Nitehawk Cinema at 136 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg is a three-screen dine-in theater where a server takes your order in the dark and the bar downstairs stays open after the credits. Showtimes post weekly on the Nitehawk site, tickets are reserved-seat, and you can book first-run releases, brunch screenings and midnight repertory in one visit.
Key Takeaways
- Address: 136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, near the Bedford Ave L stop.
- Reserved seating, booked online or at the box office.
- Food and drinks ordered from your seat throughout the film.
- Programming mixes new releases with themed repertory series.
- A second location, Nitehawk Prospect Park, opened in 2018.
How Nitehawk Changed Brooklyn Moviegoing
When Matthew Viragh opened Nitehawk in June 2011, New York still had a Prohibition-era law on the books banning alcohol in movie theaters. Nitehawk lobbied to get it repealed and became the first cinema in the state to pour a beer at your seat. That origin story explains why the building feels more like a restaurant with projectors than a multiplex.
The theater has three screening rooms, all small. The largest holds under 100 seats. Lo-Res, the bar on the ground floor, serves cocktails before and after shows, so we usually plan an evening around the ticket rather than racing in at the last minute.
Showtimes and How the Schedule Works
Nitehawk runs first-run titles alongside repertory programming. Big releases such as Jon M. Chu’s Wicked (2024) screen for weeks, while older films show up in recurring series. Two of the long-running strands are weekend Brunch screenings, which pair a morning film with a breakfast menu, and the Midnite series on Friday and Saturday nights.
New showtimes typically appear on the site by midweek for the following Friday through Thursday, so checking Tuesday or Wednesday gives you first pick of seats. Popular repertory nights, especially cult horror and anniversary screenings, sell out early. The newsletter flags upcoming series and the occasional promotion before the general schedule goes live.
Buying Tickets
Every seat is reserved. Pick your row when you book, then arrive early enough to order before the trailers. Online booking carries a small service fee, and tickets are non-refundable, which matters on a sold-out night.
If a film has already left Nitehawk, streaming often fills the gap. Wicked, for example, moved to Peacock in 2025 after its theatrical run.
Ordering Food at Your Seat
Each seat has a card and pencil. Write your order, prop it in the rail in front of you, and a server collects it without blocking anyone’s view. The menu changes with the programming, and special screenings often get a themed dish or cocktail.
A few practical notes from our visits:
- Order a full meal early. Kitchen tickets slow down once the film starts.
- The check arrives in the final 20 minutes, so keep a card handy.
- Lo-Res downstairs is a better spot for a long conversation than the theater itself.
Getting There
Take the L train to Bedford Avenue and walk about five minutes south on Berry Street. The G stop at Metropolitan Avenue is a slightly longer walk. Street parking is scarce on weekends, so we skip driving.
FAQ
Where is Nitehawk Williamsburg?
136 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249, in Williamsburg.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
For weekend and repertory shows, yes. The rooms are small and sell out. Weekday afternoon screenings of first-run films are easier to walk into.
Can kids come?
Nitehawk is a bar and restaurant as well as a cinema, so age rules apply to certain screenings. Check the listing for each show before booking.
How much time should I allow?
Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before showtime to get seated and place a first order.
What is the difference between the Williamsburg and Prospect Park locations?
Williamsburg is the 2011 original with three screens. Prospect Park, which opened in December 2018 in the former Pavilion theater on Bartel-Pritchard Square, is larger with more screens and a second-floor cocktail bar overlooking Prospect Park.
Is there a newsletter?
Yes. Signing up on the site gets you the weekly schedule, series announcements and ticket presales ahead of public release.
