Clearview: First and 62nd Cinemas

Closed.
Replaced as a Manhattan Storage site.

Regular price $ 14

I’m surprised this place is still in business (I’m glad it is because it’s convenient and cheaper than most other places I’ve gone to). Once you purchase your ticket, pray to the movie gods your movie is in the first or second theater. If not, enjoy spending fifteen minutes riding escalators to the top of the building for theaters 5 and 6. Be sure to stop along the way for concessions and bathrooms because the top floor has neither. They do have a rewards card that can earn you free food and movie tickets the more you visit. The card can be used while purchasing tickets or concessions — sort of a neat concept!
The theater was practically empty on this monday afternoon and we had a personal announcement from a staff member before the movie started about where to go if we had to use the bathroom. He was funny and I actually enjoyed the personal touch before the movie started. The screen was big and the seats were comfortable. The drink holders (like stadiums) were attached to the seat in front of you, so you could actually rest your arm entirely on the arm rest. #winning. Besides that, there were only 2 other people in the theater with us (and one walked out) so we really had our own private film screening.
What’s really important here is that this is a cheaper theater in a great location for people in the Upper East Side below the 80s, and if you can get over the empty and abandoned vibe to the building, you’ll really find this to be a hidden gem.

Nice and clean. Love this hideaway place that never has a line!

There’s kind of a pathetic vibe in the air of this place. It being farther from a subway than other theaters is not really a problem to me; you can’t fault it for that. It’s the atmosphere. I saw The Muppets there in December 2011, and not only was our room practically empty, but my friend and I had the feeling like we had the entire multiplex to ourselves.
I can’t explain it exactly, but unlike other Clearview locations, this movie house just feels like it has a crushing low self-​esteem.

This is a fine example of how desperately in need all of the theaters above 42^nd Street are for some serious renovation.
Here is a list of the several reasons you should just avoid this theater unless you are stuck in the area and desperate for a movie:
— way out of the way uptown by the water on the east side
— the last time I went they had a «C» health inspection grade
— the seats are old and uncomfortable
— no stadium seating
— stupid layout with way too many floors and bathrooms on random alternating floors
How do you get a «C» health inspection grade for a movie theater? I’m guessing it was the hot dogs, like the ones Apu had at the Kwik-​E-​Mart, so stay away.

Like everyone has said. This location is off. It’s in a random place. Totally out of the way for virtually everyone. But the only reason anybody comes here is because we’re Optimum members and our local Clearview theatres outsell every Tuesday in seconds.
When I go to my local CV, I can go hours ahead of the show and it’ll STILL be sold out. Here, I can show up five minutes before a show and easily get two tickets.
They’re a million floors for no reason and the escalators are obnoxious.
There’s no reason to come here except for Free Tuesday.
They charge an arm and a leg for fucking snacks!

Too crowded and people talk way too much!
BEFORE and DURING the movies.
It’s really ridiculous!
And we’re talking a large amount of people, not just one or two.
And a couple times during the movie, there were people coming in looking for seats, and they were not quiet!
Worst movie theater I’ve been to in terms of neglecting the «silence is golden» rule.
The actual theater screen and seating layouts are quite weird too.
The seats are hard.

Not the best theater in the world, but clearly not the worst. I have been here a few times years ago for Movie screenings. It is a bit of a walk from the train station, but not really i mean you will get there soon enough. It is more just near almost nothing else, so actually the walk from the train station is not that bad, only Dangerfields comedy club and a few restaurants near by are the options for the area.
I did come recently for the movie TED. It was really enjoyable. It does look a bit outdated compared to most other theaters. One of the theaters that are part of the Optimum Rewards Tuesday night movie deal, SO Happy Free Movie Tuesdays to you. Alot less crowded than the one on 23^rd street.
*Also just saw, The Bourne Legacy here in August.
–have the optimum rewards card that gives me free movies at clearview cinemas on tuesday nights, two tickets for free and the others at $ 7 or some discounted price…

This Clearview Cinemas is Okay, The main lobby looks like crap, and it is a couple of blocks away from the nearest train station. Inside the theater where the movie is playing is pretty nice and cool especially on hot days like today. The theater wasn’t as crowded for a Tuesday. It’s usually alot of people because of the Optimum Rewards card, free tickets on tuesdays and discounted tickets every day except Tuesday.
I would say take advantage of the Optimum Reward Card free tickets, but my favorite clearview cinemas theater is Chelsea Cinemas.

