(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Timesįor each choice meticulously made throughout the 18-month, four-phase process, Universal Creative always came back to the idea of creating a seamless, functional and state-of-the-art environment where film lovers can feel at home as they sit mere feet away from where some of their favorite movies filmed. You don't have to wait for somebody, you just grab a bag.'Ĭlean and airy lounging area from the new multi-million dollar renovation of Universal CityWalk AMC theater, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 'While you're standing in line you can grab candy, popcorn. It's 'Go do your own thing,'' Dobrzyn said. 'Now you can pick your own seat, get here any time you want, but now you can come and sit with your friends, you can talk, you can grab some food.'ĭobrzyn emphasized the importance of the free-flowing layout, using the 'grab-and-go' style concessions marketplace as an example. 'Getting to a movie early to get a good seat is a thing of the past,' said Dobrzyn, acknowledging the rise in reserved-seating theaters.

Outside the auditoriums lay a lobby and lounge area aimed to be as comfortable and contemporary as the theaters themselves. The Christie projectors are a departure from the 35mm film projectors that used to power theaters, replacing bulky reels and film canisters with a sleek black box and laser projection, severing the link to physical film entirely.

Disney's 'Moana,' projected in 4K perfection, was eye-popping, rendering color and texture in scrupulous detail. The effect of the high-end projection and sound is palpable.

Movie theater universal citywalk