Wilton Town Hall Theatre

I need to start coming here way more often. Great arthouse theater out in a NH mill town. It will cost you $ 7 to get in, and you can buy popcorn and a can of soda for less than $ 5. Plus they sell all kinds of Klondike Bars and candy, all for cheap. I last went on New Year’s Eve, and the same guy was selling tickets and the concessions.
Plus, they play indie arthouse movies I usually have to drive into Boston and pay $ 13 to see. I wish it was a little closer to my house, but that’s hardly their fault.

This theater is awesome! Stopped in to break up a long drive to north conway. Theater is charming as is the only employee (? Owner). He was so genuine and welcoming, even offering to allow us to watch another movie later in the day because we had arrived late. Popcorn is delicious. Movie choices are awesome. This place is a gem with real historic charm.

If I were a movie theatre, this would be me. This place has it all!
Beautiful building
Good Acoustics
Classic Décor
TONS of seltzer (they even have Banana flavor!)
A wonderfully petite and beautiful theatre with an array of films to suit everyone’s needs. I love that they show Independent Films as well as the Blockbuster’s. There’s something for everyone! Also the staff is friendly and welcoming!

Easily my favorite movie theater in NH. So old fashioned and small, but still running film! Denis is the best, and if you want he’s usually up for talking movies. Prices are excellent (active military free btw), and the concessions are priced fairly as well.
The really beautiful thing about the Wilton is the atmosphere. This place reminds you of the good old days (which I wasn’t even around for) when there seemed to be a movie theater around every corner.

ENTERING…
The nostalgia starts as you begin walking up the creaky wooden stairs to the second floor which opens up to a small lobby and concession stand with a screening room to your left and a larger theatre to your right. The two screens generally start their showings at the same time, so a line may accumulate if it’s a busy weekend evening. You’ll be asked to purchase your ticket in one line to the left and then your concessions in another line to the right, which may be confusing at first since it’s all behind the same counter. With adult tickets for $ 6 and the most expensive concession at $ 4(?) — you can have a great date night for $ 20– just make sure to bring your cash, or else you’ll be heading back across the street to the ATM. If you have someone with you– one of you should head into the theatre to grab a good seat while the other waits in line– because it can get crowded quickly.
CONCESSIONS…
This is one of the reasons I drive out of my way to see a movie at the Wilton. The real pink lemonade with lemons and cranberry juice and the melt-​in-​your-​mouth real buttered popcorn make me wish they would just open up a lemonade and popcorn stand that I could visit whenever I have the craving. Here’s how you KNOW it’s real butter– unlike oil which just slides over popcorn– real butter actually melts the popcorn as it goes in hot. They also have coffee, tea, some ice cream bars and a pretty decent selection of canned sodas and candy.
SCREENS…
Unlike typical cinemas where the front row of seats is far too close to be comfortable to view a movie– you can actually sit in the front row at either screen and still enjoy the experience. I actually prefer the movie experience slightly more in the smaller screening room. The seats are more comfortable than the larger room’s seats, they are all aligned right in front of the screen, plus the seats have a little tray which pulls up in front of you like an old school desk to rest your snacks on. The larger room has an aisle down the center and both sides– which makes getting in or out during the movie easier (in case you have someone with you who might need a mid-​movie exit.) Occasionally the larger room will show a short black & white film instead of previews before the movie begins– which makes you feel like you’ve really stepped back in time– especially when the large red curtain opens and closes between shows. My recommendation for the larger theatre is to sit closer rather than further — the screen is fairly small for the size of the room and even though it’s elevated, the experience is better with less distractions in front of you. Both rooms are air-​conditioned in the summer with window units, and occasionally have oscillating fans to help circulate the air. This is only a mild noise distraction at first and often is forgotten as soon as the surround sound kicks in.
LOVE…
More than anything, you get the sense that everyone here cares about a great movie experience– and that’s what makes Wilton a five star experience. It shows interesting movies– some independent and some that might appear in larger theatres for a short run, but often meaningful and carefully selected. It’s not the most modern or luxurious theatre– but what it does have– is lots of love.

It’s hard to beat the last Sunday of the month free silent movies. Jeff Rapsis of the HippoPress improvises live music to accompany the film.
Even though the admission is technically free, don’t be a piker. Put a donation in the jar and buy some popcorn at the concession stand. At $ 3 for a large bucket, it’s still a deal.

This is about as good as it gets for movie buffs like me. Unless you’re local, you have to go out of your way to see movies here but it is most definitely worth it. Reminds me of watching indie movies in rural VT theaters — like the Wilton Town Hall Theatre, they were usually converted old buildings. This place has a great vibe and is definitely worth the trip.
I highly recommend.