There's no denying that
Paris is a cinematic city. From the grand avenues to the iconic monuments, it's no wonder there have been countless movies set in Paris. It's the perfect home for cinephiles, especially since the city has more than a handful of great cinemas too. Check out Le Grand Rex, for example, which is Europe's largest movie theater. MK2 Bibliothèque is also a massive space worth checking out. CGR Paris Lilas, on the other hand, offers an ICE Immersive cinematic experience you won't ever forget. While Cinéma du Panthéon takes 'dinner theater' to a whole new level!
Le Grand Rex
Let's start with Le Grand Rex, the largest cinema in all of Europe. Located on Boulevard Poissonnière, the theater boasts a whopping 2,702 seats in total. It's more like a grand music hall or opera house than a regular cinema. Imagine the cinematic experience you'll have in such an astounding place! The theater's Art Deco exterior is also reason enough to check it out. The vintage splendor reeks of Parisian charm, down to the gilding of the facade. It's no wonder movie marathons and film festivals are held here. It's particularly popular when it's
Halloween in Paris. Le Grand Rex's horror movie marathon is always a good time!
UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles
In the
1st arrondissement of Paris, you'll find UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles, another of the city's biggest movie theaters. The cinema has over 37 movie rooms and all are quite expansive. In fact, it's safe to say that UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles has the biggest movie rooms in the French capital. No matter which theater you end up in, you're sure to enjoy ample space and a large screen. With its sheer size with lots of room, UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles has gone on to host world premieres of Hollywood blockbusters. Pretty cool, right?
Cinémathèque Française
Cinémathèque Française on Rue de Bercy is a whole mecca for movies. It's not just your typical cinema where you can buy tickets, get some popcorn, and watch a film. The place is also a movie museum, film library, and gallery. It even hosts a couple of exhibitions per year, making it an absolute must for cinephiles who live or have just
moved to Paris. The cinema itself was designed by Frank Gehry, so its slightly avant-garde aesthetic makes total sense. Though you might not be able to watch the latest films here, you can still see classics and underrated gems instead!
Pathé Parnasse
There are many Pathé movie theaters throughout the various
neighborhoods in Paris but two stand out amongst the rest. First up is Pathé Parnasse in
Montparnasse. Formerly Gaumont Parnasse, it changed ownership back in 2022. But even with a different name and branding, the cinema has remained the go-to hotspot for cinephiles in the area. Despite its popularity, it has shrunk since the big change. Pathé Parnasse formerly had 2,000 seats in total, but has since been reduced to 800. Though's gotten a lot smaller, it compensates for its cozy ambiance and slightly intimate vibe.
Pathé Les Fauvettes
Another Pathé theater worth mentioning on this list is Pathé Les Fauvettes. Much like its Montparnasse counterpart, this cinema was also formerly Gaumont Les Fauvettes until it changed ownership in recent years. What has stayed the same, however, is what makes this particular movie theater in Paris in the
13th arrondissement so unique. Pathé Les Fauvettes hosts weekly “Ciné Brunch” sessions wherein they turn the ground floor lounge of the cinema into another of the cozy cafes in Paris. Just as its name says, the event serves brunch right after morning screenings, making it a bit of a culinary hotspot as well.
MK2 Bibliothèque
MK2 Bibliothèque offers the best of both worlds for movie-goers. Located on Avenue de France in the
20th arrondissement, the theater's setlist often maintains the right balance between the current box office hits to film classics and cult staples. Amidst the blockbusters the rest of the world is watching right now, cinephiles can also sneak into some of the cinema's big six movie rooms to watch the finest films ever made. You can get your fill of Kubrick, Scorcese, Spielberg, Ford-Copolla, and more here. Though they only provide these special screenings once a week, it's always worth the wait!
Cinéma du Panthéon
If you thought dinner theater was exclusive to the
cabarets in Paris, think again! Cinéma du Panthéon, one of the oldest movie theaters in the city, also embraces this concept, albeit a little differently. No, they don't serve dinners during showtime. You'd still have to buy popcorn and other snacks before the movie starts. Instead, the cinema has a popular restaurant and bar located above the big movie rooms. It even has a heated terrace area where you can warm up after lasting two hours in the cold theater during the movie. What more could you ask for?
CGR Paris Lilas
CGR Paris Lilas takes the Immersive Cinema Experience (ICE) to a whole new level. Though there are countless other ICE movie theaters throughout the French capital, this spot stands head and shoulders above the rest. When they say 'immersive,' they mean it! With the latest technology, each screening will feel as if you were transported inside the film. Every gunshot in a war film sounds so real, you'd duck for cover every time. Every number in a movie musical is so dazzling that you'd think you were on Broadway or the West End instead of Paris.
Do you know where to watch movies in Paris? Beyond streaming online in your own home, there are lots of great movie theaters in the French capital. They'll give you a cinematic experience you won't soon forget!
