It’s with a heavy heart that Washington, D.C., bids farewell to a beloved cinematic landmark: E Street Cinema. The news of its impending closure has sent ripples of sadness through the city’s film community, a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by independent theaters in the post-pandemic landscape. Despite its long-standing reputation as a hub for art house, independent, and foreign films, E Street Cinema, like many others, has struggled to regain its pre-pandemic audience. The shifting habits of moviegoers, coupled with the economic pressures of the last few years, have proven insurmountable, leading to the difficult decision to close its doors.
The Washington Post’s Herb Scribner broke the news Tuesday evening. Landmark hasn’t said much beyond sharing this statement with the Post:
“Landmark Theatres is constantly evaluating its business strategy and will be closing the theatre given its inability to recover in the post-pandemic environment,” said Mark Mulcahy, head of brand and marketing for Landmark Theatres, in a statement. “We are proud to have served its community over 21 years of operation and thank our dedicated guests and staff for their ongoing support.”
Furthermore, a Landmark rep tells the Post that they will not be showing any movies beyond March 6, 2025.
Landmark’s E Street Cinema has been a key player in Washington, D.C.’s art house film scene. E Street Cinema, in its Landmark incarnation, opened January 9, 2004. It quickly established itself as a destination for those seeking films beyond the mainstream, specializing in first-run independent and foreign language films, documentaries, and classic revivals. Furthermore, it was one of the few theaters in Washington to have a liquor license, which added to the adult and upscale atmosphere.
The Community Reacts
Social media is buzzing with reaction from Washington, D.C. film fans.
One moviegoer posted that their favorite memory “at E Street Cinema was watching Moonlight next to Former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.”
Another Darkened Screen: E Street Cinema and DC’s Vanishing Theaters
The closing of Landmark’s E Street Cinema isn’t just a sad farewell to a beloved art house; it’s a stark reminder of a troubling trend in Washington, D.C.: the gradual disappearance of our independent and historic theaters. From the shuttered doors of the Uptown to the long-gone visions of the Inner Circle, D.C.’s cinematic landscape is changing, and not for the better.
E Street Cinema, with its curated selection of independent and foreign films, provided a vital cultural space. Its closure echoes the challenges faced by theaters struggling to adapt to the post-pandemic era, where streaming and changing audience habits reign. But it’s more than just economics. It’s about the loss of community spaces, the places where we gather to experience stories together.
Each closed theater leaves a void, a darkened screen in our collective memory. As E Street Cinema takes its final bow, we’re left to wonder: what will become of the spaces where we once shared the magic of cinema? How many more curtains will fall before we recognize the true cost of losing these cultural treasures?
