SF Indie Films

SF has a handful of great indie theaters. The Roxie in the Mission is the big one—been around since 1909 and has the best documentary programming in the city. Out in the Richmond you've got the 4 Star and Balboa, both gorgeous old Art Deco spots. The Vogue in Presidio Heights is cozy and shows a solid mix. And in the Marina there's the Marina and Presidio theaters.

Honestly? Better movies. These places show stuff you won't find at the Metreon—foreign films, documentaries, weird old classics, limited releases. Plus they're all single-screen theaters with actual character. Some have been here for over 100 years. You'll sometimes catch filmmaker Q&As or special events too. It's just a different vibe than sitting in a Dolby theater watching the 15th Marvel thing.

Depends what you're into. The Roxie is the most well-known and has the most interesting programming—if there's a buzzy doc or a niche foreign film, it's probably playing there. The Balboa and 4 Star are worth the trek to the Richmond if you like beautiful old theaters. The Balboa especially has this great vintage feel.

We pull from each theater's ticketing system a few times a day. The links go straight to their sites so you can buy tickets right there. Usually shows about a week out.