Biografen Rigoletto

The cinema (Swedish: biograf) Rigoletto is one of the most central cinemas in the Swedish capital Stockholm. Unlike other cities, Stockholm has retained a myriad of small and large cinemas in and near the citycentre, Kungsgatan and Hötorget hereby represent the most dense area of cinemas. Biografen Rigoletto opened on 17th March 1939 as a 1,201-seat single screen.

It became the first cinema in Sweden to be equipped with CinemaScope, which was first presented in December 1953. In 1980, it became a 7-screen multiplex cinema with seven screens bringing the total seating capacity up to 1,6. The six additional screens had been created in adjacent premises on three levels. The smallest of these had 81 seats.

It is now a complex of four screens and competes with nearby Filmstaden Sergel for the most attractive big screening room. Heart of Rigoletto is the original auditorium cinema 1, with 1,077 seats in orchestra and balcony (pardon: VIP) level. The VIP level has a nice foyer area whereas the general entrance area is rather dark and hardly inviting. While the theatre does not have any particular architectural features, its leather seats are very comfortable and the viewing experience is a pleasure. The cinema clearly is a premiere cinema, showing the most important hits of the season and is well frequented. In 2014 the cinema was refurbished and the main original auditorium had its seating capacity reduced to 576. By 2018 this had been increased to 756 (569 in the stalls & 187 in the VIP Circle). Next to the cinema is the large Bistro Rigoletto.

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

av_bjorn on May 8, 2017 at 1:41 pm

Digital 4K-projector also 35/70 mm via 2 Philips/TODD-AO DP70-projectors. The Hateful Eight presented in 70 mm Ultra Panavision January – February 2016

av_bjorn on May 8, 2017 at 2:04 pm

The RI-Theatre company (RI-teatrarna) had a chain of cinemas in Stockholm. Most of them had names beginning with RI; Rigoletto (open), Ricardo (closed, now an Operahouse), Riverside (closed, was ABBA Polar Music Studio for many years), Rimondo (closed, now a pornhouse), Ri-ettan & Ri-tvåan (RI-1 & RI-2, twin cinema, former Capitol, closed, but opens in fall 2017 as Capitol, again!), Rio (open), Rialto (closed, now a Theatre), Ritz (Closed, now a conferense room), Riviera (closed). Others – Ritio, RiRi, Ringside, Rico, Ri-Paraden, Ri-Fågel blå… (all closed)…

av_bjorn on May 22, 2017 at 12:00 pm

Rigoletto i a premiere cinema, mostly action movies. Movies I have seen in Rigoletto: All the James Bond films (!), The Longest Day (70 mm), Star Wars, Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid, Patton (70 mm), Magnificent Seven, Alien, Titanic, Rocky, Rocky V (Sylvester Stallone was present!), Superman (70 mm), Guardians of the Galaxy, The Hateful Eight (70 mm Ultra Panavison)…

DavidSimpson on August 24, 2018 at 12:17 pm

I visited on 11th August 2018 and saw “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” in the splendid Screen 1. Seating capacities are: Screen 1:756 (569 in the stalls + 187 in the VIP lounge [circle]); Screen 2:63; Screen 3:63 and Screen 4:55.