Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater

Every city should have a theater of sorts that specializes in niche films (independent and otherwise) like Film stream does. Other than just featuring a lot of new wonderful independent films that major movie plexuses (AMC and Marcus) don’t, there is also a thoughtful art to which they select and show movies that are «oldies but goodies». It gives you a chance to watch some American Classics from previous generations on the big screen.
For example, for the big «Back to the Future» moment where we in real life surpassed the future timeline of the movie, Filmstream showed the classes 80’s movie on the day of the time jump.
There are other events you can tune in for by being a member or joining them on social media. A really cool place to watch both the new and the old.

I love Filmstreams. A nonprofit movie theater in downtown Omaha, they have lots of first run movies that you won’t see at the megaplex. They also stream operas from The Met, and always have several unique film series going.
A real Omaha gem.

An excellent blend of contemporary art house and international films, forgotten classics, new works by filmmakers with local connections, and fascinating one-​offs, like their occasional use of local musicians to score silent films. The selection of films tends to be a bit on the salubrious side — there’s not much of the sort of lowbrow alternative genre films that, say, the Dundee used to offer up. But Film Streams is a nonprofit, and so education and community building is part of their mission, and so we shouldn’t be surprised that their film selections often fulfill the mission. Anyway, it puts Film Streams in the position of specializing in thoughtful, experimental, sophisticated midbudget films made by adults for adults (and an accompanying series of films for children that are among the best ever made). As much as I love lowbrow, it’s nice to have a place that offers an alternative, and makes certain the alternative is so excellent, so varied, and so often essential viewing.

This is a place for movie lovers. It’s old school meets today meets culturally curious. We really enjoy seeing movies here. Sadly, we miss a number of films we wish to see as the run times are sometime short but that’s on us. We will be members as long as this theater is open!

Film Streams is great asset to Flyover Omaha if you happen to like mostly intelligent non Hollywood films. I’m sure it operates in the Red & the owners can be commended for trying to bring a bit of international film culture to this area that is perhaps the ultimate example of «Dumbed Down» America.
Having owned an International Cinema before the Digital Age, in a much larger Eastern city, I can tell you that it’s a rough row to hoe to try to tear the masses away from their couches & bring them out into a communal environment to watch films. My only problem with FS is that it doesn’t show a greater variety of International films like The Cinematheque venue that operates in a few select cities in America. Most of these are affiliated with major Art Museums.
Actually following their example of showing like 4 or 5 different films a week might just help with the attendance problem but then why spend nearly $ 10.00 to watch a film that you can watch for free or for a few $$ on your computer???

A variety of thoughtful and beautifully executed quality films, many of which will not reach the big commercial theaters. Nice, small theater in convenient downtown location next to TD Ameritrade ballpark with free parking in rear. This theater is a gem. Thanks to the locals who founded it, and to all of those who work to support it.

We went to check out Tim’s Vermeer based on the preview we saw on a previous visit. While I’ve usually never heard of the movies, I get drawn in by the previews. Check out the trailers on the website if you want to get an idea of what you’re in for.
We’ve been a few times so we thought we’d get the family membership.
It’s $ 100 but you get half price movies all year long. Can’t beat $ 5 movies at any time.
Great alternative to the Hollywood cliché movies.

Went here to see Meet Me In St Louis. At first it seemed pricey at $ 9 a ticket but after learning it is a non profit and experiencing the atmosphere it is well worth more than that! Strongly recommend!

I’m so thankful to have a theater in Omaha that focuses on the broad range of cinema, past and present. It could just stop there and I would still be satisfied, but the theater also engages the community and collaborates with local artists. I also enjoy the informality of some of these events. A lot of the times, it could be a boring routine, but more often, it’s spontaneous and off the cuff. I think this leads to more interaction from the audience especially during Q&As and other events. Thanks for bringing cinematic culture to Omaha!

This place is super local and super great! They have amazing free tickets for students on Monday afternoons. They mostly show independent and classic films. It is well worth taking a chance on whatever they are showing as the films are very well picked. They have a cute concessions stand with beer and free posters located by the entrance. Go check it out!

