Dine-in cinemas, the indie house, and nearby IMAX options. Where to give a stormy afternoon or hot 3 p.m. a plot.
Lido Key sunset, for a night that starts before the previews
Sarasota has a useful spread of movie theaters for a city this size: Regal Hollywood downtown for mainstream releases, Burns Court for indie and foreign films, CinéBistro for dinner-and-a-movie, Lakewood Ranch Cinemas for east-county family nights, and Ruskin Family Drive-In for the throwback double feature.
This guide starts with the Sarasota theaters themselves: where to go, what each room does best, how parking works, and which nearby IMAX theaters are worth the drive when the movie calls for a bigger screen.
For IMAX, Sarasota moviegoers usually look north. AMC Sundial 12 in downtown St. Petersburg is the strongest regional pick for an immersive large-format night, with IMAX with Laser at 151 2nd Avenue North. The Skyway drive can be part of the fun, especially for a big release, but downtown St. Pete parking gets busy around Sundial, so leave a buffer before showtime.
AMC The Regency 20 in Brandon at 2496 West Brandon Boulevard is another practical IMAX option, especially if you are already east of Sarasota or heading toward Tampa. For an easy local movie night, Regal Hollywood downtown is the simple Main Street play. For an event movie where the screen is the point, Sundial is the one to plan around.
CMX CinéBistro at the corner of Tamiami and Bee Ridge is the upscale dinner-and-a-movie spot. Reserved recliner seating, an actual restaurant kitchen behind the lobby (not a microwaved pizza counter), table-side service at your seat. Order before the trailers, dishes arrive through the film. The 8 p.m.+ shows for non-family films are 21+ only, which keeps the room civilized.
Tickets run $15 to $25 plus food. Date-night math: about $90 for two with one drink each and one course. Cheaper than the equivalent dinner-and-a-movie split across two venues, and dramatically easier.
Burns Court Cinemas is the nonprofit art house, run by the Sarasota Film Society since 1984, four screens in a small downtown building tucked behind the Burns Court shops. The programming is the city's best curated week of cinema: independent narrative, international, documentary, restored classics, and the occasional festival series. If a film is winning prizes at Sundance or Cannes in any given year, it'll play here before it streams anywhere.
Tickets are $10 to $15, and the membership tier ($60/year) gets you discounts and members-only screenings. Pair with a coffee at Pastry Art a block away.
Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, also operated by the Sarasota Film Society, runs a smaller version of the Burns Court programming plus mainstream family films, in a modern shopping-center space off Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. It's the closest theater for anyone living east of I-75 and the easiest with kids - plenty of parking, no downtown traffic, family-rated movies most weekends.
If you're in the area, it's the right choice; if you're downtown already, Burns Court has the better programming.
Ruskin Family Drive-In is the nearest working drive-in, about 45 minutes north of Sarasota off I-75 in Hillsborough County. Family-owned since 1952, double features every night, two large screens, a snack bar, a playground for kids before sundown. After Hurricane Milton damage in late 2024, the community rebuilt the screens and the place reopened stronger.
Tickets are $6 to $9 per person - so a family of four sees two films for under $40. Pack a cooler, bring blankets, tune the car FM radio to the broadcast frequency. The first show starts at dusk; the second runs until midnight or later. It's a kind of Friday night you can't recreate anywhere else.
The nightly showtime rail above covers regular screenings with real times. This is the free outdoor film coming up, linked to the organizer's page.
Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch's free Movie in the Park screens Wicked on the lawn after sunset, with an appearance from Elphaba and Glinda and inflatables for kids from 6 p.m. No registration; bring a blanket or lawn chairs. The series runs on the second Friday of every month.
Lakewood Ranch detailsDowntown St. Pete's 12-screen multiplex with IMAX with Laser
AMC Sundial 12 is in the Sundial shopping center in downtown St. Petersburg, at 151 2nd Ave N. It has 12 screens with AMC Signature Recliners, including one IMAX with Laser auditorium and a PRIME at AMC screen, and it also shows films in RealD 3D and D-BOX. For a Sarasota moviegoer it is the nearest IMAX, about an hour north over the Skyway. Tickets are discounted on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and for matinees.
