The Most Beautiful Cinemas in Paris
Ciné-Balade presents its selection of the most beautiful cinemas in Paris, to discover during your visit or whenever you feel a craving for cinema.
There is no cinema without a theater to host it. Everything officially began in Paris, at the Salon Indien of the Grand Café, transformed for the occasion into a screening room on December 28, 1895. Since then, cinemas have had a long and sometimes turbulent history.
Among the most beautiful Parisian cinemas are legendary venues you may already know, having seen a film there before—but they often suffer from the ‘Eiffel Tower effect’ for Parisians: we say it would be nice to return, but we keep putting off the visit. Others are hidden gems that may have escaped your attention.
Paris has the highest concentration of cinemas in the world, with 400 screens across 78 venues.
Max Linder Panorama, the most immersive
Looking for the ideal cinema to watch a movie in the best possible conditions? Head to the Max Linder Panorama cinema. It is one of the last single-screen theaters in Paris. The entrance may look unassuming, but it hides one of the most beautiful cinema rooms—some, like me, might even say the most beautiful.
With nearly 600 seats, it boasts one of the largest digital screens in Paris—a curved screen that offers real immersion, enhanced by a top-tier sound system. It’s no surprise that this is the room most filmmakers and producers choose to test their film’s visuals and sound before the national release.
If you go, the well-known tip from regulars is to sit in the front rows of the first balcony. This theater is one of the last three in Paris to still have two balcony levels. The owners have also chosen to cover the entire room in black paint and velvet to maximize cinematic immersion. Take full advantage!
Finally, if you also love the venue for its history, know that this theater once belonged to French actor Max Linder (1883–1925). A pioneer of slapstick cinema, he inspired Charlie Chaplin, who considered him a master. You can even see a clip from one of his films in the cinema lobby while queuing for your snacks!
The Panthéon Cinema, a cup of tea with your film
The Panthéon Cinema is the oldest still-operating cinema in Paris. At a time when films were shown in cafés and fairs and aimed at working-class audiences, the construction of dedicated movie theaters helped attract a more elite crowd. Opened in 1907, this cinema is now the last remaining from that era.
A favorite of Jean-Luc Godard in his youth and of Jacques Prévert as well, it has always been associated with the great names of French cinema. For 60 years, it belonged to producer Pierre Braunberger, one of the fathers of the New Wave, who produced the very first films of Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and others.
For the past 25 years, the theater has been owned by the production company Why Not Production, known for supporting successful independent films. And because of this, a treasure awaits you 🙂 On the second floor, you’ll find a lovely tea room open only on weekdays, giving pride of place to cinema: photo exhibits, film books, and most notably, beneath the glass of a coffee table, the trophies won by the production company and its films, including a Palme d’Or, several Césars, and two BAFTAs. It’s truly one of a kind! There’s no other place in Paris where you can admire such treasures.
Order a cup of tea and enjoy this special moment. The sofas and the entire tea room were decorated by actress Catherine Deneuve. Isn’t that the height of Parisian elegance?
Want to visit this charming spot with us? Simply join the Midnight in Paris Movie Tour.
Club de l’Étoile, Luxury Within Reach
Another architectural and decorative gem, the Club de l’Étoile in the 17th arrondissement of Paris is located just steps from the Place de l’Étoile, on the Wagram side. The cinema was redesigned by two naval architects. With its walkways overlooking the screen, copper portholes, and beautiful wooden floors, this room is dressed for the most prestigious events. And yet, its 170-seat capacity gives it an intimate feel and makes you feel like a VIP.
Long closed to the public and reserved for professionals, it now offers an original lineup featuring hidden gems not widely known in France, pop culture, concerts, and special events. As you settle in, imagine that this venue once served as Henri Langlois’s clandestine cinema—Langlois was the founder of the Cinémathèque, and started a film club here before establishing his pioneering institution. After the Liberation of Paris, a special premiere screening of Gone with the Wind was held here to mark the end of the ban on American films.
Since 1985, when the Club replaced the original 1920s theater, something has always been happening in this cinema. For instance, our friend Manon Kerjean from Lost in Frenchlation regularly organizes screenings of French films with English subtitles for expats and tourists, along with prestigious encounters for cinema lovers!
The Majestic Passy, the last cinema in the 16th arrondissement
The only movie theater in the 16th arrondissement—despite it being one of the largest in Paris—Majestic Passy reflects its neighborhood: elegant architecture and spacious interiors. Inaugurated in 1937 under the name Royal Passy, at a time when the district had around twenty theaters, it became the Broadway in 1977, then closed five years later to be turned into a fur shop—how posh! In 1994, it was bought by Les Écrans de Paris following their success distributing Pulp Fiction, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
Today, Les Écrans de Paris has become Dulac Cinémas and operates five theaters in Paris. They’ve also organized the Champs-Élysées Film Festival for over 15 years.
