Lagoon Cinema

This is my favorite theater, and I’ll tell you why.
1. It is close and convenient to where I live, letting me walk in the spring/​summer/​fall or otherwise park on street 3 – 4 blocks away.
2. The selection of movies is a mix of mainstream wide releases and independent pictures.
3. Friendly staff, who try their best to get an up-​sell on concessions, but overall do a decent job in other areas.
4. The first showings of the day are cheaper (not anything special) but it does help if you can get there early.
5. The screens are average, with decent seating for the most part (not like the Landmark Edina theater, which always feels like coach airline seats).
However the biggest reason I love this location is that the patrons are for the most part mature (and do not bring their kids), and have all come to enjoy a movie. There have been no rude patrons at this theater almost every time I have gone. I’ve had a few experiences where I’ve watched a deeply serious movie with 20 – 30 other people and a pin didn’t drop the whole time. I sat transfixed and was sucked in with zero distractions. Even during comedies, there was just dignified respect demonstrated for the other patrons. I typically go to the first or later showings, but have had this experience in the evenings as well.
When I go to a larger cinema, with rowdy, over-​sociable and juvenile patrons, it always reminds me why I will prefer to come here to have the best chance of seriously appreciating a quality film (in sweet, golden silence).

I wish I liked the Lagoon Cinema more than I do!
The movie selection is great, they have a lot of independent films. Unfortunately, the theater needs an update. Several of the seats in the theater we were in were broken and the screens are pretty small. If tickets were a little cheaper, these things may bother me less, but at $ 10/​ticket, I wish the theater were a little nicer.

Used to love this theater and have seen probably hundreds of films here over the years, but now I hate it when films I want to see show up there as parking will cost you more than a film ticket and they no longer validate (anything over 2 hours is $ 10.50, which is absurd). I used to go once every week or two and see stuff I’d never heard of, but now try to avoid it if I can help it. Would much rather go to the Edina Landmark theater than have to deal with Uptown (way nicer theater with bigger screens and parking is free!). Or just a mall theater if that’s an option. Which is a shame as the Lagoon gets great films so I’d like to support them, but the price with parking is just no longer worth it. Especially since the theater itself has never been anything great. The seats are uncomfortable and the screens are tiny.
They really need to relocate as the neighborhood has changed significantly over the past decade and I think has passed them by.

A little kitschy, fun and friendly staff. If you’re looking for something a little more unique, this place is the ticket.

Good selection of movies. That’s the only upside. It was crowded on a holiday weekend and they had only one person selling tickets and one person at the concession stand. The line for both was out the door. I missed the first 10 minutes of my show waiting to pay $ 13 for a popcorn and water. The person at the counter was very gracious and did her job very well. But when she was asked why she was the only one working, she said she was the only employee who hadn’t worked 40 hours. So the owner made his customers very inconvenient in order not to pay a little overtime. Also, the theaters are very small and the seats uncomfortable. So with inconvenient location for parking, high prices, poor service, and uncomfortable theaters, I can see no reason to come here to see a movie.

White Privilege. After running errands all day my wife and I were running a bit late to get to the new Star Wars movie at the Lagoon Cinema. Fortunately for us we purchased our tickets earlier that morning in case it was going to be a full show. As we were pulling up we decided that she would go in first and secure our seats while I park the car. When she got in she texted me that I can just walk into Theatre 1 and find her as nobody stopped her from walking straight in and taking a seat. So being a bit late and since we already had our tickets I proceeded to Theatre 1 without much thought. As I was walking in the lady at the counter called out to me and I gestured to her that I am going to meet someone, she did not put up too much fuss so I proceeded. When I actually got into Theatre 1 to find my wife another lady came in behind me to inquire if I had tickets. I said sure and my wife walked up and showed her that we had two tickets. She then said thank you and walked away. Nothing is wrong with this situation i.e. checking if someone actually paid to get in. The issue I have is that why did they not check my wife when she walked in but they had to check me? The only thing I can think of is that fact that my wife is White and I am Black and they afforded her the benefit of the doubt that she had her ticket but did not afford me the same benefit of the doubt that I had mine. This was clearly white privilege in action. My recommendation to Lagoon Cinema management is to treat everyone the SAME no matter their race, class, age, sexual orientation etc. We all have a part to play in making sure that we are all treated equally. This did not detract too much from my enjoyment of the movie but something that I want to make management aware of.