Clearview Cinemas are usually dumpy. This one is no exception. However, if you have an Optimum rewards card, you can see movies for free on Tuesdays at Clearviews, and also get serious discounts on other days. My friend bought us tickets to a 3D movie using her Optimum rewards card and it knocked off $ 5 from each of our tickets… pretty sweet!
This theater was totally not crowded on a holiday, and the workers were rather friendly. It’s definitely not the nicest but it’s worth going to if you can get discounts, or if you want to avoid crowds…

I love this theater! Though after digging through a bunch of movie theater reviews on Unilocal,I realized that a lot of it probably has to do with your own personal preferences/​priorities. So let me tell you mine:
1. Popcorn. It’s actually half the reason I go to movies.
2. Not crowded.
3. Decent screen size, theater setup, all of that.
4. Cleanliness.
I don’t want to see 3D movies in IMAX, I don’t want speakers so loud they rattle my bones, etc etc. Worst of all, I become furious, absolutely enraged, when I pay $ 15 for a movie ticket, show up 15 minutes early (which for me is a heroic accomplishment), get into the theater… and the only seats left are these crazy ones at the very front where you have to crank your neck back at a 90 degree angle and look up the characters’ noses. WHY OH WHY DO THOSE SEATS EXIST AND WHY AM I PAYING FULL PRICE FOR ONE??? Hate! Hate! (Cough cough, AMC Loews, cough…)
Maybe the point is that I’m an old fuddy-​duddy and so this theater is perfect for me. Probably. But first of all, the popcorn is fabulous, just absolutely wonderful! Lots of pump-​yer-​own butter too. Secondly, I think empty-​ish is great. You don’t have to show up an hour early or pay extra to use Fandango? You can take whichever seat you want? How is this not awesome? Also, other reviewers make it sound like this place is run-​down or something, but it’s really not at all. Screens are large, picture quality is great, seats are nice and comfy… the whole thing seems pretty well-​maintained.
I mean, sure, I love shiny new multiplexes with all the bells and whistles. I really do. If we lived in suburbia, I’d be there in a heartbeat. But when those theaters get crowded, like they do in epic NYC fashion, the whole experience really goes downhill. I think this theater is such a nice compromise.
And the escalators? If you end up at the wrong set, just go around to the other side. You know, like a true New Yorker does.

This place is a total, inefficient dump. The only thing good here was the popcorn.
So we bought our tickets in advance thinking the theater would be packed on opening weekend, but I think there were only 6 people in the theater.
Reasons I DO NOT like this theater:
1) This place is creepy and eerily empty. I have no idea how it is in business.
2) The seats are uncomfortable and as others have mentioned, are not «stadium style».
3) The bathrooms are smelly and gross.
4) The theater charges $ 13.25 for adult tickets while other theaters in the area charge $ 13.00. Yeah it’s only 25 cents but the principal here is what is important: you are paying more money for a worse movie-​going experience.
Definitely won’t be coming back…

I can’t give this place more then 3 stars let me explain why. The location is a little annoying to get to because it’s on first it feels as if you are going the wrong way when you get off the 6 train. When I went here once the movie we were watching shut off and we had to wait for thirty minutes for it to start up again. It was as if the film burned, needless to say we got free movie vouchers. What I like about this place is that you go on Tuesdays free with the optima rewards card and every other day $ 7.00. I would never pay the full price to see a movie here. It’s one of those theaters you go to just because you are living in that neighborhood. I honestly would have never knew about this place if I didn’t have the card.
:BATHROOM ALERT: Yes, you guessed it their bathroom’s are gross. I suggest going to the bathrooms that are on the higher floors because for some reason those are always the cleanest.
I honestly recommend going to the Chelsea Cleaview if your a rewards member, their screens seem to be much better then those at the 1^st and 62^nd cinemas. I find that this theaters seat setup is a bit snug, thankfully I am short. I notice that a lot of people that are much taller look rather funny sitting down.
I haven’t had any problem with the staff everyone seems to be nice. It’s always the same ticket guy collecting your stubs and he always looks happy to let you know which floor your movie is on and I enjoy that. A good tip about this place for rewards members is that tickets are hardly sold out on Tuesdays as opposed to the 23^rd street clearview.

