It started out as a rumor: Jackson was getting a new theater on Vann Drive. There had been rumors like this before, but none of them ever came to fruition. Then, construction began, and as the months went by, it was clear that not only were the rumors true, but that this theater would be unlike anything we currently have in Jackson. A sign went up that said “Empire Theaters, coming soon!” Weeks later, the theater front was lit up with the fluorescent letters E-M-P-I-R-E going across the front entrance.
There has been a lot of anticipation surrounding the opening of this theater. I’m someone who travels out of Jackson several times a year in order to get the perfect theater experience, so I was ready for a fancier theater to come to town.
Empire 8 had its opening weekend start on Friday, April 12, and I attended a screening on Saturday. I had already booked a ticket online several days before I went. I arrived that the theater for a 6:45 p.m. 2D showing (important distinction, since Empire does have the option of 3D) of the new Hellboy movie. It was raining bullets outside, and as I came under the entrance, I was relieved from the rain. A smiling theater employee greeted me as she opened the door.
I walked in and was immediately greeted by a bright, clean atmosphere. Directly ahead was the concessions stand. Above it were big, glowing red letters that said “Refreshments.” To the left were various arcade machines occupied by kids furiously playing pinball and other games. Finally, I looked to the right where the ticket booth was. At Empire 8, you have the choice between going up to an employee and purchasing your ticket the traditional way or going to one of two computer kiosks where you can buy your tickets electronically.
I decided on picking up my ticket the traditional way. After standing in line for a short time, I received the print-out for my pre-purchased ticket, as well as a voucher for free popcorn. I turned to the concessions to see three long lines. My movie started at 6:45, and it was currently 6:43. With no time to waste, I stuffed the popcorn voucher in my pocket and hoped I could come back to redeem it before it expired.
The screening room was large and spacious. Each row had enough room both for the reclining red leather chairs to fully extend and for employees to still walk by when serving food. I had a specific reserved seat, E-7. The rows and chairs were clearly marked, and I found my seat with ease. Attached to the right arm rest of each seat is a rotating table and cupholder. While I ordered no food, I found the table to be very convenient placement for my wet umbrella.
Next to me sat Jackson resident Justin Curtis and his fiancée Meredith Jaggers, who I briefly talked to before the movie began. Soon after trailers started, an employee served Curtis a burger as he sat in on Curtis’s table. Seeing the food made me regret not waiting in line at the concessions, but it was too late now. The movie was starting.
As the trailers ended, the picture adjusted to fill the entire screen, which was much larger than I originally thought. The opening shot of Hellboy began showing a raven plucking the eye of a dead corpse. Right away, the crisp and clear picture at Empire 8 is noticeable. I saw the up-close eye-plucking in all its disgusting detail. As the movie’s pace revved up and Hellboy began fighting giant monsters, I noticed the sound was especially crisp and clear, more so than anything we currently have in Jackson. If you’re a Jackson resident looking for the optimal moviegoing experience, Empire 8 is locally the best option.
The picture and sound quality, coupled with the friendly service and the comfortable recliners, elevated my enjoyment of what turned out to be a pretty bad movie. If you go see anything at Empire 8, I can’t recommend that you see Hellboy, even if, like me, you’re a fan of the Ron Pearlman Hellboy movies that came out a decade ago. However, take my word with a grain of salt because my new friend Curtis said he enjoyed the movie. One thing we were all in agreement on, though, was that Empire 8 is a great experience. Jaggers noted the smell of the theater.
“It had a unique smell,” Jaggers said. “It was almost kind of sweet.”
Jaggers and I tried to figure out if the smell was from the new furniture, the cleaning supplies or a combination of both. Meanwhile, Curtis was impressed by the quality of the projection.
“The screen was super clear,” Curtis said. “It was a really nice picture.”
I had to agree. There were a lot of strange, grotesque creatures made with practical and special effects in Hellboy, and they looked fantastic on Empire 8’s screen.
Without a doubt, the quality of the amenities makes this one of the nicest theaters in Jackson. Moviegoers like me can now stay in town for the best experience, and I imagine many Jackson residents will want the best experience for the year’s biggest and most anticipated movie, Avengers: Endgame.
It’s safe to say that, in the coming weeks, the Empire 8 will get a lot of visitors who want to see the final battle against Thanos on the best screen possible. Personally, this will be my go-to theater from now on.
