So, you’re in Davis and you want to catch a flick. It should be easy, right? You just type a few words into your phone and hope the results aren’t a mess of outdated schedules or theaters that closed three years ago during the "great theater reshuffle." Honestly, navigating movie theater showtimes in Davis California has become a bit of a localized art form lately.
Davis is a weird town for movies. We aren't talkin’ about a place with a massive 20-screen megaplex where you can get lost in the hallway. Instead, we have this quirky split between big-budget blockbusters and those "I need to look smart" indie films. If you're standing on F Street or Second Street right now, you’ve basically got two main choices, and they couldn’t be more different if they tried.
The Regal Davis Holiday Experience
Most people end up at the Regal Davis Holiday on F Street. It’s the workhorse of the city. If you’re looking for the big stuff—we're talking Avatar: Fire and Ash or the latest Disney drop like Zootopia 2—this is where you land.
The thing about the Holiday 6 is that it’s compact. You’ve got six screens, which means the showtimes are usually staggered pretty tight. Right now, for January 2026, they've got a heavy rotation of Greenland 2: Migration and the new Primate flick. If you’re trying to catch the 2:45 PM matinee of Greenland, you better be in line by 2:30 PM because the lobby isn't exactly cavernous.
One thing that kinda catches people off guard is the seating. It’s all reserved now. I remember when you just ran in and threw a jacket over a seat to save it for a friend, but those days are gone. Now, you’re clicking a tiny digital map on your phone. It’s better for the planners, but it definitely kills the spontaneity of a last-minute movie night.
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Why the Varsity Theatre is Actually the Heart of Davis
Then there’s the Davis Varsity Theatre. It’s on Second Street and it’s basically a local treasure. If the Regal is for popcorn movies, the Varsity is for "film."
It’s got that classic marquee that makes you feel like you’re in an old movie yourself. They tend to carry the stuff the big chains ignore. For example, they’re currently running Marty Supreme—that Josh Safdie movie with Timothée Chalamet—and a Korean thriller called No Other Choice.
The showtimes at the Varsity are a bit more... let's say "deliberate." They don't have twenty screenings a day. Usually, you’re looking at a late afternoon matinee around 4:20 PM or 4:30 PM, followed by the main evening sets around 7:30 PM. They also have this habit of starting the movies about 10 to 12 minutes after the posted time. It’s nice because you don’t have to sit through 25 minutes of Geico commercials and military recruitment ads.
What’s Playing Right Now (January 2026)
To give you a real-world look at what you’re walking into this week, here’s a snapshot of the current local lineup.
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At the Regal Davis Holiday, the big draw is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. They have showtimes starting as early as 12:20 PM for the early birds, going all the way to a 10:10 PM late-night slot for the college crowd. They’re also leaning hard into the Zootopia 2 hype with laser projection screenings at 3:50 PM and 10:00 PM.
Over at the Varsity, things are a bit more curated. You’ve got Marty Supreme at 6:00 PM and 9:10 PM on weekdays, with some extra 4:20 PM slots on the weekends. If you’re into international cinema, No Other Choice is usually hitting the screen around 6:15 PM.
The "Woodland Secret" Everyone Forgets
Look, sometimes Davis just doesn't have what you want. Or maybe the AC is acting up again at the Regal (it happens more than they’d like to admit).
A lot of locals end up driving 15 minutes north to the State Theatre and Multiplex in Woodland. Why? Because they have those massive power recliners. Sometimes you just want to lie down while stuff explodes on screen. The seats in Davis are fine—the Varsity actually has surprisingly clean and comfy ones—but they aren't the "I might accidentally fall asleep" recliners you find in Woodland or the bigger theaters in Vacaville.
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Dealing With the "Sold Out" Problem
Since Davis is a college town, Friday nights are a gamble. If a big movie just dropped, the movie theater showtimes in Davis California will look wide open on Tuesday, but by Friday at 7:00 PM, you’re stuck sitting in the very front row, crane-necking it for two hours.
I always tell people to check Atom Tickets or Fandango before they even leave the house. The Regal is pretty good about updating their digital schedules, but the Varsity sometimes has its own rhythm. Their website, davisvarsity.com, is the only place you should trust for their specific indie schedules because third-party apps sometimes hallucinate their times.
How to Actually Get the Best Experience
If you want to do it right, here is the unofficial "Davis Movie Strategy":
- Monday and Tuesday are your friends. Both theaters are ghost towns. You can usually walk in five minutes before the movie starts and have your pick of the house.
- The Popcorn Trick. Regal has the standard "bucket" vibe, but if you're at the Varsity, check out the local treats. It’s a bit more "boutique" and honestly tastes less like industrial chemicals.
- Parking is a nightmare. Don't try to park right in front of the Varsity on Second Street. You'll circle for twenty minutes. Just bite the bullet and park in the E Street plaza lot or the garage and walk a block.
- Check the format. Regal is starting to move more screenings toward "Laser Projection." If you have the choice, take the laser. The colors are way crisper, especially for those long Avatar sequels where everything is blue and dark.
The reality is that movie-going in Davis is about choosing a vibe. Do you want the polished, corporate reliability of the Regal, or the creaky, artistic soul of the Varsity? Most weeks, the choice is made for you by whatever is actually playing, but knowing the quirks of each spot makes the difference between a good night out and a frustrated trip back to the car.
Your Next Steps
To get your tickets sorted without the headache, your best bet is to pull up the official Regal app for the F Street location to see the latest seating charts for 28 Years Later or Zootopia 2. If you’re leaning toward the indie side, head straight to the Davis Varsity website to confirm their evening slots for Marty Supreme, as they sometimes shift times for special community events or film festivals.