You’d think a town built on 1863 would be stuck there. Honestly, if you walk down Steinwehr Avenue, it feels that way—fudge shops, wool uniforms, and enough ghost tours to populate a small city. But then you look for movies in Gettysburg PA, and the vibe shifts. It’s not just about black-and-white documentaries or those "Experience the Battle" dioramas your history teacher loved.
The local film scene is weirdly split.
On one hand, you have the big-budget blockbusters where you can kick back in a heated recliner and forget you're standing on hallowed ground. On the other, there’s a deep, almost obsessive commitment to independent cinema and history that you won't find in a suburban strip mall. If you're looking for a flick this weekend, you’ve basically got two primary choices, and they couldn’t be more different.
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The Modern Side: RC Gateway Theater 8
If you want the newest Marvel movie or a noisy horror sequel, you head to the RC Gateway Theater 8. It’s located just off Route 30 and Route 15, sitting right next to the Wyndham.
People around here just call it "Gateway."
It’s the standard multiplex experience, but they’ve stepped up the tech lately. We’re talking about those luxury heated recliners that make it way too easy to fall asleep during the trailers. They use the HPS-4000 sound system and wall-to-wall screens. It’s loud. It’s crisp.
Right now, in early 2026, the lineup is a mix of the expected and the nostalgic. You’ve got the 25th-anniversary extended editions of The Lord of the Rings trilogy playing as special events alongside new releases like 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Disney’s Avatar: Fire and Ash.
A pro tip for the locals: Go on "Bargain Tuesday."
It’s significantly cheaper, though the crowds definitely reflect that. They also do the Fathom Events thing—so if you want to see a live broadcast of the Met Opera or a random 40th-anniversary screening of Labyrinth, this is where it happens.
The Soul of the Town: The Majestic Theater
Now, if you want something that actually feels like Gettysburg, you go to the Majestic Theater on Carlisle Street.
It opened in 1925.
Back then, it was the largest vaudeville and silent movie house in south-central Pennsylvania. It’s got that Colonial Revival architecture that makes you feel like you should be wearing a tuxedo instead of a hoodie. After a massive $16 million restoration, it’s basically the crown jewel of the downtown area.
The Majestic doesn't usually play the "exploding car" movies.
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They have two nightly cinemas that focus on award-winning independent films, foreign stuff, and documentaries. But it’s the history of the place that’s actually wild. In the 1950s, President Eisenhower and Mamie used to watch movies here. In fact, the White House press corps used the theater’s ballroom as a newsroom whenever Ike was at his farm nearby.
The first-ever presidential press conference held outside of Washington happened right there.
Why the Majestic hits different
- The Premieres: This place hosted the world premiere of the Gettysburg movie in 1993.
- The Art House Vibe: They run the "Exhibition on Screen" series—like the biography of Caravaggio or Turner and Constable.
- National Theatre Live: You can watch high-definition broadcasts of plays from London, like Hamlet or The Fifth Step.
It’s managed by Gettysburg College, so there’s always a bit of an intellectual lean to the programming. You’re more likely to find a documentary about the American Revolution than the latest Fast & Furious spin-off.
The 2026 Gettysburg Film Festival
If you happen to be looking for movies in Gettysburg PA this April, things get significantly more intense.
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Because of that, the Gettysburg Film Festival (running April 2–4, 2026) is leaning hard into the "American Revolution" theme. Ken Burns is the chair of the festival. Yeah, that Ken Burns. He’s going to be there showing his new documentary series and talking about how the events of 1776 tie into what happened on the battlefield here in 1863.
It’s not just for history nerds, though.
The festival takes over the big screens in town to show origin stories of America. It’s a mix of screenings, Q&A sessions with historians, and filmmakers. If you’ve never sat in a darkened theater with 800 other people while a world-class historian explains why a specific scene in a movie is total nonsense, you’re missing out.
Where Most People Get It Wrong
The biggest misconception about seeing movies in this town is that everything is a history lesson.
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It’s not.
You can absolutely go to Gateway, buy a bucket of popcorn the size of a trash can, and watch a mindless action movie. You don't have to learn something. However, the town is small enough that the "movie night" options are limited. If you don't check the showtimes at the Majestic, you might miss a one-night-only screening of a film that’ll never hit the big chain theaters.
Also, parking downtown near the Majestic can be a nightmare on Friday nights.
Use the Race Horse Alley parking garage. It’s right behind the theater. Don't try to parallel park on Carlisle Street unless you have the patience of a saint and a very small car.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you're planning a movie night in Gettysburg, here is how to actually do it right:
- Check the Majestic Calendar First: They often have live performances (like the Martha Graham Dance Company) that replace movie screenings. If you show up expecting a film and find a ballet, you'll be surprised.
- Join the RC Rewards: If you’re going to Gateway more than once, just sign up. It’s free and the points for popcorn add up fast.
- Book the Film Festival Early: For the April 2026 events with Ken Burns, tickets are expected to sell out months in advance. Keep an eye on the official festival website for the "early bird" drops.
- Pair it with Dinner: If you're at the Majestic, walk across the street to the Gettysburg Hotel or the Blue & Gray Bar and Grill. If you're at Gateway, you’re stuck with chain restaurants or the hotel bar next door.
The movie scene here is a reflection of the town itself: one foot in the modern world of luxury recliners and the other firmly planted in 1925. Whether you want to escape reality or dive deeper into it, you've got options. Just make sure to check the schedules before you drive in, because a "sold out" sign at the Majestic is a very common sight.