Are You Getting the Most Out of Sanpete Movie?

Nobody wants to see a $7 movie on the big screen. So when a plan was made to bring Sanpete Movie back, people were excited and optimistic that it would become their go-to destination for movies. Turns out, they were wrong. There are plenty of other theaters in Sanpete County that show much better quality films for less money than Sanpete Movie does, so finding yourself here might not be your best option if you want quality entertainment.

1. The Screen

Sanpete Movie’s screen size is the first and most obvious flaw when comparing it to other movie theaters. It’s enormous, taking up a large portion of the viewing area. But if you look behind the screen, and in a dark room, you’ll notice that it’s almost more of a screen-and-half. There is a large chunk missing from the bottom of it, leaving about 2/3 of the viewable area for the audience. This may not be an issue for some people, but $7 movies are generally made to be seen on smaller screens with slightly better quality than that of home theaters. You may not be able to see what’s happening on the screen clearly, but you will be able to see it. And while the experience is different, there are still a lot of movies that would have been better on a smaller screen.

2. Pricing

Sanpete Movie was originally going to be $11 per person, and that’s what you used to pay when you purchased tickets in advance. Ticket prices have gone up recently (as they should any time there’s a movie in town), but the price for a Sanpete Movie ticket has increased from $11 to nearly $12 per person, with inflation included. That’s still more than what you’ll be paying at the other theaters, so if you’re looking for a value, stay away from Sanpete Movie. You can find deals constantly at the other theaters, giving you a much better value for your movie dollar. 

3. The Food

The food is actually pretty good here, but it’s overpriced by quite a bit. The only thing that could be considered cheap would be the popcorn, and even that costs $4 per bag for small size, which is smaller than even other small cinemas. If you want actual food though (you know, something to eat instead of popcorn), then expect to pay up to $7 per meal at Sanpete Movie.

4. The Location

Sanpete Movie is located on the main strip (University Ave.), right off of Main Street, not far from the Sanpete County Fairgrounds. If this location sounds familiar, then that’s because they’re a couple of buildings away from the Sanpete 11 Theater and an office building that a lot of people would use to get to the theater. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you’re coming from outside of Sanpete County or have limited time, this location might be considered somewhat inconvenient.

5. The Selection

If you check out the theaters’ website, they will tell you that they offer all the “latest releases” on their large screen. That’s an interesting way to put it, considering that they’re missing out on more than a few movies and have been for quite some time. If you’re not willing to visit the other Sanpete County cinema options, then this won’t matter too much to you anyway. But if you want a wide selection of films, and don’t want to watch something outdated or mediocre, then look elsewhere for your big-screen entertainment.

6. The Exhibits

This theater does have a little bit of an art exhibit on their website, but it’s not really much to talk about. It’s just a picture of some shelves with shirts on them and some movie posters. I don’t think that being in a theater should be about the arts, and this one sure doesn’t represent the best way to do it. The selection at Sanpete Movie is definitely rarer than other theaters around, but that doesn’t mean that the films are much better or even worth paying full price for them. There are more options in other theaters for the same price, so if you’re looking for a great value, then stay away from Sanpete Movie.

7. The Staff

The staff seems to be very enthusiastic in their job at Sanpete Movie, but they could use some improvement. They will often stand around while people are ordering their food or waiting for their ticket to show up in the machine. And when they’re helping out with other things (such as bringing food orders, checking tickets out of the machines and such), they act like it’s a big inconvenience to them.

Summary:

Sanpete Movie is a fine theater, but there are so many other theaters to choose from that are much better. It’s going to take a lot of hard work for them to put themselves back on the map, as they have sat around and lost people over the years. The prices and selection just aren’t worth paying for at their current prices, especially when you consider how much better quality theaters are available for the same price. If you’re looking for an originality in movie options around here or want to watch something amazing, then you should keep looking elsewhere.