Los Angeles can look forward to the return of one of its most beloved cinemas: Sony Pictures Entertainment and its subsidiary Alamo Drafthouse Cinema have announced a long-term lease agreement to restore and reopen the Cinerama Dome on Sunset Boulevard, as well as the neighbouring former ArcLight Cinemas complex with 14 screens. Both locations had closed during the pandemic.
Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony's Motion Picture Group, expressed his delight at this development. According to him, Sony is investing in Hollywood because the company deeply believes in the cinematic experience and views it as a profound cultural experience.
Extensive Renovations and New Operating Concepts
The Cinerama Dome is scheduled to reopen in early 2028. Renovation work will begin next month to preserve the 86-foot (approx. 26 metres) wide, curved screen and the large-format presentation. JLL representative Ken Shishido advised Alamo Drafthouse on the lease. Nicole Mihalka of CBRE, Carl Muhlstein of Muhlstein Commercial, and Scott Burns and Shauna Mattis of JLL represented the owners of the Dome Entertainment Centre.
Alamo will operate the iconic Dome, but without the dine-in offering typical of Alamo cinemas. The adjacent former ArcLight multiplex, however, will reopen as an Alamo Drafthouse with dine-in service, 4K laser projection and 70-millimetre cinema capabilities. Sony had already acquired Alamo Drafthouse in 2024.
Nicole Mihalka emphasised that this lease marks an exciting new chapter for one of Hollywood's most prominent and cherished properties. The Cinerama Dome has been a cultural landmark for generations, and the establishment of Sony Entertainment and Alamo Drafthouse in the Dome Entertainment Centre is a strong vote of confidence in the future of the cinema industry and the continuing demand for shared cinematic experiences.
Revitalisation of Cinema Culture in Los Angeles
Opened in 1963, the landmark is a historic cultural monument of Los Angeles and is considered one of the city's most important cinema centres, especially for 70-millimetre films. Its closure in March 2020 – followed by the announcement in 2021 that ArcLight would not reopen its cinemas – left the property dormant, a painful symbol of the state of show business. Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, noted that no cinema location in the world commands the affection, history and cultural significance of the Cinerama Dome. For him, it represents that unique experience that the company values and promotes.
The revitalisation of the Cinerama Dome comes at a time when cinema culture in L.A. is gaining new momentum, despite the financial difficulties of local studio owners. The historic Alex Theatre in Glendale recently returned to showing first-run films for the first time since 1991. Furthermore, a group of 35 filmmakers, including Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg and Jason Reitman, acquired the historic Village Theatre in Westwood and are undertaking a $25 million restoration.
- —Cinerama Dome reopening: Early 2028 (renovations starting next month).
- —Tenant: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Sony Pictures Entertainment subsidiary).
- —Scope: Cinerama Dome (without dine-in), adjacent ArcLight (with dine-in and 4K/70mm technology).
- —Significance: Cultural landmark, important boost for cinema culture in L.A.
