Tim League is not done reinventing how Austin goes to the movies. The Alamo Drafthouse founder is rolling out Metro Private Cinema, a more upscale, reservation-only concept built around private screening suites paired with chef-driven, movie-themed meals, with an Austin opening targeted for 2027. The project marks a shift away from the larger multi-screen theaters League helped build in favor of smaller, higher-ticket movie events.
According to the Austin Business Journal, Metro Private Cinema is raising money now in preparation for that 2027 Austin debut. The outlet reports that the company is pitching the idea as a private-rental, experiential theater model geared toward small groups rather than mass audiences.
Metro first launched in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, where it runs multiple private screening suites and pairs showings with themed, multi-course dinners, as reported by Eater NY. Rooms typically seat between four and 20 guests and combine a base per-person fee with optional chef-prepared menus, turning screenings into tightly curated private events for birthdays, date nights and work gatherings.
What To Expect In Austin
If the New York playbook holds, Austinites can expect reservation-only suites, family-style menus and lounge-style service instead of traditional box-office seating. Metro’s website lists screening rooms ranging from four to 20 seats and describes movie-themed menus served right inside the suite. The operator pitches an all-in experience that includes a bar, lounge and private dining, according to Metro Private Cinema.
League’s Return After The Sale
League sold Alamo Drafthouse to Sony Pictures in June 2024, folding the Austin-born chain into Sony Pictures Experiences, the Los Angeles Times reported. Metro is his first notable company-scale project since that sale and signals a move toward curated, higher-price-point moviegoing that treats films less like casual outings and more like private events.
How It Fits The Local Scene
The private-suite approach tracks with a broader industry push toward “experiences” that trade sheer volume for higher revenue per guest. Eater NY noted that League has framed the model as a practical fit for dense urban buildings and as a way to market moviegoing as a full-blown event. Whether Austin, a city known for community screenings and a strong indie film culture, will embrace a higher-price, reservation-only setup is a question the box office will eventually answer.
Exact Austin locations, ticket pricing and a firm opening schedule beyond the 2027 target have not been released. The Austin Business Journal reports that fundraising is still underway and that the company plans to share more details as plans are locked in. We will follow up as permits are filed and a concrete timeline comes into focus.
