Millbrook Multiplex Gets a Makeover — And a Few Surprises at the Concession Stand

MILLBROOK, June 3 — The Starlight Cinema on Garfield Avenue swung its freshly painted doors open Saturday morning after a four-month renovation that transformed the aging eight-screen multiplex into something locals are already calling the best reason to skip streaming for a night. The $2.1 million overhaul — funded jointly by owner Denise Prather and a small-business development grant from Millbrook City Hall — brings fully laser-projection screens, Dolby Atmos sound in three auditoriums, and plush reclining seats throughout the building.

What's New Inside

Beyond the obvious tech upgrades, the real conversation starter is the expanded concession area, rebranded as The Reel Kitchen. Gone are the sad, pre-packaged nachos of yesteryear. In their place, executive chef Marco Tillman has put together a short but genuinely impressive menu that includes truffle parmesan popcorn, a rotating flatbread of the week, and craft sodas sourced from Millbrook's own Harvest Bottling Co. on Mill Creek Road. There's also a full espresso bar — a first for any cinema in the county. 'We wanted people to feel like going to the movies was an occasion again,' Prather told the Courier during a preview screening Thursday evening.

• Eight screens with new laser projection
• Three Dolby Atmos auditoriums
• Full reclining seat installation in all theaters
• The Reel Kitchen concession expansion with local vendor partnerships
• Online reserved seating now available through the Starlight app

The Starlight opens daily at noon this week, with the first weekend slate headlined by the regional premiere of "Hollow Season," an indie thriller from Millbrook-born director Cassie Vought. Prather said she's in talks with the Millbrook Arts Council to host a monthly independent film night, potentially as soon as August. Ticket prices stay flat at $11.50 for adults and $8 for children and seniors, though Reel Kitchen items are priced à la carte.