My FAVORITE theater! Ive been coming here for over 10 years. It has such a vintage railway charm! The color scheme of red, grey, and black are calming to me. They offer decent combos, comfy seats, and Super Tuesday discount tickets, I look forward to visiting soon! Haven’t been since COVID-19.

I really like this little movie theater. It is nice primarily because it isn’t crowded and busy. The seats cannot be reserved and the theaters are small, but you still have a great movie viewing experience. They have the primary snacks that the main theater has, but I don’t think you can get any of the hot food.

Love the movie selections and the location is excellent! However, the screens are a weird vinyl material which gives off a terrible glare. Additionally, I saw a movie with subtitles here and I assume the projector wasn’t aligned properly because some of the words were slightly cut off at the bottom. The idea is perfect for a theater potentially aimed at film buffs, but the execution leaves something to be desired. I would probably come here more often if it wasn’t for the distracting glare I experienced.

A great place to see lesser known indie movies. Whenever Oscar season rolls around, I know I can come here to catch up on any of the Best Picture nominees that I might have missed throughout the year!

Cinemas in the auxiliary building behind the main building are a little small but could be quaint if the show isnt too crowded. The movie I saw was crowded and a little tight but not bad. In general this cinema is very busy on a Friday or Saturday evening. A box of candy was $4.50, as expected. For reference, the same box is $1.00 at Walmart, just sayin.

The movie theatre itself was dirty. Had to wait in line with food for atleast 10 minutes so they could clean and it still was dirty. Once seated had to wait about her 10 minutes for the movie to start.The bathrooms were filthy before and after watching a 2 hour movie.

This theatre is an underutilized gift to Richmond movie buffs. They offer films that many times dont make it here because they appeal to a smaller audience. The theatres are smaller and provide a cozy atmosphere for watching artistic films. The youngman who took the tickets and handled the concessions was very friendly and knowledgeable. This place is a cinematic jewel. If you have not seen the movie Judy......GO NOW.

Do not try to order food from the kiosk. I don’t even know why that option is on there. None of the food on the kiosk is actually available and they won’t refund you ... just offer you a replacement with something else they do have.

If youre looking for more of the indie movies or those Avant garde types, its probably here.

What a charming little place .reminds me of olden days movie houses when I was a kid...they got sno caps so its cool

Handsome old building turned into comfortable movie theaters offering a good range of movies at a fair price. Works for me.

It was nice because it had movies I wouldnt normally get to see in the theater

Great selection of smaller films, but seats are very close to the screen

For those times when you just want to watch a good movie in an intimate setting avoiding the noise and crowds !

Small but nice. Seats are comfortable.

Good place but forced to wear a mask even with respiratory problems

Very clean and smaller than I expected. More on the cozy side than a regular theater.

Was odd to have to purchase my tickets from a machine great movie but parking and entrances to parking lot are a pain

Love this theatre during the day. Fewer people and fresh popcorn. Staff are friendly and the bathrooms are always clean. Great experience for us.

Great movies shown here but the screens have an odd reflection and limited seating is very close to screen. Most fight for the back row.

Small and cozy. Clean. Good movie

Made the mistake of going to the smaller bow tie cinema. No food. No beer or wine. The food selection is limited to pretzels, chicken tends, and the like. Very disappointed.

This was our first time at Criterion Cinemas, and we loved it. Comfortable seats with ample legroom in a stadium seating configuration creates a great viewing experience. The theater is very clean and has friendly staff. We came to see an Indie movie and found several of the upcoming independent films very interesting - so we will be back soon.

I always have a great experience at this Theater. Not only movies that rarely show elsewhere, but the staff is always charming, and you get to butter your own popcorn! Comfortable, oversized seating, and the smaller theater sizes really give a more intimate movie watching experience. 5 Stars.

It was a very pleasant atmosphere, to go there anytime. Never too busy.

Love the warehouse look atmosphere. My favorite theatre in the area

Really like this little mini theatre and the smaller films it shows. They cram a lot into this small space! Two of the screen do show some wear, but doesnt really impact viewing experience. Very accessible and plenty of parking.

