Movie and design lovers were invited to the corner of Boulevard Poissonnière and Rue Poissonnière in Paris on Wednesday, December 6. The Grand Rex inaugurates the world’s most beautiful cinema: the Infinite Room. Le Grand Rex officially inaugurated the world’s most magnificent movie theater: the Infinite auditorium.
Opened in the early 1930s, the Grand Rex movie theater and concert venue hasn’t stopped evolving to provide viewers with the very best viewing conditions. Built in the 1970s, the Grand Rex’s Auditorium 2 is the latest to have been completely renovated.
Luxurious design
The latest folly of the famous Parisian cinema is now embodied in the complete renovation of auditorium no. 2, now christened Infinite. “My aim is to offer one of the most visually stunning theaters in the world, in a modern art deco style,” Alexandre Hellmann, the Grand Rex’s deputy general manager, tells BoxOffice Pro journalists.
Audiences will be able to discover a brand-new, highly luxurious 300-seat auditorium. It offers remarkable comfort thanks to its reclining Kleslo leather cinema seats, with rows spaced more than a meter apart to allow for more legroom.
There is also a bar at the back of the auditorium, providing refreshments before and after the screening, without having to leave this very cozy space.
The ABP Architectes agency is behind the creation of this unique new movie theater. The company is also responsible for the renovation of the magnificent CGR Le Colisée movie theater in Carcassonne, as well as the Élysée Biarritz theater (a stone’s throw from the Champs-Élysées).
Immersive cinema
For maximum immersion, the Infinite auditorium at Le Grand Rex is equipped with a lighting system designed to adapt to the atmosphere of the projected film, in the same way as Philips Ambilight TV technology! Alexandre Hellmann explains that “the use of brown for the seats and walls will enhance the effect, since it is the color that absorbs the most color.”
This new auditorium also benefits from a superb 10-meter RealD Ultimate projection screen. Providing greater luminosity than a conventional screen, it eliminates hot spots (light reflections on the screen) and also limits the ghosting effect around subtitles.
Because this auditorium uses a laser projector, the screen features a brand-new technology to eliminate speckle, a noise phenomenon specific to laser projection, sometimes manifesting itself as small spots on the image. The screen is subjected to very slight vibrations from top to bottom. Imperceptible to the eye, they effectively eliminate speckle, guaranteeing a perfectly uniform, noise-free picture.
As for sound, the numerous cinema speakers housed behind the screen as well as in alcoves, on the walls and ceiling, promise ultra-precise, realistic Dolby Atmos spatialization. Despite the room’s name, these are not Elipson Infinite home theater speakers, but professional Krix Hyperphonix 45 models.
There’s no doubt that this new Infinite auditorium at the Grand Rex will appeal to moviegoers, as much for its luxurious design as for its ultimate comfort and ability to immerse spectators in the heart of films. What’s more, prices remain reasonable for the services provided, with admission announced at €16 full price and €13 reduced price.
Do you want to continue the movie magic at home? Don’t hesitate to read our many guides on how to create a home-theater, everything you need to know about immersive sound, and even how to install a home-theater in small spaces.
