Los Angeles Theatres: Cineplex Odeon / Loew's / AMC Universal Cinemas

100 Universal City Plaza Universal City, CA 91608 | map |

Opened: June 30, 1987 as the Cineplex Odeon Universal City Cinemas with showings of eighteen classic films. Regular first-run exhibition began July 1. At the time of the opening it was the largest movie theatre complex in the United States. It featured three snackbars plus a "Pariesienne-style" cafe. Initially the parking was free. There was no CityWalk when the theatre opened and one could drive up right in front. Thanks to Scorsese_Finest for sharing his 2023 photo on r/imax Reddit.

The location was initially envisioned by MCA Universal as a Mann project. That changed after MCA bought a 50 percent interest in Cineplex Odeon. The complex is now operated by AMC as the Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood.

Website: www.amctheatres.com

Architects: Mesbur + Smith of Toronto, the firm that did all of the Cineplex projects during this era.

Jon Jerde was the architect for the adjacent CityWalk area, opened in 1993. In 1988 he had been hired to work on a master plan for Universal City. The plan that emerged in 1989-90 was a collaboration between Jim Nelson, then director of planning and development for Universal's commercial development group, Jerde, and Richard Orne of Jerde's office.

Equipment: At the opening all 18 houses were equipped with Dolby Stereo. 10 of them were THX certified. 4 had 35/70mm capability with the two larger ones having two-machine changeover capability. For the opening they ran "Adventures in Babysitting" and "Innerspace" in 70. The latter ran on two screens.

Projectors and soundheads were Simplex. Strong xenon consoles were used. The platters were by Strong except Christie Autowinds were used for the four 35/70 houses. Screen 5 still has 35/70mm capability, although now with a Century JJ2. In 2023 the theatres had runs of "Oppenheimer" and "Dune: Part 2" in both 70mm Imax and regular 5 perf 70.

A March 1988 JBL brochure detailing their equipment that was used for the installation.

A closer look at the Simplex 35/70 machine and Strong console for screen 10. This and screen 6 were single machine setups. The two largest theatres in the complex, 1 and 14, were the other 70mm houses. They both had two machines and changeover capability.

The IMAX auditorium was added in 2000. Dual laser machines were installed in 2015. It still has the ability to run IMAX 70mm film. The future of 70mm Imax film was discussed in "Only One 70mm Imax Theatre Remains in Los Angeles and It's Going Away Too," a story by Germain Lussier for the site Slash Film. The "Going Away Too" refers to the fact that they expected digital to take over entirely. But the house still retains 70mm capability. Ignore the photo with the story -- it's not the Imax at Universal.

Thanks to Mike Breiberg for the fine comparison below showing Universal's 58' x 79' Imax screen compared to, among others, the 46' x 96' screen at the Chinese and the 67.7' x 88' screens at Irvine Spectrum and Regal Ontario Palace (both have 70mm + digital).

See Mike's post on the Imax & Film Enthusiasts Facebook page for many comments.

Following the 2016 renovations the 18 regular houses all had laser projection and ATMOS sound.

Seating: Originally it was 5,504 total in 18 auditoria on two levels. The two largest houses (1 and 14) sat 787 and 780 and had balconies. One of those larger houses is now a "Prime at AMC" house. Upstairs gets you to screens 15 through 18, the balconies of screens 1 and 14, and the entrance to the Imax auditorium, #19.

Edward Havens comments on the seating:

"When I worked at the Cineplex Odeon Universal City Cinemas in 1991, the seating was as follows: 1: 787 (607 on the main floor, 180 in the balcony); 2 and 13: 283; 3, 4, 11 and 12: 280 each; 5 and 10: 324 each; 6: 221; 7: 220; 8: 219; 9: 225; 14: 780 (612 on the main floor, 168 in the balcony); 15: 174; 16: 175; 17: 173; 18: 177. 1, 6, 10 and 14 were 70mm capable. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 14 were THX certified.