Great art house cinema housed within a new facility

Front row seats are terrible on your eyes and neck! Also very inefficient and confusing getting tickets. Movie was good however.

Great atmosphere for viewing independent films!

Very friendly staff and a nice place to see a movie. They made us fresh popcorn too!

Not bad, movie theater was very warm! We were there for a 9:15pm movie and halfway through went to get a soda refill and told by the employee the machine is closed for the night because I cleaned it...

Cool set up in a mini theatre for the invite shows

Comfortable seats... But the small theatre with half of the seats too close to the screen to be useful... Horrible when full. Best place in Richmond for indie films, but its only the popular indie films. snacks are acceptable

I loved the vibe of the theater! Only problem was there was a bad glare on the screen while we watched

You know, we had the whole place to ourselves. You missed out on great seats, and because we were alone, we could talk outloud. The screen was a little shiny.

Always clean decent service. The guy who was the like ticket vendor was super cool and funny

Love this place! Great movies and cool vibe in an area that’s just fat with great places to eat

Theatre is a bit too small. Loved the movie.

So lucky to have Criterion in the area, definitely check their schedule and try something new. Shows independent and more art house films.

Very very small theatre with about 5 rows and small screens. Terrific employees and a chance to see documentaries etc.

The people were nice to me.

This is the smallest theatre I have ever seen. It was fine for my family as we got there early and could it in the last two rows but if you had to sit any closer you would end Up with a very sore neck from looking straight up. Go but be sure to get there super early to get on of the very few good seats.

Nice boutique theater. Popcorn was old. They popped new batch still not fluffy. Seats cracked but comfortable.

Love this movie cinema. Good customer service.nice and clean.

Awesome movie venue and experience.

An absolute necessity, as the last first-run theater highlighting independent films in the Richmond area. I go whenever possible.Great, vibrant, and compelling films wander through here often, when no Regal Cinemas will give them a home. The bookings of Your Name., The Handmaiden, and Swiss Army Man have been particular joys recently.So show up in those seats, support this location, and mention the screenings you love to Movieland leadership. Lets make sure Criterion never shuts the door on indie film in Richmond.

Another update ... from Oct. 2018! Attended an invitational showing of Hunter-Killer this week, and it was well worth seeing. I really enjoyed it. Another example of Criterian Club special events and info via emails. Thanks Bowtie!

Need better bug management. Mosquitoes all around

Quant little theater in the middle of a busy area. Nice selection of indie films you wont be able to see anywhere else. The theaters are really small so get there early for preferable seating. The first three rows of seats are entirely too close to the screen.

Great place to see an art film. Reclaimed garage building.

Screen has a hotspot and distortion in the center, seats uncomfortable, vomity smell. And its expensive. And the screen is small digital projection. If there were any other option...

Clean, comfortable and with the best movies in RVA

Great seats. Small venues, so no crowd. Very clean. Well run. Excellent place to go see a smaller film.

A bigger curtain drop down could be better to block out the light as people come into the theater

Hi! I went to the theatre today (Saturday) to see the 4:40 showing of The Sense of an Ending and was told by the cashier that there was no film playing. No explanation was given until I said Id seen the time online. After a while she said the projector was broken. Ok, this could happen but what was so upsetting was the sullen and sour nature of this woman. She couldnt bother to extend herself and offer an explanation until prompted, and this after making me feel like a fool for insisting Id seen a 4:40 showing. Behind me were several elderly people who asked her if it would be fixed by the next day. She shrugged. They asked if she had a number to call. She said rudely to call the theatre. Her attitude ruined my mood. The others look annoyed. Definitely poor customer service as she actually seemed put off by us guests.

We had a terrible experience at this location recently. When we first walked in the theater I almost fell down the walkway because the carpet was soaking wet and then you walk on slippery linoleum flooring. We sat in the back row because there wasnt much room elsewhere. Partway through the movie the ceiling started dripping on me. It want a lot of water but enough to be annoying. I am not sure why they allowed a movie to be shown in this theater there were other ones that they could have used. Unless they were just as bad.

