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Viva la Cinerama Dome! Sony is officially reviving one of Hollywood’s most beloved and iconic movie theaters, which has been shuttered since 2020.
Sony Pictures Entertainment, which began investing in exhibition with
the purchase of Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas in 2024, announced plans to reopen and restore the Cinerama Dome in 2028. The historic theater went dark during the pandemic and, to the dismay of Angelenos, remained permanently closed after its owners Pacific Theatres, which includes Arclight Cinemas, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2021.
As part of the deal, Sony will also reopen the adjacent 14-screen theater complex, formerly ArcLight Cinemas, as an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. The multiplex will offer Alamo Drafthouse’s signature dine-in services and the complex will retain 35mm capabilities to showcase archival film prints and house several premium format screens, including 70mm auditoriums.
“Hot damn! We’re bringing the Dome back, baby. We believe in moviegoing down to our soul, and no venue on earth stands more for that than the one-of-a-kind Dome. I am deeply proud that Sony is investing in Hollywood, literally,” said Sony’s motion picture group chairman and CEO Tom Rothman. “The Dome has hosted generations of unforgettable movie moments. Our goal is to preserve its legendary history while ensuring it remains vibrant now and far into the future.”
The Dome isn’t ready to reopen its doors to patrons just yet. The venue will undergo restorative renovations that start next month and are expected to extend through 2028. Although Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas will operate the space, Sony promises “its historic legacy and singular moviegoing experience will be honored and carefully preserved, with the iconic ‘Cinerama’ name and exterior branding left intact.” The Dome will not operate as a dine-in theater, though the traditional programming will including repertory screenings, filmmaker series, premieres, and special events.
The Cinerama Dome opened in 1963 with its famous 86-foot-wide, panoramic screen that’s designed to immerse audiences in the viewing experience. Until its closure, it was one of the city’s highest-grossing multiplexes and a favorite stop for splashy premieres and events like a special preview screening of Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Decurion Corporation’s Robertson Property Group maintains ownership of the real estate, and Sony will run the theaters under a lease agreement.
“There is no moviegoing destination anywhere in the world that commands the affection, history, and cultural significance of the Cinerama Dome. It represents the kind of singular experience we value and champion,” said Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment. “This is a meaningful moment for our company, our industry, and Los Angeles. We look forward to honoring and extending the Dome’s extraordinary legacy.”
Alamo Drafthouse, founded in 1997, currently operates a 10-screen cinema in downtown Los Angeles as well as 39 other locations across the country. The chain, known for its no-talking, no-texting policy, recently introduced a new mobile ordering service to replace the traditional mode of pen-and-paper at the hands of servers, which has garnered criticism from some movie theater purists. Before the circuit was acquired by Sony, Alamo Drafthouse had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021 as global theater chains were struggling to survive the prolonged COVID-related closures.
“For 30 years we have championed the kind of theatrical experience that turns a screening into an event, and created spaces where people come together to celebrate cinema,” said Michael Kustermann, CEO of Alamo Drafthouse and Head of Sony Pictures Experiences. “As our new West Coast flagship, we will offer extraordinary programming and events, while returning to Los Angeles one of its most beloved and culturally significant moviegoing destinations.”
