SModcastle Cinemas

Hiya History Lovers,

I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day weekend. When stubborn rain made the beach a no-go, the Hubs and I sought refuge from the soggy weather by going to the movies. Not at any run-of-the-mill multiplex but SModcastle Cinemas nestled in the heart of New Jersey’s Atlantic Highlands. (Unless noted, all photos by Yours Truly).

Opened in 1921 as The Atlantic Theater, SModcastle is housed in a 1912 (be still my heart!) former auto mechanic shop. During Prohibition, it may have doubled as a bootleggers’ den. 1

Over the decades, the name changed and the theater size increased to the current five screens, 700 seats. After Covid closures were lifted, the theater briefly reopened but went dark for good in November 2020. In 2022, filmmaker Kevin Smith, who grew up in the area and has fond memories of seeing films there with his dad, bought the defunct movie house with two business partners and reopened it as SModcastle Cinemas after his long-running SModcast podcast.2

Under Smith, the theater runs as a nonprofit. The slate is a mix of new releases and classics like “Jaws,” “The Big Lebowski,” and “King Kong.”3 Otherwise, Smith keeps the lights on by hosting a creative array of programming, including film screenings, live script readings, movie marathons and cast-member appearances. Repertory showings lean heavily on Smith’s own oeuvre, often with him narrating live, in-person commentary.

We arrived a little before 4pm on Saturday to a line outside the theater. Fortunately it moved quickly. Before we knew it, we were inside the compact, kitschy lobby.

Our fellow theater goers were mostly young families there to see “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” We opted instead for “The Sheep Detectives,” an endearingly heartfelt cozy whodunit starring Hugh Jackman as a bighearted shepherd who reads murder mysteries to his flock— think “Babe” meets “Knives Out.” Ticket price was yet another happy surprise — a budget-friendly $10/each.

As luck would have it, Smith was onsite. Passing through the lobby, he greeted my Hubs with a friendly “Hey, man,” and a shoulder squeeze. In case you’re wondering, it was the left shoulder and the brief interaction made not only my film buff husband’s night but his whole weekend!

Everyone at SModcastle was super friendly and high energy, as well as sincerely grateful for our business. From the concession dude who served up our freshly made popcorn to the guys selling SModcastle merch in the corridor connecting theaters, the entire experience felt awash in smiles and wrapped in rainbows.

SModcastle Cinemas is located at 82 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716. If you’re in or near the Atlantic Highlands, it’s definitely worth a visit!

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