Some theaters became famous for far more than the movies playing on their screens. Their architecture, history, and special events turned them into destinations themselves.
1. TCL Chinese Theatre — Hollywood
The famous Hollywood theater opened in 1927 and became synonymous with movie premieres and celebrity handprints and footprints.
It still operates as a first-run cinema, making it possible to experience a piece of classic Hollywood while watching a modern blockbuster.
2. El Capitan Theatre — Hollywood
Disney’s El Capitan is designed to make moviegoing feel like an event.
The restored 1926 theater features historic architecture, an organ, themed pre-show entertainment, and special events alongside its film screenings.
3. Fox Theatre — Detroit
Detroit’s Fox Theatre opened in 1928 as one of America’s grand movie palaces.
Its enormous, highly decorated interior was designed to make going to the movies feel extravagant. Today it operates primarily as a major concert and entertainment venue rather than simply a cinema.
4. Egyptian Theatre — Hollywood
The Egyptian Theatre helped establish the idea of the Hollywood movie premiere when it opened in 1922.
Its elaborate Egyptian-inspired design made the building part of the spectacle. After years of decline, it was restored and reopened, bringing classic Hollywood architecture back into the entertainment scene.
5. Cinerama Dome — Los Angeles
The distinctive geodesic dome opened in 1963 and quickly became one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable movie theaters.
After closing in 2020, the landmark is scheduled to reopen in 2028, giving an iconic piece of Gen X and Boomer-era movie culture another chance at a second act.
6. Castro Theatre — San Francisco
The Castro Theatre opened in 1922 and became much more than a neighborhood cinema.
Its ornate interior, classic-film screenings, festivals, sing-alongs, and major cultural events turned the theater itself into a San Francisco attraction.
