On Friday, March 19, Cinemark will open its first new theater of 2021 in Kirkland at the Village at Totem Lake, despite a year that was tough on in-theater movies.

The eight screen theater will include electronically powered lounging seats, 4K digital projection with 3D capability, a cafe and an arcade.

Through the pandemic, theaters across the country were forced to close their doors. Many movie studios made decisions to release highly-anticipated films on streaming platforms or even delay their movies debut until audiences could enjoy their movie in a theater.

But Cinemark spokesperson Caitlyn Piper, said movie theaters still provide a valuable and “immersive” experience for movie fans that just is not the same as watching a flick at home on the couch.

She likened the experience of going to a movie in a theater to going out for a meal at a restaurant, emphasizing that even though folks might invest in their own kitchen for home meals, people will still want to enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant.

Private watch parties offered by Cinemark allow a theater to be rented out and used privately for specific movie screenings.

Piper said the private watch parties for the opening weekend of Kirkland’s new theater are sold out. Indicating that maybe, people are anxious to sit down in theaters again

Piper said 2021 and probably even 2022 will be “transition” years for the movie theater industry as AAA movie studios commit to bring blockbuster movies back into theaters.

She said that many movie studios are still committed to theatrical releases of their films.

Tickets are on sale now for standard showtimes and private watch parties at Cinemark.com.