Spectacle

Spectacle is one of those few rare vestiges of Brooklyn that reminds me of why I still live here. For $ 5 you can see really under the radar films and performances that you can’t find anywhere else. I like that its hidden a bit and kind of hard to find. They just did a renovation and the place looks gorgeous. The volunteer hosts are friendly and the atmosphere is laid back — almost like watching a film at your friend’s place. I can’t wait to go back!

Gosh, I really like this theater, I really do. It’s super small but the concept is great and it feels super personal. The theater can seat maybe 26 – 28 people and they play variety of non-​mainstream indie movies, from afro-​futuristic themes to zombie flicks. If you haven’t seen a film at Spectacle yet, make sure to add it to your list.

This is an adorable miniature film theater with maybe 25 seats that charges 5.00 for an art house or foreign film. The sound is pleasant. This is nice. Special! This is THE place for a secret summer rendezvous …

The films have a definite hit or miss quality to them, even the movies that are misses usually have some sort of redeeming quality, visually interesting, artistically relevant etc. Sometimes they really are misses though.
As a place its bare bones, it feels like you’re watching a movie in someones house, which might be accurate. This adds to the coolness factor though.

i usually hate it when people say things like, «i want to keep this place a secret»… but seriously, i kinda want to keep this place a secret.
spectacle is like a theatrical speakeasy. you could pass by a hundred times and never think to wonder whats behind its nondescript door. actually, its hard to call this place a ‘real’ theater as it feels more like a friends repurposed basement than anything else… but in a good way.
there are maybe 20 seats in the whole place. the guy who takes your money (5 bucks) is also the projectionist, he may forget his place and mutter «i love this part» in the middle of the movie. everyone will laugh (the place is tiny, everyone heard him). he may then loudly whisper «sorry!». yes, spectacle is that kind of place.
spectacle tends to play foreign, arty, and quirky films that you’ve never heard of. feel free bring your own snacks and «drinks» (gotta love DIY spots). i’d also recommend that you get there a little early to make sure that you get in (did i mention the place is tiny?).
with a touch more polish, spectacle would become the best thing since sliced bacon. that said, given the choice between a 3D megaplex and spectacle, i’ll head to the little guy every time.

Great job selecting a wide range of interesting films from different genres and time periods. The theater is a pleasant and unconventional little gem.

A tiny little theater thats easy to miss, but so much fun! Home of arty, campy, & wacky films you may never see anywhere else, and probably never heard of.
Its worth getting here early as the seating is pretty limited. While you wait you will most likely be entertained by random ridiculous youtube clips before the actual previews start. (the selection on the night i attended included a goat running around with a grim reaper mask, and the ICP Miracles music video).
I brought my own snacks and another crowd brought in beers. I guess that is ok? My only (small) complaint is that there was a slight aroma of stale armpit in there. Although that mighta been the crowd. This is williamsburg after all.

Room
For 2
Dozen of
Your friends with a
Projector and cinematic good times.

A tiny little theater playing obscure, strange art films is an irresistible attraction for me, but it could go very wrong. You would expect such a venue to be staffed by pretentious snobs who would turn the place into a clubhouse for themselves and their friends. Not so with Spectacle.
What makes Spectacle so great is that they not only show amazing films, they are also staffed by friendly, welcoming people who clearly and truly love the films they show. As someone with a relatively limited knowledge of film, but a passion for the kind of strange movies that the folks at Spectacle show, I felt very much at home here, and intend to come back at every available opportunity.