Last updated: Nov. 1, 2026
The Coolidge Corner Theatre marquee in Brookline (file photo). Photo: Sean Dudley, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Greater Boston has three historic independent movie theaters that draw film fans from across the region: the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square and the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square. All three are reachable by the T, all date to the early 20th century or earlier, and each programs a mix you won’t find at a multiplex. This guide covers where each one is, how to get there, what it shows and what makes it distinct. Showtimes and ticket prices change, so check each theater’s site before you go.
Quick guide: Boston-area independent theaters
| Theater | Address | Nearest T | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coolidge Corner Theatre | 290 Harvard St., Brookline | Coolidge Corner (Green Line C) | Art Deco nonprofit; indie, foreign and documentary films; midnight series |
| Brattle Theatre | 40 Brattle St., Cambridge | Harvard (Red Line) | One-screen repertory house; classics and foreign films |
| Somerville Theatre | 55 Davis Square, Somerville | Davis (Red Line) | 1914 movie palace; first-run films, 70mm, concerts |
Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline
The Coolidge Corner Theatre is a nonprofit cinema and community cultural center specializing in international, documentary, animated and independent film. The building began as a Universalist church in 1906 and was redesigned as an Art Deco movie palace that opened on Dec. 30, 1933, as the community’s first movie theater.
It nearly closed in the late 1980s, when home video cut into business and a developer considered redeveloping the property. A grassroots campaign led by Babson College film professor David Kleiler became the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation. In 1989, hundreds of residents formed a human chain around the building, and the Hamilton Charitable Foundation, led by Brookline realtor Harold Brown, bought the theater and gave the foundation a 99-year lease. The theater reopened that November.
A $12.5 million expansion designed by Höweler + Yoon opened on March 27, 2024, adding about 14,000 square feet, two theaters, a 60-seat education center and improved accessibility. WBUR describes a restored 440-seat main auditorium that plays both 35mm and digital, and singles out Coolidge After Midnite, its late-night cult and horror series, as a local institution. The theater also gives an annual Coolidge Award to film artists; past honorees include Meryl Streep, Werner Herzog and Jane Fonda.
The Coolidge’s upper balcony became a second screen in 1979, and two small upstairs rooms show digital films, according to WBUR, whose guide notes that the published schedule lists which auditorium each film plays in. Its annual all-night Halloween horror marathon sells out every year.
Getting there: Green Line C branch to Coolidge Corner. Looking for dinner before a show? See our Brookline restaurants guide and the Brookline town guide.
Brattle Theatre, Harvard Square
The Brattle is a one-screen repertory theater in Brattle Hall at 40 Brattle Street, near Harvard Square in Cambridge. It is one of the few theaters still using rear projection, with the projector behind the screen rather than behind the audience. The hall opened in 1890, built for the Cambridge Social Union, and hosted drama for decades, including a 1942 production of Othello starring Paul Robeson.
In February 1953 it began showing repertory and foreign films. Founders Cyrus Harvey Jr. and Bryant Haliday made it one of the country’s first art houses, reviving American classics and introducing audiences to directors such as Akira Kurosawa, Ingmar Bergman and Federico Fellini; the two went on to establish Janus Films. Starting in the late 1950s, the Brattle screened Humphrey Bogart films during Harvard exam week, a “Bogie Cult” tradition that lives on in its Valentine’s Day showings of Casablanca. Today it is run by the nonprofit Brattle Film Foundation.
Getting there: Red Line to Harvard. For cheap food nearby, see our Harvard Square cheap eats guide.
Somerville Theatre, Davis Square
The Somerville Theatre opened in 1914 in the Hobbs Building, designed by the Boston firm Funk & Wilcox for stage shows, vaudeville, opera and films. WBUR calls it the Boston area’s oldest operating movie theater. It went movies-only in 1932 during the Depression and today works as both a first-run cinema and a concert venue; Bruce Springsteen played two shows there in 2003 and U2 performed in 2009.
According to WBUR, the restored main auditorium seats 840 under a balcony, with a 30-foot screen and a 4K laser projector. Two smaller auditoriums sit downstairs, along with a 30-seat microcinema available for rentals and parties. Its projection booth can run 70mm and 35mm film and nearly every historic sound format. Specialty programs include the monthly “Silents, Please!” series with live accompaniment and an annual 70mm and Widescreen Festival.
Getting there: Red Line to Davis. Make a day of it with our Somerville brunch guide or the Somerville city guide.
Tips for visiting Boston’s indie cinemas
- Take the T. All three theaters sit steps from a subway stop, and street parking in Coolidge Corner, Harvard Square and Davis Square is tight. Check our snow emergency guide before driving in winter.
- Buy ahead for special events. Marathons, festivals and 70mm screenings can sell out.
- Consider a membership. The Coolidge and the Brattle are nonprofits that rely on members and donors; each lists membership options on its website.
- Watch for weekly picks. Our things to do in Boston this weekend page highlights notable screenings.
Boston independent movie theaters FAQ
Which is the oldest movie theater in the Boston area?
WBUR describes the Somerville Theatre, which opened in 1914 in Davis Square, as the Boston area’s oldest operating movie theater.
How do I get to the Coolidge Corner Theatre by T?
Take the Green Line C branch to Coolidge Corner. The theater is at 290 Harvard Street in Brookline.
How do I get to the Brattle Theatre?
The Brattle is at 40 Brattle Street in Cambridge, a short walk from Harvard station on the Red Line.
Does the Somerville Theatre show 70mm film?
Yes. WBUR reports the Somerville’s booth can project 70mm and 35mm film, and the theater holds an annual 70mm and Widescreen Festival.
Is the Coolidge Corner Theatre a nonprofit?
Yes. It is run by the nonprofit Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation, which formed after a 1989 community campaign saved the building from redevelopment.
Sources
- WBUR, Your guide to the Boston area’s indie theaters and film festivals
- Coolidge Corner Theatre, official site
- Brattle Theatre, official site
- Somerville Theatre, official site
- MBTA, Subway lines and stations