New Yorkers were distraught when rumors flew that the historic Paris Theater was closing back in 2019, but luckily Netflix swooped in to save the only single-screen theater in Manhattan.
Still, it wasn’t open long before the pandemic shut down the city, and it took even longer for restrictions on movie theaters to be lifted. Though the Paris Theater did reopen this past March, it closed again in June for a “summer vacation” of renovations.
But it will reopen again on Friday, August 6 — so save the date now!
According to its email newsletter, the renovations include mostly cosmetic changes like a new marquee sign, new carpets and drapery, and a handicap-accessible bathroom.
When they do reopen, they promise it will be with a complete schedule of screenings and live events, including “premiere engagements of new films, repertory screenings, filmmaker series, retrospectives, discussions programs, an exclusive sneak-preview club, and more.” First off is an exclusive 35MM engagement of the award-winning film “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” Radha Blank’s personal, funny, and beautifully made feature debut about an artist trying to make it in NY. This will be followed by a slew of films curated by Blank that have inspired her, from John Cassavetes, Kathleen Collins, Robert Townsend, Billy Wilder, Hal Ashby, Christopher Guest, Nick Castle, and more.
There will also be guest appearances, music videos and classic movie trailers played at all shows, a new concession stand, new seats, and more improvements.
Check out the full schedule here.Coming after from August 13-26 will be “The Paris is For Lovers,” a 31-film series featuring many of the great films that have premiered at the Paris since its opening in 1948 (making it NYC’s longest-running arthouse cinema).
You can get updates and be the first to know about their new presentations by signing up for their weekly newsletter here!
featured image source: Wikimedia Commons / Paris Theater / Ajay Suresh / CC by 2.0