As someone who lives in Milwaukee and goes to the movie theater like it's my job, here is my ranking of every theater in the area.

As someone who lives in Milwaukee and goes to the movie theater like it's my job, here is my ranking of every theater in the area. Full disclosure, I have never been to Ridge and I have never been to Rosebud. So if you like either of those theaters, I'm sorry. Honorable mention to one of my favorites, this would have cracked my top five, but Marcus Southgate. Was it a little trashy? Yes. Did it have its charm? Also, yes. I miss this theater. And not so honorable mentioned ACX. This was the theater that was open for like five days at the Bayshore Mall. Imagine a movie theater in the middle of Dave and Buster's. If that doesn't make sense to you, well, then you understand why it closed. It was not a good theater. All right, on to the official rankings. At my nine spot, give me the Times. Don't get it twisted. I am the biggest believer in charm theaters, the ones that have two screens, a small little concession stand. Those are the most fun to me, but I just could not escape reality in the actual auditorium. It felt like I was watching a movie in someone's basement. For my Times truthers, I will give it another chance if you think I'm wrong. At number eight, give me the AMC at the Mayfair Mall. And I know someone's going to comment, oh, it's the only IMAX screen in the area. I would argue that almost any super screen at a Marcus or seeing the movie on 70 millimeter at a theater at the top of this list is going to be way better than that IMAX. It is truly an awful IMAX screen. I have the Downer theater at seven, but no bullshit, I think that one day this will be at the one spot. It's very similar to the Times where there's two screens, a very small concession stand, there's a ticket booth outside. It has that perfect charm, but the theaters, the actual auditoriums, provide an immersive experience. The cherry on top and why I think the Downer will reach the number one spot is because they just got bought by Milwaukee Film who has done an unbelievable job with the Oriental and I have no doubt that they're going to build something special with the Downer. The next three theaters are pretty interchangeable. They all provide a pretty uniform, solid experience. I'd say that I watch most of my movies on the big screen at these three, and that's North Shore, Movie Tavern, and South Shore. Again, I don't think you can go wrong with any of these three theaters, but if you're looking for a specific value prop, I'd say the Movie Tavern, you get the best bang for your buck. At North Shore, you get the best crowds, and at South Shore, you get the best movie selection. But clearing away, the best Marcus theater, the one that stands above the rest of them, is Majestic out in Brookfield. If you've been to this movie theater, you know exactly what I'm talking about. You open those doors and you enter a new world. The place is huge. When I think of the magic of the movie theater and the theaters that I grew up with and what I pictured movie theaters being like when I was a kid, I think of theaters like Majestic of Brookfield. Also, shout out Greg. At my two spot, give me Avalon. I know this isn't going to make any sense, but they have the best popcorn in Milwaukee and I would argue they have the best auditorium in Milwaukee, but it still isn't as cool as the Oriental. If you've been here, you know exactly what I'm talking about. When you go to the Oriental, it is the perfect definition of a vent cinema. You feel it the second you walk through those doors. Not only can you feel the history of the theater and the history of cinema, but you can also just feel the love and passion that everyone working there has for movie theaters. And every customer, every person sitting in a seat in that auditorium, cares about movies and the movie theater experience. If you live here and have not been to the Oriental, please check it out.