Reading Cinemas at Valley Plaza Mall: Your Ultimate Cinema Upgrade is Here

What’s New at Bakersfield’s Premier Movie Destination

Reading Cinemas at Valley Plaza Mall is rolling out a comprehensive renovation that transforms how you experience cinema. Launching through January 2026, these multi-million-dollar upgrades deliver everything movie lovers crave: premium seating, cutting-edge technology, and exclusive member rewards.

The Seating Revolution: Comfort Redefined

Gone are the days of stiff theater seats. Reading Cinemas now features premium heated recliners throughout multiple auditoriums—truly the roomiest option in Bakersfield. Each 23-inch-wide leatherette seat comes equipped with whisper-quiet controls, a convenient swivel table, and a cupholder for your snacks.

Currently, three theaters with recliners are open, with five additional auditoriums arriving by January 2026. Whether you’re catching a blockbuster or a concert, these heated recliners set a new standard for viewer comfort.

IMAX Takes Flight: Technology Meets Luxury

For the first time in the region, Reading Cinemas’ IMAX screen now boasts premium recliner seating with heated options and dual controls. This marks the only IMAX with recliners within 100 miles of Bakersfield—a game-changer for fans of immersive cinema.

Recent and upcoming IMAX releases include Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2, Avatar: Fire & Ash in IMAX 3D, and a rare theatrical premiere of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Concert events like Rolling Stones – At the Max and the exclusive Eric Church: Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive (recorded at The Pinnacle in Nashville) bring live entertainment to the massive screen.

TITAN LUXE: The Premium Format Everyone’s Talking About

Reading Cinemas’ bold addition is TITAN LUXE—a newly converted premium auditorium featuring a stunning 57-foot-wide by 32-foot-tall curved floating screen powered by Barco’s 4K DLP technology. Combined with DOLBY ATMOS (47.2 discrete audio channels and 80,000W of amplifier power), this creates an audio-visual experience unlike anything in Bakersfield.

TITAN LUXE arrives with the same premium heated recliners, offering moviegoers the ultimate in comfort and immersion. Wicked: For Good is the inaugural feature, with Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 and Avatar: Fire & Ash also available in this format.

Value That Doesn’t Compromise

Reading Cinemas maintains its reputation for affordability. Standard theater seating tickets drop to just $8 all day for all ages. Add the Half-Price Tuesday promotion (50% off all formats, including premium screens), and you’re looking at serious savings.

Premium formats command higher prices, but the value proposition remains strong—access to the region’s largest commercial screens at competitive rates.

The New Reading Rewards Program: Launch December 2026

Reading Cinemas is introducing its first-ever loyalty program with two tiers:

Free Tier:

• Welcome and birthday rewards
• Points on every dollar spent (tickets and food/beverages)
• Redeem for tickets or concessions

Premium Membership:

• All free tier benefits
• 10% off entire food and non-alcoholic drink menu
• Free and discounted ticket offers
• Monthly mystery perk
• Anniversary gift each year

Members accumulate points across all purchases (excluding alcohol), giving every visit tangible value.

Culinary Elevation: Chef Santos Loo Collaboration

Reading Cinemas partnered with Chef Santos Loo to revamp the food and beverage menu, designed specifically for the new swivel-table recliners. Enjoy gourmet bites without missing a scene.

Featured Offerings:

Savory Selections:

• Elote (Mexican street corn with housemade crema, cotija, cilantro, lime, and Tajin)
• Elote Nachos (tortilla chips topped with crema, lime sour cream, cheese, and pickled jalapeños)
• Street Style Bacon Hot Dog (angus beef with bacon, peppers, onions, and signature spice blend)
• Chicken & Waffles (Belgian-style waffles with fried chicken and hot honey)
• Street Fries (with choice of carnitas or adobo chicken, topped with crema and lime sour cream)
• BBQ Bacon Burger (1/3 lb. all-beef patty with provolone, roasted garlic aioli, and BBQ sauce)

Sweet Treats:

• Funnel Cake Fries (crispy, fluffy, dusted with powdered sugar, served with chocolate and strawberry compote)
• Churros (cinnamon sugar coated, chocolate dipped, movie-themed sprinkles)

Beverages:

• Boozy Icees and ready-to-drink canned cocktails
• Wine splits and half-bottles
• Draft and bottled beer selection

Most items are available for pre-ordering via the newly redesigned Reading Cinemas app.

Why This Matters

These upgrades position Reading Cinemas as Bakersfield’s definitive cinema destination. The combination of IMAX innovation, TITAN LUXE technology, premium recliners, competitive pricing, and a new rewards program creates a complete entertainment package that rivals major metropolitan markets.

General Manager Jenny Sullivan captured the vision: “Reading Cinemas is committed to bringing an elite cinematic experience to Bakersfield moviegoers. With our seating upgrades, our incredible IMAX screen, and the addition of a premium TITAN LUXE, we know our audiences will enjoy the best content in the most comfortable premium cinematic environments.”

Getting Started

Tickets are on sale now through the Reading Cinemas website, app, and at Valley Plaza Mall. The loyalty program launches in December 2025, with additional recliner auditoriums coming online by January 2026.

For details on showtimes, tickets, advance food ordering, and membership enrollment, visit Reading Cinemas online or download the app.