The beloved River Oaks Theatre, a cherished Houston landmark since 1939, will reopen its doors on October 3, presented by Culinary Khancepts, an affiliate of locally owned Star Cinema Grill, which acquired the theater in 2022. In celebration of the imminent reopening, the River Oaks Theatre will light up its iconic marquee tonight at dusk and will remain illuminated through the reopening and beyond.
The newly renovated River Oaks Theatre will offer a dynamic mix of independent, arthouse, and classic films, alongside live performances and blockbuster hits. Kicking off the grand opening on October 3 will be Joker: Folie à Deux, the highly anticipated sequel to the Academy Award-winning film.
Houstonians can also look forward to special events such as the 50th-anniversary screening of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, screenings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show with live shadowcast performances, and a preview screening of The Herricanes, a documentary about Houston’s all-female football team, followed by a filmmaker Q&A.
“This project holds a special place in our hearts,” said Omar Khan, president and CEO, Culinary Khancepts. “As the only Houston-owned and operated cinema chain, and with a deep connection to the city, we were uniquely positioned to preserve this historic theatre. We are incredibly proud and grateful to have played a role in saving such a cherished venue. It would have been unthinkable for Houston to lose this beloved art house.”
River Oaks Theatre invites movie buffs to be a part of its rich history by participating in the Name-A-Seat program, where area residents can personalize a plaque on a chair with contributions going directly to the theater’s ongoing restoration. Also coming this fall, movie fans can join Cinema Savant, a special membership program that allows guests to watch unlimited film screenings for an affordable monthly fee.
The first 800 guests to watch a movie on October 3 will receive an exclusive grand opening keepsake: a custom gold coin inspired by a tradition from the early 1900s when movie theaters awarded the first patron a gift of gold. This gesture is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to the theater’s reopening.
River Oaks Theatre theriveroakstheatre.com
Culinary culinarykhancepts.com