Swansea Luxury Cinema Reopens With 12 Screens and New Films 2026

Key Points

• Entertainment Luxury Cinemas began offering movies on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at 207 Swansea Mall Drive, Swansea, Massachusetts.
• The opening week will start with showtimes starting at noon time beginning from 12:20 p.m.
• The cinema has 12 screens; its largest auditorium can accommodate up to 250 people.
• The theatre takes 44,000 square feet and was previously run by Regal Cinemas that shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic in autumn 2020.
• Bill Hanney is the owner of the theatre who built it in 1996 but then sold it to Regal.
• The reopening is seen as phase one in a two-phase revival, with luxury reclining seating, laser projection system, Dolby sound and a liquor licence being expected for future phases.
• Opening films will be Whalefall, Street Fighter, Sense and Sensibility, The Social Reckoning, Other Mommy, Verity, Primetime, Heart of the Beast, Forgotten Island, Resident Evil and Avengers: Endgame re-run.
• Movie tickets are priced at $10.75 for bargain matinee showings before 4 p.m., $14.75 for adults showings after 4 p.m., and $11.75 for kids, senior and military customers.
• Over 500 people applied for job positions at the theatre.

Swansea (Wales Times) October 22, 2026 — A long-empty uk/local/swansea/">Swansea cinema has returned to use after six years, as Entertainment Luxury Cinemas began its first public movie screenings at the former Regal Cinemas site on Swansea Mall Drive.

When Did Entertainment Luxury Cinemas Open in Swansea?

Entertainment Luxury Cinemas officially opened its 12-screen theatre at 207 Swansea Mall Drive on Thursday, 22 October 2026, with the first showing starting at 12:20 p.m.

As reported by Herald News, the company announced the opening in a Facebook post that said: “Swansea, we can’t wait to welcome you back! Grab your popcorn, pick your movie, and we’ll see you there!”

The opening marks the return of a cinema to a site that had been dormant since Regal Cinemas closed the location in autumn 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Herald News reported that the venue had remained largely untouched during that period, although its screens and projection equipment were still in place when the new operator inspected the building in July.

What Is Inside the New Swansea Cinema?

The Swansea location has 12 screens, with its largest theatre seating 250 people. Herald News photojournalist Colin Furze documented the opening-day scenes, including staff serving popcorn and promotional displays in the lobby for luxury reclining seats that are expected to be installed later.

The theatre is part of a 44,000-square-foot space at Swansea Crossing plaza. Bill Hanney, owner and operator of Entertainment Luxury Cinemas, holds a 40-year lease on the space, while the property is owned by Gator Properties.

Which Films Are Showing During Opening Week?

A dozen films were scheduled for the opening week, beginning with noon showtimes on 22 October. According to Herald News, the opening-day line-up included Whalefall, Street Fighter, Sense and Sensibility, The Social Reckoning, Other Mommy, Verity, Primetime, Heart of the Beast, Forgotten Island, Resident Evil and an encore showing of Avengers: Endgame.

Further premieres were scheduled for Friday, 23 October, including Wicker, Clayface and A Talent for Murder. Showtimes are listed on the company’s Swansea Luxury Cinemas webpage.

How Much Do Tickets Cost?

Ticket prices at the reopened Swansea cinema are $10.75 for bargain matinee seats before 4 p.m.

Adult tickets after 4 p.m. cost $14.75, while tickets for children, seniors and military customers are priced at $11.75.

What Improvements Are Planned at the Theatre?

The opening is the first stage of a two-phase revival of the former Regal site. Entertainment Luxury Cinemas said later work will include luxury reclining chairs, laser projectors, improved Dolby sound, a liquor licence and other improvements intended to enhance the moviegoing experience.

As reported by Herald News, Hanney said in July that the company wanted to reopen the theatre quickly before carrying out a major renovation in stages. He said renovations would take place one auditorium at a time, meaning the whole business would not need to close while upgrades proceed.

“We’re opening in phases because great things take time, and we’re just getting started!” the company said in its 22 October Facebook announcement, as quoted by Herald News.

Who Owns and Operates the Swansea Cinema?

Bill Hanney owns and operates Entertainment Luxury Cinemas. He built the Swansea theatre in 1996 and operated it as an Entertainment Cinema before selling it to Regal.

Hanney’s company operates several cinemas across Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire, as well as live theatres including Theatre by the Sea in Wakefield, Rhode Island, and the North Shore Music Theatre. In July, Herald News reported that the company had locations in Hyannis, Falmouth, South Dennis, Leominster, Sturbridge, Lebanon in New Hampshire, and South Portland in Maine.

Why Was the Swansea Theatre Closed for Six Years?

The former Regal Cinemas location closed in autumn 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, after Regal closed hundreds of locations nationwide. The 12-screen Swansea multiplex then remained empty and unused for about six years.

When Hanney visited the building in July, he described its condition as strong despite the long closure. “It’s in great shape,” he told Herald News. “All they did was close the doors and left.”

How Did the Community Respond to the Reopening?

Local interest in the project was substantial. Herald News reported that a July job fair attracted more than 500 job applicants, while the company needed a team of about 100 people to operate the theatre.

Kristy Faria, who handles public relations for Entertainment Luxury Cinemas, said the company’s initial Facebook recruitment post went viral. Hanney said the response showed strong local demand for a cinema in the area.

Swansea Town Administrator Mitch Ruscitti said the town wanted to create conditions that would help businesses locate and thrive locally. Assistant Town Administrator John Hansen said residents had missed the theatre since its closure and that bringing people back to the plaza could support further redevelopment opportunities.

What Does the Reopening Mean for SouthCoast Moviegoers?

The reopening gives Swansea residents a nearby cinema option after years without one at the Swansea Mall Drive site. Herald News reported that, before the reopening, SouthCoast moviegoers’ other main options were Picture Show in Fall River and AMC theatres at Dartmouth Mall.

Hanney said that when he first opened the Swansea theatre, multiplexes also operated in Taunton and Seekonk, but those had since gone. He said the closure had left local residents with choices mainly in Fall River or Providence.

Background of the Development

The Swansea theatre was built by Bill Hanney in 1996 and originally operated as an Entertainment Cinema before being sold to Regal. Regal closed the 12-screen location in autumn 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the cinema industry, leaving the 44,000-square-foot site vacant.

In July 2026, Entertainment Luxury Cinemas announced that it would return to the Swansea Crossing plaza location. The company began hiring for theatre staff, concessions, cleaning, supervisory and management roles, and held a job fair on 28 July. Herald News later reported that more than 500 people applied for jobs at the theatre.

Hanney said the immediate aim was to clean, staff and reopen the venue before beginning phased modernisation work. The company’s opening-day announcement confirmed that the first screenings had begun on 22 October, fulfilling that initial reopening plan.

Prediction: How the Reopening Could Affect Swansea Residents

For Swansea residents and nearby SouthCoast communities, the reopening restores a local entertainment option that had been absent since 2020. It may reduce the need for residents to travel to Fall River, Dartmouth or Providence for a cinema visit, particularly for weekday matinees and family outings.

The theatre could also increase footfall at Swansea Crossing plaza, a possibility raised by town officials when the reopening plans were announced. If the planned reclining seating, laser projection and upgraded sound are delivered in later phases, the venue may become a stronger competitor for weekend and premium-format filmgoing in the area.