Paris Theatre

The first of the post-war movie houses constructed in Manhattan, the Paris Theatre is directly across from the Plaza Hotel and not much further from the beginning of Central Park. This luxurious art house in Manhattan’s Midtown has a plain Art Moderne exterior. The auditorium has blue velvet walls and seating for 421 on the main floor and 150 in the balcony. It has excellent projection and sound. The atmosphere is elegant, including with a well attired and helpful staff.

The Paris Theatre opened on September 13, 1948, with Marlene Dietrich cutting the ribbon in the presence of the Ambassador to France. The opening movie was “La Symphonie Pastorale”(Pastoral Symphony) starring Michelle Morgan. The original movie operator, Pathe, ran the theatre until August 31, 1990. The Paris Theatre became one of the very best places to see art house films in New York. As its name implies, the Paris Theatre had an affinity for playing foreign films (especially French films). Many premieres have been held at the theatre, including in spring of 1968 when the Paris Theatre became the first in the U.S. to play “William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet” a United Kingdom/Italy co-production starring Leonard Whiting & Olivia Hussey and directed by Franco Zeffirelli.

Loews took over on September 1, 1990, and the theatre was known for a while as the Loews Fine Arts Theatre. Loews ceased operation of the theatre on April 30, 1997. Reverting back to its original Paris Theatre name, the theatre was operated by the owner of the building until 2009, when City Cinemas became the movie operator. On August 27, 2019, with leases expiring, City Cinemas closed the Paris Theatre with the movie “Pavarotti” and exited the other theatre owned by the owner, the Beekman Theatre.

On November 6, 2019, Netflix reopened the Paris Theatre with their movie “Marriage Story” starring Scarlett Johansson. It was closed on February 27, 2020 for renovations, and remained closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It reopened on March 19, 2021 with about 530-seats, and Eddie Redmayne in “The Trial of the Chicago 7” was screened exclusively in 35mm. It was closed in early June 2023, for installation of Atmos surround sound including 92 speakers, and 70mm projection, and reopened September 1, 2023 with a Big & Loud series including Netflix’s “Roma” shown that day in Atmos and shown later that day in 70mm, and the French classic; Jaques Tati in “Playtime” (1967) shown between these screenings in 70mm.

Recent comments (view all 399 comments)

HowardBHaas on December 29, 2022 at 1:41 pm

There’s no change here at all, for the past 3 years it has been the same arrangement! Netflix, Bow Tie, and others like a company that assists with projection.

DavidZornig on August 9, 2023 at 3:35 pm

“Netflix to Reopen New York City’s Famed Paris Movie Theater After Upgrades”-The Hollywood Reporter. Link below:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/netflix-reopen-paris-movie-theater-upgrades-1235559576/?fbclid=IwAR1CU52WQiOzdMMsLFOj16f9AzUqEoguVR4oZrulkE8lpfkIVvHo9h20s6E

Mikeoaklandpark on August 11, 2023 at 1:05 pm

I cannot get the link to open. Are they reopening as a first ruyn theater or still Netflix only premieres.

HowardBHaas on August 11, 2023 at 1:07 pm

Only Netflix premieres, plus retros including a 70mm classic film series! If you google, you can likely read the article.

Mikeoaklandpark on August 11, 2023 at 1:38 pm

I went to the Hollywood Reporter page and did not find it

HowardBHaas on August 11, 2023 at 1:40 pm

I just went to Google and typed in “hollywood reporter paris theater reopens” and the article appeared.

Al Alvarez on August 11, 2023 at 1:49 pm

Try this.

Mike (saps) on August 11, 2023 at 2:12 pm

Al to the rescue, as usual…!

Mikeoaklandpark on August 12, 2023 at 10:11 am

OMG Thank you Al.

Bill Huelbig on August 28, 2023 at 6:58 am

Can’t wait to see “2001” here. I saw “Lawrence of Arabia” here in 70mm many years ago. Now I can see it again. This is a great way to keep midtown Manhattan’s last single-screen theater alive.