Your ultimate big-screen guide

A rainy weekend in Pittsburgh is the perfect time to go see a movie, and for any student in… A rainy weekend in Pittsburgh is the perfect time to go see a movie, and for any student in Oakland, seeing a movie is as easy as hopping on a bus. Whether it really is a rainy day or simply a boring night on campus, the theaters in the area give students the opportunity to choose their most ideal viewing experience.

One of the newest theaters to grace Pittsburgh is the South Side Works Cinema. The theater has 10 screens with stadium seating for 1700 people. The South Side Works mostly shows blockbuster pictures, but the theater also prides itself on the artsy films they select for three of their screens. This incorporation of smaller flicks is always a perk for die-hard film lovers looking for something different.

The South Side Works is perfect for the group that doesn’t quite know what they want to watch. With a choice between big budget or highbrow, it’s easy to fulfill any desire.

A ride on the 59U leads passengers right to the doorstep of Loews Waterfront Theater. The theater offers all of the current big-budget movies, as well as the occasional independent film. The 15-plus screens and the plethora of choices are just samples of the elaborate offerings of Loews Theater.

A movie at Loews is more of an experience than a movie. With a cafe, restaurant and VIP seating (at an extra cost), the Waterfront cinema has everything to turn a two-hour movie into a nightlong extravaganza. The ticket prices at Loews are $6.00 for the adult matinee and $8.75 for an adult ticket in the evening.

As a small theater completely different from Loews, the Cinemagic Manor Theatre in the heart of Squirrel Hill specializes in current independent films. The four-screen theater can be found tucked between the shops on Murray Avenue. The Manor, practically a stone’s throw from campus, usually carries unheard-of movies, but for the film enthusiast the theater is the perfect chance to catch a movie that can’t be seen in just any theater. The Manor has a feel different from that of the larger theaters. Its smaller size and more intimate setting make it the perfect venue for the art-house films it shows.

The Cinemagic Squirrel Hill Theatre, located on Forward Avenue and not too far from the Manor, presents a mix of independent and well known films. The majority of their films are geared toward a mainstream audience rather than the artistic crowd to which the Manor caters. However, this Squirrel Hill theater does add some spice by including some smaller movies. The theater, though slightly bigger than the Manor, is smaller in size compared to most theaters around here. It has only six screens and shows movies mostly in the evening.

Both the Manor and the Squirrel Hill Theater are only a short bus ride from campus. By catching a bus on Forbes Avenue, any student can get to Squirrel Hill in the blink of an eye.

The bus can also take students a little farther from campus to Waterworks Cinema. Found behind the Waterworks shopping mall in Fox Chapel, Waterworks Cinema is another small theater. With ten screens and stadium seating in the majority of their theaters, Waterworks has a friendly, comfortable setting. Waterworks mostly shows blockbuster movies, but occasionally a lesser known movie can be found there.

Ticket prices for Waterworks are $6.00 for adults before 6 p.m. and $8.50 for any show after, their evening price being slightly lower than Loews.

For movie lovers, Pittsburgh is a smorgasbord of theaters for almost every taste. Whether you’re an indie lover or an action junkie, the choices are endless when finding a movie on the big screen. Any bored student can discover the perfect solution to a Friday night gone wrong by just taking a closer look at the theaters around campus. Whether you want to stay close to Oakland or explore the city a little more, the theaters around the area propose the ideal escape.

These are just a few of the movie theaters that can be found in Pittsburgh. Don’t be afraid to look and see what the city has to offer. With so many choices of venues, you may be displeased with the current movie selection, but there’s never any need to be unhappy about the theaters themselves.

South Side Works Cinema (412) 381-7335

Loews Waterfront Theater (412) 462-6384

Waterworks Cinema (412) 784-1402

Cinemagic Manor Theatre (412) 422-7729

Cinemagic Squirrel Hill Theatre (412) 421-7900