Full Breakdown
Sony and Alamo Drafthouse to Restore Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome
7/23/2026, 6:05:24 AM
Core Event: Restoration and Planned Reopening
Sony Pictures Entertainment announced that its Alamo Drafthouse Cinema division will restore the historic Cinerama Dome and the adjoining 14-screen multiplex in Hollywood. Renovations begin next month, targeting a reopening in early 2028. The Dome will keep its iconic geodesic exterior and 86-foot curved screen, but will not feature Alamo’s typical in-theater dining. The adjacent complex, formerly ArcLight, will reopen as an Alamo venue with dining and upgraded premium formats.
Background & Context
The Cinerama Dome opened in 1963 after Pacific Theatres founder William R. Forman completed a 16-week construction schedule. It debuted with the world premiere of *It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World* on Nov. 7, 1963 and later hosted premieres such as *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977) and a cameo in *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* (2019).
The Dome and the neighboring ArcLight multiplex closed in April 2021 amid the pandemic. Pacific Theatres entered bankruptcy, and ownership transferred to Decurion Corporation, run by Chris Forman, grandson of the original founder. Decurion has remained largely silent on reopening plans, prompting community activism and zoning-board hearings to renew the venue’s conditional-use permit for alcohol service.
Data & Statistics
- Screen: 86-foot immersive curved surface supporting 70 mm projection.
- Structure: 316 hexagonal and pentagonal panels, each ? 12 ft across and ? 7,500 lb.
- Pre-pandemic status: one of three theaters worldwide with the Dome’s three-projector 70 mm capability; ranked among the ten highest-grossing multiplexes on any given weekend in Los Angeles.
Official Statements & Responses
Alamo Drafthouse CEO Michael Kustermann called the venue the chain’s new West Coast flagship and highlighted plans for “extraordinary programming and events.” SPE Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman said the goal is to preserve the Dome’s history while keeping it vibrant for future generations.
Criticism & Opposition
Local activist Ben Steinberg, organizer of the “Save the Cinerama Dome” campaign, protested Decurion’s secrecy, staging a projection of Forman’s face onto the Dome in April 2024 before police intervened. Steinberg’s campaign, with over 12,000 social-media followers, argues that the lack of transparency hinders community input. Some longtime Alamo patrons also object to the chain’s recent shift to a mobile-ordering system that requires personal phones.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources confirm Sony and Alamo are negotiating a lease with Robertson Properties Group, but terms remain undisclosed. While the renovation timeline targets early 2028, no specific reopening date has been set, and the conditional-use permit renewal process lacks a firm timetable. Reports differ on whether the “ArcLight” brand can be used; Chapter 7 proceedings appear to preclude its future use, but no final decision has been announced.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There is no moviegoing destination anywhere in the world that commands the affection, history, and cultural significance of the Cinerama Dome.” — Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment
What’s Next
Renovation work will focus on structural upgrades, new seating, concessions equipment, sound and picture systems, fire-alarm updates, and accessibility lifts to meet current building codes. Pending lease finalization and code-compliance work, the restored Dome aims to welcome audiences in early 2028.
