It’s the premiere of the biggest blockbuster of the holiday film season: Williamsburg’s brand new multiplex.
The much-anticipated Williamsburg Cinemas is making its debut today after prolonged delays in production, giving North Brooklyn film-goers the ability to see Hollywood’s biggest hits without hopping on a Manhattan-bound L train.
The seven-screen, 1000-seat movie hub on the corner of Grand Street and Driggs Avenue will show “The Hobbit” and “Life of Pi” in 3D, as well as “Lincoln,” beginning at 1 pm.
The masterminds behind the Williamsburg Cinemas can’t wait to dim the lights.
“We are pretty excited,” said owner Andrew Elgart, whose father, Harvey Elgart, owns the long-running Cobble Hill Cinemas on Court Street and Kew Gardens Cinemas in Queens. “We’re looking forward to seeing how the neighborhood responds.”
Elgart is expecting good reviews.
“I can’t imagine people not loving the place,” he said. “It’s spacious, there are amazing screens, and the sound and picture are fantastic.”
Elgart said the three-story theatre, which will screen an array of major studio films as well as a mix of indie and art flicks, is equipped with a 7.1 Dolby Digital surround sound system, stadium-like plush seating, and all the standard movie-theatre concession favorites.
“It will be a great place to watch a movie,” said the film man, who added that the sole reason he decided to build a new cineplex in the neighborhood is because the artsy area lacks sufficient silver screen access.
Williamsburg is home to the smaller dinner-and-a-movie joint the Nitehawk Cinema on Metropolitan Avenue, which shows some big hits alongside indies and popular one-off showings of classics, as well as IndieScreen, which lives up to its name by showing unique independent films.
Neighborhood movie buffs are itching to get in line Wednesday for a feature film in the theater, where adult tickets go for $11, matinee tickets cost $8, and 3D flicks carry a $2 surcharge.
And they hope the Williamsburg Cinemas hopes fill the void left in the community when the Commodore Theatre closed in 2002 and was subsequently torn down.
“I’m super excited! I can’t wait,” said life-long Williamsburg resident Luis Alberto, who lives on N. Fifth and Roebling streets, just three blocks away from the multiplex. “It’s nice to have a cinema that’s going to play mainstream box-office films.”
Williamsburg Cinemas [217 Grand St. near Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg, (718) 302–3422, www.williamsburgcinemas.com].
Reach reporter Natalie Musumeci at nmusumeci@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4505. Follow her at twitter.com/souleddout.
