The Automat

The Automat tells the 100-year story of the iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, the inspiration for Starbucks, where generations of Americans ate and drank coffee together at communal tables. From the perspective of former customers like Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Elliott Gould, Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and key employees – a business climbs to its peak success and then grapples with fast food in a forever changing America. Featuring an original new song written and performed by Mel Brooks.

Palm Springs International Film Festival: Best Documentary nominee!
Philadelphia Film Festival: Best Local feature nominee!

“it boasts unmistakable charms…it wins us over with humor and a pointed touch of melancholy.” (The Hollywood Reporter)

“The Automat is a film of such charm. ” (Victoria Film Festival)

“A thematically robust and surprisingly introspective look at one of America’s most cherished (and oft-forgotten) institutions…it manages to condense a great deal of fascinating history into a manageable morsel.” (The Playlist)

“this fascinating doc delves deep into America’s most iconic automat restaurant chain…As filmmaker Lisa Hurwitz demonstrates in this valuable documentary, these restaurants formed a vital part of America’s social fabric in the first half of the 20th Century.” (Philadelphia Film Society)

*Please take note that doors open 30 minutes before showtimes. We encourage people to arrive early. We have a small box office, a small candy bar, and a single-screen cinema, meaning that when most of an audience shows up a few minutes before showtime, it causes a bottleneck. If possible, we appreciate you arriving a little bit early to pick out your seat and get your popcorn. Thanks for your help!