FunKidsActivities

Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse

3055 Indianola Ave, Columbus, OH 43202, USA

Overview

Category:Kids Theaters
Location:Columbus, OH

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse offers a unique, non-corporate, historic movie theater experience that blends film viewing (older and newer releases), live shows (comedy), and a full drafthouse menu. Its value proposition centers on comfortable in-theater dining, a wide selection of adult beverages, themed special events, and a community-oriented, retro atmosphere, making it a distinctive alternative to traditional multiplexes.

Key Highlights

  • Offers a mix of older classic films and new release movies, alongside live comedy shows in a bigger theater.
  • Known for hosting special themed events (e.g., Barbie movie opening with full decorations, custom drink menus, and a photo booth), enhancing the overall experience.
  • Features super comfy, slightly reclining chairs with cup holders, and dedicated back rows with tables for in-theater dining.
  • Provides a wide selection of adult beverages, including craft beers (seasonals marked) and a variety of mules, plus custom drinks for themed events.
  • Extensive food menu with pizza, salads (Greek salad, 'Swarm' spicy pepperoni pizza with honey drizzle specifically mentioned), popcorn, and candy combinations (e.g., buttered popcorn with Reese's Pieces, M&Ms).
  • Accommodates dietary restrictions with vegan and vegetarian options, including plant-based meats and cheeses.
  • Friendly staff who contribute to the fun atmosphere, often participating in themed events (e.g., dressing up).
  • Fast food service with orders typically ready in 15-20 minutes.
  • Features an outdoor balcony upstairs for additional seating and dining after a show.

Standout Features

  • Unique themed movie events with extensive decorations, custom menus, and interactive elements (e.g., photo booth).
  • Comfortable in-theater dining with dedicated tables in the back rows, allowing families to eat a full meal while watching.
  • Diverse menu with customizable options, including plant-based meats and cheeses for vegan/vegetarian preferences.
  • Impressive selection of adult beverages (beers, mules) for parents.
  • Opportunity to watch both classic films and recent releases.
  • Outdoor balcony seating available after the show.
  • Reasonable pricing for new release movies, drinks, and popcorn.
  • Comfortable indoor temperature with effective air conditioning.

Perfect For

School-age children (6-12 years): Good for new release movies and especially engaging for themed events. Food options like pizza and popcorn are kid-friendly.
Teens (13+ years): Excellent choice due to the diverse film selection (old/new), comfortable seating, full food and drink menu, and unique, non-corporate atmosphere. Live comedy shows could also appeal.
Families: Best suited for families with older children who can appreciate the unique movie experience and food offerings, particularly for special events.

Ideal For

Family movie night with older children or teens seeking a distinctive, comfortable viewing experience.
Parents looking for a date night that can also accommodate older children for a movie.
Attending a special themed movie event with children who enjoy immersive experiences.
A casual family dinner combined with entertainment (movie or show).
Families seeking vegan/vegetarian dining options in an entertainment venue.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • Check their schedule for upcoming special themed events or live comedy shows to maximize the unique experience.
  • Consider ordering pizza or other menu items to take advantage of the dedicated dining tables in the theater's back rows.
  • Inform staff about dietary needs; plant-based meat and cheese substitutions are available.
  • Allow extra time to find parking, as it can be challenging.
  • Experiment with popcorn and candy combinations like buttered popcorn with Reese's Pieces for a tasty treat.
  • Set expectations for screen size, as it's an older-style theater with a smaller screen compared to modern multiplexes.

Things to Consider

  • The movie screen is described as smaller than a normal, modern movie theater.
  • Pizza quality received a mixed review, with one parent rating it 5 out of 10 stars.
  • Finding parking is highlighted as a significant challenge ('biggest downside').
  • One review noted that chairs could be taller for more comfortable head support/leaning back.

Price & Value

Prices for new release movies, drinks, and popcorn are generally considered 'reasonable.' The value lies in the unique, non-corporate, historic theater atmosphere combined with in-seat dining, a full bar, and engaging special events, offering a premium experience compared to standard theaters. No specific hidden costs were mentioned, but parking difficulties could lead to paid parking if street spots are unavailable.

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • No specific accommodations for special needs (e.g., wheelchair accessibility, sensory-friendly hours) were mentioned in the reviews.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • Full food and drink menu available for purchase, including pizza, salads, popcorn, candy, and a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
  • In-theater dining is actively encouraged with comfortable seating and dedicated tables in some rows.
  • Offers vegan and vegetarian substitutions (plant-based meats and cheeses).
  • Food orders are prepared relatively quickly (15-20 minutes).
  • No explicit mention of outside food being allowed or disallowed in the reviews.