"When I worked for AMC in 2013-2014, the seat counts had changed considerably: 1 and 14: 376; 2, 3, 4, 11, 12 and 13: 163 each; 5 and 10: 217 each; 6, 8 and 9: 131 each; 7: 130; 15 and 17: 98 each; 16 and 18: 93 each; Imax: 369."

The complex was redone with stadium seating in 2007 after AMC took over. The seat count was then down to 3,004. During a 2016 renovation recliners were installed in the 18 regular houses. The current capacity is 1,862.

Thanks to Michael Coate for sharing this L.A. Times ad. He notes: "The day prior to the grand opening this complex held a special all-day celebration of the 18 most popular movies (one for each screen in the complex) as determined by a Los Angeles Times newspaper reader poll. In a post for the Friends of 70mm private Facebook group Michael listed the films they ran:

"Gone With the Wind," "Casablanca," "E.T." (70mm), "Star Wars" (70mm), "The Sound of Music," "Citizen Kane," "The Wizard of Oz," "It’s a Wonderful Life," "The Godfather," "Ben-Hur," "Top Gun," "Lawrence of Arabia," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Platoon, "Doctor Zhivago," "Back to the Future (70mm)," "The African Queen," and "Singin’ in the Rain."

"Stars turn out to help open 18-theater complex," was an Associated Press story about the June 30 event. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Dbellis54 for spotting its appearance in the July 3 issue of the Columbus Dispatch. The story:

"UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- Charlton Heston came to see 'Ben-Hur,' and Jimmy Stewart took in 'It's A Wonderful Life' to help open an 18-yjeater complex its owners say seats more people than any other in the world. The public got its first view Wednesday of the Cineplex Odeon Universal City Cinemas.

"Nestled in the heart of the Universal Studios compound, the $16 million, 120,000-square-foot Cineplex has 18 wide-screen theaters with 5,940 seats on two levels. The next-largest competitor, Radio City Music Hall, has 5,874 seats. The company that built the complex here has another 18-screen theater in Toronto, with fewer seats.

"A gala premiere was held this week for 6,000 guests, and the movie lot setting was enhanced with a couple of the stars of the 18 all-time favorite movies that were shown. The crowd hushed, then broke into applause, when Stewart walked into the lobby and took the escalator to see his classic hit. In another theater, Heston watched 'Ben-Hur.'

"The ushers wear burgundy tuxedoes [sic] and there's real butter for the popcorn, to be washed down with Perrier, expresso [sic], mocha cappuccino or herbal teas. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children. If expectations are realized, the Cineplex will bring in $10 million during the center's first year."

A two-page opening day ad. Thanks to James Stegall for sharing these as a post on the Cinema Tour Facebook group. Michael G. Poole comments:

"I worked for Cineplex in Toronto at the time. I had to fly to LA to deliver this ad to the Los Angeles Times... on a 9 pm flight ... deliver it to the paper and then just turn around again and fly back to Toronto. It was a $3000 delivery. Crazy stuff!! Cineplex was opening and renovating lots of theatres at the time."

Boxoffice profiled the theatre in their September 1987 "Buyers Directory" with "Cineplex Odeon Launches Dazzling New Flagship," a four-page story that's been posted on Cinema Treasures by Mr. Ride the C Train. page one | page two | page three | page four |

The IMAX auditorium was added in 2000.

Later it was called Universal Citywalk 19, Citywalk Stadium 19, and, after the 2001 Cineplex bankruptcy, Loew's Citywalk Stadium 19. AMC has operated the complex since 2006. Beginning January 27, 2006 it was called the AMC Loews Universal City 18.

An ad for the complex as the Citywalk Cinemas from May 4, 2007. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it. Visit his site: Movie-Theatre.org. AMC's ads also called it the Citywalk Stadium 19 with IMAX.

It was renamed the Universal Cinema in December 2016. This rendering for the 2016 entrance remodel appearing on a page about the project on the website of Whiting -Turner, the general contractor. In addition to exterior work, the project involved re-terracing auditoria and creating a black box look, installation of recliners, and renovation of lobby areas.