This little theater was perfect to see a film on Christmas Night. I like that they only had 5 movies to choose from. Another quaint little detail was the manager came into the theater to introduce himself, reminded everyone to turn off their cell phones, and said we hoped we enjoyed the movie. We are actually going back tomorrow to see another film. I plan on getting popcorn then. I’ll report back.

Really like this place. I appreciate it even more since the Uptown was over glamorized in the rehab. Uptown now feels like a bar that shows movies. The Lagoon always has interesting films, comfy seats, charmingly ugly décor in the theaters themselves, and even polite staff. Polite staff can be hard to come by in this part of town, so that’s nice too. They no longer validate parking but that apparently thats the lots fault not the Lagoons, and the restroom being upstairs can be a pain. Parking is always special in Uptown though and the bathroom is minor. Yup, my favorite Minneapolis theatre.

Usually good selection of movies you won’t find at the main stream theaters but parking can be a challenge. I paid $ 10.00 to park because I was running late. For the hip area concessions could use a facelift and some healthier options. Nothing but crap candy & pop. Paid $ 4.50 for a bottle of water, but that’s to be expected.

There are so many better movie theaters in this city that I don’t understand why this movie theater would be anyone’s first choice. It’s rather dated in appearance and the seats are very uncomfortable.
While watching the movie, the lights were kept on for the first 10 minutes of the movie before being turned off. After the movie was over, I had to use the flashlight on my phone to exit the theater because the lights were never turned back on. Horrible experience.
Acutally, I am sure I am sure the only reason this movie theater gets 3 stars from me is because I was there watching a free movie. (yes, I am that chick that complains about free stuff).
AND since the theater is located in Uptown, be prepared to pay for parking or walk 3 blocks. The choice is yours, but you have been warned.

I love this theatre! They’ve been having a ton of movies I’ve been wanting to see lately and I’ve been here a few times this month already. The seating is comfortable and modern enough to fit us wider posterior-​ed patrons and the theatre size is decent for an indie. Movies range from $ 7.50−10 depending on time of day but they have a 5 films for $ 36 ticket if a bunch of films come out at once that you want to see. I’m not sure on the details but it seems like something I would definitely look into taking advantage of in the summer months.
The only (small) complaints are: that the bathrooms are upstairs while all the screens are downstairs, though I believe there is an elevator for those that really can’t make it up stairs. And I would love if this theatre did do a bit more updating like the Uptown down the street — the VIP-​style seating there is amazing — as the backs of the current seats lean back way too much. Also, as a tip, I know the parking situation can be a real and sometimes very expensive hassle. I suggest park somewhere out of Uptown on the bus route if you live far and take the bus in for less than $ 3. I’m car-​free so that’s not an issue for me.

As a fan on indie movies, I’m glad that this place exists. This a a great place I like to go for a good movie that is usually not playing in other theaters in the area, other than the Edina location. I can go to see a big-​name movie just about anywhere, but here is where they don’t appear to care so much about popularity. Instead, they look at more the quality. That’s a quality of this place that I like.
They appear to do a great job at maintaining the place. The staff here is generally polite. I’m glad that this place has their own parking lot, unlike most other places in Uptown Minneapolis. This gives me a little more convenience. I will definitely keep coming back here for their good movies.

Movies shown here are good, but it has a somewhat eccentric feel.
New seats would be great. And Febreze.
I’ve never been disappointed by a movie here.

The Lagoon is in desperate need of some updating. There is no leg room (I’m 5’7 and struggle, and my poor father at 6’1 really just doesn’t fit), the chairs aren’t very comfortable, and the sound system can be a bit wonky.
However, as I mentioned in my review for the Uptown, the selection of movies found at the Lagoon makes it totally worth all that. If you want to see an indie film, chances are you’re going to come here to do that. They get a lot of movies that are hard to find in other places, even in larger markets. Around Oscar time they tend to put the nominees back for a few screening which is nice if you want to catch those.
I’d recommend signing up for the email list (found on the website for Landmark Theatres) since the movies tend to shuffle between the three theaters a lot, and they email you the schedule every week.
The staff is always friendly, and despite the outdated nature, the theaters are usually pretty clean. The prices are a bit steep but what can you do. The Lagoon is still a good place to catch an indie flick.

