Dan Harkins has ruined me.
He has created such a wonderful movie theater experience that I don't think I can ever move away!
Harkins theaters are so well-run. They are all kept very clean, especially the bathrooms. The theaters themselves are also cleaned thoroughly after each show. Employees are taught to be extremely courteous and helpful.
The Loyalty program is awesome. If you buy a t-shirt in January for $25, you get a free medium popcorn every time you return with the shirt for the entire year. You can buy the shirt any time of year: you just need to purchase a new one after the calendar year changes. If you want a large or extra large popcorn, you simply pay the up-charge of $1 or $1.50, which includes a refill. Their popcorn is delicious: they pop it in Canola oil. They also offer complimentary flavored popcorn seasonings you can shake on. I believe they donate $1 from each t-shirt sale to Phoenix Children's Hospital. I don't recall how much their Loyalty Cup is ($5?) but you get $1.50 refills all year with that.
Every time I go to a rival theater chain, I see how much dirtier their facility is, the employees apathy, and the sticker shock of buying full-priced concessions for the family. ( Hint: it almost doubles the cost of your movie night.) I have truly been Harkinified for life!
**Side note: please take your trash with you to the exit where you will find smiling employees with trash cans who thank you for coming. Don't be a jerk and leave your stuff in the theater. You'll make their jobs that much easier if you help.