You're standing on the Wilmington Riverfront, the wind is kicking up off the Christina River, and you just want to sink into a heated recliner with a bucket of popcorn. Finding movie theater showtimes in Wilmington Delaware used to be as simple as checking a newspaper. Now, it’s a chaotic digital scavenger hunt across three different apps and four different theater chains that all seem to hide their best deals.
Honestly, Wilmington is a weirdly great place for movies. You’ve got the massive IMAX at the Riverfront, the tucked-away indie charm of Theatre N, and the suburban sprawling complexes like Brandywine Town Center. But here is the thing: if you just search "movies near me," you might miss the fact that Cinemark Christiana is currently running a massive Lord of the Rings marathon while the Regal up the road is showing a Japanese sci-fi cult classic with subtitles.
Timing is everything.
The Riverfront Experience: Penn Cinema and the IMAX Factor
If you want the "big" experience, you basically head to the Riverfront. Penn Cinema Riverfront & IMAX (401 South Madison Street) is where everyone goes for the blockbusters. It’s the only place in the entire state of Delaware where you can actually see a film in true IMAX format.
Currently, for Sunday, January 18, 2026, the big draw is Avatar: Fire & Ash. The showtimes are scattered throughout the day—think 11:00 AM for the early birds and 7:00 PM for the prime-time crowd.
They also have a heavy rotation of sequels right now. Greenland 2: Migration is playing almost every two hours starting at 11:30 AM. If you’re bringing the kids, Zootopia 2 is the move, but be warned: the 1:40 PM showtime is usually the "parents with toddlers" peak hour.
What's cool about Penn is the leather recliners. You've probably been to theaters where the "recliner" just sort of tilts back? These are the real deal. Plus, you’re within walking distance of Iron Hill Brewery, which is the unofficial "let's talk about the movie we just saw" headquarters.
The Suburban Giants: Regal Brandywine and Cinemark Christiana
North of the city, Regal Brandywine Town Center (3300 Brandywine Parkway) operates like a well-oiled machine. It’s huge. It has 16 screens.
One thing most people get wrong about Regal is thinking it only plays the Top 10 hits. This week, they’ve got some really specific stuff on the schedule. They are running All You Need Is Kill in both dubbed and subbed versions, which is a nice touch for the anime crowd.
Regal Brandywine Key Showtimes for Jan 18:
- The Housemaid: 12:20 PM, 3:25 PM, 6:30 PM, 9:30 PM
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple: 2:50 PM (Open Captioned), 4:40 PM, 7:20 PM
- Marty Supreme: 1:20 PM, 4:35 PM, 7:50 PM
Then there’s Cinemark Christiana and XD. Technically, it’s in the mall (1200 Christiana Mall), but let’s be real—if you live in Wilmington, you’re there twice a month anyway. Their XD screen is their answer to IMAX. It’s loud. Like, "feel the bass in your teeth" loud.
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Cinemark is currently leaning hard into nostalgia. They have the 20th Anniversary of Madagascar playing at 10:05 AM and 12:30 PM today. But the real marathon energy is coming from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2026 re-release), which clocks in at a staggering 4 hours and 13 minutes. It starts at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM. If you go to that 6:00 PM showing, you aren’t getting out until well past 10:00 PM. Plan your snacks accordingly.
The Secret Spot: Theatre N at Wilmington
If you hate the mall and you hate $15 popcorn, you need to know about Theatre N. Located at 221 W. Tenth Street, it’s the high-brow, indie alternative.
It’s only open on certain days (mostly weekends), and it’s where you’ll find films that actually make you think. Today, they are screening Heightened Scrutiny, a 90-minute documentary about civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio. It’s at 6:00 PM.
It’s small. It’s intimate. It feels like old-school Wilmington. They don't have twenty different movie theater showtimes in Wilmington Delaware listed on a glowing marquee, but the one or two movies they do show are usually worth the trip.
Surviving the 2026 Movie Season
The "Quiet Rapture" and "Bone Temple" trends are dominating the January 2026 box office. We are seeing a huge surge in survivalist sci-fi. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is the hot ticket right now. At Cinemark Wilmington Movies 10 (1796 W Newport Pike), the showtimes for that one are 1:25 PM, 4:20 PM, and 7:15 PM.
Also, a weirdly specific tip: if you’re looking for international cinema, specifically Telugu films, the Newport Pike Cinemark is the place. They have Anaganaga Oka Raju and Nari Nari Naduma Murari running today. It’s a niche that most of the bigger chains don’t serve as well.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Movie Night
- Check the "XD" or "IMAX" Labels: Don't just look at the time. A 7:00 PM show in a standard theater vs. an XD theater at Christiana Mall is a totally different experience for the same price.
- The Tuesday Hack: Most Wilmington theaters, especially Cinemark and Regal, still do "Discount Tuesdays." If you can wait a few days, you'll save about 40% on the ticket price.
- Parking Strategy: If you're going to Penn Cinema on the Riverfront, park in the lot directly in front of the theater. Don't try to park on the street near the restaurants; it's a nightmare on weekends.
- Matinee Cutoffs: Most theaters in the 19801 and 19803 zip codes cut off their matinee pricing at 4:00 PM. If you buy a ticket for a 4:15 PM show, you’re paying full freight.
- Pre-Order for the Mall: If you are heading to the Christiana Mall Cinemark on a weekend, you must pre-order. That theater serves the entire tri-state area and sells out faster than the others.
The landscape of movie theater showtimes in Wilmington Delaware is constantly shifting. Between the IMAX at the Riverfront, the massive screens at the Mall, and the indie vibes downtown, you've got options. Just make sure you double-check the specific format (DBox, XD, or Standard) before you click "buy," because sitting in a vibrating chair for a 4-hour Lord of the Rings movie is an experience you need to be mentally prepared for.
Next Steps:
- Verify Seating: Check the real-time seat maps on Fandango or the Cinemark app, as Sunday evening shows for Avatar: Fire & Ash are currently filling up.
- Plan Dining: If you're hitting the Riverfront, make a reservation at Del Pez or Iron Hill for at least 90 minutes before your showtime to account for the weekend crowds.
- Check Theatre N: Visit their specific website to sign up for their weekly email, as their schedule changes frequently and often features one-night-only screenings.