Sony is on the verge of resurrecting one of Hollywood’s cherished cinematic venues.
The entertainment powerhouse, which acquired Alamo Drafthouse in 2024, is allegedly in discussions to reopen the long-shuttered Cinerama Dome along with the nearby ArcLight Hollywood. Reports suggest this news comes from Deadline.
The iconic site has remained closed since the pandemic struck in 2020, leading to its unceremonious blackout. Pacific Theaters, which managed the venue, filed for bankruptcy, and despite ongoing appeals from fans, the renowned dome has stayed dormant.
The Cinerama Dome was created by William R. Forman, the founder of Pacific Theaters, who established the innovative structure back in 1963. It later earned the title of a Historical and Cultural Monument in Los Angeles.
Deadline notes that the Forman family has been quietly engaging with various studios and theatre executives, seeking a partner to breathe new life into this landmark. It appears that AMC and Amazon MGM have opted out of this opportunity.
Should this deal materialize, the beloved theater would become a part of Los Angeles’ emerging movie theater revival.
For many Angelenos, the ongoing closures of theaters have become a point of contention, igniting petitions and protests as these empty venues reflect Hollywood’s post-pandemic hurdles and the wider economic issues facing the city.
The Cinerama Dome, inspired by the visionary designs of architect R. Buckminster Fuller, has historically been a hotspot for impressive movie premieres and even featured in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
The adjacent ArcLight Hollywood significantly transformed the movie-watching experience with its reserved seating, upscale dining options, and cushy stadium-style recliners.
If the deal goes ahead, this famed venue will add to the list of revitalized theaters in Los Angeles, which already includes the Academy Museum’s David Geffen Theater, Tarantino’s refurbished Vista Theater, the nonprofit Vidiots’ Eagle Theater revival, Netflix’s Egyptian Theater renovations, and the Alex Theater’s upgrades for major releases, including “The Odyssey.”
