Penn Cinema Riverfront IMAX

There was literally one person working so the concession line took forever. Nobody was at the bar to help us, which is the main reason why we go her. Once we got into the theatre, there was sound but nothing was playing. About 15 – 20 minutes into the movie, a large group of teenagers walked in without paying (I’m assuming they know someone who works at the theatre) and smelled like weed. Nobody in the theatre would shut the fuck up. We walked out.

I love this theater! Best movie theater in the Wilmington/​Newark area. My family and I watched Captain America Civil War in IMAX 3D. The theater was very clean, and the seats were big and comfortable. The seats even reclined. The bath were sparkling and well kept. With the self serve kiosks they do seem to understaffed, but the snacked line movie pretty quickly. Plus serving local beers, that why I’m giving them 5 stars!

Ok guys… Let’s get it together. This is still a very nice newer place to enjoy a movie and you have the IMAX theater to draw in crowds but please management, keep your eye on the ball! I went recently to a late night movie and I noticed very messy floors and facilities. I know it was the end of the night but still… The staff needs to be do a better job of keeping the place clean at all times.
Don’t let this place get run down… You have too much competition in the area with all the theater options !

This theather was once nice… Especially being located out on the waterfront. Now, it is just right down hill, (I hate to use this term) ghetto.
Seemingly, short staffed. Needs more employees to move the efficiency of volume. Which in my opinion is the cause of late show times. Airing was at 8 on the dot and was not able to be seated until half a hour later. Usually you would be able to make yourself comfortable 20 minutes prior. Unfortunately, only 1 member was cleaning the auditorium taking his sweet old time. Ummm hello?!? Time crunch? Chop chop!
I understand that it’s not their fault for young mindless behavior. However, it’s past 10 on a Sunday and there are preteens hanging out in the lobby starting commotion and a fight ready to be happening.
Not as clean as it used to be before.
Ticket prices are quite ridiculous.
The only pro’s are the IMAX Experience and comfy seats. Other than that… Horrible.
I rather stick to Cinemark Christiana.

Someone got shot there a few months ago so… yeah i might not go back at night

It is no wonder movie theaters are having problems filling seats. They built this nice theater on the waterfront and the IMAX was cool. The seats were very comfortable. The bathroom and the theater were very clean. But the ticket prices. I nearly fainted. $ 20 per ticket? I feel like I am getting old. No wonder there were only 10 people in the theater.
So these places make their money off of food sales is what I have been told. Then they should keep the concession booth open while the movies are playing so customers can buy food and drinks. I got a large popcorn (for $ 8) and was told there are free refills. What the employee failed to tell me was that they would be closing at the begining of the movie. So I was told free refills but not able to get one 15 minutes after the movie started. It doesn’t seem too complicated to have one employee available to make popcorn and sell food and drinks until the place closes. Actually they had the popcorn popped, but dumped it out so they could get their cleaning done.

The prices are the only thing holding this place back from 5 stars. Seriously, two tickets, a large popcorn, and two sodas will probably run you to around $ 40. I am a big fan of cinema, and Penn Cinema is the perfect place to enjoy a film. I’ve been here three times (This is the End, Amazing Spider-​Man 2, and Ex Machina) and I had a great experience at all three (well except for AS2 but that’s only because the movie sucked). Trust me, I’ve worked at a certain movie theater in Newark that is now closed (shocker) and this is a very nice movie theater. They also have a self-​serving butter station for your popcorn, so if you want to kick it at 50, marinate your popcorn for 45 seconds. The seats are also the nice and comfiest seats of any theater I’ve ever been to.
Penn Cinema is great for Wilmington. It’s right off I-​95, and has some nice restaurants surrounding it (Iron Hill Brewery, Harry’s Seafood, Joe’s Crab Shack). If you’re OK with paying for quality, go to Penn Cinema on the Riverfront.

New and clean… Friendly staff! Let’s hop they keep it that way. I do appreciate its close proximity to the mall. Staff was friendly and helpful

Just saw Jurassic World there Sunday night at 10 pm and was late getting into the theater because I had to wait in line for 20 minutes to get tickets and missed the beginning of the movie. I’ve had positive experiences there in the past, but this time was disgusting. There was trash all over the place before and after the movie. For how good the screen and IMAX is there, the facility itself should be cared for more.

Loved the actual cinema. Hated the nearly 25 minute wait at the concession stand. The staff was doing their best, but there needed to be more of them. If you’re charging $ 20 for popcorn and two sodas, please take the sting out of it by not making me stand in line for so long to get it. Im not complaining about the prices as I am well aware that theaters keep next to nothing of the ticket sales, I’m just asking for good service.

