Key facts
- Sony Pictures Entertainment will restore and reopen the historic Cinerama Dome in Hollywood.
- Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will operate the Cinerama Dome and the adjacent 14-screen theater complex.
- Renovations on the Cinerama Dome are set to begin next month, with a reopening planned for early 2028.
- The Cinerama Dome will retain its original name and iconic curved screen, focusing on traditional programming complemented by Alamo Drafthouse's offerings.
- The adjacent complex will feature dine-in services, 35mm and 70mm projection capabilities, and premium format screens.
Sony Pictures Entertainment, through its subsidiary Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, has announced plans to restore and reopen the iconic Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. The venue, which has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic forced its shutdown in 2020, is slated for a grand reopening in early 2028 after extensive renovations.
The restoration aims to preserve the Dome's distinctive aesthetic character, its immersive large-format curved screen, and its traditional concession experience. While it will not operate as a dine-in theater, its programming will include repertory screenings, filmmaker series, premieres, and special events, complementing Alamo Drafthouse's signature offerings.
In addition to the Cinerama Dome, Sony will also reopen the adjacent 14-screen theater complex, formerly ArcLight Cinemas. This complex will operate as an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, featuring premium presentations, dine-in services, 35mm and 70mm projection capabilities, and several premium format screens with immersive audio and 4K laser projection.
The Cinerama Dome, originally built in 1963, has been a premier venue for 70mm exhibition and is celebrated for its unique panoramic viewing experience. Its closure followed the bankruptcy of its former owner, Pacific Theatres, in 2021, leaving the landmark dormant despite public interest in its revival.
Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, emphasized the Dome's cultural significance and SPE's commitment to theatrical exhibition. Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of SPE Motion Picture Group, expressed pride in Sony's investment in Hollywood and the goal of preserving the Dome's legacy while ensuring its future vibrancy. Michael Kustermann, CEO of Alamo Drafthouse, highlighted the venue's role as a new West Coast flagship for the company.