Top Cinemas in Buenos Aires

Founded in 1921, the so-called Cinematograph of the Plaza del Congreso changed its name to the one we currently know. The site near the park that gave the place its original name, offers very affordable tickets and promotions. However, this cinema is recognized for something else… 

 Cine Gaumont is the movie theatre in the City of Buenos Aires that attracts national film enthusiasts since it is one of the INCAA Spaces (National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts), which broadcasts Argentine productions. It also promotes social and inclusive film cycles for students, people with disabilities and individuals within the justice system.

The billboard is renewed weekly and its total capacity is 1,150 people: throughout the three rooms with 600, 300 and 250 seats.

Cine Multiplex Lavalle, also known as “The Cathedral of Argentine Cinema” due to being a place that would broadcast incipient national production, was inaugurated on October 23, 1931, with the name of Cine Monumental. 

Located on Lavalle pedestrian street, and has 7 auditoriums with 2D, 3D, 3D Xtreme and 4D technology. This Multiplex complex is part of a group of theatres in the City of Buenos Aires with similar characteristics: Belgrano, Pilar and Canning. 

The establishment offers various screen formats that take you to a unique experience. From the classic to the most innovative technology, the place also features Premium auditoriums.

The original building’s luxury facilities, with its original marble and mirrors, have been preserved, adding the modern touches required by a cinema complex. The billboard offers Blockbuster and popular films. 

Premium Platinum is a more exclusive auditorium with plenty of legroom and reclining seats with folding trays. Only major premieres and art films are screened. 

The Xtremo theatres also have larger screens: double the original size and reach up to four stories high with high-quality sound.

In the 4D room, you must be willing to become the true protagonist:  it is impossible to remain indifferent to this immersive experience. Not only do seats move in all directions, but they also offer effects such as vibration, water, wind, aromas, air impact, lights and 3D.

On the tenth floor of the San Martín Theatre Complex, you’ll find Sala Leopoldo Lugones, one of the most classical screening rooms in the City of Buenos Aires. Recognized for directors’ exclusive cycles, and festivals, among other cinematographic events.

Thanks to its technology, acoustics, adaptability and comfort, the room Leopoldo Lugones remains a cinema of excellence over time. Has space for 233 spectators, a disabled entrance and a completely renovated hall.

Building modifications, updating and modernization of audiovisual equipment place the historic venue as one of the most outstanding at a technical level in Argentina.

The Sala Leopoldo Lugones is one of the few theatres in Argentina that still have professional film projection. It is the only one in the country featuring two 35mm in-line projectors, which allows it to display roll-by-roll copies of archives and cinematheques, according to international protocol. 

In addition, it has a professional 16mm projector with a Xenon lamp and a two-hour reel charge, also unique in Argentina, making this space a unique cinema auditorium in the city of Buenos Aires.

Currently, the Sala Leopoldo Lugones cinema adds to this analogue equipment a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) projector and  DOLBY sound equipment of the highest quality, one of the two currently existing in the country.

The MALBA attracts a dedicated audience of art and cinema lovers, projecting selected independent films.

The Room of the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA) was founded in 2001 and declared a Site of Cultural Interest six years later by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires.

From Thursday to Sunday, you can find independent film series, and reviews of established filmmakers and premieres of Argentine and Latin American productions that are difficult to find in the commercial circuit: this is a space exclusively dedicated to alternative cinema.

MALBA program cycles collaborate with the Buenos Aires Film Library, one of the most important archives in the country. The space is also home to the Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival (BAFICI), which takes place annually in April and early May each year.

This classic art cinema in Buenos Aires, located on the famous Corrientes Avenue, is well known for its theatres. It was inaugurated in 1968 under the name Cinema Lion and occupies the former building of Éclair Cinema. 

In the early 70s, the Cine Lorca was part of an art cinema circuit of Corrientes Avenue, between 9 de Julio and Callao, which had the particularity of having the L as the first of its name: the Lorange, the Lorraine, the Losuar and the Loire. Today the only one that remains standing is Lorca.

The modern-style building, with its black and mirrored glass façade, preserves the illuminated sign since the opening of the cinema in the 60s. 

The Lorca has an intimate and friendly atmosphere, different from large cinema complexes. It has two rooms, on the ground floor and the upper floor, decorated with wooden strips of different tones.

Considered as a space where you can enjoy film offers that are rare in commercial circuits, such as European cinema, offers affordable prices. Tickets can only be purchased at the cinema and the start of the show is always punctual.

A large open-air theatre in the City of Buenos Aires, far from classical auditoriums, Cineclub Lucero projects films in the Club Lucero bar.

One of its distinctive features is that it is the only one with wireless headphones to watch major retrospectives and the best premiere films, in a complete experience with the possibility of having a drink or eating during the screening. 

Cinema Club Lucero films or work-in-progress projects that major distributors are not interested in are a perfect plan for cinema lovers. There are also retrospectives with debates at the end of the screening.

The audience at this cinema is diverse, with young people and adults, film students, film buffs and also tourists. The patio room has a maximum capacity of 40 people, similar to the internal auditorium on the first floor, so we recommend you reserve your ticket in advance. 

Most of the Lucero Film Club’s programming is free. The “Marathon Tuesday” series displays three films in a row, which may have the same theme, director or leading actor. You’ll find the programming on their social networks.

The Cosmos Cinema complex belongs to the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and seeks to provide the general public with new approaches. Within its offer, you can find both premieres and reruns, of national and foreign films. They also project fiction films or documentaries.

Cine Cosmos is an emblematic theatre within Buenos Aires cinema culture. The building was inaugurated in 1929 with the name of Cine Cataluña and, as the Cosmos 70 Cinema (in relation to 70 mm films), was transformed into a space of cultural vanguard for the projection of alternative cinema from Eastern Europe. Acquired by the University of Buenos Aires it reopened in November 2010.

The auditorium has a main room with 160 seats and a micro room with space for 30 spectators, thanks to remodelling made by the authorities of the University of Buenos Aires.

It is open Wednesday to Sunday and the programming is updated every week. The intention of this space is to offer the general public an approach to alternative cinema.

As a contribution to the history of cinema and critical thinking, this screening room in Buenos Aires promotes spaces for reflection, and conferences and enables the use of historical archives. In addition, Cine Cosmos, which depends on the Secretariat of Institutional Relations, Culture and Communication of the University of Buenos Aires, offers super affordable tickets and discounts for students and retirees.

Founded on 25 May 1929 by the merchants of the area, this theatre in the City of Buenos Aires has as its mentors people from the neighbourhood, who have given life to the cultural centre since its origin.  

After being closed for more than 20 years, it was reopened and recovered at the initiative of the community, offering national productions and film series on Mondays and Thursdays.

It is also a space for cultural activities:, theatre, workshops, concerts, festivals, local assemblies and more. 

May 25 Cultural Center is a fundamental space for the decentralisation of Buenos Aires’ cultural offering since this auditorium is situated far from the downtown area, in the Villa Urquiza neighbourhood.

This cinema in Buenos Aires is part of a comprehensive Accessibility Project, aimed especially at people with visual or hearing disabilities. The space also offers Relaxed Functions, adapted for people with sensory difficulties, the autism spectrum, learning disorders and other needs.