FAQs

Can anyone come watch movies at Cornell Cinema? 

Yes, Cornell Cinema is open to the public! All are welcome to attend our screenings and we encourage you to visit our online calendar and sign up for our newsletter to discover which films are showing each semester.

Where is Cornell Cinema located? 

Cornell Cinema is housed in the historic Willard Straight Theatre, which is located on the lower level of Willard Straight Hall. Willard Straight Hall is centrally located on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. You can find directions and information about parking on our Visit page.

There are two entrances to the building: if you enter from the Willard Straight Hall parking lot, you will see the main entrance to Cornell Cinema straight ahead of you. If you enter from the Ho Plaza Level, you will need to take the stairs or elevator down to the ground level, then travel to the end of the hallway where you will find Cornell Cinema on your left.

What are your accessibility accommodations?

Cornell Cinema has a wheelchair and companion seating inside the theatre and a lift to move from the outer to the inner lobby. Mobility-impaired patrons are encouraged to use this lift, as there are several stairs down to the inner lobby and the theatre entrance. The inner lobby also includes an accessible, gender-neutral washroom.

Cornell Cinema also has assistive listening headsets and closed caption readers available for checkout at the Box Office. Not all titles include descriptive audio or closed captions, but those that do will have this information noted on the individual film’s page within a week of its show date.

Do you sell snacks? 

Yes, the Concessions Stand in our lobby is open for sales at most screenings. We serve freshly popped popcorn and an evolving selection of candy, sodas, seltzers, and iced teas.

Is there a lost and found?

Please contact us at cinema@cornell.edu if you think you lost an item at Cornell Cinema and we will be happy to assist you. All lost property valued at $20 or more are sent to CUPD’s Lost & Found Office in Barton Hall. Less valuable items like water bottles, umbrellas, etc. are typically held in our office until the end of the semester.

Can I suggest a film for Cornell Cinema? 

Yes, we welcome you to submit film suggestions via the suggestion box in our lobby. Cornell students who would like to be involved in brainstorming programming ideas are also encouraged to get involved with our Cornell Cinema Student Advisory Board.

I’m a Cornell student. Can I work at Cornell Cinema? 

Yes, we have approximately 25 undergraduate students working with us each year as house managers, ushers, cinema attendants, and projectionists. Please visit our Student Employment & Volunteering page for more information about current opportunities.

Do I need to buy a ticket to watch a movie at Cornell Cinema?

Yes, tickets are required for most Cornell Cinema screenings and booking complimentary tickets is strongly encouraged for free events. Tickets can be purchased through our online ticketing platform Eventive or in-person at the Cornell Cinema Box Office starting 20 minutes before each show. We accept cash and all major credit cards.

How much do tickets cost?

Please visit our Ticket Information page for details. 

Our Cornell Cinema All-Access Pass is a great way to save — for one low, annual price, passholders can book free tickets to all regular screenings and receive a discount on special events!

Do only Cornell students get the student discount?

No, the student price for tickets and our All-Access Pass applies to all students! You can buy a ticket or pass at the student rate if you are a college student, a high school or elementary school student, a graduate or professional student, or a continuing education student. 

Cornell University Graduate & Professional Students are eligible for a special discounted rate on tickets and All-Access Passes, thanks to generous funding support for Cornell Cinema from the Graduate & Professional Student Assembly.

What is an All-Access Pass? 

The Cornell Cinema All-Access Pass is an annual program that offers free admission to all regularly priced screenings as well as discounted tickets for special events for one low rate. 

All-Access Passes are valid for the entire academic year during which they are purchased. Passes are managed digitally through our online ticketing platform Eventive and can be purchased online or in-person at the Cornell Cinema Box Office. Visit our All-Access Pass page for more information and pricing.

How do I go about bringing a group to Cornell Cinema?

You can purchase multiple tickets to each film using a credit card through our online ticketing platform Eventive. Tickets can be printed as individual PDFs or shared electronically through your Eventive online account.

Our Cornell Cinema team is also happy to assist with group ticket bookings. You can either arrange pre-paid tickets for specific screenings or purchase “Admit One” cards that can be used to gain free admission to any regular screening at Cornell Cinema. 

Please contact us at cinema@cornell.edu for assistance at least 3-5 business days prior to the event you would like to attend.

I bought a ticket but can’t make it anymore. Can I get a refund?

Refund requests for online ticket purchases must be submitted via email at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled screening date and time. Please use email cinema@cornell.edu to submit your request.

Can my group host a film screening at Cornell Cinema?

Cornell Cinema regularly supports film screenings hosted by academic departments, programs, and student organizations through our Cinema Rental Program. Event organizers are responsible for film selection, introductions/Q&As, and promotion of their screening while Cornell Cinema staff provide all technical and event production support for a reasonable fee and confirm public performance rights with the relevant film distributor.

Willard Straight Theatre is typically available for rental screenings on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings after 4pm. Requests are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis each semester. We do our best to accommodate each request, but space is limited, so we encourage you to reach out at least 6-8 weeks prior to your event. Note that our public calendar does not reflect all scheduled activity, so please have multiple possible dates in mind.

To inquire about hosting a film screening at Cornell Cinema, please email cinema@cornell.edu. 

Can my group host a fundraiser at a Cornell Cinema screening?

No, all rental events must be presented free of charge, so it is not possible to host a fundraising event at Cornell Cinema at this time.

Is it possible to reserve the cinema as a space for my friends and me to watch a movie together? 

Yes, you can request a film screening for a private group at Cornell Cinema through our Cinema Rental Program. You can contact cinema@cornell.edu to discuss further.

However, Cornell Cinema is a public space and therefore all screenings must adhere to copyright law, which means you will be required to pay for the public performance rights for the film you wish to screen. Screening fees vary wildly depending on the film but typically fall in the range of $250-750 per title. Please visit Cornell Library's “Copyright Services: Film on Campus” for more information about copyright and clearance protocol.

Can I reserve Willard Straight Theatre for a stage performance or non-cinema related event?

There are select dates each semester that Willard Straight Theatre can be booked by student groups for performances or other non-cinema activities. These activities are managed by the Willard Straight Hall Support Team and booked through 25Live. Please contact wsh-scheduling@cornell.edu to inquire about availability for your group.

Please note that Cornell Cinema staff will not be involved in any event logistics for performances or other non-cinema activities. If approved, you will work with external vendors and the Willard Straight Hall support staff for all set-up or equipment needs.