I brought friends to this cinema for the first time to see jurassic park in 3d. The worst 3d experience of my life. Movie was all fuzzy instead of 3d. If you are not going to use the imax theather, just watch the movie in standard version. 3d is not 3d… neither me or my friends enjoyed the movie…

Bad customer service. Told two different groups of people that we were wrong about a movie screening time. We found it in various places online. I called ahead and asked if there was a screening at that time, I was told yes. The manager we spoke to did not apologize for the mistake and confusion, instead tried to find any way possible that it was our mistake and not theirs. Even told me I called the wrong theater but I showed him the phone number I called which was their number. Just really disappointed that they could not admit that a mistake was made and instead blamed us for our confusion.

Positives. Clean. New seats, flip down arm rests. Almost sterile. Reward program.
Neutral comment: Does it bother anyone else that despite Penn supposedly being part of the owners name, Delaware is branded with Penn? (Yes more of a question).
Negatives… Constantly showing new films in 3D. The 2D option during openings is on a small screen.
All purchases are kiosk based. You can’t ask a kiosk how many seats are left so you are buying your tickets blind. You can’t ask a kiosk what size screen is biggest among duplicate showings.
You can’t purchase tickets via Costco or BJ’s like large chains.

On the way back from Philadelphia to DC, my wife and I stopped here because it was right off of highway 95 S. The theater is on the riverfront (hence the name) and there is a lot of cool development going on nearby so this place will be even cooler in a few years. The theater itself is clean and offers a lot of different time slots to see your favorite movie. I recommend going here if you’re in the area!

This place is only getting 2 stars purely because it’s the ONLY «nice» theater around. Cinemark just opened up at Christiana and I’m sure that’ll be the one we frequent. Penn cinema has had awful customer service since we found them. The ticket machines outside are always broken and no sign is ever posted. So, you waste 5 – 10 minutes figuring this out for yourself before walking inside to be told it’s out of service. Second, the concession stand is incredibly small, undertrained, and understaffed. The employees have no sense of urgency and this keeps lines LONG. I’ve only ever seen 3 employees behind the counter at once.
The theaters themselves are nice. Still small though. The seats are comfortable and everything appears to be clean.
I feel like the frustration that comes with going to this theater is not worth the ticket prices and the slow service. You risk missing your movies opening scene regardless of how early you arrive. Every. Single. Time.

The theatre is large with comfortable stadium seating. Arm rest with space between chairs to place your popcorn to share. Cup holders are well made and don;t sag under the weight of your drink.
Tickets are east to get at the concession stand; This makes it a one stop to get refreshments and your tickets.
Staff are friendly and courteous. The place is also kept clean; no sticky floors or seats. Large amount of parking and easy to get there by the waterfront off 95.

Getting tickets is super easy using their kiosks, I took me two minutes tops. The theater is kept pretty clean and the staff is nice. The theater rooms are great Huge screens (duh it’s an IMAX), reclinable seats & spacious arm rests. Always a great movie experience.

This one of two fine theaters I have been to. The other being Collegeville’s Movie Tavern.
The ticket sales are convenient and supplied by vending machines or at the concession stand, no need for additional lines. The Theater is minimalistic in its design and yet effective. It is always clean and never jam packed. They always have a good selection of movies playing, but they could use some more Indie films. The IMAX experience is great and the 3D (even tho unneccesary at times) is a great feature. Btw, Pacific Rim in IMAX 3D was explosive. I didn’t have any issues with their 3D glasses being dirty, if anything they had a couple water drops from being cleaned prior.
The seating is fantastic! There is plenty of leg room and the chairs recline without interfering with those behind you. The armrests can be moved so you can be a bit more intimate with your significant other or make a stranger uncomfortable.
The picture and audio quality is great. Audiophiles and Videophiles will be pleased.
The food was pretty good, I was never impressed with movie theater food in the first place. I don’t go to movie theaters to eat, thats just too many senses in action.
Overall, Im glad Wilmington has a Penn Cinema. I love coming here for movies.

