Each of the theater’s five auditoriums will feature digital projection, state-of-the-art sound and reclining seats.
Movies are returning to Uptown’s West Village.
Violet Crown Dallas will present a grand opening Friday in the space formerly occupied by the Magnolia Theater.
Violet Crown will play mainstream Hollywood movies, popular art films and a repertory of older films. The theater company opened its first location in downtown Austin and 2011 and operates cinemas in Sante Fe, N.M., and Charlottesville, Va.
The opening of the Dallas location marks a triumphant return for Bill Banowsky, who founded Austin-based Magnolia Pictures, owner of the Magnolia Theater, 20 years ago. Banowsky opened the theater in 2002. A year later, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and entrepreneur Todd Wagner acquired Magnolia Pictures as part of a film distribution strategy through their Landmark Theatres brand.
Landmark sold to Cohen Media Group in 2018. Two years later, the effects of the pandemic prompted the sale of the theater. The venue sat dormant until Banowsky checked with the property’s landlord and worked out a deal, which “wasn’t really a plan but an opportunity.”
Banowsky said the venue underwent a complete retrofit with a new design, improved amenities and leather seating to make it as “comfortable as any theater anywhere.
“We’re just thrilled to be bringing this to Uptown Dallas.”
The five-screen theater will offer traditional cinema concessions, a kitchen serving made-to-order food and a bar with craft beer, wine and cocktails. The bar taps will rotate to feature beers from different local breweries.
Food and drinks are permitted inside the auditoriums where each chair includes fold-out trays.
Banowsky, who lives in Santa Fe, N.M., said he is also enthusiastic about working with cinema enthusiasts in the Dallas area.
“We have a great connection with the Dallas film community,” he said.
James Faust, the Dallas International Film Festival’s artistic director, said the Magnolia was DIFF’s headquarters before the pandemic.
“It’s really cool that they’re really back,” Faust said. “I’m a big fan of their cinema in Austin and have no doubt they will bring that same energy to Dallas.”
Violet Crown will also feature film screenings in partnership with 3 Stars Jewish Cinema, which will present its annual Christmas Eve screening at the new theater this year.
Bart Weiss, 3 Stars Jewish Cinema artist director, said it’s great to have another independent theater in Dallas.
“People don’t realize how good it is to have the Angelika and Texas Theater, and now to have the Violet Crown as an addition to that mix … it means all people who love cinema have a choice,” Weiss said.
If you go
- Where: 3699 McKinney Ave., Dallas.
- Shows that start Dec. 9: Black Panther, Wakanda Forever (action), White Noise (comedy), Violent Night (comedy/action), The Menu (thriller) and Everything Everywhere All at Once (action-adventure). James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, the follow-up to his 2009 film that’s the highest-grossing film of all time, will be shown on Dec. 16.
- Concession options: Hot buttered popcorn and candy, gourmet hot dogs, pizzas and salads. Light bites include a hot pretzel, house-made Crown Queso, Air Fry Tater Tots, Avocado Spring Rolls and PLT (prosciutto, lettuce, and tomato) Sliders.
- Free parking: Available in the garage at 3699 McKinney Ave., next to the cinema.
