connecticut that you met at the dog park (there is ample parking in the back lot and bike posts out front).
Worried about the TSA-​styled strip search found at most mega theaters? Don’t. Confidently (or googly-​eyed, if previously mentioned date has a Mini-​schnauzer/​basset hound mix) walk up to counter with your goodies in hand, purchase your late-90’s-priced movie stubs, and head into the theater that is playing the ripest tomato out.
Pick your seat, crack open your 40, and enjoy your new favorite Jacques Audiard French flick.
It’s easy keeping it gangster at The Spectrum.

Spectrum 8 is a great theater to find those lesser known flicks, or to get away from the packed theaters that you normally find in a mall.
Prices may have increased since some reviews I just read about the theater, as the adult price for an evening movie is $ 10. This is still a few dollars cheaper than what I am used to paying at other theaters.
The other reviews had me most excited for what I assumed to be a bakery/​concession stand. Honestly, it was more a typical concession stand that had a few cakes in the display window above the candy — as opposed to the rotating carousel of confectionery delights that I was envisioning (my fault for assuming). Nonetheless, it’s still a pretty novel concept that you can eat a slice of cake in the theater that you bought at the concession stand (instead of hiding it in a huge over-​sized purse :). I opted for the nut brownie, which at $ 2.75 was reasonably priced and large enough for sharing. It was moist, rich and delicious. My only critique is that I’m pretty sure it was not baked on site — but I guess that isn’t the biggest deal.
The theaters are tiny and the seats are a bit dated, but they were cozy enough to keep me comfortable during my 2 hour movie. The only problems I encountered during the movie was the old couple behind me who brought a dying/​beeping cell phone into the theater. Half way through the movie they finally realized they were the ones causing the disruption, and had a conversation about how to work the phone to turn it off. Aside from that experience, I have no complaints about Spectrum 8 (and the old couple is not the theaters fault).
Definitely worth a look if you’re in the area.

Came here to see «All is Lost», great movie.
Snack bar was great, love their homemade brownie. Coffee was great too.
Will definitely come back more often :)