How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Movie Theater for a Birthday Party?

Planning your next birthday and wondering: how much does it cost to rent a movie theater for a birthday party? At Peerspace, we get it. Few birthday party ideas are more universally appealing and exciting than a private movie screening, especially for film buffs!

You may love the idea but are not up to hosting a movie-watching birthday party at your home due to space and equipment issues. However, you may also be concerned about the cost of renting a movie theater for your private watch party.

Ahead, we’ll show you that there are many tiers of cost for renting a movie theater. We’ll also share how to go about renting a private movie theater for your birthday (or really, any day!) through Peerspace. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, you can rest knowing that Peerspace has really cool movie theater venues in cities across the country and beyond.

And just to help you out a bit more with the process, we’ll talk about the reasons you’d want to rent out a movie theater and detail the process of doing so. By the end of this article, you’ll have all the essential information required to locate and rent the venue for your movie theater birthday party!

• Why rent a movie theater for a birthday party?
• What type of movie theaters can you rent for a birthday?
• How do you rent a movie theater?
• Use Peerspace to rent a movie theater instead
• What affects the cost of a movie theater rental?
• How much does it cost to rent a movie theater for a birthday party?

Why rent a movie theater for a birthday party?

First of all, why bother renting a movie theater for your birthday, to begin with? Let’s discuss the main reasons why renting a movie theater for your birthday or other event is ideal.

Versatility

Renting a movie theater is a wonderful option for hosting all types of events, including birthdays, baby showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties. These events and more can come to life at once since you’ll be hosting in a distinct space with built-in entertainment.

Plus, corporate events can be held at a theater. From team-building gatherings to retreats, everyone in the office will want to play hooky in favor of a corporate event if it centers around watching movies at a theater—regardless of whether or not they consider themselves film buffs!

Also, many corporations hold fundraising events at theaters. The same goes for indie filmmakers who want to host a private movie screening and debut their movie to a select group of friends and associates.

Space

While the size of a movie theater can vary, you can be sure it’s easy to rent one that’s larger than, say, your living room, and that features an impressive big screen.

In fact, on Peerspace, you can book a movie theater with seating for a handful of people or hundreds. It’s part of the reason why they’re such great options for personal and professional events.

Equipment

When you rent a movie theater, you’re dealing with the simple logistical reality that there’s no better place to watch movies than at a movie theater!

That means you won’t have to deal with renting the necessary and costly A/V equipment and bringing it to a more generic type of venue. Instead, you can simply show up and have all the gear required to screen a film at your fingertips.

While you can assume that your movie theater rental will include a projector, a screen, and comfy seating, many others offer additional perks. With Peerspace, you can even book movie theaters with lounges, photo booths, concession stands, and popcorn machines!

That movie theater experience

Let’s not forget that movie theaters have their very own atmosphere. It’s more than just the big screen, although, of course, that’s a big part of it. Private movie theater rentals not only provide a singular experience but also render decorating unnecessary. Renting a movie theater means benefiting from the kind of fun, classic atmosphere.

Everyone remembers trips to the local movie theater fondly from their childhoods. Movie theaters are often associated with nostalgia for happy memories, and you will make your private watch party all the better by bringing back those happy emotions.

And, when you book a theater, you rent the entire venue. That means it’s just you and whoever you invite, ideal if you prefer a private event.

To recap, you can book a movie theater for:

• Birthday parties
• Baby or bridal showers
• Bachelor and bachelorette parties
• Corporate events, like team-building and retreat events
• Fundraisers
• Production film screenings
• And more!

What type of movie theaters can you rent for a birthday?

When it comes to renting a private movie theater for your birthday or any event or production, you have two choices. You can rent a working movie theater space in a public setting that often has seating for hundreds of guests and classic movie theater amenities. Or, you can opt to book a private movie theater room in someone’s personal home for a more personal, unique touch.

Both of these options are available to you through Peerspace. Let’s look at a couple of examples to see how these types of spaces compare.

First, check out this beautiful movie theater/screening room in Chicago, IL. It is a spacious public venue with a full lounge and a movie theater that seats 32 in its plush, tiered seats. The theater’s NEC film projector and 5.2 surround sound can easily play DVDs, Blu-rays, DCP, and 35mm films on its large theater-quality screen.

