Apple Cinemas officially opened Saturday at Providence Place Mall, taking over the downtown space previously occupied by Showcase Cinemas, which closed its doors on Oct. 26.
The Massachusetts-based theater chain will continue operations during a year-long renovation that includes installing luxury recliners and upgrading the IMAX projection and sound systems. Renovations are expected to finish by winter 2026, according to WJAR. Apple Cinemas also plans to add a bowling lounge, trampoline park and bar to the space.
The opening comes amid ongoing efforts to revitalize the mall after it entered court-appointed receivership last year.
For many Brown students, the opening marks the return of one of the few multiplexes in close proximity to College Hill.
“I actually have a lot of really good memories going with friends to watch a movie, pretty spontaneously, (on) random Friday, Saturday nights,” Finnur Christianson ’27 said.
He added that he was initially disappointed when Showcase closed but now feels “cautiously optimistic” about the arrival of Apple Cinemas.
Raymondo Chapa Ponce ’27 shared a similar experience, recalling how he and his friends made frequent trips to the theater for major releases, from Marvel movies to “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “A Minecraft Movie.”
“This was a chance to go away from school and go watch something fun,” he said.
But Chapa Ponce said he has mixed feelings about the new theater. He hopes Apple Cinemas keeps ticket prices affordable, as tickets at Showcase Cinemas “were already very expensive,” he said.
“If Apple Cinemas is way fancier like Showcase Cinemas, I’m afraid that the tickets are going to be even more expensive,” he said.
Apple Cinemas did not respond to a request for comment.
While Apple Cinemas brings new amenities, some students said those features won’t affect whether they return.
“I don’t honestly care for features like that,” said Isabel Hahn ’26, a member of Ivy Film Festival and a former Herald arts & culture editor. “I think I’d be more interested in what kinds of screens that they’re going to install.”
To Hahn, watching “Dune: Part Two” and “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle” on the IMAX screens was a unique experience. “Providence is kind of a small city, (and) there’s not that many IMAX screens across the country, so the fact that we have one here was really cool.”
For Hahn, the news that Apple Cinemas would replace Showcase came as a relief after she feared the space might close permanently.
“I love going to watch movies, and I like being on top of watching new films and titles,” she said.
Other students said the additional activities Apple Cinemas plans to offer could make the mall even more appealing to visit.
“With all these activities, I feel like it’s definitely a big draw, especially because in Providence in general, there’s not a ton to do,” Christianson said. “I think everyone’s always looking for something to try out.”