What we love when stepping into this cinema is its enormous lobby: a wide staircase, marble floor, plant-covered walls, and stylish tables. It’s a great place to wait before your screening, and the café counter always offers a warm welcome. There are three theaters. The main one seats 305 and is both spacious and comfortable. The colorful screen room, our favorite, is especially well-designed—total cocoon effect guaranteed.
And then there’s the team, with whom Ciné-Balade has frequently collaborated for tours around the Eiffel Tower and Passy. The manager, staff, and projectionists are passionate about their craft, and after spending just one hour with them—in the lobby and projection booth—you’ll feel right at home!
Are you a school, business, or association looking to organize a Ciné-Balade tour called “The Eiffel Tower Movie Tour” including a behind-the-scenes visit of Majestic Passy? Check out the tour details on this page and contact us for a quote including the cinema visit!
The Grand Rex, Europe’s largest cinema
As much as we love historic movie theaters, it’s because they are witnesses of an era and an architecture. Behind their façades hide treasures that make them one-of-a-kind. The king of Parisian cinemas is undoubtedly the Grand Rex. You might have your habits or preferences elsewhere, but like the Eiffel Tower, it’s a must-see.
It’s the largest cinema in Europe, seating 2,700 people, with the largest screen too (300 m²), and has been a listed historic monument since 1981. It was designed to impress viewers—and it still does. Built in 1932 in Art Deco style by Jacques Haïk, who also owned the Olympia at the time, the idea was to make the audience feel like they were watching their movie outdoors: a starry sky as a tribute to film stars, and a set of oriental façades that have been preserved.
The enormous stage has hosted and still hosts shows that we enjoy from plush red leather seats. The most famous takes place every year during the holidays, ahead of Disney’s Christmas classic since 1954. La Féerie des Eaux is a 15-minute light and water show that has become legendary. Outside this time of year, stepping into this Art Deco palace dedicated to cinema—where the show is also in the room—is still a unique experience.
Additionally, the triple program ‘Ciné-Balade Lumière, Méliès Museum tour, and Grand Rex tour’ has become a favorite among teachers and their students. Contact us for more info.
Studio 28, the masterpiece of cinemas
« The cinema of masterpieces. The masterpiece of cinemas, » said Jean Cocteau, its patron, along with director Abel Gance.
Studio 28 was born, as its name implies, in 1928. At the time, dozens of cinemas flourished in Paris. Jean Mauclaire, the owner, was friends with many great filmmakers. Very daring, he programmed Luis Buñuel’s L’Âge d’or in 1930. Unfortunately, the film caused a scandal, and the cinema was vandalized by shocked spectators. The movie was banned, and Mauclaire was forced to sell.
In 1948, the theater was taken over by the Rouleau family, who still own it today.
It’s a charming theater, full of quirky decorations. Among them, the chandeliers designed in 1950 by Jean Cocteau for the screening room are magnificent. Clay handprints from famous French film figures amusingly mimic Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and the mural on the lovely terrace (where you can enjoy a drink) depicts legendary actors and actresses.
It’s also the theater where Amélie Poulain loves to go on Friday nights—just like the locals of Montmartre, who are proud of their cinema and help keep it alive with their loyalty. It’s the last theater in the neighborhood, and you can discover it as a bonus on the Montmartre movie tour.
The Méliès in Montreuil, the emblem of Greater Paris
Inaugurated in 2015, Le Méliès is a true source of pride for Montreuil, being the largest publicly funded art-house cinema in Europe to date. It’s a warm and welcoming venue where you can enjoy a drink or a meal before catching a film in one of its six beautiful theaters. With its rich programming, special events, and numerous guest appearances by actors and directors, it’s a must-visit for film lovers. It’s also the first cinema we check when planning to attend a prestigious screening.
Architect Bernard Ropa’s elegant design pays tribute to Georges Méliès (1861–1938), the pioneer of fiction and special effects. He based the building on the structure of Méliès’s original 1897 studio in Montreuil—the first film studio in the world! And without a doubt, the crowning touch is the magnificent inflatable moon by Hanz Walter Müller, instantly immersing you in the world of the Montreuil magician, whose most famous film remains A Trip to the Moon (1902).
To explore this cinema with us, join our popular Montreuil movie tour, which follows the footsteps of Georges Méliès.