Hollywood Cinerama Dome
6360 Sunset Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
6360 Sunset Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
143 people
favorited this theater
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Sony Pictures Entertainment to Reopen Iconic Cinerama Dome Exhibition News • Boxoffice Staff • July 22 2026
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and wholly-owned subsidiary Alamo Drafthouse Cinema have announced plans to reopen and restore the iconic Cinerama Dome, a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument located in the heart of Hollywood, following a 6-year shutdown that began during the pandemic. The Dome will undergo restorative renovations starting next month through early 2028 and be operated by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
Its historic legacy will be honored and carefully preserved, with the iconic Cinerama name and exterior branding left intact. The restoration will honor the landmark’s distinctive aesthetic character, immersive large-format curved-screen presentation, and traditional concession experience that have made it a beloved destination for generations. While the Dome will not operate as a dine-in theater, its traditional programming will be complemented by Alamo Drafthouse’s signature programming including repertory screenings, filmmaker series, premieres, and special events.
Since 1963, the Dome has been celebrated as one of the world’s premier venues for 70mm exhibition. Its approximately 86-foot-wide, deeply curved screen was engineered to immerse audiences in an extraordinary panoramic viewing experience. The theater helped pioneer a new era of large-format cinematic presentation and remains one of the most distinctive moviegoing environments ever created.
As part of the deal, SPE will also reopen the adjacent 14-screen theater complex, formerly ArcLight Cinemas, as an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. The theater will offer Alamo Drafthouse premium presentations and dine-in services, curated programming, repertory screenings, events, designated karaoke rooms, and fan celebrations. The complex will retain 35mm capabilities to showcase archival film prints and house several premium format screens with immersive audio and 4K laser projection, including 70mm capabilities.
“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, the chairman and chief executive officer of 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.”
“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 Tom Rothman, the chairman and chief executive officer of SPE Motion Picture Group. “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.”
“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. 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,” said Michael Kustermann, the chief executive officer of Alamo Drafthouse and the head of Sony Pictures Experiences.
“The Cinerama Dome has been a treasured and important landmark for movie fans and the entire film community for over six decades,” shared Cinema United President and CEO Michael O’Leary. “On behalf of all of exhibition, we are excited to see that under the leadership of two of exhibition’s strongest champions, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Alamo Drafthouse, this iconic destination will once again be filled with audiences of all ages. The timing could not be better with moviegoers making clear this year that they love the unique experience of seeing a movie on the big screen. Congratulations to Sony and Alamo and to the people who love movies.”
In70mm article with alot more info
sign up for emails list here https://drafthouse.com/cineramadome
also someone caught the “nyc” in the URL , so Sony or Alamo will adjust that soon
https://drafthouse.com/cineramadome
Oh and to prevent sleepless nights about readers of this amazing return, the story that AP ran about the reopening is very clear about Sony and Alamo Drafthouse…
“Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will operate the massive 86-foot-wide curved dome theater and an adjacent 14-theater complex. Alamo’s owner, Sony Pictures Entertainment, announced the plan to restore the Dome and reopen it in early 2028.”
Here is the entire link to the story https://apnews.com/article/cinerama-dome-reopening-96ebb2c3c5829e6003bba04ebd1c7093
Apologies to anyone who might have been confused.
Sony owns Alamo Drafthouse
I thought Sony was taking them over.
Opening announced on Alamo’s site will be in 2028.
the Dome will be owned and operated by Alamo, but be a “stand alone” with no name change and no dine-in situations that Alamo is known for.
The other screens (the former Arclight) will be Alamo DraftHouse Hollywood.
https://drafthouse.com/nyc/news/cinerama-dome-and-alamo-drafthouse-hollywood.
Let us just rejoice that this iconic venue is safe and going to be restored to it’s glory. Provided that there are no major construction delays it should be re-opened for the 65th anniversary of “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World”
“Alamo Drafthouse Hollywood Cinerama Dome” seems a bit convoluted… Sony said they’re not changing the name or branding of the dome
I created a new page for the 14 plex since it a seperate building and to keep the dome history separate since it has it own history. Also, rename the theatre Alamo Drafthouse Hollywood Cinerama Dome 1 screen, currently 856 seats. The count probably change when it reopens.
