Coolidge Corner Theatre

What Coolidge Corner Theatre does

Coolidge Corner Theatre, operated by the Coolidge Theatre Foundation (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), is an independent cinema located at 290 Harvard Street in Brookline, Massachusetts, operating continuously since 1933. The venue runs six screens with capacity for more than 900 audience members and programs independent, foreign, documentary, classic, repertory, and specialty films across formats including 70mm, 35mm, and 4K digital restoration. Its core offering is anchored by signature programs such as Big Screen Classics, Cinema in 70mm, Cinema Jukebox®, Coolidge After Midnite, Cult Classics, Science on Screen®, NT Live, OnStage at the Coolidge, Cinema Masala, Sounds of Silents®, Goethe German Film, and extensive coolidge education classes and seminars, many co-presented with cultural partners including the Japan Society of Boston, Goethe-Institut Boston, MUBI, and WBUR.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack rather than a pure ticket-sales operation. Earned revenue streams include unit-priced admissions (adult tickets around $19.75-$20.75, with student, senior, and child discounts), annual memberships offering discounted tickets and priority seating, education fees for five-week classes and seminars, theater rentals for private events, and online merchandise and gift card sales. Contributed revenue includes individual donations via the Film Forever Fund and Director's Circle, planned giving including the Katherine Tallman Endowment Fund, corporate sponsorships (e.g., Eastern Bank for Kids' Shows, MUBI for Take Two, Iris Hotel Boston for Big Screen Classics), and grants from the Mass Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Online ticketing is processed through Agile Ticketing Solutions, and offline channels include the box office and phone sales.

Audience segmentation is horizontal across four primary groups: film enthusiasts and cinephiles seeking curated programming unavailable at mainstream multiplexes, K-12 and university students and educators consuming the field trip program and coolidge education classes, Brookline and greater Boston community members engaging through memberships and donations, and niche interest groups attending horror (Coolidge After Midnite), Japanese cinema, silent films, and festival programming. The organization also extends its curatorial reach nationally through the Science on Screen® grant initiative, co-administered with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which has funded 164 grants across 72 independent cinemas since 2011.

Name

Coolidge Corner Theatre

Legal name

The Coolidge Theatre Foundation

Website

https://coolidge.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Coolidge Corner Theatre is a 501(c)(3) independent nonprofit cinema in Brookline, Massachusetts, operating six screens since 1933 and programming foreign, documentary, classic, and specialty films to Boston-area cinephiles, students, and community members through memberships, donations, grants, and education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Cinema Exhibition

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Screenings & Venue Rentals (Corporate, Parties) (MPADAKAJ), Special Event Screenings & Pop-up Cinemas (MPADAKAE), Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG)

Keywords

• Independent cinema exhibitions
• Repertory film programming
• Art house movie theater
• Nonprofit cultural cinema
• Film education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brookline

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Admission fees for film screenings across six screens. Pricing varies by ticket type (adult, student, senior, child) and special presentations (70mm, 35mm, seminars).
2. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers offering benefits such as discounted tickets, priority seating, and exclusive member events.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible contributions supporting the nonprofit mission, including Film Forever Fund, Director's Circle, Planned Giving, and Named Seat programs.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship partnerships for signature programs and events.
5. Education Programs: Revenue from five-week classes, pre-film seminars, and Coolidge Education programming.
6. Retail and Gift Cards: Online shop sales including merchandise and gift card purchases.
7. Facility Rentals: Rental inquiries for private events and screenings at the theater.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Coolidge Corner Theatre is an independent nonprofit cinema operating six moviehouse screens with capacity for more than 900 audience members at its Brookline, MA headquarters. It fundamentally screens independent, foreign, documentary, classic, and specialty films across multiple formats including 70mm, 35mm, and digital restoration, supported by a registered portfolio of signature programming series and educational offerings.