Also see a page about the 2016 work on the website of The Design Collective. The L.A. Times covered the redo with "Universal CityWalk’s AMC Theater redesign: No concession lines, a total black box auditorium and a social lounge," their December 21 story by Libby Hill.

A 2023 wander around the "Oppenheimer" lobby displays and a peek into the Imax theatre is on YouTube from Disneyworld Vacationer.

Interior views:

1987 - A look up the lobby stairs. It's a photo from the project's architects, Mesbur + Smith of Toronto. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Lionel for saving five interior photos as well as two exterior shots that once were on the firm's website and sharing them as posts in the photo section of the CT page about the theatre.

1987 - One of the bars. Photo: Mesbur + Smith/Cineplex Odeon

1987 - A proscenium view of one of the two largest houses. Photo: Mesbur + Smith/Cineplex Odeon

1987 - The rear of one of the big houses. These two had 35/70 capability using either a platter or doing changeovers. Photo: Mesbur + Smith/Cineplex Odeon

1998 - The February display for "Blues Brothers. Thanks to Scott Neff for sharing his photo on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre.

2007 - The lobby following the AMC renovations. It's a shot by Bluepupae on Flickr.

2007 - The entrance to the Imax auditorium. Thanks to Chris Utley for sharing this shot on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre.

2016 - The downstairs bar area during the renovation project. Thanks to Fred Topel for sharing his photo on Cinema Treasures.

2016 - The new look for the lobby. It's a photo from a page on the website for The Design Collective that profiles their work on the renovation that year.

2016 - An upstairs lounge view by Marcus Yam that appeared with "Universal CityWalk’s AMC Theater redesign: No concession lines, a total black box auditorium and a social lounge," the December 21 L.A. Times story by Libby Hill.

2016 - The new black look for one of the larger auditoria, originally seating 830. Note the new enclosure at the front of the balcony for the digital projector. Photo: The Design Collective

2017 - The upstairs lounge near the entrance to the Imax auditorium. Thanks to Fred Topel for sharing his photo on Cinema Treasures.

2023 - The upstairs entrance to the Imax auditorium, #19. Thanks to Scorsese_Finest for sharing this as part of an an r/imax post on Reddit about going to see "Oppenheimer" in 70. He notes that they were running trailers digitally before the feature.

2023 - The rear of auditorium 19. Photo: Scorsese_Finest - r/imax Reddit

2023 - A look toward the 1.43 ratio Imax screen. Photo: Scorsese_Finest - r/imax Reddit

More exterior views:

1987 - When the theatre opened there was no CityWalk and you could drive right up to the front. It's a photo from the project's architects, Mesbur + Smith of Toronto. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Lionel for saving five interior photos as well as two exterior shots that were once on the firm's website and sharing them as posts in the photo section of the CT page about the theatre.

1987 - A night view, photographer unknown. Photo: Mesbur + Smith/Cineplex Odeon

1988 - A view from a JBL brochure. Thanks to Lionel for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures. The brochure can be seen on the site Yumpu.

1998 - An entrance view shared by Scott Neff on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre.

1998 - A closer look at the marquee. Photo: Scott Neff - Cinema Tour

2007 - A look at the redesigned entrance after AMC took over. It's a shot from one company that worked on the project: SEGD, "designers of experiences."

2007 - Thanks to Chris Utley for sharing this facade shot. It was a post on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre.

2007 - A signage detail. Photo: Chris Utley - Cinema Tour

2011 - Thanks to David Simpson for sharing this photo he took on Cinema Treasures.

2011 - A view toward some of the CityWalk attractions shared by Jeterga on Cinema Treasures.

2016 - A photo from The Design Collective, a group that worked on the renovation project that year.

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the complex. The site Cinema Tour has a page with 1998 and 2007 photos by Scott Neff and Chris Utley. Michael Coate and William Kallay have a page about the theatre on the site From Script to DVD. The page about the theatre on Yelp has hundreds of photos.

Los Angeles Theatres

Cineplex Odeon / Loew's / AMC Universal Cinemas

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