The Montclair Girl Team 
The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) announced that theater operator Box Office Cinemas will reopen and operate its on-site movie theater. The space will reopen in January 2026, bringing films back to the arts center after several months of closure. Read on for more about the movie theater reopening at SOPAC.
The News
“Box Office Cinemas has acquired the lease for the cinemas at SOPAC,” said James Kula, President of Box Office Cinemas. “We expect to open Box Office Cinemas at SOPAC on or before January 16, 2026, with additional upgrades continuing after opening. We are eager to reopen this location and excited to be part of their next chapter.” The company, which has more than 40 years of experience and operates multiple theaters across New York and New Jersey, has acquired the lease and plans to open its fifth regional location at SOPAC by January 16, with additional upgrades continuing after reopening.
“The reopening of our downtown movie theatre reflects both the strong voice of our community and the dedication of the SOPAC Board,” said Sheena Collum, Mayor of South Orange. “Over many months, families reached out, urging us to find a new operator, sharing how deeply they value having a cinema in South Orange—particularly for children and family outings. Through a careful and responsive recruitment process, we are proud to welcome Box Office Cinemas. A thriving movie theatre also supports the vitality of our downtown, generating additional activity for local restaurants and shops and strengthening our small businesses. Maintaining a vibrant arts center at the heart of our community includes offering a quality movie-going experience, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to the theatre this January.”
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SOPAC members will receive special benefits and discounts at Box Office Cinemas South Orange, with more details expected to be announced in the coming weeks. “We are thrilled to bring the movies back to South Orange,” said Lana Rogachevskaya, Executive Director of SOPAC. “Reopening the cinemas allows us to fully activate the SOPAC campus once again, offering a complete cultural experience that includes film alongside our live performing arts programming, Arts in Education programming, and exhibitions in the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery. We know how much the community has missed the cinema over the past several months, and we look forward to this long-awaited return.”
About SOPAC
The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is a cultural hub serving the greater South Orange–Maplewood region, offering diverse, world-class arts programming in an intimate and welcoming setting. Its 439-seat Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall is known for exceptional acoustics and a close audience-artist connection. At the same time, The Loft at SOPAC provides a flexible space for performances, classes, rehearsals, and special events. Housed in a striking building with a three-story glass atrium, SOPAC also features the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery and co-produces beloved community events such as South Orange Summer Nights.
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Deeply committed to arts education and community engagement, SOPAC serves local students through school performances, artist residencies, youth exhibitions, and regional poetry competitions in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Since opening in 2006 as part of a collaborative redevelopment vision with South Orange Village and Seton Hall University, SOPAC has grown into a cultural centerpiece and economic driver for the community, fostering artistic opportunity and enriching the region’s social and cultural life.
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