Netflix’s Ted Saranados Hints at ‘Permanent’ Reopening of NYC’s Historic Paris Theater

Manhattan’s last single-screen cinema reopened this month for limited theatrical run of Netflix’s “Marriage Story”

paris theater marriage story
Photo: Marion Curtis /Getty for Netflix

Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos on Sunday hinted that the company was seeking a “more permanent” revival of New York City’s historic Paris Theater, Manhattan’s last single-screen cinema which shuttered as a commercial theater in August.

The streaming giant, which reopened the Paris this month for a one-month awards-season theatrical run of Noah Baumbach’s drama “Marriage Story,” is an unlikely savior of the 581-seat art-house theater located in Midtown Manhattan across from the Plaza Hotel.

“We were able to reopen the Paris Theater for this run of ‘Marriage Story,’” Saranados said as he introduced the New York premiere of the film at the venue Sunday night, “something we’d like to make a little more permanent — we’re working on it.”

It was not immediately clear if Netflix was negotiating to buy the theater or to work out a deal to manage and program the theater, which opened in 1948 and initially played only French-language movies.

Until its closure in August, the Paris had been operated by City Cinemas, but the building is owned by New York-based real estate developer Sheldon Solow. Reps for Netflix, City Cinemas and Solow did not immediately respond to requests for comment from TheWrap.

“Marriage Story” opened at the Paris on Friday and will run through Nov. 28 ahead of its streaming debut on Dec. 6. The film is also playing in New York City at the IFC Film Center and at Brooklyn’s Nitehawk Prospect Park.

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