A plethora of movie theaters scattered around Fort Worth provide a space for residents to enjoy a feature film regularly, but one new cinema made it about more than the movie.
Los Angeles-based Rooftop Cinema Club opened its newest location in the heart of downtown Fort Worth — on the Mezzanine level of The Worthington Renaissance Downtown Fort Worth Hotel, 200 Main St. — on Nov. 1.
Los Angeles-based Rooftop Cinema Club opened its newest location in the heart of downtown Fort Worth — on the mezzanine level of The Worthington Renaissance Downtown Fort Worth Hotel, 200 Main St. — on Nov. 1. The cinema will feature screenings for all ages before 4:30 p.m. and 18-plus films after 4:30 p.m. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Rooftop Cinema Club workers prepare seats for a media preview on Nov. 1 at The Worthington Renaissance Downtown Fort Worth Hotel, 200 Main St. The cinema held its grand opening on Nov. 1. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
The Los Angeles-based Rooftop Cinema Club opened its newest location on the mezzanine level of The Worthington Renaissance Downtown Fort Worth Hotel, 200 Main St. The cinema seats more than 150 people. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Rooftop Cinema setup at The Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Fort Worth. (Photo by Cristian ArguetaSoto) 
Headphones sit at each seat at Rooftop Cinema Club on the mezzanine level of The Worthington Renaissance Downtown Fort Worth Hotel, 200 Main St. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Concessions offer snacks and drinks at the Rooftop Cinema Club on the mezzanine level of The Worthington Renaissance Downtown Fort Worth Hotel, 200 Main St. Meals are also available through the hotel’s restaurant, Toro Toro. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)
The outdoor cinema aims to make the movie-going experience about more than showing up to see a movie and leaving, said Lisa Endicott, the public relations director for the hotel.
The Rooftop Cinema Club owns seven other locations — Houston, London, Los Angeles, San Diego, New York, Miami and Chicago — where guests show up an hour-and-a-half before a screening to mingle, drink and eat at the concessions and lounge area. The Fort Worth location seats more than 150 people with a combination of single seats and double chairs.
“This is great for us and for Fort Worth,” said Drew Hayden, general manager of The Worthington Renaissance Downtown Fort Worth Hotel. “We used to have a tennis court in this space, but this works much better with views of the courthouse and downtown.”
Rooftop Cinema Club founder Gerry Cottle said the success of the concept is the fact that it brings people together.
“People have been watching these movies in their homes for years, but they can now share the experience in a great space and that’s the magic of it really,” he said.
Cristian ArguetaSoto is the community engagement journalist at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him by email or via Twitter. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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