Cinerama Dome to Reopen in Early 2028 as Sony Deal Revives Iconic L.A. Theater - The Hollywood Reporter

What the report says

The Hollywood Reporter says Sony Pictures Entertainment plans to restore and reopen Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome, with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, now owned by Sony, operating the landmark Los Angeles venue. Renovation work is expected to begin next month, and Sony is targeting an early 2028 reopening after several years in which the theater has been closed.

According to THR, Sony said the restoration is intended to preserve the Dome’s recognizable design, curved large-format screen presentation and traditional concessions. The venue will not use Alamo Drafthouse’s usual dine-in service. The deal also covers operations of the neighboring former ArcLight Hollywood complex, a 14-screen theater property with 35mm and 70mm projection capacity, which will also be run by Alamo Drafthouse.

The Cinerama Dome, built in 1963 by Pacific Theatres founder William R. Forman, is designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. It closed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Pacific Theatres later filed for bankruptcy in 2021, announcing the shutdown of both Pacific Theatres and ArcLight locations. THR notes that the Dome’s fate has remained a point of local interest, with moviegoers petitioning and demonstrating in support of its return.

Sony Motion Picture Group chairman and CEO Tom Rothman framed the project as an investment in theatrical moviegoing and in Hollywood, while Alamo Drafthouse CEO Michael Kustermann described the site as a future West Coast flagship. The reopening would return one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable cinema spaces to use at a time when exhibitors continue to emphasize premium and event-driven theater experiences.