Jane Crowther

There’s never been a better – or more important – time to celebrate cinemas. They’re the places we go to dream, focal points of our communities, and an all-round great escape. Yet movie theatres are faced with challenges that even lovelty popcorn holders can’t help with. But they’ve survived the advent of TV, Hollywood strikes, a couple of pandemics, and so far, they’re holding firm against streaming and surging costs – and there’s reasons for optimism, too: younger, Letterboxd-savvy audiences are embracing the big-screen experience like never before, and filmmakers like Ryan Coogler, Christopher Nolan and Chloé Zhao are championing it at every opportunity. Just try booking an IMAX ticket for The Odyssey. With that in mind, Time Out’s local experts have collaborated on a celebration of the best cinemas from across the globe. From cult Tokyo cinemas and grand Parisian film temples to beloved Sydney picturehouses and LA film dream palaces, from a Berlin kino with its own nuclear bunker to a Canadian cinema with only 12 seats, we’ve pointed the spotlight on a hundred magnificent movie palaces that all movie lovers should know about – and visit.  NB We’ve gone almost entirely with single-use cinemas rather than venues that double up as theatres or gig venues.  Greatest cinemas at a glance: 🍿 The greatest cinema in the world: TCL Chinese Theatre, LA 🌔 The world’s best outdoor cinema: Cine Paris, Athens 📽️ The coolest cult cinema in the world: The New Beverly, LA Jump to list

What makes a great cinema? For some, it’s cheap tickets and a friendly vibe, while others are happy to pay extra for a sense of indulgence that comes with posh snacks, sofa seating and tiny tables to plonk a cocktail on. There are purists who will always make the case for 35mm projectors and surround-sound powerful enough to shake their insides loose. Film buffs might get an extra buzz from knowing their local picture palace once screened Chaplin movies back when the Little Tramp was the biggest thing at the box office.Whatever you love in a cinema, there are loads across England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland to provide it. And despite a tough year-and-a-bit, they’re still out there providing that unique big-screen experience. What better time, then, to celebrate them in all their variety? We sent our local experts out across the British Isles to find 50 of the very best kinos – and share what makes them special.  Written by Chris Waywell, Isabelle Aron, David Hughes, Huw Oliver, Katie McCabe, Phil de Semlyen, Alim Kheraj, Rosie Hewitson, Joe Mackertich & Chiara WilkinsonRECOMMENDED:  The 50 most beautiful cinemas in the world

In his Oscars battle cry Anora director Sean Baker called for cinemas to be saved as a ‘vital part of our culture’. Once on every high street, the local picture house/fleapit/movie theatre has buckled under pressure from VHS, malls, developers and streaming, their stories reflecting that of 20th and 21st century culture. But as physical media continues to be re-embraced and we return to that special communal theatrical experience post-Covid, the churches where we worship movies should have their moment in the spotlight. In my new book, Silver Screens, I chose a hundred picture palaces with tales as compelling as any of the blockbusters they screen; architecturally magnificent, historical footnotes, famous haunts, world firsts and, more often than not, kept running by the passion of movie fans (Quentin Tarantino among them). Here’s 10 that are worth the price of the movie ticket alone, regardless of how good the show is… Photograph: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com The one to visit... for the Hollywood lore The Chinese Theatre, LA Probably the most recognisable cinema in the world, this 1928-built ‘atmospheric’ has been in almost as many movies as it’s shown. Four million fans a year visit for the Hollywood location on the Walk of Fame, famous footprints in the cement outside, film ephemera indoors and the state-of-the-art sound and projection. Iconic. Photograph: Jane CrowtherThe Circuit Playhouse was a favourite of Elvis’s The one to visit... to feel like a king The Circ