UGC Cine Cite Les Halles

When the second part of the Forum des Halles mall in the centre of Paris opened in 1986, the new multiplex called the Forum Horizon, operated by an independent chain, created a new concept with a big bar and 560 seat stadium seating in the largest of the four auditoriums. It also had 70mm equipment and the first THX sound system in France. The other auditoriums had large screens and the design was sophisticated, especially in the main auditorium. It quickly challenged the other movie theatres in the other part of the mall because of the better quality.

The UGC chain took control of the Forum Horizon in 1992. Because of the theatre’s success and with the opportunity to take over the Espace Cousteau next door after it closed, UGC could realise what was never done or imagined before: a huge multiplex in the centre of Paris close to the most important underground railway station and subway station drawing people from everywhere.

The Espace Cousteau had already a big auditorium and it would be easy to add others, but a major refurbishing was needed to create bars and more lobby space.

The new UGC Cine Cite les Halles (the first ever Cine Cite built) opened on 21st June 1995 with fifteen screens, digital sound, and stadium seating everywhere. The growing success and the closing of a rock and roll museum in the mall in 1997 allowed UGC to increase the total capacity to 3,250-seats with four more screens, bars, and a restaurant. By January 2023 another eight screens had been added.

It is now the most popular first run multiplex of Paris.

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

mlindl on December 16, 2005 at 12:16 pm

The best movies in the world in their original language and comfortable seating. Even the staff is nice!!! I have been to this cinema more than any in my life and in the world. Great place to see a great movie.

Ken Roe on September 10, 2007 at 2:50 am

A photograph of the entrance:
View link

SethLewis on May 9, 2009 at 11:42 am

A great great multiplex that remains civil even when it’s packed…Saw a lot of bunch of pictures here over the past couple of years including Spiderman 2, Bug, In the Valley of Elah, Control, Death Proof, The Good Shepherd, Paris Je T'Aime, The Lives of Others

Koistinen on January 31, 2016 at 5:11 am

Lobby photos from July 2012.

Lionel on June 10, 2020 at 9:56 am

English translation of an article on the Silverscreens French site, from 1998.

rivest266 on January 15, 2023 at 11:30 pm

No. 1 theatre in 2022 with 2,221,000 tickets sold with the AMC Burbank and The Showcase in SE London at blue water.

Avec 2 221 000 millions de spectateurs, l’UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles se positionne à nouveau comme premier cinéma au monde en termes d’entrées. Ce résultat confirme la précédente mesure Comscore datée de 2018.

« Le succès de l’UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles démontre la pertinence du modèle porté par les cinémas UGC, qui valorise toutes les cinématographies, du blockbuster américain aux films Art et Essai » commente Brigitte Maccioni, Présidente-Directrice générale d’UGC. « Cette diversité de films constitue la pierre angulaire de la stratégie portée par le Groupe UGC. C’est cet éclectisme, cher aux spectateurs, qui fait de la France le premier marché européen et le troisième marché mondial après les Etats-Unis et la Chine » précise-t-elle.

rivest266 on January 15, 2023 at 11:32 pm

Now has 27 screens per https://www.boxofficepro.fr/ugc-cine-cite-les-halles-encore-champion-mondial-en-frequentation/

SethLewis on January 16, 2023 at 3:49 am

Showtimes from 9:00 am with a great mix of blockbusters and art house

50sSNIPES on November 23, 2024 at 5:49 pm

The actual opening date is June 21, 1995.