AMC Empire 25

Originally located at 236 W. 42nd Street. The Empire Theatre was the eighth theatre on W. 42nd Street and was built for producer Al H. Woods who chose architect Thomas W. Lamb to design the theatre. It was opened on September 11, 1912 with the melodrama “Within the Law” as the 880-seat Eltinge 42nd Street Theatre. Seating was provided in orchestra, two balconies and eight boxes. Named for Julian Eltinge, the top female impersonator of the American stage, who was Woods star performer. Julian Eltinge never played in the theatre named after him. The opening attraction at the theatre was a huge success, playing for 541 performances. Other hits include John Barrymore in “The Yellow Ticket”, “The Song of Songs”, “Fair and Warmer”, “Up in Mabel’s Room”, “The Girl in the Limousine” and “Ladies Night”. “Blackbirds of 1928” was another hit. Laurence Olivier in “Murder on the Second Floor” only managed to play for 45 performances in 1929. Alice Brady & Clark Gable in “Love, Honor and Betray” played in 1930 to be followed by its final legit production “First Night” presented in 1931 for 88 performances. It then reopened as the Eltinge Burlesque Theatre, featuring burlesque & ‘talkies’. It was later renamed Empire Theatre.

Converted into a movie theatre in summer of 1942, first as the 759-seat Laffmovie Theatre screening short comedy movies and cartoons. That lasted until 1953 when it was renamed the Empire Theatre again and returned to feature movies. The theatre finally closed, seemingly for good, in the mid-1980’s.

Following the renaissance of W. 42nd Street, AMC decided to make the entire former Empire Theatre the lobby of its new flagship 25-screen megaplex. Located just west of Times Square, this immaculate multi-level multiplex is a prime example of theatre renovation and reuse.

The lobby of this luxurious, five-level theatre has been built inside the shell of the old Empire Theatre. On March 1, 1998 in order to build the massive multi-screen complex, the Empire Theatre was lifted up and moved down the street (all 3,700 tons of it) to its present location. Once that massive job was completed, a new 25-screen theatre was built around it and contained 4,916 seats. The multiplex was designed by the architectural firm Beyer Blinder Belle, and opened April 21, 2000. An IMAX screen opened on September 26, 2008, the first digital IMAX in New York City.

The historic façade has been left largely intact, while a new marquee has been added. Just above the box office is a beautiful mural depicting Julian Eltinge, originally painted by a French artist, Arthur Brounet. The mural was restored by Harriet Irgang, the director of Rustin Levenson Art Conservation. Initially, the former balconies were reopened as the Times Square Café, but this has been closed for several years and the space is currently unused.

The megaplex shows first run mainstream and art films.

Recent comments (view all 798 comments)

Joshua Bilmes on October 20, 2024 at 2:21 pm

was told screens 7 and 8 are the first to be getting reseated, and after that from the top floor [19-25] down

ridethectrain on December 22, 2024 at 11:49 am

Plush Rockers Update: As of today the following screens have the new seats

Theatre 2 39 Seats

Theatre 4 56 seats

Theatre 6 112 seats

Theatre 7 107 seats

It looks like based on the old maps, each auditorium will have the same amount of rows

Currently, all screens are open for the holiday week and probadly once the new year starts, they will start doing more screens.

ridethectrain on December 23, 2024 at 10:32 am

just uploaded photo of the new seats installed in theatre 2 in the photo section

ridethectrain on January 8, 2025 at 8:12 pm

As of January 6, theatres 19, 20, 21 and 22 closed, their the next screens getting the plush rockers.

Mike (saps) on January 8, 2025 at 9:46 pm

I wonder why they removed the 25 from the vertical sign. It was a nice homage to the 25¢ peepshows that once dotted the block and also an accurate number of screens in this house.

Nothing But Cinema on January 10, 2025 at 4:34 am

Theater name is still AMC Empire 25 per the AMC website.

ridethectrain on January 27, 2025 at 2:34 pm

Update, as of today the following screens have the new seats:

Theatre 2 39 Seats

Theatre 4 56 seats

Theatre 6 112 seats

Theatre 7 107 seats

Theatre 19 102 seats

Theatre 20 100 seats

Theatre 21 86 seats

Theatre 22, 23 and 24 are next for the upgrade as of today.

ridethectrain on February 16, 2025 at 1:51 pm

Update, as of today the following screens have the new seats:

Theatre 2 39 Seats

Theatre 4 56 seats

Theatre 6 112 seats

Theatre 7 107 seats

Theatre 19 102 seats

Theatre 20 100 seats

Theatre 21 86 seats

Theatre 22 68 seats

Theatre 23 54 seats

Theatre 24 70 seats

Theatre 25 105 seats

Now the Top of the Empire is now complete, now theatres 14 and 15 are now closed to get the new plush rockers

ridethectrain on March 4, 2025 at 1:29 pm

Update, as of today the following screens have the new seats:

Theatre 2 39 Seats

Theatre 4 56 seats

Theatre 6 112 seats

Theatre 7 107 seats

Theatre 14 246 seats

Theatre 15 84 seats

Theatre 19 102 seats

Theatre 20 100 seats

Theatre 21 86 seats

Theatre 22 68 seats

Theatre 23 54 seats

Theatre 24 70 seats

Theatre 25 105 seats

Currently, theatre 17 is currently closed for renovations and screens 3, 5, 9-13 and 16 still have the old seats. Now more then ½ of the screens now upgraded seating

ridethectrain on March 19, 2025 at 3:29 pm

Update, as of today the following screens have the new seats:

Theatre 1 302 seats IMAX with Laser

Theatre 2 39 Seats

Theatre 4 56 seats

Theatre 6 112 seats

Theatre 7 107 seats

Theatre 8 225 seats Dolby Cinema with AMC

Theatre 11. 71 seats

Theatre 14 246 seats

Theatre 15 84 seats

Theatre 15 84 seats

Theatre 16 93 seats

Theatre 17 189 seats

Theatre 18 176 seats Prime with AMC

Theatre 19 102 seats

Theatre 20 100 seats

Theatre 21 86 seats

Theatre 22 68 seats

Theatre 23 54 seats

Theatre 24 70 seats

Theatre 25 105 seats

As of today, most screens now have plush seating, Currently screens 9, 10 and 13 are closed. Theatre 12 the seat map look way to small with only 35 sests, when 17 which is above is now 189 seats.

The only screens still operating with the AMC love Seats are Theatre 3 and 5. Screens 9, 10 and 13 are currently closed for upgrades.