When The Curtain Falls, Fear Rises: The Sad Case Of Abandoned Movie Theaters

It happens to many horror fans: they arrive at a very late screening or a mediocre horror film and find themselves almost alone in the movie theater. Some will respond to this scenario joyfully because they can enjoy the conditions offered by the movie in the cinema – a giant screen, a quality sound system, and more – without being disturbed by other viewers (mainly stupid teenagers). Others will prefer the full cinemas, with the audience’s laughter, screams, and comments during the scary parts.

In the following article, we will address another and no less frightening side of movie theaters: the moment when their lights go out, and this time for good. Movie theaters may have been completely abandoned over the years, and this is a widespread scenario in the current reality for various reasons that we will address. An abandoned cinema may take your fears a few steps further, sometimes even due to the contrast between the desolate present and the glorious past.

So it is no wonder we decided to include them in our section, which presents scary abandoned places worldwide.

The Creation Of Abandoned Cinemas 

The phenomenon of abandoned movie theaters is not a coincidence. Still, it reflects deep processes that have affected the film and entertainment industry over the past century and our consumer habits.

The digital revolution and changes in viewing behavior are mainly responsible for the abandonment of movie theaters. It started when TV entered the house across the globe and became relevant in our era, with an infinite number of movies available through TV channels, VOD, streaming platforms, and more.

Although it seems that the apocalyptic predictions about the death of the cinema in the current era were probably exaggerated, there is no doubt that the rules have changed. We live in an era of streaming (Netflix, Disney Plus, Shudder, etc.), digital catalogs of thousands of films available at the touch of a button, and large, high-quality television sets that offer a great viewing experience in the comfort of our homes.

There is no doubt that movie theaters need to get in line. Today, as you can see in the cinema complexes worldwide, movie theaters are much more than a place to watch movies. Alongside dozens of theaters that offer a regular or upgraded viewing experience (VIP, mainly), you will find restaurants and cafes, shops of all kinds, attractions for children, and so on. The goal is to turn movie theaters into entertainment complexes located outside the cities, as opposed to smaller movie theater complexes in urban malls as they used to be, and it is working in a big way. The problem is that movie theaters not aligning with this upgrade (which involves astronomical expenses) are left behind. Demand for them is declining, and the road to their closure may be much shorter, as we can see with several examples of mythical movie theaters worldwide that have closed.

Movie theaters struggle with difficult conditions, which may make economic survival complex. Operating a movie theater is expensive if you consider the construction and maintenance of the complex, the advanced technological systems, and so on. On the other hand, the audience expects reasonable prices and will not rush to buy a full ticket. Therefore, movie theaters sometimes must charge excessive prices for some services – from operating fees for ordering tickets online that seem outrageous to the average consumer to high prices for popcorn, drinks, snacks, and so on. If, in the end, the overall equation is a loss for them, there may be no choice but to close them.

We can add external factors that affect the audience’s visit to the theaters, such as periods when the complexes are forced to be closed (the Covid-19, wars, weather conditions), reducing spending on entertainment to cope with today’s complex economic situation, or because there is simply no mood to visit the cinema, and so on. When movie theaters must stay closed for a particular time, and the audience does not come, they may lose the fight to stay alive.

Of course, other economic reasons, such as mismanagement of cinemas, high rental, and operating costs, and competition between different complexes, can also harm cinemas financially and, at some point, even jeopardize their existence. Some cinemas have had to deal with exceptional cases that caused their operations to cease, such as fires or other disasters that made the cost of repair or restoration on simply too high to bear.

What Makes an Old Abandoned Movie Theater So Scary?

At its most basic level, the cinema is a place of dreams and imagination, where strangers gather to disconnect from the world and enter an illusion that acts on different senses. In our case of our favorite genre, is designed to scare.

Abandoned cinemas change the rules of the game, or if you like: when the lights of the cinemas go out, the projector dims, the remains of the popcorn are full of dust, and the chairs become ragged, sometimes with various pests among them, we get different, and to a large extent, scary place.

When you consider the darkness that characterizes movie theaters or the structure that includes long corridors, dark screening rooms, abandoned restrooms, and other facilities where you can get lost. In some cases, you can also encounter homeless people and shady characters who have made the building their home.

As with other abandoned places, in the case of ghost movie theaters, part of the fear stems from the massive gap between the bustling movie theaters as they once were and their current state. They operate on the border between nostalgia and horror, and this gap can cause fear. If once in these halls we witnessed laughter, shouting, and stupid teenagers who riot and disturb others from seeing the film, today we encounter mostly complete silence.

In some ghost cinemas, you will still find evidence of what once was, with decorative items related to cinema (statues, etc.), posters, and the like. They can increase the effect of fear, mainly when the signs of time or legacy also apply to them.

Famous Abandoned Cinemas Across The Globe

Of course, the picture is not limited to these cinemas. You can find dozens of cinemas that were operating but have closed over the years. Some of the most famous and unique in the United States are:

🎥 The Eastown Theatre in Detroit, Michigan

🎥 Variety Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio

🎥 Paramount Theatre in Newark, New Jersey

🎥 Embassy Theatre in Port Chester, New York

🎥 Shore Theatre in Brooklyn, New York

In the rest of the world, the numbers are infinite, and some historic ghost cinemas were closed but remained fascinating:

🎥 Gaumont, Exeter, United Kingdom

🎥 Ram Prakash Theatre in Jaipur, India

🎥 Gali Jagat Cinema in Delhi, India

🎥Paris Theatre in Bangkok, Thailand

🎥 Cine Theatre Palace in Marrakesh, Morocco

🎥 Volturno in Rome, Italy

Can You Visit Abandoned Cinemas?

The question is to what extent are the old cinemas still standing – that is, have not been converted for purposes such as commercial buildings, residential buildings, parking lots, and so on – suitable for tourist tours?

From our impressions, most visits to abandoned cinemas are of an “underground” and unorganized nature. Photographers and urban researchers tend to frequent places of this type and, not surprisingly, document their findings on social media. The problem is that some of these people arrive at the places independently without permission or guidance, and sometimes even in violation of safety guidelines – which can be dangerous.

Officially organized tours of abandoned cinemas are relatively rare. Some cities offer heritage tours that include abandoned buildings, but these usually do not focus solely on cinemas. Additionally, in some cities around the world, community or artistic initiatives organize one-off visits to abandoned buildings, including historic cinemas, but these are not regular tours.

The most accessible opportunities for the public to experience the magic of historic cinemas are in buildings that have been preserved or converted. These cinemas are not “abandoned” in the complete sense of the word, but they maintain the history and atmosphere of a bygone era. Such cinemas sometimes offer guided tours that tell the story of the place, its history, and its cultural significance.

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