US Cinema Chiba New Town

The Cine Libre Chiba New Town opened its doors on August 6, 2005 by the Nikkatsu chain, and was the only multiplex theater with the most screens operated by both Cine Libre and Nikkatsu.

This theater was notable for its devastating damage in the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, which claim the lives of almost 20,000 people. Screen 7’s ceiling completely collapsed, and due to the high cost of restoration, the Tokyo Theatres chain immediately gave up on reopening the theater. This was followed by Chiba Kogyo taking over the theater, and was renamed the Cinemax Chiba New Town on July 9 of that same year. Screens 1 and 6 resumed normal operations but the rest of the auditoriums reopened on November 26 of that same year featuring installations of Sony Digital Cinema 4K projection in all screens. It was completely unknown on how many lives were lost in the Screen 7 collapse during Japan’s strongest earthquake in history.

Another notable moment about this theater is on March 18, 2012, when the 3D version of “Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace” came to the theater. With a shocking surprise, Carrie Fisher and Jake Lloyd made an appearance and gave a stage greeting inside the auditorium.

On June 26, 2015, the theater was renamed the “US Cinema Chiba New Town” and reopened with a 4DX installation inside Screen 4. In total, the theater has 10 screens and 1,729 seats. There are also 18 wheelchairs (with two in each auditorium except Screen 4). Screen 4 has no wheelchairs because of its 4DX. Screen 7 despite having its disastrous moments in its final days as the Cine Libre has the largest amount of seats with 434 seats, while the rest have the ranging capacities of 105-286. This also housed the second largest projection room in all of Japan.

During the Cine Libre days, there was also a resturant called “Italian Tomato Cafe Jr.” on the second floor, but that closed on May 24, 2015 during restoration.

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