Balboa Theatre
3630 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
Open · verified by Lumina November 2026
A 1926 Outer Richmond neighborhood theater run by a nonprofit, with a nightly mix of repertory and cult films, some on 35mm, and themed events like live drag screenings.
Quick facts
- Type
- Repertory, Historic, Nonprofit
- Address
- 3630 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
- Phone
- (415) 221-8184
- Screens
- 2
- Opened
- 1926
What to expect
On screen
- Classics and revivals
- Cult and midnight movies
- Special events
At the theater
- 35mm projection
The story
The Balboa opened on February 27, 1926 as the New Balboa Theatre, designed by Reid & Reid for Samuel Levin, whose San Francisco Theatres chain included several other neighborhood houses. It held about 800 seats at opening and has two screens today. The Levin family kept it until 2001. Gary Meyer, a co-owner of Landmark Theatres, then owned it from 2001 to 2011, and since 2012 it has been part of the CinemaSF group, which is tied to the San Francisco Neighborhood Theatre Foundation and also holds the 4-Star and Vogue. Wikipedia notes that the theater lost money during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent listings mix 35mm repertory titles with cult favorites and special evenings.
Good to know
- Does the Balboa show film prints?
- Some titles in the Aug 2026 listings were marked 35mm.
- Who operates the Balboa?
- CinemaSFbay, a registered California nonprofit, runs it along with other neighborhood theaters.
- Where is Balboa Theatre?
- Balboa Theatre is at 3630 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121. Phone: (415) 221-8184.
- Is Balboa Theatre open?
- Yes. Lumina verified Balboa Theatre as open in November 2026. Check the theater's showtimes for today's schedule.
- How do I buy tickets for Balboa Theatre?
- Buy tickets directly from the theater using the Showtimes & tickets button on this page. You can also call (415) 221-8184.
- What independent theaters are near Balboa Theatre?
- 4-Star Theatre in San Francisco (0.9 mi), Presidio Theatre in San Francisco (3.5 mi), and Castro Theatre in San Francisco (3.5 mi).
- 4-Star TheatrePresidio TheatreCastro Theatre
Getting there
3630 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121 · Get directions · Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Independent cinemas near Balboa Theatre
4-Star Theatre
San Francisco, CA · 0.9 mi
A 1913 Richmond District neighborhood theater run by a nonprofit and known for repertory and cult screenings, such as Willy Wonka, Brazil and a local film club.
Presidio Theatre
San Francisco, CA · 3.5 mi
A Chestnut Street neighborhood theater in the Marina District, run by Lee Neighborhood Theatres. It shows a rotating slate of independent films, a documentary and the occasional classic alongside bigger releases.
Castro Theatre
San Francisco, CA · 3.5 mi
San Francisco's 1922 landmark movie palace, reopened in 2026 after a $41 million renovation. It now books concerts and comedy alongside film events, and hosts the SF Silent Film Festival.
Marina Theater
San Francisco, CA · 3.7 mi
A Chestnut Street neighborhood theater in the Marina, run by Lee Neighborhood Theatres, showing a small rotating selection of current films and occasional special screenings with Q&As.
Artists' Television Access
San Francisco, CA · 4.4 mi
An artist-run nonprofit screening room and gallery on Valencia Street in the Mission, showing experimental and underground work, open screenings and a Saturday-night series hosted by an artist in residence.
Lark Theater
Larkspur, CA · 11 mi
A community-run Art Deco theater in downtown Larkspur that pairs limited-run and indie films with filmed opera and theater, family matinees, classic revivals and live jazz.
More repertory cinemas in California
Pacific Film Archive
Berkeley, CA
The film program of the Berkeley Art Museum, with retrospectives, restored classics and international cinema on a university-run schedule. Members get half-price tickets, and the 232-seat theater sits in a 2016 building on Center Street.
Billy Wilder Theater
Los Angeles, CA
The 295-seat theater inside the Hammer Museum, home to UCLA Film & Television Archive screenings. Retrospectives, restorations, and talks, with public programs currently free on a first-come basis.
Brain Dead Studios
Los Angeles, CA
A cult and repertory cinema in the old Silent Movie Theatre space on Fairfax. The calendar mixes classics, midnight-style favorites, and themed event weeks, with a monthly membership that includes a free ticket per screening.
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