Sony and Alamo Drafthouse to Restore Hollywood's Cinerama Dome by 2028

Sony Pictures Entertainment announced that its Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain will restore and operate the Cinerama Dome, a historic Hollywood theater that has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic. Renovations are set to begin next month and are expected to be completed by early 2028, preserving the venue's iconic red-and-blue exterior lettering and its curved-screen format.

The company also plans to reopen the neighboring 14-screen complex, formerly ArcLight Cinemas, offering dine-in service and programming that includes repertory screenings, filmmaker series, premieres and special events. The dome will retain a traditional concession model rather than Alamo Drafthouse’s usual in-seat ordering system.

Ravi Ahuja, chief executive of Sony Pictures Entertainment, said the project aims to honor the dome’s legacy and extend its role in the industry. Michael O’Leary, president of the trade group Cinema United, called the venue a long-standing landmark for movie fans.

The restoration follows Sony’s 2024 acquisition of Alamo Drafthouse and a recent $100 million investment in the immersive theater chain Cosm. The Cinerama Dome, opened in 1963 on Sunset Boulevard, is known for its 86-foot-wide curved screen that pioneered panoramic film presentation.