The Movie Tavern recently opened in the Gateway Town Center, located behind the Bass Pro Shop in the Mablevale area of Little Rock. This movie theater contains everything I love – movies, drinks and food!
Founded in 2001, Dallas-based Movie Tavern is a leader in the cinema eatery segment catering to adults and families with 24 high-quality theaters and 220 digital screens in ten states.
In a short time, I’ve seen three different movies at this location, all with different experiences.
During its soft opening after the first of the year, I went to see the musical The Greatest Showman at The Movie Tavern on Sunday, February 4, 2018.
The Greatest Showman
The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, founder of Barnum & Bailey Circus, also showcases the musical talent of co-stars Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and Disney star Zendaya as a beautiful trapeze artist. The musical features some amazing songs, great performances, beautiful cinema photography and is set in the late 1800’s.
Since I was a few minutes late getting to the theater, the movie had already started and it was a little unsettling to have the employee lead me around the long way to my already chosen seat. I would also recommend that the employees use a small flashlight instead of an iPhone to find the way in the dark theater!
Because the Movie Tavern operates as a full service “eatery” complete with a separate bar/lounge area, there is not the typical concession stand you find in most movie theaters. You purchase your ticket online or at a small kiosk inside the the lobby of the theater with an employee and then are shown your seat where another employee will be your server and hands you a menu.
At this showing, I ordered the Spinach and Artichoke Dip along with a Dr. Pepper. The theater serves Mr. Pibb and the dip was really good, just a big serving for one person. Both items were delivered to me in my seat as I watched the movie. I paid and tipped my server after the movie was over.
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| Spinach and Artichoke Dip appetizer at The Movie Tavern |
The second time I visited The Movie Tavern was on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. It was the night of their special VIP Grand Opening Preview Party. I was lucky to win tickets during a contest put on by fellow blogger Heather of Heather’s Dish.
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| Spotlights in the parking light added to the “Movie Premiere” feel of this event! |
I saw the new blockbuster movie, Black Panther, ordered the Spinach and Artichoke Dip appetizer, the Loaded Tavern Cheeseburger and had a Caribbean Rum Punch – all free!
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| The professional photographer hired for this one night event took my picture using my own camera with a Thor life-like cut-out! |
Black Panther
Black Panther, starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright, Sterling K. Brown and Martin Freeman, is an amazing movie based on a fictional superhero character from Marvel Comics.
As someone who remembers watching Michael B. Jordan as teen Reggie Porter Montgomery in my favorite soap opera, All My Children, from 2003-2006, it was great watching him in such a powerful movie role. I also enjoyed seeing one of my favorite actors from my new favorite television show, This Is Us, Sterling K. Brown, in such an exciting film.
Once again, I really liked all the food and drinks I was served while watching the movie in my comfortable seat, which reclines back and you’re also able to extend your legs forward!
After the movie, you can relax in the bar and or lounge area, complete with big screen TVs and plenty of furniture and board games.
Two days later, on Friday, March 2, 2018, I went with a friend to see the new movie, Game Night,at the Movie Tavern. We bought our tickets online so we just had to be shown our seat before the movie started.
Game Night
Game NightstarsJason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as married couple Max and Annie who met during Trivia Night at a local bar and now have their friends over to their home for weekly trivia games. Kyle Chandler stars as Max’s older brother, Brooks, who invites everyone over to his new house for a special Game Night. The rest of the movie is spent as the characters find themselves entangled in a real-life mystery.
During this movie, we just ordered soft drinks that were delivered to our seats, where they were also paid for after the movie was over. Note, since there is not a concession stand, you can also order popcorn from your seat if you wish to eat a snack instead of a meal.
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| My favorite part of the theater is the wall of movie posters that display movies filmed in Arkansas – including Gone With The Wind (1939), Biloxi Blues (1988), The Firm (1993) and Mud (2012), directed by Little Rock native Jeff Nichols. |
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| On Saturdays and Sundays, enjoy Brunch at the Movie Tavern! |
GATEWAY TOWNCENTER
11300 Bass Pro Parkway
Little Rock, AR 72210
https://www.movietavern.com/locations/littlerock/
For more information about movie production in Arkansas, see my newest entree in Only In Arkansas, Light, Camera, Arkansas.
Photos by Leslie Diane
Movie Posters from IMDb
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