Downer Landmark II Theatres

Classic old theatre in a great Milwaukee neighborhood. Great independent movies. Good restaurants in the area. Parking can sometimes be a problem.

The highly marketed shows, that play everywhere already anyway, aren’t usually here and that’s the thing I like most about Downer.
The location is pretty great, too. I recommend pre or post visit at Pizza Man for food and wine. Café Hollander is also a block walk, but the lesser of the two in terms of food, unless a huge beer menu is what floats your boat.
Good to know that Pizza Man validates the parking in the lot across the street, which I didn’t realize until last night. However, the validation is only up to three hours. So if you are catching that show and eating a meal, you’ll likely owe a few bucks.
The theater itself is small and only two shows play: one on the left, one on the right. But I find this quaint atmosphere nostalgic and endearing.
It’s on my short list of preferred theaters!

I only just visited this place for the first time since I moved to Milwaukee in 1998. My wife and I went to see «What we do in the shadows», a mockumentary about vampires/​werewolves that was like «Real World». What s great movie at a rather awesome theater. The popcorn with butter and nutritional yeast was fantastic! The screen, although smaller than most had plenty of good seating. This isn’t your mega — theater with super seating or ultra large high def screen, but it has charm and plays some rather awesome and hard to get movies. Usually I only see movies like this at The Oriental, but it was refreshing to go to a different venue. When we left, the street was completely dead. Suprising since there are some nice bars nearby…
I’ll definitely visit again!

This is a beautiful old movie theater that is the perfect place to see a serious movie. I haven’t been in a packed movie house this century, but there wasn’t an empty seat for «The Imitation Game.» There also wasn’t a single person standing up in the middle of the movie blocking my view, no mobile phone use or texting, no talking (a couple of gasps were audible at understandable moments), and they put real butter on the popcorn in concessions. The staff here is much more on the ball than is standard for movie theaters, although there was a long line to get in, the one fellow in the ticket booth moved the line in with alacrity. The only problem with the theater is parking. Make sure you allow time for finding parking if the weather isn’t good for bicycling here. Street parking is a little challenging, and you still need coins for the public lot two blocks north. In that lot I’ve gotten improper citations not once, but twice, both times I won the appeal because of PICs that included my license plate, the meter, and a time stamp — make sure you’re putting coins in the meter for your space (it’s not immediately obvious, even to the parking enforcement officers).

Awesome little theater in a cool part of town. The prices were reasonable and the theater wasnt busy at all. The only small complaint would come with the angle of the seats. Since the seats are at ground level and a little angelled there can be some issues looking up at the screen or if there is a tall person in front of you. Luckily I didnt’t have this issue.

NOTE: this is not your typical movie experience. If you’d like a turn-​of-​the-​20^th century movie experience, then visit Downer. If that doesn’t sound like something you’d like and you really appreciate the big box office feel, go somewhere else.

Lots of charm in this theatre!
Definitely feels like you are walking back in time when entering the theatre.
Things I appreciate:
–Beauty of the old theatre
–Chairs that remind me of chairs in the 90’s, just up to the shoulders
–The concessions sell tea and coffee for those of us who do not drink soda
–Booze also available
Things that could be better:
–Parking
–Sound in the theatre
Overall, charming large theatres with indie options. Worth a visit.

I Love the Downer Theater. They only have a couple movies showing at a time but that’s ok. The movies aren’t the main stream kind, but more off the beaten path which I love. It’s super small but it makes it more intimate.

Yeah, you wouldn’t come here to watch the Avengers or anything loud and special effect crazy, but there’s something about the feel of an old theater when you’re watching something low budget and artsy (that wasn’t filmed in George’s attic).
I like drinking beer at a theater, even in a plastic cup. And I do thoroughly appreciate the personal welcome at the start of the films. It’s just low-​key and low-​profile to make it cool without coming off as contrived. And like the Oriental, they do a great job of timing with their coming attractions. Somehow, there’s always one coming up that looks great within a few weeks of the one I’m watching.
One of my favorite things about my new neighborhood is being two blocks away. Evidently, it’s the only way to go someplace on Downer without having to spend 20 minutes circling for a spot that won’t get you ticketed.

TBH, it’s probably a 3.5 but they get an upswing for friendly workers, the bubbler inside the bathroom and just being a BAMF that shows indie films.
Parking is a nightmare, you’ll never be on time, it’s probably a little pricey considering there’s none of the creature comforts you’d find at other theaters and it’s not even fancy like the Oriental, but it’s still quaint and wonderful and the kind of place you’d miss if it were gone. So if my extra $ 2 a ticket ensures we have a place like this forever, take it with my blessing.

Maybe it’s just a Landmark theater thing, but man, I love them. I don’t think Downer is as cool as Oriental is… but Oriental is something special. I showed up at 5:02 for a 5pm movie and was able to grab popcorn and a drink before making my way into the theater just in time for the personal introduction to the movie. I love that they give a brief talk about the movie and talk about the upcoming movies, it’s a really awesome personal touch.
Movie was great, popcorn was great, soda was a little flat, but that’s okay, I’ll definitely check out the Downer again.

