Metro INOX Cinemas (formerly Metro Big Cinema (2008–2016), Metro Adlabs (2006–2008) and Metro Cinema (1938–2006)) is an Art Deco Heritage grade IIA multiplex Movie theatre in Mumbai, India built in 1938. It was built and originally run by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The main architect of the cinema was Thomas W. Lamb of New York City, and D. W. Ditchburn (Senior partner of the architectural firm Ditchburn Mistry and Bhedwar) of Mumbai was the associate architect.
It was one of the main sites targeted in the 2008 Mumbai attacks by Lashkar-e-Taiba.
History
thumb|Metro Cinema c.2005
Metro is located in the Dhobitalao area of Mumbai.
In 1970, the cinema was taken over by the Gupta family and with Indianisation came the era of screening Hindi films.
It soon became Bollywood's most famous red-carpet theatre. The Indian star presence at Metro became so prominent that riot police were often called in at film premieres. In 2016, INOX Purchased the cinema and soon, it became Metro INOX. It was inaugrated on November 29, 2017 by Amitabh Bacchan, Devendra Fadnavis, and INOX Group founders.
Transformation into multiplex
thumb|Metro, c. 2012
Despite such achievements, Metro could not stand up to the multiplex invasion, it was becoming difficult to fill up the 1,491 seats. The promoters decided to transform the old cinema into a multiplex, while also restoring its original art-deco interiors. The cinema was acquired by Adlabs Cinemas and in the start of 2005, the cinema closed down.
The cinema re-opened after renovation in August 2006, screening the Karan Johar film “Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna”. The cinema now has six screens, which are among the largest multiplex screens in Mumbai.
In 2016, INOX had purchased the building originally for Metro Big Cinemas, after that the building was covered in scaffolding nets for renovation into the multiplex. On November 29, 2017, Amitabh Bacchan, founder of Kaun Banega Crorepati, along with Devendra Fadnavis had inaugrated Metro INOX Cinemas, showing the transformation into a luxury multiplex from 1930s Single Screen. In 2021, Metro Inox got approval to build a 5th floor, and was still operational. Today, it screens many Bollywood movies like Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Sitaare Zameen Par, and live sports matches like Indian Premier League and ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. Amitabh Bacchan had also made a speech, along with a felicitation cermony