The Big Picture Theater & Cafe in Waitsfield, Vermont has closed. 

Located on Main Street (Vermont Route 100) near Mill Brook Road (VT 17), the two-screen movie theater's last movies were shown November 9, 2024. Co-owner Claudia Becker announced the closure on Instagram last month:

Twenty years ago, Eugene and I embarked on an adventure that was our way of expressing our love and deep care for this extraordinary community. 

We had two young children, big dreams, and a strong sense of wanting to be of service. We created the MountainTop Film Festival as the first manifestation of those intentions which then led to us buying, renovating and breathing new life into what became The Big Picture Theater & Cafe.

A local gathering place with a global dimension. A third place where we can all meet outside of home or work, come together for food and music and art and conversation about things that matter to all of us. 

A place of joy, intergenerational connection, playfulness and meaning. It became all that and more. A home away from home. 

Over the years, Big Picture grew beyond anything we could have imagined. It became a vibrant hub, where people of all backgrounds connected, friendships were forged, and dreams came alive. This was only possible because of you — our community. Your continued support, love, and presence made Big Picture the magical space it is. For that, we are endlessly grateful.

However, times change, realities change. COVID brought challenges we could not have foreseen – and in its wake, the landscape for so many mom and pop business like ours has become far more difficult. Our amazing team, led by Kevin Mcmillion tried everything — offering take-out, hosting drive-ins, and operating with a skeleton crew – to keep us going. But staffing shortages and other factors have led us to the incredibly hard decision that Big Picture Theater & Café will close its doors on November 9th, after 20 years of dedicated service to this community.

But… we don’t see this as an end, but rather as a new beginning. We are pushing “pause” as we are talking to friends and allies to reinvent a bigger picture for the community. We continue to believe in the power of this space and we are collaborating with local leaders to explore how the vision of Big Picture can continue its legacy of creativity and connection in a fresh and innovative way. 

Stay tuned for more and share some of your love.

The movie theater's closure comes after the Roxy Cinemas in Burlington closed earlier this month. This is not an uncommon occurrence with small theaters, but larger chains are also closing locations amid the shakeout from the COVID pandemic closures. It reinforces the fact that if you want to see your local theater thrive and survive, you must go to the theater and buy a ticket and enjoy a movie there!

Where to Watch Movies on the Big Screen

Moviegoers in the area will need to visit one of the other nearby theaters, including the Capitol Showplace 5 Theatre and the Savoy Theater in Montpelier, and the Paramount Theatre in Barre.

Related News Articles

• Waitsfield movie theatre dazzles audiences one last time -- NBC 5 [Nov 11, 2024]
• Waitsfield's Big Picture Theater & Café to Close -- Seven Days Vermont [Oct 11, 2024]