The Birmingham 8

The Birmingham 8 is the grand old movie house of downtown Birmingham — opened in 1927 as the Birmingham Theatre, designed by the legendary cinema architects Rapp & Rapp, and still standing behind its original marquee. Carved into eight screens in the ’90s and taken over by Emagine in 2021, it now pairs that 1920s bones-and-chandelier charm with luxury recliners, reserved seating, and a full bar. It’s also one of the only commercial theaters in the metro that still reserves screens for indie and foreign films.

Locals will tell you it’s rumored to be haunted, which only adds to the vibe. We have it on our list as the most characterful place to catch a movie in the area — a proper date-night or a rainy-afternoon family outing with a cocktail in hand. Spring for the big original auditorium if it’s showing what you want.