The Best Movie Theaters in San Jose & Silicon Valley

As televisions get bigger and streaming technology brings almost any high-resolution movie you want into the comfort of your living room, going out to see a movie has become a special event.

Don't waste a trip to the theater by visiting these unique, high-tech, and historic movie theaters in San Jose and Silicon Valley.

IMAX 3D Movie Theaters

Each of these theaters offers one or more IMAX theaters using state of the art digital film and sound technology and 3D experiences, perfect for blockbusters, action, scifi, and animated flicks.

AMC Eastridge 15, 2190 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA - Website

AMC Saratoga 14, 700 El Paseo de Saratoga, San Jose, CA - Website

AMC Mercado 20, 3111 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, CA - Website

AMC Cupertino Square 16, 10123 N. Wolfe Road, Cupertino, CA - Website

* Regal Hacienda Crossings Stadium 20, 5000 Dublin Boulevard, Dublin, CA - Website

* AMC Loews Metreon 16, 135 Fourth Street, Suite #3000, San Francisco, CA - Website 

* Just beyond Silicon Valley, but they have bigger IMAX screens and reserved seating.

IMAX Dome Theaters

Hackworth IMAX Dome at The Tech Museum, 201 South Market Street, San Jose, CA - Website

Science, tech, and nature documentaries and selected blockbuster films on Silicon Valley's only IMAX Dome theater.

Art & Foreign Films

All of these theaters show primarily art or foreign films as well as special showings and events.

CinéArts Santana Row, 3088 Olsen Drive, San Jose, CA - Website

Camera 3 Theater, 288 S. Second Street, San Jose, CA - Website

CinéArts Palo Alto Square, 3000 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA - Website

Landmark Aquarius Theater, 430 Emerson St., Palo Alto, CA - Website

Landmark Guild Theater, 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA - Website

Historic Theaters

Stanford Theater, 221 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA - Call for current films, (650) 324-3700 - Website.

Classic Hollywood films in an elegant theater that first opened in 1925.

Niles Silent Film Musem, 37417 Niles Blvd, Fremont, CA - Website

Historic silent films from and exhibits sharing on early film and Hollywood history.

Drive-In Movie Theaters

Westwind Capitol Drive-In, 3630 Hillcap Ave, San Jose, CA - Website

One of the last remaining drive-in movie theaters in Northern California. New films and double features, evening only, open year-round. It's a good deal for family-friendly movie viewing. Adults: $7.95, kids 5-11: $1, kids 4 and under are free. The parking lot doubles as the Capitol Flea Market during the day.