Best Movie Theaters to watch films in English

If you want to watch a film in English in Barranquilla, the good news is most international releases play in their original audio with Spanish subtitles, so you do not have to settle for a dubbed Hollywood movie. The catch is figuring out which showings are which from the listing. This guide explains the convention and lists the main cinemas in the city.

How to read the listing

Spanish-language listings use a few shorthand terms. Learn these and you can pick the right showtime on any of the cinema websites:

• VOSE or subtitulada or SUB: original audio (usually English for Hollywood films) with Spanish subtitles. This is what you want.
• Doblada or DOB: dubbed in Spanish. Skip unless your group is mostly Spanish speakers.
• 3D, 4DX, VIP: format upgrades on top of the audio. Check the audio tag too.

For animated films and kids' movies, the default is usually dubbed because that is what local families want. Live-action and prestige releases default to subtitled. Always check the specific showtime, not just the film, before buying.

Cinépolis VIP, Mallplaza Buenavista

The Cinépolis VIP at Mallplaza Buenavista is the upmarket cinema option in the city: reclining leather seats, in-seat food and drink service (including beer and cocktails), and a smaller-than-standard auditorium. New Hollywood releases typically run subtitled in the prime evening slots. Verify locations with Cinépolis directly, they may also operate non-VIP screens in the same complex.

Worth the surcharge for a date night or a long film. Expect to pay roughly COP 35,000 to 50,000 per ticket, more than double a standard cinema.

Cine Colombia, multiple locations

Cine Colombia is the dominant Colombian cinema chain. In Barranquilla they run cinemas at Buenavista and at Multiplex Parque Alegra (in the south of the city). The Buenavista location has a 4D Dinamix screen for the films that support it.

Standard tickets run around COP 14.000 to 22.000. Weekday matinees (typically before 5pm, often Tuesdays or Wednesdays as the "miércoles de descuento") are cheaper, sometimes under COP 10.000. The cheap matinee is the best value movie outing in Barranquilla.

Royal Films, Viva Barranquilla

Royal Films at Viva has the 4DX auditorium, the format with moving seats, wind, scent, and other practical effects synced to the film. It is a novelty more than a quality choice; the regular screens are fine for everyday viewing.

Cine Colombia, Multiplex Parque Alegra

The newer Cine Colombia in the south of the city. It has a Megasala (large-format screen) and a 3D auditorium. Useful if you live in southern Barranquilla; the Buenavista cinemas are a long drive from there. Subtitled showings of new releases tend to land on weekends rather than every day.

Bottom line

For a casual midweek movie, the standard Cine Colombia at Buenavista is the easiest pick. For a date night, upgrade to Cinépolis VIP at Mallplaza. For a one-off experience, Royal Films 4DX at Viva is worth doing once. In all cases, double-check the showtime tag (SUB or VOSE for original audio, doblada for dubbed) on the cinema's website before buying.

For other activity ideas, see our things to do page or our group activities guide.

Further reading

More leisure and family options:

• Barranquilla malls, most cinemas live inside these
• things to do around Barranquilla, broader leisure ideas
• group activities, plans for a night out with friends
• Barranquilla with kids, family-friendly activity picks
• nightlife, bars, and clubs, post-movie drinks