🚗Parking Info

  • Parking is described as the 'biggest downside' and 'trying to find parking' can be difficult, implying limited or challenging street parking options.

👥Crowd Levels

  • Can get busy for popular events, such as opening weekends for major films (e.g., Barbie movie), where special efforts were made for crowds. The 'small theater' description suggests it may not accommodate massive crowds found in multiplexes, but specific crowd patterns were not detailed.

🛡️Safety Features

  • No specific safety features (e.g., staff supervision, security measures, first aid) were mentioned in the customer reviews.

When to Avoid

  • Families with very young children (toddlers/preschoolers) who might find the older-style theater, smaller screen, or drafthouse atmosphere less suitable.
  • If a very large, modern screen (e.g., IMAX) is a priority for your movie experience.
  • If you are on a strict schedule and cannot allocate extra time for parking.
  • If you are expecting gourmet-level pizza, as reviews suggest inconsistent quality.

Pricing/Package/Events

What People Say

What's Great

  • Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
  • Great for birthday parties (mentioned in 2 reviews)
  • Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)

Areas for Improvement

  • Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)

Recent Reviews

H

H

5 months ago

Had a few drinks and stayed for a movie. A small theater, friendly staff and a lot of interesting and funny art on the walls (including a corner for the big lebowski). Good selection of beers - I liked that they give the seasonals a little pumpkin icon to quickly show. They have a wide offering of mules too! I didn't eat there, but the theater seating included 2 back rows with tables for folks that would like to eat with their movie. I liked this place a lot - it wasn't corporate. A nice smaller community theater. I'll be back!

Terrance T

Terrance T

2 months ago

This it was a pretty nice place. Mind you this is like an older style movie. Theater, so the screen It's not as big as a normal movie theater. They play a lot older movies, and they play some of the newer movies. The only thing we tried was the pizza, and I give it a five out of ten stars. But the service was good. It is a great atmosphere. This could be a good date night or a family event.

Angelina Kelley

Angelina Kelley

2 months ago

Great time. We attended a comedy show in the bigger theater. Ordered pizza and salad for dinner, ate in the theater. I had water, husband had a few different beers. Chairs super comfy, slight recline with cup holder on the arm rest. Their popcorn with M&Ms seemed popular but we bought buttered popcorn and a bag of Reese's Pieces instead- great flavor combo. Service was friendly. Our food was ready in about 20 minutes. We will return for another show or movie.

Grant Donnelly

Grant Donnelly

a year ago

We came here on opening weekend of the Barbie movie and they really went all out for it- full on decorations, a custom Barbie drink menu, a Barbie box Photo Booth- it really added to the experience and fun of the show. Aside from the special event, this place has a great set up- movies, a bar, and pizza with plenty of places to sit and eat and lounge with friends. The seats inside the theatre and super comfy, some chairs in the back even have tables to put food if you order pizza for the show, the prices for drinks and popcorn I thought were reasonable for a movie theatre, and it was air conditioned but not so much that I was freezing throughout the show. After the show we got pizza and headed upstairs on the outdoor balcony which was a lot of fun. We got the Greek salad and the Swarm pizza which was a spicy pepperoni with a honey drizzle. The pizza was well balanced with spice and cooked well. They also had plenty of substitutions available so a vegan or vegetarian would be happy here as they have plant based meats and cheeses if you want those instead. Our food was made quickly- we waited maybe 15 minutes for it to arrive. The last thing I’ll mention is the people working there seem to be having fun (many dressed up for the Barbie show) and they seemed to collaborate and enjoy working together. Overall a real fun place to watch a show. Will return!

Luke Knapke

Luke Knapke

3 years ago

Great way to keep an old historic movie theater relevant. Impressive selection of beers and great atmosphere inside. The chairs could stand to be a little taller so you can lean your head back but overall high quality experience watching for my first time at this place. Price was reasonable for a new release movie. Temperature was comfortable. They had snacks and popcorn available as well. Probably the biggest downside is trying to find parking. Overall really sweet retro theater.

Contact Information

3055 Indianola Ave, Columbus, OH 43202, USA

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Opening Hours

Monday: 3:30 PM – 2:30 AM
Tuesday: 3:30 PM – 2:30 AM
Wednesday: 3:30 PM – 2:30 AM
Thursday: 3:30 PM – 2:30 AM
Friday: 3:30 PM – 2:30 AM
Saturday: 3:30 PM – 2:30 AM
Sunday: 3:30 PM – 2:30 AM

Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.8
Total Reviews1263
Recent Reviews5