What if you want to rent a super lux movie theater in someone’s private home? Then you’ll find options like this Art Deco screening room with a poker nook in Los Angeles, CA (pictured above). This stylish 800-square-foot space is accessible through the garage of a Peerspace host, who has lovingly decorated this theater to provide you with an amazing ambiance.

While this theater has a movie-quality screen and surround sound, it only has seating for about 15 guests. Depending on your guest list, hosting your party in a full-sized theater versus a private residence may be the biggest deciding factor.

Planning a party for the almost adult in your life? Then be sure to also check out our 11 unforgettable 18th birthday party ideas!

How do you rent a movie theater?

In the olden days of the pre-internet era, renting your ideal movie theater would not have been so easy. You would have had to locate each theater individually and contact them to ask if they were available for rent. In all likelihood, many of those you reached out to would not be available.

Meantime, you’d waste a lot of time on the process of locating and contacting theaters. And even if you were very thorough, you’d still likely overlook some of the best options available in your area. 

Now, you might think that the internet and its search engines solve all your problems, but Google is still not the most convenient or straightforward method of locating movie theaters available for rent. Browsing through lots of theaters’ websites and trying to find rental information is faster than an analog search, but still not the absolute fastest and easiest.

Luckily, there’s a much easier solution nowadays…

Use Peerspace to rent a movie theater instead

The fastest and easiest option for renting a movie theater is by using Peerspace, the internet’s largest online marketplace for hourly event space rentals.

Among its listings, you’ll find numerous movie theater rental options throughout the country, many of which will be an ideal fit for your private screening. And not only is there tons of options, but it’s also amazingly easy to browse through them.

Here’s how to do so like a pro:

Begin your search

Searching Peerspace is a snap: simply head to the homepage, enter your city and the kind of event you’re planning (in this case, “birthday party”), and optionally add the date of the event for even more specificity. 

Use filters

Next, try narrowing your search down to movie theaters specifically. To do so, click on the “More Filters” option, and select “Theater” under the “Space Type” category. Or, you can type “movie theater” in the keyword box.

You can also narrow things down by other filters, including the number of attendees, price per hour, and additional features (from bathtubs to exposed brick to elevators. Most of these won’t be relevant in your search for a movie theater, however!)

Browse listings

Once you’ve done your search, you’ll be amazed by how detailed Peerspace’s venue listings are. They provide a clear sense of what every event space is like, so you don’t have to visit the venue in advance.

With plenty of high-quality photos of the space, an in-depth description, and reviews from past renters, each listing is a perfect overview of the venue. You can also reach out to the venue’s host through the listing page if you have any questions or requests before or after booking.

As you can see, with Peerspace renting unique spaces is a breeze!

What affects the cost of a movie theater rental?

If you want an exact figure, we can only offer a pretty broad price range. The fact of the matter is that the cost of renting a movie theater varies based on several factors.

Location

One of the elements that most strongly influence the cost of renting out a movie theater is the city where you’re seeking rentals.

Renting a theater will be significantly more expensive in costly cities like Los Angeles or New York City than in significantly more affordable cities like Memphis, TN, and Omaha, NE. And in individual cities, different neighborhoods have different costs of living that will influence the cost of renting within them. 

The theater itself

In addition, the scale of the movie theater itself makes an enormous difference. A small, simple theater will be much more affordable than a large-scale movie theater that seats many more people. Not to mention that a lavish theater with historical significance will also cost quite a bit more to rent.

How long you’ll rent it

Most movie theaters rent out space for private use, including events like birthday parties. But many also impose a minimum rental period, anywhere from a couple of hours to as much as 10 hours.

The reason for this is event type. Some theaters are ideal for private events that may only last a couple of hours while others are better suited for professional productions that can take a whole day.

As you begin your search, keep an eye out for movie theater rentals that have a minimum rental period ideal for a birthday, like two to six hours, max.

Ahead, we’ll share specific Peerspace movie theater rentals and examine their prices.

Now that you’ve almost got the venue, check out these great movie birthday party ideas and start planning the event itself!

How much does it cost to rent a movie theater for a birthday party?

Even though theaters can vary so much in the rental price, we’ve got a rough estimate of how much it’ll cost you to rent a movie theater for a birthday party: $100 to $400 per hour.

A search of the many listings on Peerspace shows that theaters cost more than $1,000 per hour to rent. Let’s explore the price range below.

