Who says the movies are dead? Boston doubled its movie cinemas in the past two months, adding the Showplace ICON in the Seaport (pictured above, which officially opens on Feb. 8 following its soft opening) and an AMC theater in South Bay Center. The Showplace ICON theater aims for an upscale audience, with nighttime age restrictions as well as a rule that prevents customers from entering once the movie begins, while the AMC theater follows the chain’s mainstream rules. We sized up the two spots for cinephiles, so the only choice you’ll have is between Phantom Thread and The Last Jedi.

Art

Showplace ICON 
Southie nonprofit Artists for Humanity created Inspired(by), a black-and-white photo exhibit showing city landmarks highlighted in Boston films such as Good Will Hunting and The Town.

AMC South Bay Center 
The Boston-based Best Dressed Signs painted a massive “Made in Dorchester” mural that’s so big you can probably see it in Roxbury.

Food

Showplace ICON 
There’s a variety of different popcorns at the concession stand (you can preorder from the app and the kitchen will fire it up when you scan your ticket at the entrance), and the lobby lounge, which seats 150 people, offers starters, salads and entrees such as a ponzu salmon BLT.

AMC South Bay Center 
Snack options include a chicken-and-waffle sandwich, flatbreads and a 1.5-pound pretzel.

Audio/visual quality

Showplace ICON
The ICON X auditorium includes all-digital 4K projection and uses more than 100,000 watts of audio power with 51 individual speakers and 40 amplifiers.

AMC South Bay Center
The IMAX auditorium features the integrated sound and immersive picture that’s now in nearly 1,000 auditoriums nationwide.

Seat features

Showplace ICON
Heated and reclining with six feet of legroom

AMC South Bay Center
Reclining

Reserved seats

Showplace ICON
Yes

AMC South Bay Center
Yes

Number of Screens

Showplace ICON
10

AMC South Bay Center
12

Largest auditorium

Showplace ICON
131 seats

AMC South Bay Center
228 seats

Smallest auditorium

Showplace ICON
63 seats

AMC South Bay Center
50 seats

Drinks

Showplace ICON
You’ll find free refills on 120 flavors of soft drinks, and the bar offers wine, 16 specialty cocktails, and beers such as Castle Island and Clown Shoes.

AMC South Bay Center
Moviegoers can sip on beer, wine and cocktails as well as rotating featured drinks that coincide with a popular film in theaters.

Age policy

Showplace ICON
18-plus, but when accompanied by a parent, kids aged 7-17 can see shows before 6 pm on Mon.-Thu. and before 4 pm on Fri.-Sun.

AMC South Bay Center
Standard rules apply for R and PG-13 movies.

Showplace ICON, 60 Seaport Blvd., Boston (857-444-6677) showplaceicon.com
AMC South Bay Center, 95 Allstate Road, Boston amctheatres.com