I love this theater. It’s quaint and small, but has everything you need to enjoy a good film. They tend to show Indie films — you’ll probably never find a big budget movie at the Downer, which is why I love coming here.
And hear me out, they have the BEST popcorn in the city. Yeah, I said it. The manager there takes serious pride in his popcorn-​making abilities, and he is very good at it. And the best part? They make it with coconut oil, not that fake butter crap that the Marcus theaters use. I like Marcus theaters, but their popcorn blows.
There are two movies showing at all times at the Downer. My most recent visit was last Saturday night to see Nebraska. Once again, I saw a great movie at a great price. That’s another thing to mention — if you’re a student, you can see an evening movie for 8 bucks. I consider that to be a deal. No one trying to sell me a «VIP» seat just so I can sit higher up. I believe the Downer also offers a discount for seniors. The only thing that would make the Downer better would be offering beer and wine like the Oriental (another theater on the East Side that is a Milwaukee must-​see). I like kicking back with a popcorn and a PBR.
Definitely go here, and see a movie you may not have normally taken the time to see. It’s good to mix things up, and this theater is a wonderful place for a date night. If you don’t have a date, it’s also a great place to go solo.

I think it is hilarious that folks are bothered by the sound of the projector! The seats, screen, sound, and yes the noise of the movie feeding through the projector reel! are what makes this a Real nostalgic theater!

Landmark is the theater in Milwaukee that (for the most part) is the place you can see films that didn’t make it into the big box theaters and didn’t go straight to DVD (although in the case of «Hyde Park on Hudson» it should have gone straight to DVD and then been filed in the Worst Movies section of the physical or internet store where you get your movies).
Landmark is a small theater, with just two screens. The seats are not stadium style and are pretty old, but definitely sufficient. It is most comfortable if the place is not packed. Being packed is rarely a problem Landmark has, so you are likely in the clear. The screen is a normal size (not mega-​huge like the big box theaters are now installing).
The service tends to be really good, usually just one or two people. They have the basic concessions like popcorn, soda, candy. They also offer a wide variety of popcorn seasonings (self-​application) such as cheddar cheese, parmesan garlic, ranch, etc. I definitely appreciate this. The largest popcorn (and largest soda — a bucket size!) offers one free refill.
Landmark often makes it on the list of things to see in Milwaukee, and it is worth a stop. If you are looking for the historic experience, check out its sister theater the Oriental on Farwell, about half a mile away.

Many people have nostalgic reasons for loving the Downer Theater, and I am no different.
This was my neighborhood when I first moved to Milwaukee 13 years ago. I remember going to see movies alone here, and I loved it.
This is definitely a no-​frills theater, but you get all the basics as far as snacks and drinks. The draw, of course, are the more obscure films you get to see here.
Milwaukee, we are really lucky.

I love this place! It’s historical and the theaters are pretty large. The seating is nothing special though. I have enjoyed a few indie flicks here. They only have two theaters, but the movies change fairly frequently. Usually one of the two is a Hollywood film/​blockbuster.
Pro tip: They have delicious popcorn.

Ok — so I was a bit harsh in my previous review.
I went to see the Artist recently — and I gotta say I couldn’t imagine seeing this film at any other theater. The historic setting was perfect.
But for real — those seats are so dang uncomfortable. and fix the dang SMUDGE on the screen!

I’m in the camp that the Downer is charming for its «flaws.»
What this theater lacks in creature comforts it makes up for in character. No, the seats aren’t plush and large and comfy, nor are they terribly stable, but honestly? I’d rather catch an independent flick here than spend the same — if not more — on some big budget deal at the iPic. The bathroom may be a bit, well, dated, but hey! At least its unique. They may only have two screens, but the films they screen are generally more in keeping with what I’d like to see than what’s shown at most theaters. This place FEELS like a movie theater; a real one, an old one, and as I noted before, one with character.
I may or may not have smuggled in some delicious red vines. I may or may not have enjoyed said delicious red vines while enjoying the Oscar-​nominated «The Artist.» Who can say, really? I may or may not have.

I think I’m giving the downer 3 stars since I have lots of fond memories of walking here on many a boring night from the uwm dorms back in the 90s. They used to do a promo where u could buy 5 tickets for like $ 20some to be used at either the downer or their ‘prettier sister’, the oriental. (Disclaimer: i have no idea if they still do this.) Anyhow…
This theater often get Really obscure or indie films that don’t show anywhere else along with a few more main stream flicks.
(I saw ’ trainspotting’ here to a packed house when it first came out) It’s a pretty older theater. I personally didnt find the seats uncomfortable, or the screen bad. However…
–They dont take discover card.
–it was 7.50 for the matinée, and
4.50 for a medium drink. Kinda pricey.
–the projector did make a very audible noise (kinda like a broken fan) thruout THE whole movie
–I was a wee bit chilly temperature wise.
Anyhow…id still go here if I really want to see something, but its not my first choice.

PRE: It’s 6:30 P.M. Sunday in a hot and muggy Milwaukee home. It’s occupants have already been to Chicago that weekend and getting restless. The occupants decide to see a movie at the Downer as the Oriental Theatre’s offerings start too late (occupants are lame).
EXPERIENCE: Occupants find a close parking spot and pay $ 10 per ticket and another $ 12 in snacks. They enter the screen to the right of the counter. The movie screen seems about four feet too high off the floor. There’s a hole in the ceiling and the seats generally uncomfortable. AND it’s completely fine by me. Seeing an indie film in a sterile mega-​chain just wouldn’t be as charming.
DID YOU KNOW? The Landmark Theatre chain, which includes the Downer, is owned by Mark Cuban. Cuban is owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Seeing a movie here indirectly pays Dirk Nowitzki’s $ 19 million dollar salary.
DUDE, WTF?: There were probably twenty patrons for a showing of Beginners and an old dude sits right in front of my girl. That’s it. That’s the story and then we moved down a few seats.