A movie theater is a venue designed for watching films on a large screen. Typically, a theater will feature rows of seats, surround sound, and a darkened atmosphere to enhance the viewing experience.
Movie theaters are also known as cinemas, movie houses, cinema halls, picture houses, film houses, picture theaters, or simply the movies, the pictures, or theaters.
A precursor to the modern movie theater, magic lantern shows were introduced at the Royal Polytechnic Institute in 1838. Its main theater had 500 seats, and lanternists would use a battery of six large lanterns running on tracked tables to project finely detailed images of extra-large slides on a large screen. The magic lantern was used to illustrate lectures, concerts, pantomimes, and other forms of theater.
Between the 1890s and 1900s, small storefront venues known as nickelodeons would show short films for a nickel. These appeared in cities across the United States, making cinema more accessible to working-class audiences.
The grand movie palaces emerged from the 1910s and the 1930s, featuring lavish interiors, orchestras for silent films, and seating for thousands.
Between the 1940s and 1960s, post-war suburban expansion brought neighborhood theaters and drive-in theaters, each with their own social and cultural roles.
Modern theaters evolved with changing tastes and advancing technology.
In large and even medium-sized cities, multiplexes and megaplexes have become common. Multiplexes (8-12 screens) are perhaps the most common format today. Found in shopping malls or dedicated complexes, they rely on digital projection, stadium seating, and concession-heavy revenue models. Megaplexes (13-30 screens) are large-scale venues that offer a wide variety of films, premium screening formats (such as IMAX and Dolby Cinema), and enhanced amenities.
Alternative designs include drive-ins, boutique and art-house theaters, dine-in cinemas, and repertory cinemas. Drive-ins are outdoor screens with car-based viewing. Particularly popular in mid-20th-century America, drive-ins enjoyed a resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic, although many of these venues have since closed. Boutique and art-house theaters are smaller auditoriums featuring high-end seating, craft concessions, and curated indie and foreign film lineups, often with niche, culturally focused programming. Dine-in cinemas feature full-service food and drink menus, often served at the diner's seat. Repertory cinemas specialize in classic, cult, or themed programming.
Chains, such as AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, and Cinemark, dominate the North American market today. Chain cinemas can leverage bulk film licensing deals, branded premium formats, loyalty or rewards programs, and strategic real estate partnerships. However, small independent theaters often thrive by leaning into local identity, unique programming, and personalized service, which are factors that mass chains cannot easily replicate.
Streaming and on-demand entertainment services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and others have significantly altered consumer habits. Audiences can access vast libraries instantly, and the traditional 90-day theatrical exclusivity window has shortened or disappeared entirely, as big-budget films increasingly debut directly on streaming platforms.
Theaters are responding by offering premium experiences, such as recliners, gourmet concessions, and alcohol service. Dynamic pricing features lower costs for off-peak times and higher prices for premium seats. Event Cinemas features concert broadcasts, esports tournaments, and live theater screenings, while others are sponsoring community engagement activities, such as film festivals, school partnerships, and Q&As.
From nickelodeons to IMAX domes, movie theaters have had to reinvent themselves repeatedly over the past century. Although streaming has reshaped viewing habits, theaters can still offer a shared, immersive, and larger-than-life experience.
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AMC Entertainment Holdings, doing business as AMC Theatres, originally an abbreviation for American Multi-Cinema, is an American movie theater chain and became the largest movie theater chain in the world after acquiring Odeon Cinemas, UCI Cinemas, and Carmike Cinemas. Movies, special content, and events at AMC Theatres locations are featured on the website, along with a directory of its theaters that can be browsed or searched by city, zip code, or theater name. Memberships are discussed.
https://www.amctheatres.com/
Owned and operated by Studio C, with headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Celebration Cinema serves the cities and surrounding areas of Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Portage, Kalamazoo, and Mount Pleasant, with some of its locations featuring IMAX theaters. Movies currently playing, their locations, schedules of events and series, special offers, gift cards, and group accommodations are featured, along with job opportunities.
https://www.celebrationcinema.com/
Cinemark Holdings, stylized as CineMark from 1998 to 2022, and in all caps since 2022, is commonly referred to as Cinemark or Cinemark Theatres. The American movie theater chain began operations in 1977 and operates hundreds of locations throughout the Americas, including nearly 500 theaters in the United States. It is the largest movie theater chain in Brazil. It operates theaters under several brands, including Cinemark, Century Theatres, Tinseltown, CinéArts, and Rave Cinemas.
https://www.cinemark.com/
Cineplex Entertainment, commonly known as Cineplex, is Canada's leading entertainment company, operating a network of movie theaters across every province. It offers the latest film releases, VIP experiences, arcade attractions, and special events, including e-sports tournaments and dine-in cinemas. Its venues often include arcades, virtual reality experiences, and live performances. The company also runs digital platforms for streaming and on-demand movie rentals.
https://www.cineplex.com/
The Hawaii-based movie theater chain operates six locations in the state, and is one of two major cinema chains in Hawaii, the other being Regal Cinemas. It screens first-run feature films, as well as some arthouse and independent films. It is one of the affiliated cinema chains operated under Reading International. Its website insists that readers choose one of its six locations to access the site; once selected, it is possible to navigate to any of its other locations.
https://consolidatedtheatres.com/
Fandango Media LLC is an American ticketing company that sells movie tickets through its website and mobile application. It also owns and operates Fandango at Home (formerly owned by Walmart and previously known as Vudu), a streaming video store and service, as well as Rotten Tomatoes. This website provides information on television and streaming media. It is a joint venture between NBCUniversal and Versant, a spin-off company of Comcast NBCUniversal. Movies and theaters are featured.
https://www.fandango.com/
Harkins Theatres is an American movie theater chain with locations in the Southwestern United States. Privately owned and operated by its parent company, Harkins Enterprises, the company operates 35 theaters throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, and Oklahoma. It is the largest family-owned theater chain in the United States and the 7th-largest movie theater circuit in North America. Current and upcoming movies are highlighted, and its theater locations are stated.
https://www.harkins.com/
Founded in 1974 and originally known as Parallax Theatres, Landmark Theatres is a small movie theater chain. Initially dedicated to exhibiting and marketing independent and foreign films, Landmark is known for its historic and newer, more modern theaters. Showtimes for currently running productions are featured, along with their theater locations, advance ticket sales, upcoming events and series, and upcoming movies. Its loyalty rewards program is discussed.
https://www.landmarktheatres.com/
A subsidiary of the Marcus Corporation, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin company that also owns Marcus Hotels and Resorts, Marcus Theatres was founded in 1935 with the acquisition of a single movie theater in Ripon, Wisconsin, and which remains with the chain as a first-run theater. Its locations, currently running movies, movie times, and dining options are set forth. Its group accommodations, rewards program, and special offerings are discussed, and branded merchandise is available for purchase.
https://www.marcustheatres.com/
Also known as NCG Cinemas, the movie theater chain is headquartered in Owosso, Michigan, and owned by the Geiger family. Most of its theaters are in Michigan, with 10 of its 25 locations in the Flint/Tri-Cities region and the Greater Lansing area, as well as locations in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Its locations, showtimes, guest services, and rewards programs are highlighted, and gift cards are available.
https://www.ncgmovies.com/
Regal Entertainment Group, doing business as Regal Cinemas, is an American movie theater chain that operates the second-largest theater circuit in the United States. Founded in 1989, it is owned by Cineworld, a British company, and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. The chain operates Regal Cinemas, Edwards Theatres, and United Artists Theatres. Its locations, Regal Unlimited subscription program, rewards programs, promotions, and gifting options are set forth.
https://www.regmovies.com/
