Theatre & Film

English-Language Theatre

Galerie de Nesle
8, rue de Nesle, in the 6th Arrondissement. 01 46 34 61 04. Sometimes features productions in English. Call for information.

Soif Compagnie
210, rue de Belleville, in the 20th. Theatre company creating and performing in English and French. For information, contact claire.astruc@wanadoo.fr, chloe.latrip@gmail.com or giggi_cerri@hotmail.com.

Sudden Theatre
14 bis, rue Ste.-Isaure, in Montmartre. 01 42 62 35 74. Features original productions.

Theatre du Palais Royal
38, rue de Montpensier, in the 1st. 01 42 72 60 64. Theatre venue playing a number of shows.

Theatre Espace Cardin
1, ave Gabriel, in the 8th, across from the American Embassy. 01 48 28 00 46.
Performances every Monday.

Interesting Movie Theatres

Accattone
20, rue Cujas, in the 5th. 01 46 33 86 86. Once managed by François Truffaut, this is a showcase for vintage art films from Italy and the work of grands auteurs from everywhere.
Action Cinémas
Action Écoles 23, rue des Écoles, in the 5th. 01 43 25 72 07. Action Christine 4, rue Christine, in the 6th. 01 43 25 85 78. Grand Action 5, rue des Écoles, in the 5th. 01 43 54 47 62. The Action theatres are famous for sharp new prints of classics both beloved and rare. Plus, they show independent films you won’t see in the US or UK.
L’Arlequin
76, rue de Rennes, in the 6th. 01 45 44 28 80. Once owned by the director Jacques Tati, of M. Hulot fame, l’Arlequin was later bought by the Soviet Union, which dubbed it the Cosmos. Shows independent and first-run art films.
Le Champo
51, rue des Écoles, in the 5th. 01 43 54 51 60. At this certified historic monument—with two screens in operation for more than 70 years—retrospectives range from Alain Resnais to Monty Python.
Le Cinéma du Panthéon
13, rue Victor Cousin, in the 5th. 01 40 46 01 21. The city’s oldest still-operating movie house, whose salon du thé was designed by Catherine Deneuve.
Cinema Mac-Mahon
5, ave Mac-Mahon, in the 17th. 01 43 80 24 81. A 1930s cinema that made its reputation as an art house with all-American programming. Now the selection is more varied but still “classic.”

Cinémathèque Française
51, rue de Bercy, near the Place de la Bastille, in the 12th. 01 71 19 33 33. This Frank Gehry–designed movie house combines a movie theatre, movie museum and research library. It’s a must-see for any fan of European independent films.
L’Entrepôt
7–9, rue Francis de Pressense, in the 14th. 01 45 40 07 50. This art-film center (literally, “the warehouse”) was created in 1975 by broadcaster, filmmaker and writer Frédéric Mitterrand (later minister of culture and communication). Programming is eclectic, with plenty of room for documentaries, films of interest to the gay community and films from outside the first world. Also hosts events such as debates, concerts, wine tastings, etc.
La Filmothèque du Quartier Latin
9, rue Champollion, in the 5th. 01 43 26 84 65. A cinema not to miss, with its Salle Rouge and Salle Bleue. Screens rare independent films and classics, holds memorable festivals.
Le Grand Rex
1, blvd Poissonière, in the 2nd. 08 92 68 05 96. Not an art house but a truly historic cinema landmark in art deco style. The fantastic “Spanish” interiors, created by great American picture-palace designer John Eberson, alone make it worth seeing—try the crazy 50-minute trip, Les Etoiles du Rex. Its Salon Prestige has the largest screen in Europe. As “the Rex,” it also serves as the capital’s most important nighttime venue for DJ club music, especially techno.
Le Nouveau Latina
20, rue du Temple, in the 4th. 01 42 78 47 86. Films from every Latin culture, plus weekly salsa dancing.

La Pagode
57 bis, rue de Babylone, in the 7th. This unique Parisian structure is an imitation of a Japanese pagoda built in 1896 as a gift from then–Bon Marché director François-Emile Morin to his wife (sadly, they divorced not long after its completion). Its “oriental” decor, salon du thé and romantic garden make it a must-see. A movie theatre since 1931, this historic monument has two screens; try to sit in the gorgeous Salle Japonaise.
Reflet Médicis
3, rue Champollion, in the 5th. 01 43 54 42 34. Shows vintage or recent classics, plus new art films; runs the “100 Most Beautiful Films” in repertory.
Studio 28
10, rue Tholozé, in the 18th. 01 46 06 36 07. Seen in the film Amélie, this house was named for the year in which it was founded. It premiered Luis Buñuel’s l’Age d’Or, after which angry conservatives destroyed its murals (by Salvador Dalí). Now it mixes classics and reruns.

Studio des Ursulines
10, rue des Ursulines, in the 5th.
01 56 81 15 20. Hosted the world premiere of Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel; shows older and more recent classics, as well as children’s fare and short films.

Studio Galande
42, rue Galande, in the 5th. This left-bank movie house has been showing the American cult film Rocky Horror Picture Show every Friday and Saturday night since 1980. Even if you’ve seen the film, it’s a fun way to combine American and French culture.