Sony Pictures in talks to revive Cinerama Dome and Arclight
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Sony Pictures held talks with the Robertson Property Group to reopen Hollywood's Cinerama Dome and adjoining Arclight multiplex, which have stood empty since closing in 2020, with Sony's dine-in chain Alamo Drafthouse expected to help run the revived venue. The plan mattered for the wider industry given the Arclight's former role as a key launch pad for independent and awards-season films, and came as the North American box office enjoyed its strongest year since 2019, taking in $5.4 billion by that point in the year.
The Forman family, which owns the Sunset Boulevard site through Decurion, sought to retain ownership of the building while bringing in an operator, having previously held inconclusive talks with AMC and Amazon MGM Studios, both of which passed. Bankruptcy proceedings following the venue's Chapter 7 filing mean the Arclight name cannot be used for any future incarnation of the site. Terms of the prospective Sony lease and a reopening date had not been finalised, but a deal was reported to be close, with a full remodel expected to bring the historic 1963-built Dome and multiplex up to modern standards.
- Sony in talks to reopen Hollywood's Cinerama Dome and Arclight
- Venue closed since 2020; Alamo Drafthouse tipped to help operate it
- Forman family wants to keep ownership; Arclight name can't be reused
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Sony Pictures is reportedly in talks to bring back the Cinerama Dome and Arclight cinema complex on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, a landmark site that has sat empty since it closed in 2020. The Dome dates back to 1963 and was long run by Pacific Theatres and then Arclight, a chain known for high-end screenings that played a big role in launching independent and awards-season films. The building's parent company, Decurion, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which scuppered a planned 2021 reopening and led to other former Arclight sites being taken over by rivals such as Regal, Amazon and AMC.
The property itself is owned by the Forman family through Decurion, and reports say they want to keep ownership while bringing in an operator to run it. AMC and Amazon MGM Studios reportedly considered the venue in the past but did not proceed, and Sony is now said to be in discussions with the Robertson Property Group, with dine-in chain Alamo Drafthouse expected to help operate any reopened site.
Any revival would be watched closely across the film industry, given the Arclight's former reputation as a key venue for smaller and awards-focused releases, and comes at a time when North American cinema takings are having their best year since 2019. One fixed detail is that the "Arclight" name itself cannot be reused because of the bankruptcy proceedings, so any reopened venue would need a new identity.
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Originally published by Deadline as “Sony Pictures Looking To Bring Cinerama Dome & Hollywood Arclight Back To Life – The Dish”.