AMC Classic Woodbridge 5
4626 Barranca Parkway,
Irvine,
CA
92604
4626 Barranca Parkway,
Irvine,
CA
92604
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Showing 51 - 75 of 88 comments
Thanks for the update, CTCrouch. Hadn’t heard or seen that announcement anywhere.
I’m a bit surprised AMC actually opted to renew the lease, especially when hosting only two screenings a day (4 & 7pm generally) for most movies, even on weekends. Can’t imagine that model, temporary or otherwise, turning any kind of worthwhile profit.
But to be making “significant reinvestments to upgrade the experience” sure makes it sound like they still believe in the property & it’s ongoing appeal to the community and who can argue with that. Actually sounds like what Starplex was interested in doing before the AMC acquisition, which you reported on your Cinelog site, I believe.
Anything to keep the Woodbridge going. We shall see.
This past fall the center announced that AMC had renewed their lease and there would be “significant reinvestments to upgrade the experience for guests.” So, they might be starting renovation work.
AMC website says Woodbridge 5 “temporarily closed” and to check back for future updates. Interesting.
Burt Reynolds' 1981 crime thriller “Sharky’s Machine” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (Dec. 18, 1981).
Featuring Charles Durning, Bernie Casey, Brian Keith & Rachel Ward, this was Reynolds' third film as both director & star and proved to be a modest hit with both critics & audiences alike, finishing the year as the 19th highest-grossing film of 1981.
I can remember watching it quite a bit on cable at a buddy’s house after school & loving all that gritty action, especially the houseboat sequence & that high-rise finale. Good times.
Heard the news last week that the Barnes & Noble store a few spots down from the theater in the Woodbridge Village Center will close Jan. 23, 2022 after nearly 30 years in business.
According to a B&N Facebook post, the Irvine Co chose not to renew the lease (a bookstore associate told me they actually “broke” it) so they could develop a preschool site.
Spent many a time at the bookstore before & after a movie at the Woodbridge throughout the ‘90s. It was a nice neighborhood store that had the intimate feel of the old mall bookstores in the '70s & '80s. Pretty sure it was the oldest B&N still operating in OC.
My wife & I enjoyed taking a quick spin inside every now & then when in the neighborhood. We’ll both miss it, as will the community, I’m sure.
Terry Gilliam’s beloved 1981 fantasy-adventure “Time Bandits” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (Nov. 6, 1981).
Featuring David Warner, Ian Holm & Sean Connery, the film was Gilliam’s breakout hit in the U.S., opening at number one & remaining there four straight weeks, finishing the year as the 12th highest-grossing release of 1981.
Brian De Palma’s 1981 neo-noir thriller “Blow Out” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (July 24, 1981).
Starring John Travolta, Nancy Allen & John Lithgow, the film was not an initial hit with audiences & started a downturn in Travolta’s career that would last until the end of the decade, but it has since developed a cult following & is now widely considered one of De Palma’s finest efforts.
1981’s “Arthur” starring Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli & John Gielgud opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (July 17, 1981).
It became the fourth highest-grossing film of ‘81 & won Oscars for Best Original Song (“Arthur’s Theme” by Christopher Cross) & Best Supporting Actor (Gielgud).
1981’s “The Great Muppet Caper” starring Kermit, Fozzie & Miss Piggy and “Stripes” starring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis & John Candy both opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (June 26, 1981).
1981’s “Superman II” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago today (June 19, 1981).
Still considered one of the best super-hero/sequels movies ever made, it was the third highest-grossing film of 1981 (one of three make over $100 million) & won the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film.
1981’s “Clash of the Titans” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago today (June 12, 1981), starring Harry Hamlin, Burgess Meredith & Laurence Olivier.
1981’s “The Legend of the Lone Ranger” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (May 22, 1981), starring Christopher Lloyd as Butch Cavendish, Jason Robards as Ulysses S. Grant & newcomer Klinton Spilsbury as the eponymous Masked Man.