And on the Alamo Drafthouse website…
https://drafthouse.com/nyc/news/cinerama-dome-and-alamo-drafthouse-hollywood
BREAKING NEWS: ABC News has just confirmed a short time ago that the Cinerama, that had been closed since COVID, will reopen in early 2028 according to a statement released by Alamo Drafthouse, who will operate the Cinerama once it reopens.
Link to above article
Wow! Some great news! Apparently, some serious behind-the-scenes negotiations are happening to finally re-open the Cinerama Dome and the adjacent 14-screen Arclight multiplex! According to the article below, AMC and Amazon have passed on the deal, however Sony is seriously interested (teaming up with Alamo Drafthouse, which they own). Details being worked out…
“Sony Pictures Looking To Bring Cinerama Dome & Hollywood Arclight Back To Life” https://deadline.com/2026/07/cinerama-dome-hollywood-arclight-sony-deal-1236999607/
May 13, 2026 SFGate article:
“A 63-year-old LA icon is closed, and its future is unclear”
“On Tuesday morning, the Los Angeles City Planning Department held a tense virtual public hearing for an ordinarily benign topic: a new conditional use permit, or CUP, application that would allow a property owner to sell alcohol consumed on-site. Dozens of Angelenos, including many people working in the film industry, turned out to voice their frustration concerning the high-profile project: the long-shuttered Cinerama Dome, a towering icon of ’60s-era Hollywood and beloved theater, that has lain empty for six years with no concrete reopening date in sight.”
SFGate:
CineramaDome
Capacity should be 4,148, based on the 2001 floor plan and the dome’s capacity
Auditorium capacities: 120 (1), 186 (2), 420 (3), 200 (4), 200 (5), 260 (6), 260 (7), 120 (8), 186 (9), 420 (10), 200 (11), 200 (12), 260 (13), 260 (14), 856 (15/Cinerama Dome)
Details on cancelled renovation. https://x.com/SaveArclight/status/1978567065267994761
Decurion, Robertson Properties Group presented plans for Dome Entertainment Center to LA City Planning at a public hearing on June 5, 2025.
Also, savethecineramadome.com and @SaveArclight on X
Hello. I run Save Arclight. I have multiple sources to confirm that there are currently no plans to reopen the Cinerama Dome. Decurion was planning a 20 million dollar renovation but cancelled it. I spoke with the contractor, and Decurion employees. The inside is sitting abandoned and untouched since March 2020. It’s a very situation. I have tons of info including photos of the interior and backstage from this week. My email is if you want more info. Trying to organize a campaign to put pressure on Decurion to sell/lease it to another exhibitor or just reopen it
Today (11/7) marks the 61st Anniversary of “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World” world premmiere, here at the Dome.
Here’s hoping that they’ll be hosting the 62nd?
Ok, maybe the 65th?
It’s absolutely an outrage that Decurion wasn’t forced to give this screen up as well. That being said, if they can bring it back to its original glory, power be to them.
The flickering lights in that video appear to be one of the three line showtime lobby marquees; flashing gibberish because there is no TMS feed. While I’d like to think it’s a sign of some progress in the much anticipated reopening, it’s more likely that a breaker wasn’t turned off after core maintenance or a facility walkthrough.
Maybe some activity going on at the Arclight ? The Save Arclight ‘x’ posted video of lights flickering in the main lobby…. https://x.com/SaveArclight/status/1807779410847904112
Happy 60th to the Cinerama Dome, which held its grand opening (and world premiere of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”) on this date in 1963. It’s a shame the theater is currently closed and that we cannot celebrate the occasion with a festival or special screening. As a celebratory alternative, linked here is a little something I put together to help you reminisce about the stuff you may have made the extra effort to see there.
A new article has been published cataloging the 70mm presentations of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” The Cinerama Dome gets several mentions in the piece.
Delta, I agree with what Pictureville is doing, and I would not want to see the 3-srip format locked away forever from viewers. I believe, however, that only “Grimm” and “West” are films that have permanent value among all those produced in the Cinerama process, although “Grimm” is not of interest to me personally. These two films, I believe, can still draw audiences, and their presentation in a reconstructed format makes it less expensive for exhibitors to do so. It also provides a technically superior presentation. This is the way for Cinerama to live on.