A great variety of films are shown at cinemas. The smallest theaters have a single viewing room. In the 2010s, most had multiple screens. Screens at cinemas are significantly larger than standard ones, offering a more immersive visual experience. IMAX screens typically range from 52 to 72 feet wide. The height can be as tall as 98 feet.
The Big Screen Experience
Seeing a movie on the big screen is an experience. If you have been inside a theater, you were likely impressed. Old theaters may have 300 to 600 seats. In a modern multiplex, auditoriums typically have 150 to 250 seats. A typical movie screen is 30 to 90 feet wide by 10 to 30 feet tall. The size depends on the type of films and audience preferences. IMAX 3D theaters may install 82-foot screens. Regular cinemas offer screens 30 to 45 feet wide.
Reports show China adding movie screens at the rate of 10 per day between 2010 and 2015. The screen in the AMC Lincoln Square IMAX in New York City is 75.6 feet tall and 101 feet wide. The next largest in the U.S is AMC Metreon IMAX in San Francisco: 75.6 x 97.6 feet.
Cinema Growth and Statistics
In 2020, there were 5,798 cinema sites in the United States, a similar amount to the 5,773 recorded a decade earlier. While most movie theaters only have one or two screens, there are some that have dozens of screens. The biggest movie theater in the world is actually located in China and has over 100 screens!
Since the 1960s, multiple-screen theaters have become the norm, and many existing venues have been retrofitted so that they have multiple auditoriums. Most movie theaters aim to maximize the number of seats while still providing adequate space for viewers. A typical capacity is around 200-230 seats.