Nitehawk Cinema - Prospect Park

188 Prospect Park W,
Brooklyn, NY 11215

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Nitehawk Cinema (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Brandt Theaters

Architects: Edward W. Kleinert, Hugo Magnuson, Harrison G. Wiseman

Firms: Magnuson & Kleinert

Functions: Movies (First Run)

Styles: Moorish

Previous Names: Sanders Theatre, Pavilion Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 718.369.0838

Nearby Theaters

News About This Theater

Sanders Theatre exterior

Located in the Park Slope district, and built on the site of the Marathon Theatre (1908-1927). The Sanders Theatre was opened in August 1928 with 1,516 seats. The interior design was carried out in a Moorish style, and it was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 manual 7 rank organ. It was closed in 1978, and stood unused for over a decade.

It was taken over by a new operator in September 1995, and was eventually repaired and reopened as the Pavilion Theatre on April 5, 1996, with 3-screens. Three other screens opened in late-1996. By 1997 there were 4-screens downstairs and 3-screens upstairs. In 2000, it had been converted into a 9-screen cinema with 1,108 seats. In September 2016 plans were announced that the cinema would close in October 2016 to be converted into a 7-screen Nitehawk cinema, to be known as Nitehawk Cinema - Prospect Park. It reopened on December 19, 2018.

Contributed by John Chappell, Suzanne Moore

Recent comments (view all 65 comments)

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on January 6, 2019 at 7:11 pm

The theatres are nice, theatre 6 the sighlines are poor. Theatres 1 and 2 look the best and theatre 5 has 4 long rows, close to the screen (That was the pavilion ad on theatre before it closed). I posted some photos of the auditoriums. When in theatres 4 and 6, the bathrooms are a couple of flights downstairs.

This theatre needs reserve seating, people are fighting over seats. When pictures playdate with the Alamo, the Alamo Downtown Brooklyn is the better movie theatre.

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on January 6, 2019 at 9:07 pm

Is there any original or recreated architectural detail in any of the auditoriums?

Willburg145
Willburg145 on April 10, 2019 at 11:31 am

Too bad there are no photos of the old interior when it first opened

classictheaters
classictheaters on April 18, 2019 at 12:44 am

Went once – what a waste of time. Theaters are so small, it’s like watching your large screen TV at home. – Well – back to the Loew’s Jersey 3200 seat Palace for some classic films on that huge screen! (wish the King’s in Brooklyn would show films from time to time)

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on August 20, 2019 at 8:01 pm

Please update, The Pavilion open April 5, 1996 with three theatres. Opening atrractions were Primal Fear, All Dogs Go To Heaven and Fargo

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on August 20, 2019 at 8:25 pm

Please update, it open on April 5, 1996 with 3 screens. Late in 1996, the other 3 screens open. By 1997, their were 4 screens downstairs and 3 screens upstairs. Note, theatre 3 had seats downstairs and upstairs. In late 1997, the Pavilion went to 7 screens, 4 downstairs and 3 upstairs. Sometime in 2000, it went to 9 screens with 1 built adjoining to the theatre and the other one on the top above the mezzanine screens. Don’t know exactly when it happen.

I visited the theatre twice in 1997 and haven’t been back until Nitehawk took control.

When it reopen as the nitehawk, 3 screens on the main floor, 2 on the 2nd floor (former balcony of the pavilion and the other 2 on the third floor.

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on August 20, 2019 at 8:26 pm

The sad thing now, the elevator to the upper screens is still out of order for over a month.

cmbussmann
cmbussmann on October 18, 2019 at 1:32 pm

Theater 2 is a nice size. The rest are tiny.

Comfortably Cool
Comfortably Cool on June 12, 2020 at 4:56 pm

Reported to be cautiously preparing for re-opening in news article displayed here

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on July 5, 2023 at 12:10 pm

Please update, during the 2000 renovation when it was the Pavillion, it added 2 screens on the 3rd floor, the back balcony auditorium was undivided and they added a tiny screen on the main floor. According to the Dept of Buildings records and pictures I saw on Google and Yelp. The the seating capacity was Screen 1 255 (2nd Floor front balcony), Theatre 2 96, Theatre 3 82, Theatre 4 56 seats (addition to the building), Theatre 5 202 (Balcony screen where the wall was removed), Theatre 6 122, Theatre 7 90 (3rd Floor), Theatre 8 93 (3rd Floor) and Theatre 9 112 seats.

The seat count as the Nitehawk Park Slope: Main Floor Theatre 3 70 Theatre 5 56 Theatre 7 56

2nd Floor
Theatre 1 194
Theatre 2 166

3rd Floor
Theatre 4 60
Theatre 6 48

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