Cinema City

This is the first megaplex in Israel. It was opened in October 2002 with 21 screens, but added 4 more since and now contains 25 screens. There are plans of adding a few more screens in other parts of the building.

It is located on the northern edge of Tel-Aviv, about 25 minutes driving from city center, and only 10 or less when coming from the the northern parts of the city or the cities of Herzlia and Ramat-Hasharon.

It is by far the most successful cinema in Israel, and in one weekend it has more visitors then all the cinemas of Tel-Aviv combined in one week. The location of the place is crucial to it’s huge success as it is in the meeting point of not only 3 cities in the heart of Israel, but also a meeting point of a few freeways, so people can relatively easly drive from even further cities and towns to the place. The fact that on weekends movies are screened around the clock, and in weekdays until 2-3am (starting again around noon) also contributes to the business of the place.

It has a few shops and restaurants in it, but this is not a shopping mall. Actually it’s a cinema with a small shopping arcade, not the other way around.

Screen number 1 is the biggest with 349 seats, and screen 7 is the secound largest one with 242 seats. Also: an IMAX compatible screen called CINEMAX and a few VIP lounges where you can watch a movie in reclining electrical armchairs with free foods and drinks. But the "regular" screens are also extremely comfortable, and the sound system is SDDS in all screens with a backup DOLBY DIGITAL as well.

The success of the place, owned by a relatively small distribution company in Israel (United King Films, which are major producers of Israeli films) made other theatres chains envy and a few more megaplexes opened since, but none is as big as this one, although one of the competitors megaplexes offers an even better screening conditions. However, Cinema City is still the most successful cinema in Israel and it seems that it is going to stay that way for a while.

The movies shown are the usual mix of Hollywood latest hits + independent and foreign art house movies + Israeli movies. Also, on weekend late night and late, late night screenings horror movies are also a success.

A sad thing about the place is that since it opened a few older movie theaters in nearby towns (including Tel-Aviv) closed down as many of the people who used to come to town for movies find it easier to come to this lavish modern comfortable place, also containing a gigantic free parking lot.

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