Elevated cinema with in-theater dining
CMX CinéBistro Siesta Key offers a premium movie experience with reserved recliner seating, full-service in-theater dining from a chef-crafted menu, and 4K projection for an immersive luxury outing. As Sarasota's top dine-in cinema, it's perfect for date nights or special occasions, with locals appreciating the sophisticated atmosphere near Siesta Beach. Insider tip: Arrive 30 minutes early for optimal service, and note age restrictions after 8pm for non-family films.
Art house for independent cinema
Operated by the nonprofit Sarasota Film Society since 1984, Burns Court Cinemas specializes in independent, foreign, and documentary films, making it the go-to for cinephiles in downtown Sarasota. With intimate screenings and community events, it's cherished by locals for preserving cultural cinema in a historic neighborhood. Parking is available in nearby public lots, ideal for combining with a stroll through Burns Court shops.
Premier screens for major releases
Regal Hollywood is Sarasota's downtown spot for blockbuster hits and mainstream entertainment, with reserved seating and a convenient Main Street location. Locals favor it for easy access to nearby restaurants and free parking in the adjacent garage, especially for evening shows after dinner. It is the local multiplex choice for big releases, opening weekends, and an easy downtown movie night.
Indie and family films in comfort
As part of the Sarasota Film Society, Lakewood Ranch Cinemas blends independent and family-oriented films in a modern, accessible venue east of Sarasota. It's prized by local families for its clean facilities, easy parking, and community screenings, offering a relaxed alternative to chain theaters. Seasonal events tie into Lakewood Ranch's vibrant master-planned community lifestyle.
Nostalgic outdoor movies since 1952
Family-owned for over 70 years, Ruskin Family Drive-In shows double features year-round on a massive screen, making it the ultimate nostalgic cinema spot just a short drive from Sarasota. With a playground, snack bar, and emphasis on family values, it's beloved by locals for affordable, wholesome entertainment under the stars. Recently rebuilt after hurricanes, it embodies community resilience with clean facilities and safe viewing areas.
Most Sarasota theaters discount weekday matinees - typically anything before 4 p.m. Tuesdays at Regal Hollywood are reduced ($7 to $8 with the free Crown Club app), and CinéBistro often runs Sunday brunch shows with breakfast menu items. Burns Court matinees are the cheapest cinema in town outside the drive-in.
If you're going opening weekend for a major release and want IMAX, book Sundial or Brandon first and build the drive into the night. If you're staying in Sarasota, Regal Hollywood is the straightforward downtown multiplex play, while CinéBistro books up further out because the room is small and the seats are reserved.
Regal Hollywood downtown is a five-minute walk from every restaurant on Main Street and Palm Avenue - the fine-dining options are right there, and several Main Street bars run movie-night menus. Burns Court is two blocks from Indigenous and a handful of casual spots in the Burns Court courtyard. CinéBistro is its own dinner, so don't double-up.
Lakewood Ranch Cinemas is in a shopping center with several restaurants in walking distance from the screens. Ruskin Drive-In: pack your own; the snack bar is good but you'll save money.
For IMAX, the best nearby trip is AMC Sundial 12 in downtown St. Petersburg, which has one IMAX with Laser screen. AMC The Regency 20 in Brandon is another practical option. In Sarasota itself, Regal Hollywood is the downtown multiplex for mainstream releases.
CMX CinéBistro Siesta Key (at Tamiami Trail and Bee Ridge) is the upscale dine-in choice - reclining seats, full chef-driven menu served at your seat, 4K projection. Shows after 8 p.m. for non-family films are 21+ only.
Burns Court Cinemas downtown, run by the nonprofit Sarasota Film Society since 1984. Independent, foreign, documentary, and restored classic programming. The membership tier gets you discounts and members-only screenings.
Yes - two. Regal Hollywood on Main Street is the downtown multiplex for mainstream releases, and Burns Court Cinemas, two blocks south, is the four-screen art house.
Lakewood Ranch Cinemas (east of I-75) for everyday family films with easy parking. Ruskin Family Drive-In (45 minutes north) for the special-occasion family night - two movies, playground, snack bar, kids in pajamas. CinéBistro can also work for older kids on early shows.
Burns Court matinees are often around $10. Regal Hollywood is usually the standard downtown multiplex price range, with premiums depending on format and showtime. CinéBistro is typically $15 to $25 per ticket plus food. Ruskin Drive-In runs about $6 to $9 per person for a double feature - the cheapest cinema in the region.
Ruskin Family Drive-In, about 45 minutes north on I-75 in Hillsborough County. Family-owned since 1952, double features nightly, $6 to $9 per person.
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