Movies bijou san antonio tx8/15/2023 "To support our independent filmmakers and art films, the 'Bijou Series' art films will be shown across all our Santikos theaters, exposing even more of our community to incredible talent around the world," said Brooks, who called these exciting times for Santikos. ![]() While the Bijou may be closing, Santikos hopes its legacy will live on with the "Bijou Series" that will begin at other Santikos theaters later this summer. It's this changing dynamic of art films, and our lease coming up for renewal that led to the decision to close The Bijou." This is just one example of many as art films try to find a way to be profitable and gain exposure. There was a record bidding war between Amazon, Netflix and Apple, and Apple won with a $25 million-dollar purchase. "'CODA,' which won best movie, was allowed to play in our theaters for only one week prior to opening on Apple. "It's no secret that independent filmmakers and art films have been hit the hardest during this pandemic, and the art-film dynamic is changing," explained Brooks. ![]() ![]() Even then, it only operated on the weekends. Like all movie theaters, the Bijou took a big hit during the pandemic, remaining closed for a full year before reopening in late March 2021. In July 2003, the rebranded Bijou made its debut and billed itself as the city’s first full-fledged art-house movie theater. A year later, as part of a business boom in the area, Santikos Entertainment once again took over operations and gave the theater a million-dollar facelift, installing new seats and dining tables. To paraphrase the slogan of the most recent Academy Awards, this was the place where San Antonio movie lovers could unite.īy 2002 though, the auditoriums at the Crossroads Theatre were starting to show their age, and despite a seemingly loyal fanbase, Regal Cinemas decided to close it down. "Singin' in the Rain" to "Rebel Without a Cause". Whatever the case, those six screens below ground level at a mall in Balcones Heights were pretty much the only place in town you could experience any of that.įrom Kurosawa and Kieslowski to Truffaut and Tarkovsky. Perhaps you were an awards show completist who needed to watch every Oscar-nominated animated short film in one sitting. Maybe you wanted to enjoy a classy Sunday taking in the latest Merchant-Ivory production. Maybe you felt like zenning out to a new David Lynch or Terrence Malick film. 1987 grand opening inside Crossroads Mall (a name that was retired in 2010, by the way), the six-screen multiplex quickly got a reputation as San Antonio’s closest thing to an art-house theater, showcasing indie and classic films alongside more mainstream fare. Located inside Wonderland of the Americas Mall, the Bijou helped popularize the in-theater dining trend long before it became the norm, offering concession stand staples like popcorn and soda alongside gourmet burgers, beer and wine. We're also pleased to continue serving the Balcones Heights community with our Santikos Northwest Theater just across the highway, less than 1 mile away from the Bijou." "While we're sad to announce its closing, we're excited for the future of Santikos. ![]() "The Bijou theater has been part of the Santikos family since December 1987, and over the past 35 years, it has become revered as our 'Arthouse,'" said Andrew Brooks, Executive Director of Sales & Marketing for Santikos Entertainment.
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