The first big-screen adaptation featuring the iconic character in more than 20 years, it was considered a major release for the summer of ‘81, backed by action figures, storybooks & a 1000-screen rollout over Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately poor reviews, the producers’ treatment of ‘50s Lone Ranger Clayton Moore & Spilsbury’s performance (he won the Razzie for worst actor and never made another movie again) sunk the film & booted it out of theaters by early June.
I was 10 when I saw it at the Woodbridge opening weekend, had collected all of the action figures prior to release, & enjoyed it for the most part. Still revisit it & the John Barry score from time to time.
The third theatrical re-release of “Star Wars” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (April 10, 1981). It marked the first time the texts “Episode IV” & “A New Hope” appeared at the beginning of the opening crawl.
Jerry Lewis' “Hardly Working” opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend (April 3, 1981). I was 10 years old & off from school the week of its release & couldn’t wait to see it opening weekend. Haven’t seen it since.
Michael Mann’s 1981 crime-noir debut “Thief” starring James Caan opened at the Woodbridge 40 years ago this weekend.
The AMC Woodbridge has reopened for weekend business with two screenings each of four films Friday nights and three screenings (matinee) Saturdays & Sundays. Looks like one screen is reserved for private showings.
Happy 40th birthday to the Woodbridge 5, which opened on this date back in 1980. As someone whose family has lived in Irvine since 1971, we were sure glad to finally have our own theater after years of having to leave the city to see a movie.
March always reminds me of the Woodbridge, especially March of 1984. What a great bunch of titles there 35 years ago this month: Splash, Police Academy, Ice Pirates, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan and Romancing the Stone. I was in seventh grade back then and my buddies and I must have ridden our bikes there nearly every Saturday that month. I want to say matiness were $2.50. Remember it rained quite a bit, just like today in So. CA. Good times.
The 2017 price increase/move to first run was primarily due to a growing difficulty in securing bookings. Many of the top tittles simply weren’t being made available for subrun anymore. Couple that with AMC’s business approach (i.e. they were never exactly on board with subrun)and the change was basically unavoidable. As for pitting the Woodbridge against local full price theatres, there was a belief that it would attract people who wouldn’t pay full price, but not draw from people who would pay more for added amenities elsewhere (i.e. Tustin). The ultimate success/failure of the change is debatable.
The marquee removal was the result of a company wide movement to eliminate marquees; viewing them as antiquated and no longer cost effective. Personally, I always felt this particular site benefited greatly from having a marquee, but there was no room for a “unique” case and a blanket corporate policy took precedence.
AMC has now removed the marquee and replaced it with a huge red AMC logo. Films and showtimes are now printed on a piece of paper taped to the box office. This appears to be a growing trend in the industry as most people use their phones now to see what’s playing. Kind of sad, especially when it happens to your childhood theater.
Walked by today and was surprised to see titles like “Dunkirk” and “War for the Planet of the Apes” listed on the marquee. Matinees are actually $4.99 ($7.99 for 3D) until 4PM, then $6.99 until close ($9.99 for 3D). Still better prices than any other first-run venue in the area.
Seems rather odd, though, that AMC would pit the little five-screen Woodbridge against its nearby Tustin/District multiplex for fist-run choices. Screen size aside, why would your average patron pay $12.69 for a matinee of “Dunkirk” when they could pay $4.99 just a couple of miles down the street.
The theatre never closed for refurbishment; it merely opened late on 1/21/16 to accommodate a conversion to AMC’s network and POS systems. Thus far, the changes have been more back office/support systems/procedure oriented.
Walked by the theater this weekend. No noticeable changes other than ticket prices on the marquee are now $1.99/$2.99 instead of $2/$3. Only AMC signage visible is a little sign in the box office window.
I see this theater officially becomes an AMC venue today, all part of AMC’s $172 million acquisition of Starplex. Per Fandango, tickets are still $2. Apparently the Woodbridge has been closed all week for refurbishment. Anyone know more?