Guatemala City has a number of excellent movie theaters, with movies sometimes opening on the same day as their U.S. release.

The city’s IMAX movie theater can be found at Cines Pradera Concepción (tel. 2329-2550, circuitoalba.com.gt), located at the Pradera Concepción shopping mall along Km. 17.5 of Carretera a El Salvador, where you can have the IMAX theater experience for just $6.

Located in one of the city’s most popular shopping malls is Cinépolis Miraflores (Centro Comercial Miraflores, 21 Avenida 4-32 Zona 11, tel. 2470-8367, www.cinepolis.com.gt).

Cinépolis (a Mexican chain) recently opened a second location in Zona 10’s Oakland Mall (Diagonal 6, 13-01 Zona 10, www.cinepolis.com.gt). Five of Oakland Mall’s theaters are VIP lounges, where you can order a meal and/or drink while you watch a movie.

Not to be outdone, U.S. franchise Cinemark recently opened its first Guatemalan location at Cinemark Eskala Roosevelt (Calzada Roosevelt Km. 13.8 Zona 11, tel. 2250-7084, www.cinemarkca.com) featuring 3D movies.

Check the Prensa Libre newspaper or the theaters’ websites for showtimes. Movies at all of the above venues generally cost between $4 and $5 and all have stadium seating.