Johnny Ruoff, a manager at Entertainment Luxury Cinemas in South Portland, vacuums the floor inside the lobby where posters of movies from years ago hang on the wall. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

If you need a reason to go to the movies, Maine theater operators are happy to try to give you one.

There’s been a lot of change in the Greater Portland movie theater scene in the last four or five years, so don’t feel bad if you’re not up to speed.

The Cinemagic chain went out of business early in the pandemic and two of its former locations – in Saco and Westbrook – are now run by Apple Cinemas. A third, in the Clarks Pond plaza in South Portland, re-opened as Entertainment Luxury Cinemas in August. The Nordica Theater in Freeport closed as well, though its owners say it might re-open someday.

The upside of all this change is that the people who show movies around here are trying to add value to the theater experience, to get folks to come out instead of stay home and stream. Some have added improvements, like bigger or better seats, new concessions or price specials.

Here is a look at some Greater Portland movie theaters and what they offer.

NICKELODEON CINEMAS, Portland

Portland’s venerable downtown theater has been in the same spot on Temple Street, and under the same ownership, for more than 25 years. It’s movie fare includes first-run mainstream films, but off-beat, foreign and local films, too. Maybe the most impressive thing about the venue is that it’s maintained its long tradition of offering bargain tickets all day on Super Tuesdays – for $6.

The Nickelodeon, informally known as The Nick, has been offering a Tuesday discount for decades. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

ENTERTAINMENT LUXURY CINEMAS, South Portland

This theater opened in the former Cinemagic at Clarks Pond space in late August. It offers first-run Hollywood films on six to eight screens at a time. The previous owners had installed spacious reclining seats just before closing and renovated the building. The new owner’s plans for the theater complex is to eventually add a 1,000-seat theater to host various live shows, a 300-seat cabaret-style theater for smaller acts and weddings, a comedy club, and to serve pub-style appetizers and meals.

Owner Bill Haney inside a theater at Entertainment Luxury Cinemas in South Portland on Thursday. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

APPLE CINEMAS, Westbrook and Saco

The Apple Cinemas in Saco is Maine’s only IMAX theater, the best place to see epic action and adventure films. The 13-screen location has reclining seats, as well as self-serve popcorn stations. Recent renovations, according to the owners, include a projection upgrade, new floors, paint and lights, and a kiosk to allow customers to buy tickets and concessions without a cashier.

The Westbrook location, with 16 screens, also has upgraded recliner seats, self-serve popcorn and ticket kiosks, plus recently renovated projectors and sound system. A full bar with hot foods is a planned future addition.

Self-service kiosk at Apple Cinemas Photo courtesy of Apple Cinemas

FLAGSHIP CINEMAS, Falmouth

This 10-screen complex on Route 1 made a splash when it opened in 2016 with giant recliners that stretch out to the size of small beds. At the time, reclining seats were a rarity in Maine movie houses. The theater offers first-run mainstream fare, plus a deal on moviegoers’ favorite concession, popcorn. The Annual Premium Popcorn Pail (170 ounces) costs $16.25. But it comes in a reusable bucket, and you can refill it for a year for just $5.50 each time. The theater also has a Film Fanatics Rewards programs, which allows you to earn free refills and free movie tickets when you spend money there. Flagship also runs theaters in Auburn, Waterville, Thomaston and Wells.

Moviegoers make their way to Flagship Cinemas in Falmouth in 2021. Photo by Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

SMITTY’S CINEMA, Windham, Topsham and Sanford

Though this small chain of cinema/restaurants did close its Biddeford location during the pandemic, the other Maine locations are still in operation. Recently, the theaters started doing themed menu specials tied into new releases, including a Hawaiian-themed Big Kahuna Burger for “Moana 2” and Nick’s Ravioli (as in St. Nick) for “Red One.” In December, the theaters will screen “Polar Express” at a family-friendly ticket price of $2. Some holiday cocktails and drinks will be added to the menu in the next few weeks. The Windham location had some arcade games added recently in the lobby, and new games were brought into Sanford and Topsham as well.

ARTSY ALTERNATIVES

While not strictly movie theaters, here are a couple Portland establishments that show a lot of interesting movies.

Portland Museum of Art

PMA Films is a series that includes indie, foreign, art-house and award-winning films that don’t generally play the commercial cineplexes. On Saturday, for instance, see the 1968 film “High School” by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman. On Friday and Sunday, the venue will screen “Exhibition on Screen: Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers,” about the famous artist’s creative process.

Space

This nonprofit arts organization hosts art exhibits and music but also screens a lot of films, including art house and documentaries. On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Space will screen “Union,” about the first unionized Amazon workplace in the country. On Nov. 22, the film will be “Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat,” about the intersection of African politics and American jazz musicians in the early 1960s.