Elijah Wood Slams Alamo Drafthouse's New QR Code Menus as ‘Truly Awful'
Elijah Wood is speaking out against the new QR code ordering system at Alamo Drafthouse.
According to the movie theater chain's website, they replaced their previous pen and paper food ordering system with a QR code in January.
The Lord of the Rings star took to X to express his dislike of this change.
"For the first time yesterday, I experienced the new @alamodrafthouse QR code ordering system and I can tell you it's truly awful," he wrote.
The updated process requires visitors to use their phones during the movie.
Wood continued, "Rather than making ordering food and drink more efficient, it actually adds steps to the process AND if you want to order additional items during the film you HAVE to open your phone. No, your cute reference to that irony in your How To Alamo video doesn't negate how ridiculous this is. Please don't cut corners with your staff and revert back to physical menus and order cards."
For the first time yesterday, I experienced the new @alamodrafthouse QR code ordering system and I can tell you it's truly awful. Rather than making ordering food and drink more efficient, it actually adds steps to the process AND if you want to order additional items during the…
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) June 2, 2026
He isn't the only one upset with the movie theater's new way of ordering.
Earlier this year, unionized employees at the Alamo Drafthouse in Sloans Lake, Colorado, went on strike because of the new system.
"The QR system isn't optional, it's being forced on every guest," KatieHansen of the Sloans Lake bargaining committee told TheWrap. "This creates a worse experience for customers and makes our jobs harder, not easier. I have guests that I have served for 12 years saying they won't come back again."
The movie theater maintains that this change is an improvement.
Their website states, "This will reduce distractions (goodbye check drop during the climax) and, in the long term, make the experience even better. Putting ordering control directly in our guests' hands allows us to move faster and more efficiently, creating a smoother, more responsive experience without added distraction."
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 5:03 PM.