Yay for free movies for students on the first monday of every month. Naturally the place was packed with us on Monday when I went with my friend. We went to see The Spectacular Now which was very good by the way. I highly recommend the film.
Anyways, I really quite enjoyed my time at FilmStreams. It was my first time here and honestly I feel so silly for not going to this place earlier as an option to see films. Especailly Indie films that have been shown at Sundance or Telluride. It’s refreshing to see films every once in a while with a little more meaning.
While the only caveat is there isn’t much leg room, I still really like it here very much. I would highly suggest here just because they show films that aren’t being shown anywhere else.
If you’re a student the free first Monday of the month movies are a pretty sweet deal!

Great resource for the city of Omaha. I hope this theatre always sticks around. Shows great indie films and runs festivals of great directors or genres.

Cool, independent film theatre in North Downtown Omaha (or No-​Do) in the Slowdown plaza. I’ve seen a couple of films here and always get something at the concession to help support this non-​profit.

I now live in Portland, OR, but I lived in LA over a decade and went to all the film venues: Cinefamily, New Beverly, Egyptian, etc, and Film Streams holds their own with the best of them. It’s a world class modern venue of classics, retrospectives, foreign, indie, and is simply amazing. And with local comic filmmaking genius Alexander Payne as a big supporter to boot. If I lived in Omaha I’d be here every day, in fact, you might even see me working concessions.

Film Streams shows the movies you actually want to see. Great indie theater in NoDo (is that what we’re calling it now?). Prices are decent if you’re an adult, better if you’re a student and pretty darn great if you get a membership. After only five movies the membership pays for itself, sooner if you use the concession discount, and there are enough good movies shown here that it’s easy to see at least 10 a year.
One of the best experiences was seeing Metropolis with a live orchestra. That’s how the movie should always be shown.
Newish with comfy seats and clean bathrooms.

This place deserves every star!
I always try to support local, but this place earns all the praise it receives.
Yes, the seating is a bit old school for theaters (no stadium seating here) and so is the number of screens, but it is nice.
They pick movies that are good, instead of «big».
Just saw The Descendants this weekend, which never would have made it to Omaha without film streams (and Alexander Payne).
Get on the mailing list, you’re bound to find something great.

I don’t visit Film Streams as much as I would like to. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it.
I tend to go during the free Student nights and occasionally when I actually am up to date on movies I want to see. What detours me from going to see most movies is my lack of being up to date with current movies and also the prices of shows as most theater chains. (
(Seriously, if it weren’t for the gift card I got for christmas I would have never paid 13 $ to go see Tron 3-​D at Midtown Crossing)
My recent visit to Film Streams was to see «Somewhere» by Sophia Coppola. I really wanted to see this movie and Film Streams was the only one showing. Price wouldn’t have mattered. However, I was surprised how reasonable the prices were. Not only for a movie theater but for a local one. I’d prefer to support Film Streams over any other theater in Omaha but with reasonable prices I have even more incentive to want to go.

How has it taken me this long to finally get to Film Streams? Love this little indie theater. The actual theater seating is not that spacious and slightly cramped… especially when someone sits in front of you. I prefer to have a bit of leg room while watching a flick, but I can overlook that.
Coffee was pretty terrible, but it was Christmas night, so I won’t factor that in either. Overall likeability is 4.5 stars. At $ 7 for students and a free monthly college student movie night, I’m a fan already.

Thank you, Ruth! I wish a place like this had existed when I lived there. Seats were comfy, snacks were tasty and the staff was friendly. We even had a decent amount of previews (my favorite part of the movie-​watching experience) before the feature.
Keep up the great programming — I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they’ll open a 2^nd location in NOLA…

I have to show some love to Film Streams here in Omaha. But first, a warning. I’m on the website multiple times a week and I have a membership, so I’m already part of the indoctrinated.
And if I thought I loved Film Streams before, imagine how much more I loved it after my company paid for my membership and I could go see all the movies there for only $ 4. Add in the 20% discount on concessions and it’s almost a weekly visit for me.
Film Streams (which I’m always catching myself writing as filmstreams) is «a 501©3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the cultural environment of the Omaha-​Council Bluffs area through the presentation and discussion of film as an art form». So technically the theater that I’m reviewing is Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater. Two screens, friendly staff/​volunteers, and a generally great vibe.
I have yet had the urge for a coffee while I’m there, because the Sweet Leaf Green tea is so much more tempting… but if you do, they serve freshly brewed Blue Line coffee from right down the street.