Best Movie Theaters Near Newport News, VA (A Local's Guide)

New to Newport News and wondering where to actually watch a movie? Or planning a date night and want more than “just go to the closest theater”? Here’s the real rundown — what each place is actually good for, what to watch out for, and where to eat before or after.

Quick cheatsheet

If you want…	Go to
New mainstream releases, biggest selection	Cinemark City Center 12 & XD (Newport News)
Reliable multiplex, IMAX/Dolby Cinema	AMC Hampton Towne Centre 24 (Hampton)
Indie, arthouse, foreign films, cult classics	Naro Expanded Cinema (Norfolk)
A full date night — dinner in the theater	Commodore Theatre (Portsmouth)
Regal Kiln Creek	⚠️ Closed — see below

The theaters

Cinemark City Center 12 & XD

11810 Fountain Way, Suite J, Newport News, VA 23606 · (757) 525-9898

This is the default pick for most Newport News locals now that Regal Kiln Creek is gone — it’s inside City Center at Oyster Point, so it’s easy to pair with a dinner spot in the same shopping area. It runs XD and 3D formats, has a full dine-in menu with beer, wine, and cocktails at the seats, and reclining seats throughout. Some longtime locals still call it “Paragon,” a holdover from an earlier operator of the space.

Worth knowing: it’s in a busy shopping center, so parking can get tight on weekend evenings — arrive a little early if you’re going for a popular new release. If you’ve heard complaints about a broken parking-garage elevator nearby, that’s a specific local report worth confirming for yourself rather than something confirmed by the theater — call ahead if accessible parking near the entrance matters for your visit.

AMC Hampton Towne Centre 24

1 Town Center Way, Hampton, VA 23666 · (757) 826-5400

The other major multiplex option, about 15–20 minutes from Newport News in Hampton’s Peninsula Town Center. This is the one most commenters default to for a standard big-screen night out — 24 screens, IMAX with Laser, Dolby Cinema, RealD 3D, reserved seating, a full bar, and self-service drink refills that regulars like. Food selection is fine but not a big draw on its own.

Worth knowing: self-parking is right next to the theater with an entrance off Towne Center Way, and there’s accessible parking close to the main entrance — generally an easier parking experience than the City Center lot.

Naro Expanded Cinema

1507 Colley Ave, Norfolk, VA 23517 · (757) 625-6276

If you want something you won’t find at either multiplex — arthouse films, foreign cinema, revivals, cult classics — this is the place, and it’s been a fixture for locals for decades (some still talk about the old Rocky Horror midnight showings). It’s a genuinely different experience: single-screen, open seating rather than assigned, a balcony, and a real independent-theater feel.

Worth knowing: it’s in Norfolk’s Ghent neighborhood, not Newport News — figure on a 25–30 minute drive depending on traffic, noticeably farther than the other options on this list. It’s a great pick when the film itself is the reason to go, not when you just want the nearest theater. Street parking is available but watch for two-hour limits in some spots.

Commodore Theatre

421 High St, Portsmouth, VA 23704 · (757) 393-6962

This is the one to book when you want the whole night handled in one stop. It’s a restored 1945 Art Deco theater — club-style seating with tables, and a phone at your seat to order sandwiches, pizza, dessert, beer, or wine straight from the kitchen while you watch a first-run film. It’s about 30–35 minutes from Newport News, but multiple longtime moviegoers in the area call it the best all-around theater experience for a mainstream film, dinner included.

Worth knowing: kids under 8 aren’t admitted, which makes it a solid pick specifically for a couples’ date night. Same-day tickets only, sold in person at the box office — no phone or online reservations, so plan to arrive with some buffer.

⚠️ Regal Kiln Creek is closed

If you’re new to the area or haven’t been in a while: Regal Kiln Creek (100 Regal Way, Newport News) permanently closed in fall 2025. It doesn’t show up clearly everywhere online yet, so don’t plan a trip around it — several locals mentioned not realizing it had shut down until they showed up. Cinemark City Center and AMC Hampton have picked up most of that traffic.

Dinner and a movie: two easy pairings

• Naro + Ghent: The Naro sits right in the middle of Norfolk’s Ghent neighborhood, which has a solid walkable strip of restaurants within a block or two — easy to grab dinner before or dessert after without moving your car.
• The Commodore, built in: Since dinner happens inside the Commodore itself, this pairing is basically done for you — just budget extra time before showtime since seating is first-come, first-served and tickets are same-day only.

Before you go

• Verify showtimes and hours directly with the theater — they change, and this guide won’t always catch up in real time.
• Don’t drive to Regal Kiln Creek — it’s closed for good.
• If accessible parking matters, call ahead — particularly for City Center, where a nearby parking garage has had reported elevator issues.
• Commodore Theatre: same-day, in-person tickets only, and no kids under 8.

Hours, prices, and availability can change — verify before you go.

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