As an Optimum Rewards member, I make sure to get my perks. However, the Chelsea clearview cinema is 1000x times better. If you go here on a Tuesday night, you better:
1) Have your tickets bought way in advance (like Monday)
2) Be prepared to stand in a long line with a bunch of teens cutting
3) Watch a movie with terrible sound (it cuts off in the middle of the movie)
4) If god forbid you want to go to the bathroom during previews, be prepared to be entangled in a mess. The escalators all go up or all go down. If you choose to take the stairs instead, you will find the door locked. Be prepared to bang away to make the security notice.
However, I paid $ 0, so it gets 2 stars instead of 0.

actually not bad at all. Yes it has a weird but convenient location.
— There are many food spots around the theater.
–It’s always clean when I go and the hours tend to vary.
–Nice staff
–Good movies
–I always get to see the new movies here! Never crowded. (except once)
Con — sometimes the bathrooms are eeek!

Awww… leave my ghetto movie theatre alone! =)
Sure, it’s a labyrinth and there is always something odd — last time I went, the ticketmaster was so nervous about sending us to the right theatre it made me nervous! But then 2 levels down I went to buy a Diet Coke and was offered free Raisnets or Goobers… awww…didn’t take them but they are friendly.
Given this is an Optimum Rewards theatre you get a lot of cheap weirdos using their discount cards… and so many people see movies they wouldn’t usually see. Meaning you will likely be entertained by not just the movie but a proper UES woman getting into with a ghetto fab lady about texting during the movie. There is also ALWAYS a crying baby in the theatre.
But I still love this place… it’s how NY should be! =)

To be honest I’m not sure how this theater is still open. For one thing their is never anyone here and the people that are here are usually very, very old and somewhat confused. The seating is all level which is awful if a tall person is in front of you but that would mean that there was someone in front of you.
Another problem is it’s like a maze, really narrow one way escalators and concessions and restrooms all on different floors makes for a true adventure. Trust me you will get confused at one point and try to go up a down escalator.
Worst issue I faced here is that the elderly patrons wander around after their movie to see others for free, now I have no prob with this as I do it myself. However the problem came when 5 minutes before the end of «Don’t be Afraid of the Dark» a group of old Russian folks wandered in and started talking loudly in Russian and stumbling over the 5 other people in the theater. My shhhhh’s went unheeded.
After that I went into the theater showing Colombiana and it was like a meat locker, they def had the AC on too high. A guy behind me said «When was this theater built 1973?» My sentiments exactly.
Positive is if you have your Optimum card and want to see free movies on tuesday you can get in no problem as opposed to the Chelsea which becomes a whole other world on tuesdays.

If it were possible to give a place 0 stars I would. I went here to see Company, only 1 of 4 showings. There was trouble with the film so the movie was never shown. The staff waited 30 min before making any announcement about problems, and then after an hour cancelled the
showing. My complaints/​questions are these:
1 why wait until the showing to check that everything is working? I don’t know if the film for this was different from normal but if it was why not do a test run to make sure everything was working as it should?
2 when you’ve cancelled a show and now have approximately 200 angry people waiting for a refund, KEEP ALL YOUR REGISTERS OPEN!
3 refund the service fee along with the movie. It was just adding insult to injury to withhold that.
I appreciate getting a refund and free movie passes since my friend and I were unable to go to any other showings, but this experience was so bad I definitely will not be returning to this cinema.

Hahahaha, OK, now my experience makes sense. After reading other Unilocal reviews of this place, I really shouldn’t be surprised.
1) The cashier mistakenly sold us $ 9 senior citizen tickets
(OK, kinda cool, I guess, maybe a bit of a discount?)
2) Doorman nazi has a fit that we are not, in fact, senior citizens. Uh, hate to break it to you buddy but have you heard of company error? You screwed the pooch on this one, not us.
(scuffle and discussion between cashier and doorman)
3) Movie starts, myself and 2 friends still in line
4) 10 minutes into the movie, now 2 «managers» are involved and say we need to fill out forms for a refund, then re-​purchase the tickets
5) I go ape shit
6) They give us 3 free admission tickets
Now, I realize this isn’t exactly the Four Seasons of movie theaters. It might not even be the Days Inn. But, COME ON! Not only did you just lose $ 40 in revenue, you had to GIVE AWAY 3 tickets!
Keep up the great work guys.