Product overview

Coolidge Corner Theatre is an independent, nonprofit cinema and cultural institution operating six screens with capacity for more than 900 audience members since 1933. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of film programming including new releases, classic repertory screenings, and special format presentations (70mm, 35mm, digital restoration). Its signature programs include Big Screen Classics, Cinema in 70mm, Cinema Jukebox®, Coolidge After Midnite, Cult Classics, Science on Screen®, NT Live broadcasts, OnStage live performances, Outdoor Screenings, and Coolidge Education classes. Additional services include membership programs, theater rentals, and online ticketing through Agile Ticketing Solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Film Screenings (Now Playing & Coming Soon) Contemporary independent film, repertory screenings, and new release presentations shown across six moviehouse screens at the Brookline theater.
• Big Screen Classics Signature curated program showcasing certified classic films the way they were meant to be seen, often with special introductions or restored prints.
• Cinema in 70mm Special format screening series featuring 70mm film projection presentations, including Christopher Nolan's films and other premium-format events.
• Cinema Jukebox® Registered trademark signature program featuring films centered around music, often with live performances or special musical presentations co-presented with Allston Pudding.
• Coolidge After Midnite Late-night cult classic, horror, and genre film programming featuring special guests, 35mm prints, and themed screenings.
• Cult Classics Signature program dedicated to showcasing films with fervent fan bases and unforgettable cultural impact.
• Science on Screen® Registered trademark program combining scientific presentations with feature films, featuring expert speakers discussing the science behind the movies. The program model has been replicated at 72 independent cinemas through 164 grants awarded since 2011.
• NT Live Broadcasts of live theatrical performances from the National Theatre presented on the cinema's big screens.
• OnStage at the Coolidge Live performances, concerts, and special events held at the theater including composer tributes and film concerts.
• Outdoor Screenings Outdoor film screenings presented at the Charles River Speedway and other venues during summer months, co-presented with venue partners including The Speedway.
• Coolidge Education Educational programming including five-week classes, pre-film seminars, field trip programs for students, and the Coolidge Classroom initiative for learners of all ages.
• Kids' Shows Family-friendly programming series featuring music, magic, movies, and puppetry performances for children, co-presented with sponsor Eastern Bank.
• Membership Program Annual recurring membership offering benefits including discounted tickets, priority seating, and exclusive member events for individual supporters.
• Theatre Rentals Private rentals of theater spaces for corporate events, premieres, and special occasions available by inquiry to the theater.
• Online Ticketing (Agile Ticketing Solutions) Online ticketing platform powered by Agile Ticketing Solutions for purchasing admission to screenings and events from the website.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served audiences in greater Boston area for nearly 93 years
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Alfred P. Sloan FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to administer the Science on Screen® grant initiative, which provides funding to independent cinemas nationwide to present film programs paired with live presentations by scientists and engineers. Since 2011, 164 grants have been awarded to 72 independent cinemas.
• Japan Society of BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership for Japanese film programming. The Coolidge was honored with the 2026 Thayer Award recognizing outstanding contributions to cultural exchange between the U.S. and Japan. Japanese programming has been a staple since the 1970s.
• Wicked Queer Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual hosting partnership for the Wicked Queer Film Festival, featuring LGBTQ+ cinema programming in April 2026.
• National Center for Jewish Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual hosting partnership for the National Center for Jewish Film Festival screenings, including April 2026 festival featuring films such as The Burning Cross and Labors of Love.
• MUBImajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeries sponsor for Take Two: Filmmaking in the Movies programming series.
• Brookline Music SchoolmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenting partner for special events including Amadeus screening with pre-show student performances.
• Salem Horror FestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosting Salem Horror Fest screenings including Island of Lost Souls and The Leopard Man double feature.
• WBURminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presented in-kind partner for Big Screen Classics programming.
• Iris Hotel BostonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presented in-kind partner for Big Screen Classics programming.
• Allston PuddingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind co-presenting partner for Cinema Jukebox screenings including Tommy and Amadeus.
• Japan Society of BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenting partner for Ghibliotheque Studio Ghibli series.
• Goethe-Institut BostonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenting partner for Goethe German Film series including Red Stars Upon the Field.
• Brookline Community FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported By partner for Panorama: State of Firsts screening.
• Brookline Commission for the ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported By partner for Panorama: State of Firsts screening.
• The Speedway (Charles River Speedway)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenting partner for Coolidge at the Speedway outdoor screening series including But I'm a Cheerleader.
• The Anvil OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive musical accompaniment provider for The Sounds of Silents program, performing original scores for silent film screenings.
• Eastern BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenting partner for Kids' Shows programming series.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IFC Center: Independent art-house cinema in Greenwich Village, NYC, focused on independent, documentary, and repertory film with signature curated series — closely comparable programming strategy and cinephile audience to the Coolidge.
• The Egyptian Theatre: Historic movie palace in Hollywood operated by American Cinematheque, hosting repertory, independent, and special-format screenings with strong filmmaker and cultural partnerships — comparable independent/curated exhibition mission.
• Metrograph: Boutique independent cinema in NYC's Lower East Side combining theatrical exhibition with a restaurant and bookshop; comparable in curatorial ambition, signature programming series, and audience of cinephiles.
• Ragtag Cinema: Independent nonprofit arthouse cinema in Columbia, MO, showing independent, foreign, and repertory films with a community programming focus — a smaller-market analog to the Coolidge's nonprofit independent cinema model.
• AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center: Nonprofit art-house cinema and cultural center in Silver Spring, MD, operated by the American Film Institute, programming independent, foreign, and repertory films with educational programming — directly comparable mission and programming mix.
• Brattle Theatre: Independent nonprofit art-house cinema in Cambridge, MA, founded in 1953, specializing in repertory, foreign, and classic film programming — directly comparable to the Coolidge's independent/cinephile mission within the same Boston-area market.
• The Charles Theatre: Independent art-house cinema in Baltimore, MD, screening independent, foreign, and repertory films with multiple screens — a directly comparable independent nonprofit-adjacent exhibitor outside the Boston market.
• Somerville Theatre: Independent historic movie palace in Somerville, MA, offering a mix of first-run, repertory, and specialty programming with multiple screens — a neighboring independent exhibitor with a comparable mix of mainstream and curated content.

Broad incumbents

• Landmark Theatres: Largest U.S. art-house cinema chain, operating independent and specialty film theaters nationwide; overlaps with the Coolidge in independent/foreign programming but at much greater scale and without the nonprofit/community-education specialization.

Emerging players

• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: Specialty cinema chain known for repertory programming, themed screenings, and curated events; comparable to the Coolidge's signature programming approach (e.g., Coolidge After Midnite) but operating as a for-profit chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thecoolidge
• Facebookfacebook.com/thecoolidge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coolidge Corner Theatre