Bonus: Upright Citizens Brigade East Village Theater

Not a movie theater, but The Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) East Theater (also known as The Beast) is worth mentioning, because it closed in 2019. UCB founders, the comedy stalwarts Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh, released a statement saying “Due to the long-term cost of rent, property taxes, and other expenses associated with operating a second venue in New York City, U.C.B. has created this new experience at SubCulture to reduce the financial impact.”

UCB has moved around a bit in the last few years, leaving its original basement Chelsea location beneath a Gristede’s supermarket it had since 2003 for Hell’s Kitchen in 2017. Earlier this year, the New York Times noted that the new location was “struggling” due to increased competition in the area, but a spokesperson provided reassurance that it was not going to be closing anytime soon. 

Next, check out 12 of NYC’s Lost or Demolished Grand Theaters. For a more inspiring movie theater transformation, read about the renovation of the former Pavilion Theater in Park Slope into Nitehawk Cinema.