On the higher end of the scale

One of the most expensive movie theaters that you can book for your birthday party is this landmark theater in Beverly Hills, CA. It costs $2,000 per hour and has an eight-hour minimum. So maybe not your first choice for a casual gathering of friends, yet it is a popular option for large-scale productions and events!

It provides seating for 2,000 people and features ornate architecture, beautiful lighting, and Art Deco designs. The host also offers extra help, like the professional services of production staff and a projectionist if needed.

In the words of a Peerspace renter in their review: “I had the most amazing time in this theater! Dana was so helpful and communicative. The theater is GORGEOUS and I was impressed with how much was included. It really worked perfectly for our event.”

Also in the Los Angeles area, check out this upscale mansion with a movie theater. It offers you access to a modern private theater set within a nearly 7,000-square-foot mansion. Renting the cozy, furnished private movie theater room and the rest of the home costs $499-1,099 per hour (depending on the add-on features you choose) with a six-hour rental minimum. And keep in mind this includes access to the heated pool, hot tub, balconies, and more.

In the PNW, this Egyptian-themed theater in the heart of Seattle, WA costs $432 per hour and has an eight-hour rental minimum. This auditorium rental seats 570 and boasts a 37′ x 17′ screen, Dolby surround sound, a digital projector, and theater lighting. You can also make use of the VIP lounge, the stocked concessions stand, and a staffed box office.

Mid-range prices

To check out an example of a movie theater rental with a mid-range price, let’s explore this high capacity modern screening auditorium in Mountlake Terrace, WA. It boasts a seating capacity of 550 guests(!) and features high-end A/V equipment and a host willing to accommodate the needs of your specific event. The rate is $250-300 per hour, with a two-hour rental minimum.

There are more options in our standard price range like this independent movie theater in Brooklyn, NY at $300 per hour with a two-hour rental minimum. It provides seating for 70, a 160″ screen, surround sound, and a 12′ stage.

Peerspace reviewers have characterized it thusly: “The place rocked!!! The staff was great!!!”

Here is a San Francisco, CA -based state-of-the-art movie theater auditorium. It costs $395 hourly and has a one-hour rental minimum. It seats 65 guests and is equipped with a cinema-grade projector, a Blu-ray player, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, and an on-site technician to set up your movies.

You also can’t go wrong with this private screening room movie theater in Midtown Manhattan, NYC. This one-of-a-kind space is ideal for parties of 10, has a 130-inch projection screen, and costs just $200 per hour with a two-hour rental minimum. Thanks to its beautiful custom design, it also provides a truly epic movie-watching experience!

A documentary producer who booked time here shared the following Peerspace review: “MCM was an amazing space, with everything we needed, and Michael was an exceptional host. Will be using the screening room as well as the stage space again in the future!“

On the lower end of the price scale

You may be happy to know that the price of renting a smaller, more affordable movie theater can be as low as $100 per hour, leaving plenty of room in your budget for things like catering and party favors.

Like, for instance, this chic and cozy private movie theater in Jim Thorpe, PA. It’s an all-ages space that provides plush seating for 10, an 83” high-end Sony OLED TV, movie theater-quality surround sound system with Dolby Atmos ceiling speakers. All for only $100 per hour and a four-hour rental minimum!

We also love this theater room for movie nights or screenings in Mill Creek, WA. It boasts seating for 15, a surround sound system, an 86″ screen, and a DVD player, not to mention free parking. This awesome theater is a true steal at only $60 per hour with a two-hour rental minimum!

This intimate 50-person screening room in Los Angeles is worthy of a look as well and starts at only $89 per hour. It has hundreds of five-star reviews from past Peerspace renters. Plus, the host offers a slew of fun booking add-ons, like popcorn machines and a spotlight!

A Peerspace reviewer described it as follows: “Wonderful hosts, great space and extras for a low price! Would definitely come back if I ever need a theatre space again.”

Let’s not forget about the senior in your life! Here are 8 special 70th birthday party ideas to celebrate in style and comfort.

How much does it cost to rent a movie theater for a birthday party? Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has answered the titular question: How much does it cost to rent a movie theater for a birthday party?

As you can see, renting a movie theater for a birthday party can be financially accessible. And by using Peerspace, it can even be easy and enjoyable! Check out our site today to see what types of movie theaters we have available near you. You may just be surprised by the selection!

Also, keep an eye on our comprehensive events resources blog pages to stay up-to-date on birthday planning trends, tips, and hacks!

Find unique movie theaters on Peerspace