This theater has movies that dont make it to the big chains, and its quiet and comfy

I like the smaller theaters of the Criterion side of the parking lot, and the seats themselves are fantastic-- comfortable and big enough for me to literally curl up into.

This is my favorite theater. Such a good experience.

Cozy theatres, comfy plush seats, very cool old railroad repair building converted into a small venue cinemaplex.

They have good indie film choices but like all movie theaters, theyre just sooo over-priced. Even a senior ticket is $9.50 and you have to ask for it. A regular adult ticket $11.50 at 6 pm on a Monday!! When did movies become sooo expensive? Look for a good film at the Byrd. When you can find one, thats a bargain any day because the Byrd is a living museum. On weekends, Bob Gulledge at the Wurlitzer is the piece de resistance!

Quaint little theater. Seats are a little beat up but comfy still. Delicious . Had a great time.

Great venue! Intimate!

Just Mercy was Awesome

Awesome smaller films shown here

New favorite theater. It was quaint and cozy, comfy seating, and friendly staff.

Grate place to watch movies

I love the movies shown at this theater

Loved this theatre! Will definitely be going back.

Nice theater for grown ups!

Great location!

Great place to see a movie. Staff is super friendly and great cocktails if you need one.

Small, intimate place for films that require a modicum of maturity and intelligence.

Nice art movie theater in the middle of the city.

Nice little theatre...very confotable seats

My sister and I go to the movies frequently. We go to Criterion 3 times more than Regal. We like the movies that are shown at Criterion much more, the physical buiłding, popcorn on Tuesday, the little theater where the more “artier” films are shown, and the people are more personable.

Just wish the amenities were the same as Movieland. The assisting hearing is infrared and does not work well.

This is the separate theater near Movieland in the parking lot. It is really small & plays films you won’t find elsewhere frequently.

The Criterion is in the same complex as the regular Bowtie Cinema. This location shows movies that are acclaimed but dont have wide appeal. Its more of a traditional theater unlike the Bowtie - popcorn, candy, and soda only.

With the closing of the Westhamptons, it is Richmonds best hope for not becoming a complete backwater town when it comes to independent and limited-release cinema. I cannot for the life of me figure out why a city the size of Richmond cannot sustain a decent cinema life.

Saw a matinee showing of Cafe Society the other week. Staff need to make sure the curtain that blocks the sun coming in the door when it is opened and closed is actually pulled closed. Other than that all was ok. Keep showing good films and people will come. Thanks.

Great...beer and movies!

Amazing selection of quality films. Fantastic matinee prices.

4 small theaters. Shares the huge parking lot with BowTie Movieland (16 screens). It is a modern building and equipment, but the size and layout are reminiscent of the smaller towny movie theaters of the 80s. I like the ambiance. The movie selections tend to be titles with smaller distribution, indie or lower budget flicks.

Great little theatre that has concessions and more indie films. Make sure you get there early as the theatres are smaller!

Good movies. 8.50 senior. 9 plus reg.

Clean and great staff

Cozy small screen, no chairs or benches around the pop corn booth

Criterion is choice. Super intimate and chill.

Fantastic independent film venue. Small screens so get there early.

A movie theater that seats a small number to show Cinema in a more intimate setting. This is not your summer Blockbuster theater but rather the place you go to see the a great independent film.

Always a good collection of films, and exceptionally comfortable seats compared to the main theater.

Small, intimate venue that feels like a private screening room. Great movies unavailable elsewhere.

Great place to see independent films.Nice and cozy.

The theaters are nice, but the selection of films they screen is disappointing. Considering the Criterion imprimatur, I was expecting to see a regular selection of repertory films from the Criterion catalog. Instead, theres an uninspired selection of indie or quirky stuff; no classics at all. If it lived up to its promise, itd get 5 stars.

Great movie! After Christophers Robin. Comfortable seats!

I love your films - these films would never play Richmond if you werent here. Thank you for making small independent films possible

Great place

It was clean seat where comfortable.