Regal Edwards Big Newport
300 Newport Center Drive,
Newport Beach,
CA
92660
300 Newport Center Drive,
Newport Beach,
CA
92660
34 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Regal Entertainment Group (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Regal Entertainment Group
Previously operated by: Edwards Cinemas
Architects: Robert H. Banco, L. Perry Pearson, Paul Wuesthoff
Firms: BB Architects, Pearson & Wuesthoff
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Edwards Big Newport, Edwards Big Newport 3, Edwards Big Newport 6
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- May 23, 2012 — Celebrating the Original STAR WARS on its 35th Anniversary
- May 21, 2010 — Happy 30th, "Empire"
- Aug 21, 2009 — "Alien" 30th Anniversary
- Aug 15, 2009 — "Apocalypse Now" 30th Anniversary
- Nov 14, 2003 — “A Christmas Story” Comes to Edwards Big Newport
Opened February 11, 1969 with Olivia Hussey in “Romeo and Juliet”. It had 1,130 seats and a 71-foot screen, this was among the last of the large theatres built in Southern California before the advent of the multi-screen shoeboxes in the early-1970’s. It was the fourth theatre built by the growing Edwards chain and for many years it was considered their flagship.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s, two smaller screens were added on either side of its building, keeping the original auditorium intact.
Edwards' corporate offices were in the second story of one of the newer theatres and anyone who attended a matinee would probably see James Edwards II, the chain’s founder, greeting patrons. He came to work daily until his death at the age of 90.
In 1996, three stadium auditoriums were added to the building but the Big Newport, with its non-stadium seating, has defied trends and still continues to draw crowds. The total seating capacity was for 3,000. The Big Newport has a loyal following of fans who camp out or at least show up for the first day of the big movies.
Edwards Newport Cinemas is now part of Regal Entertainment Group.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
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Recent comments (view all 102 comments)
Rob Reiner’s Oscar-nominated 1992 adaptation of Aaron Sorkin’s “A Few Good Men” opened at the Big Newport 30 years ago today (Dec. 11, 1992).
Starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore & Jack Nicholson, the military courtroom drama debuted at number one on nearly 2,000 screens and held the top or number-two spot for the next six weeks, grossing over $140 million in North America & finishing its run as the 5th highest-grossing film of 1992.
A chronology of Orange County’s 70mm presentation history has recently been published. Edwards Newport is, of course, mentioned numerous times.
Renny Harlin’s 1993 action-thriller “Cliffhanger” opened at the Big Newport in 70mm 30 years today (May 28, 1993).
Starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Rooker & John Lithgow, the “Die Hard on a Mountain” adventure debuted at number one on over 2,300 screens & remained in the top 10 through early July, grossing just north of $84 million in North America & finishing its run as the 10th highest-grossing film of 1993.
Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning 1993 adaptation of Michael Crichton’s “Jurassic Park” opened at the Big Newport 30 years ago today (June 11, 1993).
Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern & Jeff Goldblum, the “dinosaurs run amok” adventure debuted at number one on over 2,400 screens grossing a then-record $50 million its opening weekend. It would surpass $100 million in a then-record nine days & remain on at least 1,000 screens until late September, eventually netting $357 million in North America (then second all-time behind Spielberg’s “E.T.”) during its initial 70-week run & finishing as the highest-grossing film of 1993.
The film would win Oscars for Best Sound, Sound Effects Editing & Visual Effects & pave the way for modern motion-picture computer-generated imagery (CGI) into the 21st century, with one historian commenting the film “heralded a revolution in movies as profound as the coming of sound in 1927.”
I saw “Jurassic Park” at the Big Newport that first Friday night on the big screen with a full crowd & consider it one of my most memorable experiences there, right next to “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Batman” & “Star Wars Episode 1.”
2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” opened at the Big Newport 20 years ago today (July 9, 2003).
Starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley & Geoffrey Rush, the big-screen adaptation of the beloved Disneyland attraction debuted at number one on over 3,200 screen & remained in the top 10 through late September, grossing $305 million in North America & finishing its run as the third highest-grossing film of 2003.
Depp received an Oscar nomination for his performance as Captain Jack Sparrow & would go on to star in four sequels over the next 14 years.
Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning 1998 adaptation of Robert Rodat’s “Saving Private Ryan” opened at the Big Newport 25 years ago this weekend (July 24, 1998).
Starring Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore & Matt Damon, the WWII drama debuted at number one on 2,453 screens at held the top spot for the next three weeks, remaining in the top 10 through early October. It would go to gross $216 million in North America & finish its domestic run as the highest-grossing film of 1998.
The film earned 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and won five, including Best Director for Spielberg.
Andrew Davis' Oscar-winning 1993 adaptation of “The Fugitive” opened at the Big Newport 30 years ago today (August 6, 1993).
Starring Harrison Ford, Sela Ward & Tommy Lee Jones, the highly anticipated action-thriller debuted at number one on 2,340 screens & held the top spot for the next five weeks, grossing just south of $184 million in North America & finishing its run as the third highest-grossing film of 1993.
The film was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and won for Best Supporting Actor (Jones). It remains a textbook for smart action filmmaking to this day.
According to an old article I found, this used to be the location of Edwards Cinemas’ headquarters before their merger into the Regal Entertainment Group in 2002…
Replaced the grand opening ad.
Theater name is Regal Edwards Big Newport. Capacity is 1,143.
Auditorium capacities: 459 (1/RPX), 184 (2), 126 (3), 132 (4), 121 (5), 121 (6)