Beirut’s Metropolis Cinema Reopens After Years of Turmoil

The new venue, celebrated by Cate Blanchett and Nadine Labaki, symbolizes resilience and cultural revival in Lebanon.

The Metropolis Cinema in Beirut reopened on December 21, 2024, after a four-year closure caused by economic hardship, the 2020 port explosion, and regional conflict.
The new venue, located in the Mar Mikhael district, features two indoor cinemas, an outdoor cinema, and a green space with a café, designed for flexibility and sustainability.
Cate Blanchett and Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki shared messages of support, highlighting the cinema’s role as a cultural refuge and a hub for Lebanese creativity and community.
The reopening event included a cine-concert with vintage Arab film clips accompanied by live music, reflecting the cinema's dedication to independent and heritage filmmaking.
The cinema will also house a Lebanese film heritage resource center, aiming to preserve the country’s cinematic legacy while fostering education and artistic collaboration.