Christopher Nolan Cinema: Alamo Drafthouse Renames San Francisco’s Historic New Mission Theater

Alamo Drafthouse announced that its flagship San Francisco venue, the New Mission Theater, will be rechristened the Christopher Nolan Cinema. The dedication coincides with a 70 mm screening of Nolan’s upcoming film *The Odyssey*, slated for release on July 17. The theater, originally opened in 1916, was shuttered in 1993, remained vacant for more than two decades, and was restored and reopened by Alamo Drafthouse in 2015 as a city-designated historic landmark. The renaming marks the venue’s 110-year milestone.

Variety Magazine

The New Mission began as a silent-movie house, later serving as a neighborhood cinema for much of the 20th century. After a prolonged closure, Alamo Drafthouse’s restoration preserved the original paint palette, 1930s carpeting, and period murals while installing modern projection technology. The theater joins a growing list of Alamo Drafthouse locations named for filmmakers—including Spike Lee, John Hughes, Ivan Reitman, Bong Joon-Ho, and Pam Grier—reflecting the chain’s strategy of honoring artists who champion theatrical exhibition.

Variety Magazine

• Christopher Nolan – Oscar-winning director and outspoken advocate for large-format film presentation.

Variety Magazine

• Michael Kustermann – CEO of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, overseeing the naming initiative.

Variety Magazine

• Chaya Rosenthal – Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for promotional messaging around the dedication.

Variety Magazine

• Manijeh Fata – Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Commission, commenting on the city’s cinematic heritage.

Variety Magazine

• *Oppenheimer* (2023) earned $975 million worldwide and secured multiple Academy Awards, underscoring Nolan’s commercial and critical clout.

Variety Magazine

• The New Mission Theater’s timeline: opened 1916, dark 1993, restored and reopened 2015.

Variety Magazine

• The venue now houses both 70 mm celluloid projection and Barco’s state-of-the-art laser projector, enabling simultaneous analog and digital exhibition.

Variety Magazine

Renaming the theater highlights the ongoing debate over the future of big-screen cinema. By pairing Nolan’s 70 mm presentation with a historic venue, Alamo Drafthouse signals a commitment to preserving film as a cultural inheritance rather than a purely streaming-driven medium. The move also reinforces San Francisco’s identity as a city where “film is woven into the fabric” of its streets and landmarks.

Variety Magazine

• Nolan expressed gratitude for the honor and praised Alamo Drafthouse’s dedication to an “ideal cinematic experience.”

Variety Magazine

• Kustermann emphasized that Nolan’s body of work “consistently champions cinema as a cultural inheritance worth protecting.”

Variety Magazine

• Rosenthal described each widescreen epic at Alamo Drafthouse as an opportunity to remind audiences of the extraordinary nature of theatrical viewing.

Variety Magazine

• Fata noted that Nolan’s commitment to theatrical exhibition makes the tribute “especially fitting” for a city celebrated for its cinematic landmarks.

Variety Magazine

• “San Francisco’s New Mission has been an icon of cinema for more than a century, and under the leadership of Alamo Drafthouse it stands at the apex of cinematic presentation, whether you’re a filmmaker or an audience member,” — Christopher Nolan, Director

Variety Magazine

• “To be honored in this way, and with this particular theater, is a thrill beyond words. I am grateful to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema for their passion and commitment to creating an ideal cinematic experience that celebrates and elevates this art form that we all love.” — Christopher Nolan, Director

Variety Magazine

• “By dedicating New Mission in Mr. Nolan’s name, we’re celebrating and thanking a filmmaker whose work has consistently championed cinema not merely as entertainment, but as a cultural inheritance worth protecting,” — Michael Kustermann, CEO, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Variety Magazine

• “At Alamo Drafthouse, when we have widescreen epics like ‘The Odyssey’ headed our way, we know that, like a Trojan Horse, each screening offers the chance to covertly remind both casual and lapsed moviegoers of how extraordinary the cinematic experience can really be,” — Chaya Rosenthal, Chief Marketing Officer, Alamo Drafthouse

Variety Magazine

• “commitment to theatrical exhibition and the moviegoing experience makes this honor especially fitting.” — Manijeh Fata, Executive Director, San Francisco Film Commission

Variety Magazine

Alamo Drafthouse will host dedication events in the coming weeks, culminating in the 70 mm premiere of *The Odyssey* on July 17. The theater’s dual-format capabilities position it as a showcase for future large-format releases, reinforcing the partnership between Nolan’s advocacy and the venue’s historic legacy.

Variety Magazine