The Electric is a cinema in Birmingham, England. It opened in Station Street in 1909, showing its first silent film on 27 December of that year. It was the first cinema in Birmingham, and was the oldest working cinema in the country until its closure on 29 February 2024. The Electric had two screens, both able to show digitally-shot films and one also able to show films in 35 mm.
Silent films were accompanied by piano music. after being almost totally rebuilt. from Pathé and British Movietone, along with short films and cartoons were presented.
1980s revival and 1990s
thumb|right|200px|The Electric in the 1990s, featuring the Thatcher's Children art installation by [[John Buckley (sculptor)|John Buckley in its windows]]
The early 1980s saw a revival, with the cinema taken over by Lord Grade's "Classic" chain and split into two screens. They also reverted it to being called The Electric.
A contemporary work of art called Thatcher's Children by artist John Buckley was installed in the windows on the front of the building, with the intent to shock and attract publicity to the opening of an art cinema in Birmingham.
2000s
The Electric closed, however, on 12 December 2003. The cinema was put up for sale and was quickly purchased by local film director and producer Tom Lawes. Lawes informed the staff in March 2020 that most would be made redundant rather than furloughed, with just three employees put on to furlough. As of July 2021, the cinema's website stated: "The future of The Electric Cinema Birmingham faces an even bigger issue than that of Covid due to the impending end of its 88 year lease. As the freeholder has yet to make a decision about its plans for Station Street, we are not currently in a position to reopen the cinema. This uncertainty has also meant we have been unable to apply for the Cultural Recovery Fund or other financial support to assist us financially through the period of closure."
In November 2021, it was reported that the cinema would reopen under new ownership before Christmas, having been taken over by Kevin Markwick, who also runs the Picture House Cinema in Uckfield, East Sussex.
It reopened on 20 January 2022, after an estimated £100,000 had been spent on its refurbishment. It was managed by owner Kevin Markwick and his daughter Katie.
The cinema had two screens, both able to show digitally-shot films and one also able to show films in 35 mm.