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A beloved Hollywood landmark, the Cinerama Dome, is slated for a grand return in early 2028, following its closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, backed by its owner, Sony Pictures Entertainment, announced plans to restore and reopen the iconic theater.
The ambitious project will see the massive 86-foot-wide curved dome theater, renowned for its distinctive geodesic exterior and prominent logo since its 1963 debut, meticulously preserved.
Unlike many Alamo Drafthouse venues, the Cinerama Dome itself will forgo in-theater dining, maintaining its unique cinematic experience.
The Cinerama Dome was featured in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, where it was dressed up to look like it did in 1969, featuring vintage marquee advertising for the disaster movie Krakatoa, East of Java.
Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, emphasized the venue's unparalleled status, stating, "There is no moviegoing destination anywhere in the world that commands the affection, history, and cultural significance of the Cinerama Dome. It represents the kind of singular experience we value and champion."
Alamo Drafthouse CEO Michael Kustermann confirmed the dome would serve as its new West Coast flagship.
The dome's impressive screen supports 70mm projection, a format currently enjoying renewed interest.
Commissioned in 1963 by Pacific Theatres founder William R. Forman, it was a state-of-the-art facility, one of only three theaters globally capable of this projection when it closed its doors in April 2021, a casualty of the pandemic.
Alamo Drafthouse will also revive an adjacent 14-theater complex, formerly operated by ArcLight Cinemas, which also ceased operations in 2021. These additional theaters are planned to offer in-theater dining options.
Opened in November 1963 with the world premiere of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, the Cinerama Dome was built to offer a moviegoing experience unlike any other, according to the Alamo Drafthouse release.
Its massive, deeply curved screen was engineered to surround the audience and showcase the immersive widescreen presentation of Cinerama.
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