I’ve gotta say, I was sold on the Riverfront IMAX long before last night’s experience. With every experience being positive thus far, this spiffy new theater was already careening towards a five-​star rave as-​is. And then, the wife and I had the smallest of issues, and the fine folks who work there bent over backwards, entirely unprovoked, to rectify the situation.
Folks, I’m not a complainer. My wife isn’t a complainer. When issues arrive, we pleasantly inquire about them without being pushy, because, hey — stuff happens. Obviously, people as a whole aren’t like this; people as a whole feel entitled to premiums and perks at the mere whiff of a slight inconvenience. It’s one of the drawbacks of a «customer is always right» society. (Bear with me, I’m going somewhere with this.)
So last night, with a night off, the wife and I settled in to an empty theater to watch the new horror movie du jour «You’re Next». It didn’t start right away. We waited a few minutes, and then I walked off to inquire. Now, this was our seventh or eighth visit to this theater. We’re familiar enough with the establishment that we knew late start times weren’t the norm; we just kinda slipped through the cracks this once. SO not a big deal.
Imagine my surprise when the staff goes into overdrive to accommodate two calm, smiling, entirely unoffended patrons. We’re treated to gratis popcorn, a staff member chats film with us for a few minutes while minor technical glitches are resolved, and we’re greeted after the film by a manager who insists on offering us two free passes for the «trouble». We demanded nothing; they’re just that hardcore about making sure people leave with a smile. I respect that.
And, it’s important to note, this was the first time we experienced anything less than 100% at this particular theater. It’s clean, it’s quiet, it’s accessible, it’s located in great proximity to Riverfront attractions, both IMAX and regular screens are presented in gorgeous HD, their sound game is terrific. The worst thing we’ve ever experienced at this theater? «World War Z». And that’s Brad Pitt’s fault, not Penn Cinema’s.
So, to reiterate, this is my new theater of choice. Seen a number of shows without experiencing a single issue; the lone issue was not merely resolved, but fully negated, erased by the efficiency and friendliness of the staff. Kudos to you, Penn Cinema Riverfront IMAX; you’ve kicked Regal and Cinemark to the curb handily.

I wanted to see the movie Life of Pi 3D but the theaters around me weren’t playing it anymore. This theater just opened up at the Riverfront in downtown Wilmington, Delaware this month and I was a little disappointed with it. When I was looking for a place to park I noticed the theater bought about 3 other parking lots around the Riverfront (there were those sandwich board type of signs and half of them were blown over.) There used to be a «park and ride» for the Dart buses in one lot but I didn’t see it there anymore. So, I parked in a lot directly across from the front doors. When I was walking across the street, in the crosswalk, a ghetto looking woman almost mowed me down. I even pointed at the «Pedestrian Walk — State Law Sign» to her and she rolled her window down to curse at me as she drove by with her children in the car. Classy.
When I walked into the theater I saw a huge concession stand; I didn’t buy anything because the tickets were already too much money. There are about 3 or 4 ticket kiosks inside and I think 3 outside (by the front door). There was only 1 girl behind a desk in the front lobby. Since I bought my tickets from
(like I usually do) the girl asked for my confirmation number so she could type it into the computer to print the tickets out. I gave her my cell so she could read the long number. This is not going to be a smooth way to do things if this place ever gets busy.
I wanted to use the bathroom before I went into the theater. I had to ask someone where it was because it was tucked away on the right side of the front lobby behind another wall. The door was very hard to open; I’m not sure someone in a wheel chair or the elderly will be able to get the door open. Plus it was really cramped with only 4 stalls. Yet the men’s bathroom in the front lobby was clearly marked plus it didn’t even have a door to it. With the amount of money the owner (s) paid to have this place built, you would think they would have thought of everything before building.
I gave the tickets to the ticket taker and he told me where to go. I understand this place is new but the hallways are sort of creepy and there was some wheel chair ramp behind the ticket taker that went up to a door, which I assume is an office but it looked so out of place and sort of an eye sore.
I did like their little digital movie posters next to each theater door. I went into theater 11 (which wasn’t really clearly marked compared to the other theaters.) The steps inside the theater were sort of steep. When I chose the seat I wanted (top row, center) I did like that the chairs were rockers. But because they are so new, they squeaked when you rocked in them and I didn’t want to bother anyone so I didn’t get to really rock. It was rather warm in there, like almost uncomfortable at times. Most other theaters have little ads or whatever playing as you walk in before the movie started. This one didn’t have anything, just a blank screen. The movie was supposed to start at 2:25 PM but at 2:28 PM ads started playing for local businesses in the area. I do like that Penn Cinema is on board with the local restaurants and businesses in the area, all sort of helping each other out; since the Riverfront has been struggling for years. But I didn’t like how late the movie actually started.
I noticed that, during the movie, no staff members came in to check the emergency door. I’ve been to other theaters and a staff member always comes into the theater to check the emergency door while the movie is playing. I can see this place will have some safety concerns if it is ever packed.
I’ve been to other IMAX places before and this one really didn’t live up to them. And for the prices of 2 tickets being almost $ 30 is ridiculous. I’m honestly not sure will be back.
EDIT: I left a comment on their facebook with a link to my review, next thing I know their general manager, Kareem Edwards, contacts me on facebook asking me to give them a second chance. He agreed about the bathroom door that I commented about on here and said their contractors were looking into it. He gave me a contact number for him, which I called a couple times with no answer. Him suggesting I give them another chance after spending $ 30 on 2 tickets with no coupons or intensive… I guess I’m not going back there.