The 10 Best Cinemas In Madrid You Should Visit (2024)

Spanish cinema has become more known in the past yearsand its films, directors and actors have been recognized all over the world. Watching Spanish films is a great way of getting to know the country and its culture, so for travelers interested in the Spanish arts, visiting a Spanish cinema is an exciting and authentic experience. Here we explore the very best cinemas in Madrid.

The historic Cines Callao City Light cinema was built in 1926, and while it might not be the most luxurious cinema in the city, its small, independent atmosphere is incredibly attractive. It is built and decorated in the art deco style, which adds charm to this majestic building. What makes it stand out from most of the other cinemas in Madrid is its reruns of classic movies and thematic marathons. The seats are not numbered so the queues before movies are usually quite long, since everyone is desperate to get a good seat. They also have a terrace that is for outdoor projections, perfect for a lazy summer evening.

Located in the city center of Madrid, in the famous Gran Vía area, Cines Capitol is one of the most iconic movie theaters in the capital. It has been showing films since 1933 and continues to show them to this day. Apart from the usual mainstream films, Cines Capitol also projects more unique films, concerts, opera, sports championships and documentaries. After shopping and eating in the Gran Vía area, visitors can relax and practice their Spanish by watching a film here.

Cine Doré projects films in their original language, with English, French, German and Italian films usually on offer. Films are shown with Spanish subtitles, so those who are craving a cinema date but do not speak a word of Spanish can head to this historic cinema. Both the inside and the outside of this historic movie theater are beautiful, with golden and red façades and lush interiors, adding a touch of old school luxury. Their website has a calendar of films shown each month.

Cine Renoir is another cinema that shows films in their original language, and tickets cost around six euros. There are three locations in Madrid: Princesa, El Retiro and Plaza de España. The most famous one is the cinema at Princesa, which shows a wide variety of international productions, from films in Danish, Swedish, Arabic and Spanish to English, Japanese, French and Italian, giving an idea of how multicultural this establishment is. The best thing is that all films are subtitled in Spanish, so is a perfect place both for locals and those wanting to gradually practice their Spanish language skills.

Founded in 1986, La Academia del Cine has the objective of promoting Spanish cinema both nationally and internationally. They also encourage scientific study in the field to develop new cinematographic technologies, the expansion of careers in the industry and further research in this sector. This institution has also created the Goya Awards, the Spanish equivalent of the Academy Awards, to recognize and reward Spanish cinema. They show different types of Spanish indie films, whether they be in Catalan, Castilian, Basque or Galician.

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The Cineteca Madrid is located in the Matadero de Madrid, the site of one of the best markets in the city. It claims to be the first and only cinema in the country to dedicate its projections almost entirely to non-fiction productions. Cineteca Madrid is interested in promoting alternative and independent cinema. They organize different types of cultural events in their various rooms, always aiming to educate and inform their audiences about lesser-known subjects. It is free to watch films here, and they sometimes do reruns of classics, so visitors who are interested in Spanish cinema should keep an eye on their calendar.

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