4. Metropolitan Arlington - Santa Barbara, California
This list moves from a classic independent theater to a traditional movie palace: the Arlington Theatre. With over 2,000 seats including a balcony, Spanish architecture that lines the sides like a Mexican opera house and stars that light the ceiling, the Arlington is a sight to behold. The theater is a musical venue and host to events for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival as well as having regular film screenings in its single theater. With an impressive but not overwhelming 46 x 20 foot screen and surprisingly good acoustics for the large space, the surroundings won't distract you during a movie screening. Unlike the AVX or XD theaters that try to assault your senses with a bevy of sound and a gigantic screen seemingly hell-bent on giving the audience motion sickness, the Arlington is designed to give you the experience of watching a film comfortably with a large group of people. An hour and a half away from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is a pristine location in Southern California, and the Arlington delights in sharing movie magic in its luxurious theater.