This place plays some of the great movies — we just went to watch 12 Years a Slave and it was, of course, moving and captivating. However, the theater itself is a bit dated. If you’re looking for a megaplex or something modern this isn’t the place for you. But for $ 10pp (+$ 1 if you buy the tickets online for a service fee) on a Saturday night movie I suppose it wasn’t so bad. The theater is old, it’s not huge, it does smell a bit, but it’s got its charm. Great location, close to other restaurants and cafes.

No Hollywood trash
Low budget dope flix only
Wish I lived closer
Wanting to see the newest superhero sequel or Disney Pixar movie? The Lagoon is probably not the place for you.
Wanting to see something gritty that will probably get nominated for a bunch of Academy Awards? This is your place.
Saw Dallas Buyers Club here this past weekend. Also noticed that they currently have 12 Years a Slave and Out of the Furnace playing. Wanted to see all three, but the starting time for DBC best fit my schedule. The theater is not the newest or the nicest, but their film selection is stellar.
I have been coming here for longer than I can remember now. They always have the movies that are getting the buzz that none of the megaplexes have. Hope they are still going strong for a long time to come. There are not enough theaters like the Lagoon in the Twin Cities; I don’t think there are any other theaters like it in the Cities.

The Lagoon cinema is great. A couple things that are great about this place:
— It’s usually not too busy: feel free to put your feet up on the seat in front of you — YES.
— Good selection of movies: they have mainstream/​Hollywood movies as well as foreign/​independent films
— Great staff: they are friendly and personable
Lagoon is also a great spot if you want to grab food/​drink before or after the movie since it’s surrounded by some solid restaurants and bars.

I have this problem. I get motion sickness at movies. I know it isn’t all that uncommon with the influx of shaky-​cam films nowadays, but even with normal motion pictures, I can barely make it a half-​hour in without feeling sick. I’ve missed many-​a-​movie based on this problem (and annoyed many-​a-​companion).
IMAX movies are out of the question, and any theatre that doesn’t have balcony seating or seats that go very far back are pretty much an impossibility, as well.
So, I know the complaint about the Lagoon is that their screens are too small, but for me, it is the perfect theatre. If I sit in the back, it’s not unlike watching a big screen television (which doesn’t bother me).
I appreciate the kinds of films they show here. I’ve seen many, many good indie and low-​budget films at this theatre.
The theatres are really clean, too. The staff seems to be attentive about cleanliness. Plus, they’re super-​friendly.
I see a complaint is parking, but hi, it’s Uptown. If you don’t want to deal with parking or getting stuck in a parking garage for a few hours on a Saturday night, there’s this really cool thing called a «bus». It transports you from one area to another, and you don’t have to deal with traffic or parking. Try it.
I’m pretty sure it’s not any higher priced than any of the other movie theatres in the area, but don’t quote me on that. I’ve not done any research whatsoever.

1. The snacks at this place blow other theaters out of the water. You’ll pay dearly for your pleasures ($ 5 for cookies, $ 5 for pop) but you have a wide selection of nice things to break your teeth on: fancy European wafer cookies, lattes, wasabi peas, cherry-​coated almonds, etc. Beats the hell out of Milk Duds.
2. Do not park in their adjacent lot unless you want to pay through the nose. They validate for one hour, but the other $ 15 are on you. You can park for free on the street right next to Planned Parenthood two blocks down.
3. You can purchase tickets online so if, perhaps, you want to see Les Miserables on Christmas Day, you can ensure that your entire family can get in the theater.
4. As other reviewers mentioned, this theater gets the good stuff. And by good stuff I mean they did not show Breaking Dawn.
A couple of misses here– one time it smelled like urine throughout our entire movie, and the bathrooms upstairs are usually dank, dirty, and broken. But overall this is a great place to catch a flick.

This place could use a but if a face lift, but it is nice that they are able to get certain limited run movies that are not at other theaters!
When I walked into the theater I thought the lights in the theater were cool, they kind of looked like branches of a tree but what confused me is that they never shut them off. They were dimmed but not shut off. I spent most of the movie looking at them because I kept catching glimpses out of the corner of my eye.