Author Jan Susina gave a generally positive review of "At the Movies" in the book, The Japanification of Children's Popular Culture: From Godzilla to Miyazaki.

In 1997, it became available on the VHS Rugrats: Return of Reptar, which was nominated for Video Software Dealers Association's Home Entertainment Award in the "Outstanding Marketing Campaign for a Major Direct-to-Video Release" category in 2000.

As the film starts, they walk out of the Dummi Bears movie (which Grandpa Lou derisively refers to as The Land Without Brains) and try to find Reptar.

Meanwhile, Chuckie, after sampling some candy, notices some stairs leading up while Phil and Lil start playing with the ketchup and mustard dispensers by the hot dog sections.

Seeing the damage they've done, the babies quickly rush back downstairs as the projectionist notices the incredible mess and tries to save the film unsuccessfully.

Grandpa Lou finds them after getting some snacks from the concession stand (he comments on the mess the babies caused, telling Larry and Steve how in his time they knew how to keep a work place clean).

Grandpa Lou takes them back with him to the Dummi Bears movie, which catches in the projector and melts The Land Without Smiles at the climax, leaving most of the audience groaning.

The Westside Octoplex theater was closed due to disasters as the patrons leave for not receiving a refund, the pictures going black when they were getting to important scenes and the guys thinking about if they saw a ghost, and complain about the taste of the popcorn (due to the mess the babies have made in the concession stand and destroyed the film projectors), Stu is angry at the fact that The Land Without Smiles went out at the climax.

As Grandpa Lou eats a candy bar in the back seat, Tommy takes notice of a flashing Reptar billboard as they drive by.

[3] Recording sessions for the episode, located in Hollywood, California, for each actor individually took one day to complete, taking anywhere from fifteen minutes to four hours depending on the scene or role.

[7] Though he is portrayed comically, his name was based on a child's mispronunciation of Velociraptor, a ferocious dinosaur made iconic for its appearance in the Steven Spielberg film Jurassic Park.

"[10] It was released both as part of a special promotional deal between Paramount Home Entertainment and Oral-B[11] and as a re-promotion of Rugrats videos during the holiday season.

[7][15] In The Rugrats Movie, released in 1998, Reptar appears as a mechanical wagon built by Stu,[16] voiced by rapper Busta Rhymes.

Several videos, books, toylines, and clothing have been marketed by Nickelodeon, serving as both a high-profit margin and a parody of the character's fictional success in the series.

"[24] In 2000, Rugrats: Return of Reptar, in which the episode featured, was nominated for Video Software Dealers Association's Home Entertainment Award for "Outstanding Marketing Campaign for a Major Direct-to-Video Release.