AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring to screen The Odyssey in 70mm

The AFI Silver Theatre at 8633 Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring will be one of the few movie theaters in the Washington, D.C. region to show Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey in the glorious 70mm format. Tickets are now on sale for the 70mm showings beginning on July 16, 2026. Rave reviews for the recent 70mm screenings of Terminator 2: Judgement Day at this theater suggest this is the way The Odyssey must be seen for the ultimate picture and sound quality - unless you are willing to drive further for the 70mm IMAX version at a true IMAX theater.

Assault at movie theater in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a movie theater in downtown Silver Spring on Valentine's Day night. The assault was reported at a theater in the 8600 block of Colesville Road at 11:56 PM Saturday. AFI Silver Theatre is located at 8633 Colesville Road.

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? AFI Silver Theater says yes

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? AFI Silver Theater's answer to that controversial question is definitively, "yes." The downtown Silver Spring movie theater is including the Bruce Willis action flick in its marathon of Christmas movies this week. Die Hard will be screened tonight, Monday, December 22, 2025, at 6:40 PM, and Wednesday night, December 24, at 9:15 PM. The original Die Hard movie poster is on display at the historic theater, which is located at 8633 Colesville Road.

Die Hard, like Batman Returns, is a great film but doesn't meet my definition of a Christmas movie. But one that does, It's a Wonderful Life, the best Christmas movie ever, is playing all three days before Christmas at the theater, 1:30 PM today, 2:00 PM Tuesday, and 2:00 PM Wednesday. Other Christmas movies on the bill include Edward Scissorhands, Home Alone, Elf, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Christmas in Connecticut. Tickets are available for purchase online.

Proof of vaccination required for entry at AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring

Indoor mask requirements are back in effect in Montgomery County, but some businesses go further. AFI Silver Theatre is now requiring proof of vaccination from moviegoers, or a negative covid PCR test result. New York City and Los Angeles are among the municipalities that have previously mandated vaccines for movie theater patrons.

Most major cineplex chains have not instituted a vaccination requirement companywide, although some in the industry have argued that such mandates could boost box office receipts. Marcus Corporation has found a way to thread the needle, by offering special screenings for vaccinated patrons only at its Marcus Theatres and Movie Tavern locations, but not requiring vaccination proof to enter the building.

Why has the AFI Silver Theatre marquee gone dark?

Anyone passing by the historic AFI Silver Theatre the past couple of weeks has probably noticed its landmark marquee has gone dark. The movie theater says the scrolling marquee stopped working, and is in need of repair. It should be running again "soon." Which is good news, because it just doesn't seem like downtown Silver Spring without the AFI Silver marquee telling us about all of the coming attractions.

Indecent exposure at AFI Silver Theatre

A man exposed himself inside the AFI Silver Theatre in downtown Silver Spring, Montgomery County police allege. Around 1:30 PM on March 8, 2019, a man allegedly entered the movie theater and walked to the cafe area. Detectives say he spoke to a female employee in the cafe, and then "inappropriately touched himself" as he departed the cafe area. They have released an image of the suspect taken from the theater's surveillance camera system.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or who has information about this incident is asked to contact the 3rd District Patrol Investigations Unit at 240-773-6800.  For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Watch the action classic again tonight at a special Christmas Eve screening at AFI Silver Theatre, and decide for yourself. Screening time is 9:25 PM, and tickets are available online.

Not Your Average Joe's celebrates opening in Silver Spring with hefty donation to AFI Silver Theatre

Joe Gartland, Matt Boratenski,
Bethany Manimbo, Jane Redicker,
Michael Reyes, Stephen Silverstein,
Ray Barry and Stephanie Steele cut
the ribbon, officially opening
Not Your Average Joe's in
Silver Spring

Not Your Average Joe's opened Tuesday at Ellsworth Place mall, and started to build its relationship with the community by making a $5000 donation to next door neighbor AFI Silver Theatre. AFI is a nonprofit organization, which promotes visual literacy to local students through an innovative film education program.

Helping to cut the ribbon out front was Jane Redicker, President of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce. Redicker presented Not Your Average Joe's CEO and President Stephen Silverstein with a plaque from the Chamber.

Ray Barry, Matt Boratenski
and Stephen Silverstein

After the ceremony, guests moved inside to sample a variety of dishes. Both Silverstein and the restaurant's manager, Michael Reyes, expressed enthusiasm about partnering with other charitable causes in the Silver Spring community, and say they would welcome organizations to approach them.

NYAJ's is in a prime spot and offers an inviting patio for al fresco dining. You can see the Fillmore from the patio, making it a sure bet for pre-or-post-movie/concert dining, and that is going to be a huge traffic driver for the revamped Ellsworth Place.

Not Your Average Joe's is located at the corner of Colesville Road and Fenton Street. You can park in the Ellsworth Drive garage, and cross the skybridge over Fenton directly into the mall.

All photos by Robert Dyer
except top 2 (ribbon cutting/check presentation) courtesy
Linda Roth Associates, Inc.

MoCo native Roger Gastman to screen latest documentary at AFI Silver Theatre February 19

Bethesda native Roger Gastman returns to Montgomery County with his latest film, Wall Writers, next Friday, February 19, 2016, at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring. The event begins at 7:00 PM, and the film starts at 7:30. Gastman will be bringing several of the groundbreaking graffiti artists who appear in the documentary, including TAKI 183, for a Q&A and book signing.

You can order tickets for the Wall Writers screening now online.

Narrated by filmmaker John Waters, Wall Writers brings back to life a golden age of graffiti in New York City and Philadelphia between 1967 and 1972. Witness the birth of an American subculture, and the artists and techniques that created an artform that today is as likely to be on exhibit in a museum as it is to be found on the streets. A companion book will be available for purchase, and for the book signing.

Roger Gastman

A multi-talented producer, director, publisher, art curator and consultant to major brands like Urban Outfitters, HBO, Nissan, Motorola, Sephora and Sprite, Gastman moved to Los Angeles in 2004. He still visits his hometown often. You may have seen his previous acclaimed documentary, The Legend of Cool "Disco" Dan, which has even more resonance if you rode the Metro Red Line when graffiti artist Dan Hogg was leaving behind his now-iconic tag, that would one day be seen in museums and Hollywood films.

If you saw how good that movie was, you definitely won't want to miss this one.